Wireless device signal amplifier

• US 10,251,127 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2016
• Issued: 04/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wilson Electronics LLC (Wilson Electronics Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: Wilson Electronics LLC (Wilson Electronics Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: Cook, Patrick Lee, Ashworth, Christopher K., Mouser, Michael James
• Primary Examiner(s): Bilodeau, David
• Application Number:
  US15/240,674
• Publication Number:
  US 20170055215A1
• Time in Patent Office: 957 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/04 using two or more spaced independent antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/155 Ground-based stations H04B7/204 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15557 Selecting relay station operation mode, e.g. between amplify and forward mode, decode and forward mode or FDD - and TDD mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/028 by filtering
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/16 Threshold monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/22 using selective relaying for reaching a BTS [Base Transceiver Station] or an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/52 using AGC [Automatic Gain Control] circuits or amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Technology for a signal booster is disclosed. The signal booster can include a signal amplifier configured to amplify and filter signals for a wireless device. The signal booster can include one or more detectors configured to detect power levels of the signals. The signal amplifier can include at least one of: one or more bypassable amplifiers or one or more switchable band pass filters that are configurable depending on detected power levels of the signals.

Claims

1. A signal booster, comprising:

a signal amplifier that includes one or more amplification and filtering signal paths, wherein the amplification and filtering signal paths are configured to amplify and filter one or more signals; and

one or more detectors configured to detect a power level of the one or more signals prior to a bypassable amplifier and a switchable multi-band pass filter;

an amplifier bypass path to enable the one or more signals to be directed from the one or more amplification and filtering signal paths to the amplifier bypass path to bypass the bypassable amplifier based on the power level of the one or more signals in relation to a defined power level threshold; and

a band pass filter bypass path to enable the one or more signals to be directed from the one or more amplification and filtering signal paths to the band pass filter bypass path to;

bypass the switchable multi-band pass filter when the power level of the one or more signals is less than the defined power level threshold; and

not bypass the switchable multi-band pass filter when the power level of the one or more signals is greater than the defined power level threshold,

wherein the switchable multi-band pass filter is configured to be bypassed prior to a first stage of a downlink (DL) path in the one or more amplification and filtering signal paths in a weak signal area to reduce a noise figure.

2. The signal booster of claim 1, further comprising:

an integrated device antenna configured to communicate signals with a wireless device; and

an integrated node antenna configured to communicate signals with a base station.

3. The signal booster of claim 2, wherein the integrated node antenna includes an integrated uplink (UL) node antenna or an integrated downlink (DL) node antenna.

4. The signal booster of claim 1, wherein the one or more amplification and filtering signal paths include one or more downlink (DL) amplification and filtering signal paths and one or more uplink (UL) amplification and filtering signal paths.

5. The signal booster of claim 1, wherein the signal booster is insertable in a wireless device signal amplifier sleeve along with the wireless device.

6. The signal booster of claim 1, wherein the signal booster is a Federal Communications Commission (FCC)-compatible consumer signal booster.

7. The signal booster of claim 1, wherein the signal amplifier is configured to boost signals in up to six bands.

8. The signal booster of claim 1, wherein the one or more signals are directed along the one or more amplification and filtering signal paths and avoid the amplifier bypass path based on the power level of the one or more signals in relation to the defined power level threshold.

9. The signal booster of claim 1, wherein the signals bypass the bypassable amplifier to conserve energy based on the power level of the one or more signals in relation to the defined power level threshold, and the one or more signals do not bypass the bypassable amplifier based on the power level of the one or more signals in relation to the defined power level threshold.

10. A signal booster, comprising:

a signal amplifier that includes one or more amplification and filtering signal paths, wherein the amplification and filtering signal paths are configured to amplify and filter one or more signals; and

one or more detectors configured to detect a power level of the one or more signals prior to a switchable multi-band pass filter; and

a band pass filter bypass path to enable the one or more signals to be directed from the one or more amplification and filtering signal paths to the band pass filter bypass path to;

bypass the switchable multi-band pass filter when the power level of the one or more signals is less than a defined power level threshold; and

not bypass the switchable multi-band pass filter when the power level of the one or more signals is greater than the defined power level threshold,

wherein the switchable multi-band pass filter is configured to be bypassed prior to a first stage of a downlink (DL) path in the one or more amplification and filtering signal paths in a weak signal area to reduce a noise figure.

11. The signal booster of claim 10, further comprising:

an integrated device antenna configured to communicate signals with a wireless device; and

an integrated node antenna configured to communicate signals with a base station.

12. The signal booster of claim 10, wherein the switchable multi-band pass filter corresponds to high frequency bands or low frequency bands, wherein the high frequency bands include band 4 (B4) and band 25 (B25), and the low frequency bands include band 5 (B5), band 12 (B12) and band 13 (B13).

13. The signal booster of claim 10, wherein the switchable multi-band pass filter is a first band pass filter in a defined stage of the amplification and filtering signal paths.

14. The signal booster of claim 10, wherein the signal booster is insertable in a wireless device signal amplifier sleeve along with the wireless device.

15. The signal booster of claim 10, wherein the signal booster is a Federal Communications Commission (FCC)-compatible consumer signal booster.

16. The signal booster of claim 10, wherein the one or more signals are directed along the one or more amplification and filtering signal paths and avoid the band pass filter bypass path based on the power level of the one or more signals in relation to the defined power level threshold.

17. The signal booster of claim 10, wherein the switchable multi-band pass filter is switched in based on the power level of the one or more signals in relation to the defined power level threshold, or the switchable multi-band pass filter is switched out based on the power level of the one or more signals in relation to the defined power level threshold.

18. A repeater, comprising:

one or more detectors configured to detect a power level of the one or more signals prior to a bypassable amplifier and a switchable multi-band pass filter,

an amplifier bypass path to enable the one or more signals to be directed from the one or more amplification and filtering signal paths to the amplifier bypass path to bypass the bypassable amplifier based on the power level of the one or more signals in relation to a defined power level threshold; and

a band pass filter bypass path to enable the one or more signals to be directed from the one or more amplification and filtering signal paths to the band pass filter bypass path to;

bypass the switchable multi-band pass filter when the power level of the one or more signals is less than a defined power level threshold; and

not bypass the switchable multi-band pass filter when the power level of the one or more signals is greater than the defined power level threshold,

wherein the switchable multi-band pass filter is configured to be bypassed prior to a first stage of a downlink (DL) path in the one or more amplification and filtering signal paths in a weak signal area to reduce a noise figure.

19. The repeater of claim 18, wherein:

the signals bypass the bypassable amplifier to conserve energy based on the power level of the one or more signals in relation to the defined power level threshold;

or

the signals do not bypass the bypassable amplifier based on the power level of the one or more signals in relation to the defined power level threshold.

20. The repeater of claim 18, wherein:

the switchable multi-band pass filter is switched in based on the power level of the one or more signals in relation to the defined power level threshold;

or

the switchable multi-band pass filter is switched out based on the power level of the one or more signals in relation to the defined power level threshold.

21. The repeater of claim 18, wherein the signal amplifier is further configured to:

receive a downlink signal from a base station;

direct the downlink signal to a selected signal path for filtering and amplification of the downlink signal, wherein the signal path is selected based on a band associated with the downlink signal; and

transmit an amplified downlink signal to the wireless device.

22. The repeater of claim 18, wherein the signal amplifier is further configured to:

receive an uplink signal from the wireless device;

direct the uplink signal to a selected signal path for filtering and amplification of the uplink signal, wherein the signal path is selected based on a band associated with the uplink signal; and

transmit an amplified uplink signal to a base station.

23. The repeater of claim 18, wherein the signal booster is a cellular signal booster.