Method and an apparatus for installing a communication system using active combiner/splitters

• US 20030040329A1
• Filed: 05/10/2002
• Published: 02/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Weissman, Haim, Yona, Eli
• Granted Patent: US 8,515,339 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/507
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/085 Access point devices with remote components

Abstract

A method and apparatus that allows off-the-shelf equipment to be installed in a wide range of physical sites having a wide range of distances between a master system unit and each of a plurality of remote units. The master system unit has an integrated active combiner/splitter. The active combiner/splitter provides bi-directional gain or attenuation in each of the individual inputs/outputs to allow control of the signal level.

Claims

1. A master system unit for use in a wireless communication system, the master system unit includes an input port, an output port, a plurality of bi-directional ports, and a combiner/splitter, the combiner/splitter further comprising:

a) a splitter coupled to the input port;

b) a combiner coupled to the output port;

c) a first circuit comprising a first attenuator coupled to the splitter and a first amplifier, the first amplifier being coupled to a duplexer, the duplexer being coupled to one of the plurality of bi-directional ports and a second amplifier, the second amplifier being coupled to a second attenuator, the second attenuator being coupled to the combiner; and

d) a second circuit comprising a third attenuator coupled to the splitter and a third amplifier, the third amplifier being coupled to a duplexer, the duplexer being coupled to one of the plurality of bi-directional ports and a fourth amplifier, the fourth amplifier being coupled to a fourth attenuator, the fourth attenuator being coupled to the combiner.

2. The master system unit of claim 1, further comprising a processor, wherein each of the attenuators are coupled to, and controllable by, the processor.

3. The master system unit of claim 2, wherein the processor receives information regarding power levels at points outside the master system unit and sets the gain of each attenuator in response to the power levels.

4. The master system unit of claim 2, furthering including a user input port, wherein information is provided through the user input port to the processor, the information including estimates of the length of wire line to be connected between the master system unit and a remote unit, each estimate being associated with one of the plurality of bi-directional ports and wherein the processor sets the gain of each attenuator in response to the provided estimates.

5. The master system unit of claim 2, further comprising a memory coupled to the processor.

6. The master system unit of claim 1, further comprising a modem coupled to the master system unit.

7. The master system unit of claim 1, wherein the master system unit is coupled to at least one remote unit.

8. The master system unit of claim 7, further comprising detectors placed at locations between the master system unit and the at least one remote unit, wherein the detectors detect the amount of power in signals transferred between the master system unit and the at least one remote unit.

9. The master system unit of claim 1, further comprising a power supply coupled to the master system unit.

10. A master system unit for use in a wireless communication system, comprising:

a) a master system unit input port;

b) a master system unit output port;

c) a plurality of bi-directional master system unit ports;

d) a passive splitter having a splitter input port and a plurality of splitter output ports, the splitter input port being coupled to the master system unit input port;

e) a passive combiner having a combiner output port and a plurality of combiner input ports, the combiner output port being coupled to the master system unit output port;

f) a first plurality of variable attenuators, each having an attenuator input port and an attenuator output port, each attenuator input port being of the first plurality of attenuators being coupled to one of the splitter output ports;

g) a second plurality of variable attenuators, each having an attenuator input port and an attenuator output port, each attenuator output port of the second plurality of attenuators being coupled to one of the combiner input ports;

h) a first plurality of amplifiers, each having an amplifier input port and an amplifier output port, each the amplifier input port being coupled to the attenuator output port of one of the first plurality of attenuators;

i) a second plurality of amplifiers, each having an amplifier input port and an amplifier output port, each amplifier output port being coupled to one of the attenuator input ports of the second plurality of attenuators; and

j) a plurality of duplexers, each having a duplexer input port, a duplexer output port and a duplexer bi-directional port, each duplexer input port being coupled to one of the output ports of the first plurality of amplifiers, each duplexer output port being coupled to one of the outputs of the second plurality of amplifiers, and each duplexer bi-directional port being coupled to one of the master system unit bi-directional ports.

11. The master system unit of claim 10, further comprising a processor, wherein each of the attenuators are coupled to, and controllable by, the processor.

12. The master system unit of claim 11, wherein the processor receives information regarding power levels at points outside the master system unit and sets the gain of each attenuator in response to the power levels.

13. The master system unit of claim 11, furthering including a user input port, wherein information is provided through the user input port to the processor, the information including estimates of the length of wire line to be connected between the master system unit and a remote unit, each estimate being associated with one of the master system unit bi-directional ports and wherein the processor sets the gain of each attenuator in response to the provided estimates.

14. The master system unit of claim 11, further comprising a memory coupled to the processor.

15. The master system unit of claim 10, further comprising a modem coupled to the master system unit.

16. The master system unit of claim 10, wherein the master system unit is coupled to at least one remote unit.

17. The master system unit of claim 16, further comprising detectors placed at locations between the master system unit and the at least one remote unit, wherein the detectors detect the amount of power in signals transferred between the master system unit and the at least one remote unit.

18. The master system unit of claim 10, further comprising a power supply coupled to the master system unit.

19. A system for adjusting the gain of a signal comprising:

a master system unit including an input port, an output port, a plurality of bi-directional ports, and a combiner/splitter, the combiner/splitter being coupled to the input port, the output port, and the plurality of bi-directional ports, the combiner/splitter further comprising;

a) a splitter coupled to the input port;

b) a combiner coupled to the output port;

c) a first circuit comprising a first attenuator coupled to the splitter and a first amplifier, the first amplifier being coupled to a duplexer, the duplexer being coupled to one of the plurality of bi-directional ports and a second amplifier, the second amplifier being coupled to a second attenuator, the second attenuator being coupled to the combiner;

d) a second circuit comprising a third attenuator coupled to the splitter and a third amplifier, the third amplifier being coupled to a duplexer, the duplexer being coupled to one of the plurality of bi-directional ports and a fourth amplifier, the fourth amplifier being coupled to a fourth attenuator, the fourth attenuator being coupled to the combiner; and

at least one remote unit coupled to the master system unit.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the master system unit further comprises a processor, wherein each of the attenuators are coupled to, and controllable by, the processor.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the processor receives information regarding power levels at points outside the master system unit and sets the gain of each attenuator in response to the power levels.

22. The system of claim 20, the master system unit further including a user input port, wherein information is provided through the user input port to the processor, the information including estimates of the length of wire line to be connected between the master system unit and the at least one remote unit and wherein the processor sets the gain of each attenuator in response to the provided estimates.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the master system unit further comprises a memory coupled to the processor.

24. The system of claim 19, wherein the master system unit further comprises a modem coupled to the master system unit.

25. The system of claim 19, further comprising detectors placed at locations between the master system unit and the at least one remote unit, wherein the detectors detect the amount of power in signals transferred between the master system unit and the at least one remote unit.

26. The system of claim 19, wherein the master system unit further comprises a power supply coupled to the master system unit.

27. A method for adjusting the gain of a signal received by a master system unit, comprising the steps of:

splitting the signal into a plurality of signals;

adjusting the gain of each signal based on predetermined gain parameters, wherein the gain is adjusted by individually controlling the attenuation of each signal;

amplifying and outputting each signal;

receiving signals from a plurality of remote units;

amplifying each signal received from the plurality of remote units;

adjusting the gain of each signal based on predetermined gain parameters, wherein the gain is adjusted by individually controlling the attenuation of each signal; and

combining each of the signals and outputting a combined signal.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the master system unit includes a combiner/splitter for adjusting the gain of each signal.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the first adjusting step further comprises a processor setting gain parameters in one or more attenuators.

30. A method for installing a master system unit and a remote unit, the master system unit being coupled to the remote unit by a wire line, comprising the steps of:

estimating the length of the wire line between the master system unit and the remote unit;

setting gain elements in the master system unit to a specified gain based on the initial estimate;

transmitting a test signal into an RF input of the master system unit;

detecting and estimating the amount of power at points in the wire line between the master system unit and remote unit; and

adjusting the gain elements in the master system unit and the remote unit based on the estimate.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the gain elements are one or more attenuators.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the setting step comprises setting gain elements to a specified gain by submitting gain parameters to the gain elements.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein the adjusting step comprises adjusting the gain elements by submitting new gain parameters to the gain elements.

34. The method of claim 30, wherein the detecting in the detecting and estimating step is performed by detectors placed at locations between the master system unit and the remote unit, the detectors detecting the amount of power in signals transferred between the master system unit and the remote unit.

35. The method of claim 30, wherein the estimating in the detecting and estimating step includes determining the amount of instantaneous power.

36. The method of claim 30, wherein the estimating in the detecting and estimating step includes determining the amount of average power over time.