BROADBAND TRANSCEIVER AND DISTRIBUTED ANTENNA SYSTEM UTILIZING SAME

• US 20110243201A1
• Filed: 09/01/2010
• Published: 10/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Outdoor Wireless Networks LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Izzat, Narian, Phillips, Fred William, Kummetz, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 10,270,152 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/219
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/007 specially adapted for indoor communication
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/525 between emitting and receiving antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/30 Combinations of separate antenna units operating in different wavebands and connected to a common feeder system

Abstract

A broadband transceiver includes at least one layer structure that is substantially impermeable to RF radiation. The layer structure includes a first face surface substantially opposite a second face surface. A receive antenna is located proximate the first face surface and configured to receive RF transmissions. A transmit antenna is located proximate the second surface and configured to transmit RF transmissions. At least one of the receive and transmit antennas generates a generally toroidal radiation pattern that is stronger in a direction substantially parallel to the respective layer structure face surface compared to a direction substantially perpendicular to the face surface.

Claims

1. A broadband transceiver, comprising:

at least one layer structure that is substantially impermeable to RF radiation, the at least one layer structure including a first face surface substantially opposite a second face surface;

at least one receive antenna located proximate the first face surface and configured to receive RF transmissions; and

at least one transmit antenna located proximate the second face surface and configured to transmit RF transmissions,

at least one of the receive and transmit antennas generating a generally toroidal radiation pattern that is stronger in a direction substantially parallel to the respective layer structure face surface compared to a direction substantially perpendicular to the face surface.

2. The broadband transceiver of claim 1 wherein both the receive and transmit antennas generate a generally toroidal radiation pattern that is stronger in a direction substantially parallel to the respective layer structure face surface compared to a direction substantially perpendicular to the face surface.

3. The broadband transceiver of claim 1, further comprising:

a low noise amplifier configured to amplify analog communication signals received by the receive antenna prior to transmitting the analog signals to a device; and

a power amplifier configured to amplify analog communication signals received from the device prior to transmitting the analog signals over the transmit antenna.

4. The broadband transceiver of claim 1, further comprising:

a digital signal processor configured to interface with a device;

a transmitter circuit configured to transmit communication signals, received by the digital signal processor from the device, over the transmit antenna; and

a receiver circuit configured to transmit communication signals, received over the receive antenna, to the device via the digital signal processor.

5. The broadband transceiver of claim 4, wherein the digital signal processor communicates with the device over an interface selected from a group consisting of:

an optical fiber communication interface, a waveguide, an electrical cable communication interface, a free-space laser link, and combinations thereof.

6. The broadband transceiver of claim 4, wherein the transmitter circuit comprises:

a digital to analog converter configured to receive the communication signals from the digital signal processor and convert the communication signals from digital to analog;

up-converter circuitry configured to convert a frequency of the communication signals from an intermediate frequency to a frequency for transmission over the transmit antenna; and

a power amplifier configured to amplify the up-converted communication signals prior to transmitting over the transmit antenna.

7. The broadband transceiver of claim 4, wherein the receiver circuit comprises:

a low noise amplifier configured to amplify communication signals received from over the receive antenna;

down-converter circuitry configured to convert a frequency of the received communication signals from a receive frequency to an intermediate frequency; and

an analog to digital converter configured to convert the down-converted received communication signals from analog to digital and for use by the digital signal processor.

8. The broadband transceiver of claim 1, wherein at least one of the receive antenna and the transmit antenna is selected from a group consisting of a broadband monopole antenna, a dipole antenna, an inverted cone antenna, a bow-tie monopole antenna, and combinations thereof.

9. The broadband transceiver of claim 1, wherein the RF impermeable layer structure is configured for being oriented in a space in a substantially vertical orientation for at least one of the receive and transmit antennas to generate the generally toroidal radiation pattern that is stronger in the vertical direction compared to a horizontal direction.

10. The broadband transceiver of claim 1, wherein the RF impermeable layer structure is configured for being oriented in a space in a substantially horizontal orientation for at least one of the receive and transmit antennas to generate the generally toroidal radiation pattern that is stronger in the horizontal direction compared to a vertical direction.

11. The broadband transceiver of claim 10, wherein the receive antenna is positioned on the RF impermeable layer structure above the transmit antenna.

12. The broadband transceiver of claim 10, wherein the receive antenna is positioned spaced from the RF impermeable layer structure above the transmit antenna.

13. The broadband transceiver of claim 10, wherein the transmit antenna is positioned above the receive antenna.

14. The broadband transceiver of claim 10, wherein the broadband transceiver is configured for being mounted in a space having a ceiling surface and a floor surface, the RF impermeable layer structure being oriented such that the first face surface with the receive antenna is spaced from and facing the ceiling surface and the second face surface with the transmit antenna spaced from and facing the floor surface.

15. The broadband transceiver of claim 14, wherein the broadband transceiver is configured for being mounted in the space and elevated with respect to the floor surface.

16. The broadband transceiver of claim 1, wherein a plurality of receive antennas are located on the first face surface.

17. The broadband transceiver of claim 1, wherein a plurality of transmit antennas are located on the second face surface.

18. The broadband transceiver of claim 1, wherein the at least one layer structure includes an RF choke positioned on the layer structure between the first face surface and the second face surface.

19. The broadband transceiver of claim 1, wherein the at least one receive antenna is configured as a bow-tie monopole antenna, the broadband transceiver further comprising:

at least one RF choke extending substantially perpendicular from the first face surface,

wherein the at least one RF choke is positioned in line with the at least one receive antenna, and

wherein a plane of the at least one RF choke is substantially parallel to a plane of the at least one receive antenna.

20. The broadband transceiver of claim 19, wherein the at least one transmit antenna is configured as a bow-tie monopole antenna, the broadband transceiver further comprising:

at least one RF choke extending substantially perpendicular from the second face surface,

wherein the at least one RF choke is positioned in line with the at least one transmit antenna,

wherein a plane of the at least one RF choke is substantially parallel to a plane of the at least one transmit antenna, and

wherein the at least one transmit antenna and the at least one RF choke on the second face surface are rotated approximately 90 degrees from that of the at least one receive antenna and the at least one RF choke on the first face surface.

21. The broadband transceiver of claim 1, wherein the at least one layer structure includes at least one high impedance surface that resists a propagation of surface waves.

22. The broadband transceiver of claim 1, wherein the at least one high impedance surface includes at least one of a rough layer, a coating layer of a high impedance material or, an adhered layer of a high impedance material or a combination of same.

23. A system comprising:

at least one of a master unit or a base transceiver station configured for transceiving communication signals;

at least one remote unit coupled for transceiving communication signals with the master unit or base transceiver station and communicating with one or more user devices, the remote unit including a broadband transceiver comprising;

at least one layer structure that is substantially impermeable to RF radiation, the at least one layer structure including a first face surface substantially opposite a second face surface;

a receive antenna located proximate the first face surface and configured to receive RF transmissions; and

a transmit antenna located proximate the second face surface and configured to transmit RF transmissions,

at least one of the receive and transmit antennas generating a generally toroidal radiation pattern that is stronger in a direction substantially parallel to the respective layer structure face surface compared to a direction substantially perpendicular to the face surface.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein both the receive and transmit antennas generate a generally toroidal radiation pattern that is stronger in a direction substantially parallel to the respective layer structure face surface compared to a direction substantially perpendicular to the face surface.

25. The system of claim 23, the broadband transceiver further comprising:

a digital signal processor configured to interface with the master unit;

a transmitter circuit configured to transmit communication signals, received by the digital signal processor from the master unit, over the transmit antenna; and

a receiver circuit configured to transmit communication signals, received over the receive antenna, to the master unit via the digital signal processor.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the digital signal processor communicates with the master unit over an interface selected from a group consisting of:

an optical fiber communication interface, a waveguide, an electrical cable communication interface, a free-space laser link, and combinations thereof.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the transmitter circuit comprises:

a digital to analog converter configured to receive the communication signals from the digital signal processor and convert the communication signals from digital to analog;

up-converter circuitry configured to convert a frequency of the communication signals from an intermediate frequency to a frequency for transmission over the transmit antenna; and

a power amplifier configured to amplify the up-converted communication signals prior to transmitting over the transmit antenna.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein the receiver circuit comprises:

a low noise amplifier configured to amplify communication signals received from over the receive antenna;

down-converter circuitry configured to convert a frequency of the received communication signals from a receive frequency to an intermediate frequency; and

an analog to digital converter configured to convert the down-converted received communication signals from analog to digital and for use by the digital signal processor.

29. The system of claim 23, wherein at least one of the receive antenna and the transmit antenna is a broadband monopole antenna.

30. The system of claim 23, wherein a plurality of receive antennas are located on the first face surface.

31. The system of claim 23, wherein a plurality of transmit antennas are located on the second face surface.

32. The system of claim 23, wherein the at least one layer structure includes an RF choke positioned on the layer structure between the first face surface and the second face surface.

33. The system of claim 23, wherein the receive antenna is configured as a bow-tie monopole antenna, the system further comprising:

at least one RF choke extending substantially perpendicular from the first face surface,

wherein the at least one RF choke is positioned in line with the receive antenna, and

wherein a plane of the at least one RF choke is substantially parallel to a plane of the receive antenna.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the transmit antenna is configured as a bow-tie monopole antenna, the system further comprising:

at least one RF choke extending substantially perpendicular from the second face surface,

wherein the at least one RF choke is positioned in line with the transmit antenna,

wherein a plane of the at least one RF choke is substantially parallel to a plane of the transmit antenna, and

wherein the transmit antenna and the at least one RF choke on the second face surface are rotated approximately 90 degrees from that of the receive antenna and the at least one RF choke on the first face surface.

35. The system of claim 23, wherein the at least one layer structure includes at least one high impedance surface that resists a propagation of surface waves.

36. A method of performing broadband communications comprising:

transmitting an RF signal from a receive antenna located proximate a first face surface of a broadband transceiver;

receiving RF signals from a transmit antenna located proximate a second face surface of the broadband transceiver that is substantially opposite the first face surface; and

isolating the transmit and receive antennas with a layer structure that is substantially impermeable to RF radiation, the antennas located on opposite sides of the layer structure;

with at least one of the receive and transmit antennas, generating a generally toroidal radiation pattern that is stronger in a direction substantially parallel to the respective layer structure face surface compared to a direction substantially perpendicular to the face surface.

37. The method of claim 36 further comprising, with both the receive and transmit antennas, generating a generally toroidal radiation pattern that is stronger in a direction substantially parallel to the respective layer structure face surface compared to a direction substantially perpendicular to the face surface.

38. The method of claim 36, further comprising reducing currents flowing from one side of the RF impermeable layer structure to the other side of the RF impermeable layer using an RF choke.

39. The method of claim 36 further comprising mounting the broadband transceiver in a space having a ceiling surface and a floor surface, the RF impermeable layer structure being oriented such that the side with the receive antenna is spaced from and facing the ceiling surface and the side with the transmit antenna is spaced from and facing the floor surface.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the broadband transceiver is configured for being mounted in the space and elevated with respect to the floor surface.

41. The method of claim 36, wherein at least one of the receive antenna and the transmit antenna is a broadband monopole antenna.