TDD REPEATER FOR A WIRELESS NETWORK AND METHOD FOR OPERATING SAID REPEATER

• US 20110182217A1
• Filed: 03/07/2009
• Published: 07/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andrew Wireless Systems GmbH (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Andrew LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Schmalish, Mathias, Stefanik, Joerg, Gunzer, Peter, Braz, Oliver, Schmid, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 8,730,848 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/293
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/36 Repeater circuits H04B3/58 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0413 MIMO systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/155 Ground-based stations H04B7/204 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/14 Two-way operation using the same type of signal, i.e. duplex
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/1415 using control lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 7/0012 by comparing receiver clock with transmitter clock
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 7/0033 Correction by delay

Abstract

A repeater (1) particularly suitable for a time-division duplex transmission of communication signals is provided. The repeater (1) comprises a master unit (2) for communicating with a base station (3) of a wireless network, at least one remote unit (4) for communicating with a network terminal, as well as a waveguide (11) connecting the remote unit (4) with the master unit (2) for transmitting the communication signals in an uplink direction (6) from the remote unit (4) to the master unit (2) and in a downlink direction (5) from the master unit (2) to the remote unit (4). Both the master unit (2) and the remote unit (4) comprise one switch (19, 20) each for changing over the signal transmission between uplink direction (6) and downlink direction (5). Both switches (19, 20) are selected by a synchronizing unit (21) arranged in the master unit (2), the synchronizing unit (21) being designed for determining a clock pulsing from the communication signal fed to the master unit (2)—in particular from the base station (3)—and for supplying a control signal corresponding to this clock pulsing to the switches (19, 20).

Claims

1-9. -9. (canceled)

10. A TDD repeater for transmitting communication signals in a wireless network comprising:

a master unit for communicating with a base station of the wireless network;

at least one remote unit for communicating with a network terminal;

a waveguide connecting the remote unit with the master unit for transmitting the communication signals in an uplink direction from the remote unit to the master unit and in a downlink direction from the master unit to the remote unit;

both the master unit and the remote unit including a switch for changing over between the signal transmission in uplink direction and the signal transmission in downlink direction; and

the master unit including a synchronizing unit designed for determining a clock pulsing from the communication signal fed to the master unit and for supplying a control signal corresponding to this clock pulsing to the switches.

11. The repeater of claim 10, the synchronizing unit being configured for transmitting the control signal for selecting the switch in the remote unit, through the waveguide to the remote unit.

12. The repeater of claim 10, wherein the synchronizing unit includes a frequency generator for generating an RF control signal for selecting the switch in the remote unit.

13. The repeater of claim 12, the frequency generator being configured for generating the control signal for selecting the switch arranged in the remote unit, with a modulation frequency different from that of the communication signals.

14. The repeater of claim 10, wherein the synchronizing unit includes a coupler for decoupling the communication signals from a transmission link of the master unit.

15. The repeater of claim 10, further comprising multiple units, each remote unit connected with the master unit by a separate waveguide, wherein a switch, both in the master unit and in the remote unit, is associated with each waveguide, and wherein the switch is selected by the synchronizing unit.

16. The repeater of claim 10, further comprising multiple units, connected with the master unit by a common waveguide, wherein the communication signals of the remote units have different transmission wave lengths.

17. Method for operating a repeater according to claim 10:

wherein the synchronizing unit arranged in the master unit determines a clock pulsing from the communication signal fed to the master unit and supplies a control signal corresponding to this clock pulsing to the switches arranged in the master unit and in the remote unit; and

wherein the control signal selects both the switch of the master unit and the switch of the remote unit in such a way that the switches change over, synchronously with the preset clock pulsing, between a signal transmission in uplink direction and a signal transmission in downlink direction.

18. Method according to claim 17, wherein the change-over of the switch in the master unit and of the switch in the remote unit is effected with a time staggering of a duration corresponding approximately to the signal propagation time between the master unit and the remote unit.

19. Method for operating a repeater according to claim 15:

wherein the synchronizing unit arranged in the master unit determines a clock pulsing from the communication signal fed to the master unit and supplies a control signal corresponding to this clock pulsing to the switches arranged in each master unit and each remote unit; and

wherein the control signal selects both the switch of the master unit and the switch of the, or of each, remote unit in such a way that the switches change over, synchronously with the preset clock pulsing, between a signal transmission in uplink direction and a signal transmission in downlink direction.

20. Method according to claim 19, wherein the change-over of the switch in the master unit and of the switch in the remote unit is effected with a time staggering of a duration corresponding approximately to the signal propagation time between the master unit and the remote unit.