Indentification of atennas via cables

• US 20080198017A1
• Filed: 01/07/2008
• Published: 08/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Hesselbarth, Jan, Pivit, Florian
• Application Number:
  US12/006,919
• Publication Number:
  US 20080198017A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.4
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2208 associated with components used in interrogation type services, i.e. in systems for information exchange between an interrogator/reader and a tag/transponder, e.g. in Radio Frequency Identification [RFID] systems methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns G06K7/00; record carrier for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/246 specially adapted for base stations

Abstract

A method is provided of identifying an antenna, by the steps of: providing the antenna with an identifying radiofrequency identification RFID circuit, connecting one end of a cable to the antenna, connecting the other end of the cable to a remote unit, sending a trigger signal to the RFID circuit, receiving by the remote unit via the cable a response signal from the RFID circuit, and decoding the response signal so as to identify the antenna.

Claims

1. A method of identifying an antenna, comprising the steps of:

providing the antenna with an identifying radiofrequency identification, RFID, circuit;

connecting one end of a cable to the antenna;

connecting the other end of the cable to a remote unit;

sending a trigger signal to the RFID circuit;

receiving by the remote unit via the cable a response signal from the RFID circuit; and

decoding the received response signal so as to identify the antenna.

2. A method according to claim 1, in which the trigger signal is sent to the RFID circuit via the cable.

3. A method according to claim 1, in which the remote unit comprises a base station transceiver.

4. A radio telecommunications base station comprising an antenna, a base unit, and a cable to connect the antenna to the base unit;

the antenna comprising a radiofrequency identification, RFID, circuit;

the base unit including means to transmit a trigger signal to the RFID circuit, means to receive a reply signal from the RFID circuit via the cable, and means to decode the received reply signal.

5. A base station according to claim 4, in which the RFID circuit is within a main housing of the antenna.

6. A base station according to claim 4, in which the RFID circuit is housed in a connector for connection between a main housing of the antenna and the cable.

7. A base station according to claim 4, wherein the base unit comprises at least one transceiver, each transceiver comprising at least one port for connection to an antenna, each transceiver also comprising a test apparatus operative to send a test signal via the cable to the RFID circuit and to receive and decode a response signal from the RFID circuit via the cable so as to identify the antenna.

8. A base station according to claim 4, in which the RFID circuit comprising an RFID tag and a coupler, the tag being coupled to an electromagnetic wave guiding conductor of the cable by the coupler.

9. An RFID circuit assembly comprising an RFID tag,

the circuit also comprising a coupler and an electromagnetic wave guiding conductor, the tag being coupled to the conductor by the coupler.

10. An RFID circuit assembly according to claim 9, wherein the conductor comprises the inner conductor of a coaxial cable connector,

the assembly being shaped and configured to connect between a coaxial cable connector and a corresponding connector on a housing of an antenna.