Cylindrical Access Point Housing With Internal Antennas and Heat Shield
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional network access point devices are often large, visually unappealing, and pose risks due to external antennas that can be damaged by children or pets, while also having complex controls and status lights that confuse users, diminishing the user experience.
Innovation Solution
A compact, cylindrical access point device with a housing featuring a top and bottom member connected via rounded edges, an antenna carrier, a heat sink, and a heat shield, which includes a circuit board assembly for wireless network access and a heat shield to mitigate electromagnetic interference, designed for improved robustness, simplicity, and user-friendliness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If external antennas are used in conventional access point devices, then wireless communication functionality is achieved, but the risk of damage by children or pets increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the antennas from their traditional external position and integrates them internally within the housing. The antenna elements are positioned inside the housing near the circuit board, eliminating the vulnerable external antenna structure while maintaining wireless communication functionality through internal antenna design.
2Adaptability or versatility
If complex controls and status lights are included in access point devices, then device functionality and user information are enhanced, but user understanding and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes complex physical controls and elaborate status light systems from the device exterior. Instead, the access point relies on simple LED indicators and remote management capabilities, reducing on-device complexity while maintaining full functionality through simplified user interfaces.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional access point devices are designed with standard components, then manufacturing and assembly are simplified, but visual appeal and user experience deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a cylindrical housing design with curved surfaces and rounded edges, replacing traditional boxy forms. This curved geometry provides visual appeal and modern aesthetics while remaining compatible with standard manufacturing processes for cylindrical enclosures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent integrates multiple components including antennas, heat sink, and circuit board into a unified internal arrangement within the cylindrical housing. This merging of components into a compact internal configuration achieves an appealing external form while maintaining manufacturing feasibility.
4Volume of moving object
If access point devices are made compact, then space utilization and aesthetics are improved, but internal component arrangement and heat dissipation become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent arranges components in a nested configuration within the compact cylindrical housing. The antenna carrier, circuit board, and heat sink are positioned in concentric or layered arrangements that maximize space utilization while maintaining thermal pathways for heat dissipation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates a heat sink as an intermediary thermal management component between the circuit board and housing. This heat sink facilitates heat dissipation in the compact design by providing a dedicated thermal pathway while occupying minimal space within the internal component arrangement.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a robust, compact, and user-friendly access point device that reduces the risk of antenna damage and simplifies user interaction, enhancing the overall user experience by hiding complex components and providing clear status indicators.
Implementation Method 1
a heat sink positioned between the antenna carrier and the circuit board assembly
Implementation Method 2
a heat sink positioned between the antenna carrier and the circuit board assembly
Implementation Method 3
a heat shield positioned within the housing... the circuit board assembly is positioned between the heat shield and the heat sink
Data Source
AI summary
This document describes an access point device and associated systems and methods. The techniques and systems include an access point device that includes a housing with an antenna carrier, a circuit board assembly, a heat sink, and a heat shield positioned within the housing. The housing includes a top housing member connected to a bottom housing member. The top housing member includes a concave-down top-end portion connected to a generally cylindrical vertical wall via rounded corners. The antenna carrier supports multiple antennas positioned proximate to an inner surface of the vertical wall. The heat sink is positioned between the antenna carrier and the circuit board assembly. The circuit board assembly is positioned between the heat shield and the heat sink, and the heat shield is positioned between the circuit board assembly and the bottom housing member.