ATTENUATION SYSTEMS WITH COOLING FUNCTIONS AND RELATED COMPONENTS AND METHODS
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A communication system, comprising:
- a signal source;
a system communicatively coupled to the signal source in order to receive signals from the source, the system including remote units configured to wirelessly transmit RF signals into a respective coverage area and to receive wireless RF signals from the coverage area; and
an attenuation system interposed between the signal source and the system to attenuate signals from the source, the attenuation system comprising;
an attenuator configured to attenuate signals;
a thermoelectric cooling component configured to absorb heat generated by the attenuator and to generate electrical current in response to the heat; and
a cooling device in electrical communication with the thermoelectric cooling component and arranged to cool the attenuator when powered by the thermoelectric cooling component.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Attenuation systems have cooling components that produce power in response to heat generated by the attenuator. The cooling components can be used to power cooling fans if a primary power source of the fans fails.
12 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A communication system, comprising:
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a signal source; a system communicatively coupled to the signal source in order to receive signals from the source, the system including remote units configured to wirelessly transmit RF signals into a respective coverage area and to receive wireless RF signals from the coverage area; and an attenuation system interposed between the signal source and the system to attenuate signals from the source, the attenuation system comprising; an attenuator configured to attenuate signals; a thermoelectric cooling component configured to absorb heat generated by the attenuator and to generate electrical current in response to the heat; and a cooling device in electrical communication with the thermoelectric cooling component and arranged to cool the attenuator when powered by the thermoelectric cooling component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of operating a communication system having an attenuation system comprising an attenuator configured to attenuate signals, a thermoelectric cooling component configured to absorb heat generated by the attenuator, and a cooling device in electrical communication with the thermoelectric cooling component and arranged to cool the attenuator, the method comprising:
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providing a signal to the attenuation system; attenuating the signal in the attenuation system so that the attenuator generates heat in response to attenuating the signal; at the thermoelectric cooling component, generating an electrical current in response to the heat generation; providing the electrical current to the cooling device; and from a plurality of remote units, wirelessly transmitting signals into respective coverage areas. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An attenuation system, comprising:
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an attenuator configured to attenuate signals from a source; a thermoelectric cooling component configured to absorb heat generated by the attenuator and to generate electrical current in response to the heat; and a cooling device in electrical communication with the thermoelectric cooling component and arranged to cool the attenuator when powered by the thermoelectric cooling component. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification