REPEATERS FOR WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS

• US 20110312269A1
• Filed: 08/29/2011
• Published: 12/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Andrew LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Judd, Mano D., Lovinggood, Breck W., Tennant, David T., Maca, Gregory A., Kuiper, William P., Alford, James L., Thomas, Michael D., Veihl, Jonathon C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,358,970 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/11.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/25 involving aiding data received from a cooperating element, e.g. assisted GPS
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/007 specially adapted for indoor communication
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/246 specially adapted for base stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/061 Two dimensional planar arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/29 Combinations of different interacting antenna units for giving a desired directional characteristic H01Q25/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 23/00 Antennas with active circuits or circuit elements integrated within them or attached to them
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/005 providing two patterns of opposite direction; back to back antennas H01Q25/004 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/2611 Means for null steering; Adaptive interference nulling
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/2647 Retrodirective arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/46 Active lenses or reflecting arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0825 with main and with auxiliary or diversity antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/10 Polarisation diversity; Directional diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15507 Relay station based processing for cell extension or control of coverage area, network planning with network coordinated processing with regard to cell extension H04W16/26; network topologies using dedicated repeater stations H04W84/047; terminal devices adapted for relaying to or from an other terminal H04W88/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/1555 Selecting relay station antenna mode, e.g. selecting omnidirectional -, directional beams, selecting polarizations
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15564 Relay station antennae loop interference reduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15585 by interference cancellation

Abstract

A repeater and associated method of use includes at least one antenna element for communicating in one direction and at least one antenna element for communicating in another direction. A radio frequency uplink path and a radio frequency downlink path are coupled between the antennas. At least one of the radio frequency uplink path or the radio frequency downlink path includes an adaptive cancellation circuit. The adaptive cancellation circuit is configured to generate a cancellation signal without requiring an injected signal. The cancellation signal, when added to a radio frequency signal in the respective uplink and downlink paths, substantially reduces feedback signals present in the radio frequency signal.

Claims

1. A modular repeater comprising:

a housing having generally oppositely facing surfaces;

at least one antenna positioned on each of said surfaces for radiating energy in generally opposite directions; and

electronic circuitry positioned in the housing and operatively coupling signals between the antennas, the electronic circuitry including feedback suppression structures of improving side-to-side isolation.

2. The repeater of claim 1, wherein said antennas each comprise radiating antenna elements located centrally on an associated ground plane of sufficient area to contribute to significant feedback suppression.

3. The repeater of claim 1, wherein said electronic circuitry includes a digital adaptive cancellation system.

4. The repeater of claim 1, wherein said electronic circuitry includes an automatic gain control circuit.

5. A modular signal repeater comprising:

a housing having generally oppositely facing surfaces;

at least one antenna positioned on each of said surfaces for radiating energy in generally opposite directions;

at least one of said antennas having a ground plane and one or more radiating elements grouped in a central area of said ground plane, the area of said ground plane being significantly greater than the area of said central area.

6. The repeater of claim 5, wherein one of said antennas produces a beam that has a narrower half power beam width than the beam produced by the other of said antennas.

7. The repeater of claim 6, wherein the beam width of same one antenna is about 30 degrees, plus or minus 5 degrees and wherein the beam width of said other antenna is about 60 degrees, plus or minus 10 degrees.

8. The repeater of claim 5, wherein the ratio of ground plane area to central area is in the range of about 2 to 5.

9. The repeater of claim 5, wherein at least one of said antennas is operable to produce a null in the array factor on the horizons to reduce the direct coupling between said antennas.

10. The repeater of claim 5, said housing being sized and configured for a selected frequency band having a predetermined center frequency with wavelength “

X”

, the height, width and thickness dimensions of the housing being such that feedback energy as wavelength λ

travels a feedback path around the housing introduces a predetermined phase shift to improve side-to-side isolation.

11. The repeater of claim 10, wherein said housing has a circular outer configuration such that all feedback paths are of equal length.

12. The repeater of claim 11, wherein said housing has a rectangular outer configuration and said dimensions are such that the length of said feedback path has a compromise length.

13. The repeater of claim 10 further comprising:

amplification electronics coupled with the antennas which introduce a phase shift in amplified signals; and

said predetermined phase shift, when combined with said amplification electronics phase shift and other known feedback phase shifts, being effective to improve the side-to side isolation and gain performance of said repeater.

14. The repeater of claim 13, including an RF choke structure in the feedback path between said antennas, and wherein said other known feedback phase shifts includes a phase shift introduced by said RF choke structure.

15. A repeater comprising:

a housing having generally opposing sides;

a first antenna mounted on the housing to extend upwardly from and adjacent to one of the generally opposing sides of said housing; and

a second antenna mounted in said housing adjacent to the other of said generally opposing sides of said housing;

repeater electronics mounted in said housing and operatively interconnecting said antennas.

16. The repeater of claim 15, wherein said first antenna is one of a monopole and a dipole.

17. The repeater of claim 15, wherein said first antenna is vertically polarized.

18. The repeater of claim 15, wherein said second antenna is a generally planar antenna.

19. The repeater of claim 15, wherein said second antenna is horizontally polarized.