Module for combining signals having different frequencies

• US 10,212,018 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2015
• Issued: 02/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andrew Wireless Systems GmbH (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Andrew Wireless Systems GmbH (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kummetz, Thomas, Schmid, Peter, Dussmann, Alfons, Fackler, Karl-Heinz, Hofman, Roman
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Linda
• Application Number:
  US15/559,795
• Publication Number:
  US 20180069741A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,215 Days
• Field of Search: 375219, 375220, 375221, 375222, 375271, 375259, 375260, 375295, 375297, 375316, 375322, 375326, 375345, 375346, 375344, 375362, 375299, 375304, 375315
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 19/093 using sinusoidal excitation models
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/02 Diversity systems; Multi-antenna system, i.e. transmission or reception using multiple antennas RAKE receivers H04B1/7115
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/12 Frequency diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/155 Ground-based stations H04B7/204 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/04 using frequency diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/28 with simultaneous transmission of different frequencies each representing one code element

Abstract

Certain features relate to a telecommunications system with a modular frequency combiner combining multiple received signals at different frequency bands without using frequency-dependent multiplexers. The frequency combiner can include adjustable tuning elements for adjusting various signal-processing parameters of the frequency combiner while the frequency combiner is in the telecommunications system. For example, adjustable tuning elements can adjust the phases of phase shifters of each RF path so that the RF paths are matched for combining the received signals and outputting them through an output port. The adjustable tuning elements can also adjust the electrical length or physical length of the transmission lines that carry the received signals. The adjustable tuning elements can be adjusted manually or automatically while the frequency combiner is deployed in the field in the telecommunications system.

Claims

1. A telecommunications system, comprising:

input ports configured to receive signals at different frequencies;

at least one output port configured to output the signals; and

a frequency combiner communicatively coupled between the input ports and the at least one output port, the frequency combiner having a plurality of RF modules communicatively coupled to the input ports, each of the plurality of RF modules comprising a detector with circuitry for determining differences in power level between input signals to the frequency combiner and output signals from the frequency combiner, the frequency combiner having adjustable tuning elements, each adjustable tuning element being configured to adjust a signal-processing parameter of the frequency combiner while the frequency combiner is in the telecommunications system.

2. The telecommunications system of claim 1, wherein the signal-processing parameter comprises phase shifting or varying an electrical length of a transmission line, wherein the telecommunications system is a repeater or a distributed antenna system.

3. The telecommunications system of claim 1, wherein the frequency combiner is frequency independent and field-configurable.

4. The telecommunications system of claim 1, wherein the adjustable tuning elements are positioned between the at least one output port and a plurality of duplexers.

5. The telecommunications system of claim 1, further comprising:

a controller communicatively coupled to the detectors and communicatively coupled to motors in the telecommunications system for causing the motors to automatically adjust the adjustable tuning elements based on the differences in the power level.

6. The telecommunications system of claim 5, further comprising:

a display configured for providing a user interface for displaying the differences in power level between the input signals to the frequency combiner and the output signals from the frequency combiner.

7. The telecommunications system of claim 1, wherein each of the adjustable tuning elements is manually adjustable.

8. A remote unit of a distributed antenna system, the remote unit comprising:

a frequency combiner including;

input ports configured to receive signals at different frequencies from a head-end unit,

at least one output port configured to output the signals to one or more user equipment devices; and

a combiner component communicatively coupled between the input ports and the at least one output port, the combiner component having a detector, in each of at least one RF module, with circuitry for determining differences in power level between input signals to the frequency combiner and output signals from the frequency combiner, the combiner component having adjustable tuning elements, each adjustable tuning element being configured to adjust a signal-processing parameter of the frequency combiner while the frequency combiner is in the remote unit,

wherein the remote unit is configured to provide wireless communication from the head-end unit to the one or more user equipment devices.

9. The remote unit of claim 8, wherein each adjustable tuning element is configured to adjust the signal-processing parameter by phase shifting or varying an electrical length of a transmission line.

10. The remote unit of claim 8, wherein the frequency combiner is frequency independent and field-configurable.

11. The remote unit of claim 8, wherein the adjustable tuning elements are positioned between the at least one output port and a plurality of duplexers.

12. The remote unit of claim 8, wherein the frequency combiner further includes:

a controller communicatively coupled to the detector and communicatively coupled to motors for causing the motors to automatically adjust the adjustable tuning elements based on the differences in power level.

13. The remote unit of claim 12, wherein the frequency combiner further includes:

a display configured for providing a user interface displaying the differences in power level between the input signals to the frequency combiner and the output signals from the frequency combiner.

14. The remote unit of claim 8, wherein each of the adjustable tuning elements is manually adjustable.

15. A method, comprising:

receiving a plurality of signals at different frequencies;

adjusting signal-processing parameters of a frequency combiner positioned between a plurality of input ports and an output port of a telecommunications system using adjustable tuning elements while the frequency combiner is in the telecommunications system;

determining differences in power level between input signals to the frequency combiner and output signals from the frequency combiner; and

outputting the plurality of signals.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the signal-processing parameters comprise phase shifting or varying lengths of transmission lines, wherein the telecommunications system is a repeater or a distributed antenna system.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising

automatically adjusting the adjustable tuning elements based on the differences in the power level.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

displaying, on a display device, the differences in power level between the input signals to the frequency combiner and output signals from the frequency combiner.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the adjustable tuning elements are adjusted manually.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the received plurality of signals are received from a head-end unit of a distributed antenna system, and wherein the combined signals are transmitted to one or more user equipment devices.