MULTI-CHANNEL CABLING FOR RF SIGNAL DISTRIBUTION

• US 20130093638A1
• Filed: 06/01/2011
• Published: 04/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Shoemaker, Curtis L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,112,283 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/770
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4416 Heterogeneous cables
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44265 Fibre-to-antenna cables; Auxiliary devices thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/007 specially adapted for indoor communication
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/203 Leaky coaxial lines

Abstract

A multi-channel RF signal cable comprises a metallic material 101a joining a plurality of radio frequency (RF) signal channels in a generally planar structure, wherein at least a first channel is configured to radiatively send and/or receive a first RF signal from the first channel. The multi-channel RF signal cable can have multiple outbound channels, a dedicated receive channel, and in-field programmable radiators, to provide for flexible network design and optimization in a given indoor radiative environment, for example, in-building wireless applications.

Claims

1. A multi-channel RF signal cable, comprising:

a metallic material joining a plurality of radio frequency (RF) signal channels in a generally planar structure, wherein at least a first channel is configured to radiatively send and/or receive a first RF signal from the first channel.

2. The multi-channel RF signal cable of claim 1, wherein each of the RF signal channels comprises a coaxial cable construction.

3. The multi-channel RF signal cable of claim 1, wherein at least one of the RF signal channels comprises one or more optical fibers.

4. The multi-channel RF signal cable of claim 1, wherein a second channel is configured to radiatively send and/or receive a second RF signal from the second channel.

5. The multi-channel RF signal cable of claim 4, wherein a third, non-radiating channel is disposed between the first channel and the second channel.

6. The multi-channel RF signal cable of claim 1, wherein the first channel comprises a plurality of radiating apertures formed longitudinally along the axial length of the first channel.

7. The multi-channel RF signal cable of claim 6, wherein the plurality of radiating apertures are formed along the axial length of the first channel in a random pattern.

8. The multi-channel RF signal cable of claim 6, wherein a portion of the radiating apertures are covered by a metallic tape.

9. The multi-channel RF signal cable of claim 1, wherein a second channel is a dedicated receive channel.

10. The multi-channel RF signal cable of claim 1, wherein the multi-channel RF signal cable is formed in a lamination process.

11. The multi-channel RF signal of claim 6, wherein the radiating apertures are covered by a layer of low dielectric material.

12. The multi-channel RF signal cable of claim 11, wherein the layer of low dielectric material has a thickness of 2 mils or less.

13. The multi-channel RF signal cable of claim 6, wherein exposed dielectric in the radiating apertures is covered by a hydrophobic coating.

14. The multi-channel RF signal cable of claim 1, wherein the first channel includes a longitudinal slot formed in the metallic material along the axial length of the first channel.

15. The multi-channel RF signal cable of claim 14, wherein the longitudinal slot has an opening from about 20 degrees to about 55 degrees.

16. A multi-channel horizontal cable for in-building wireless communications, comprising:

a plurality of RF signal channels disposed in a generally planar casing;

wherein each of the plurality of signal channels provides a separate RF signal pathway and at least one of the plurality of signal channels provides an in-field, programmable RF radiating channel.

17. The multi-channel cable of claim 16, wherein a first channel carries an RF signal from a first wireless service provider and a second channel carries an RF signal from a second wireless service provider.

18. The multi-channel cable of claim 16, wherein at least one of the RF signal channels comprises a coaxial cable construction.

19. The multi-channel cable of claim 18, wherein at least one of the RF signal channels comprises an optical fiber.

20. The multi-channel cable of claim 16, at least two of the plurality of signal channels provide in-field, programmable RF radiating channels.