Modular distributed antenna system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A distributed antenna system comprising:
- at least two antennas for receiving broadcast signals; and
a separate compensating amplifier means corresponding to each of the least two antennas and connected to receive a signal related to an output from the corresponding antenna;
at least selected ones of said at least two antennas and said compensating amplifier means being arranged to form at least one connecting stage, each said connecting stage including one of said at least two antennas, the amplifier means corresponding to said one of said at least two antennas, input means for receiving as an input signal an output of an amplifier means other than the amplifying means for said stage, means for coupling broadcast signals received by said antenna with said input signal received by said input means, a combined signal appearing at the coupling means output, said amplifier means for said stage amplifying said combined signal, and output means for outputting the amplified signal, the elements included in said connecting stage located in close proximity to each other.
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Abstract
A distributed antenna system is provided which is formed from a series of modular stages interconnected by cables. Each stage may include an antenna, a filter, a compensating amplifier and preferably elements for impedance matching to connecting cables. Connecting stages also include a coupler for combining the output from the stage antenna with the output from the preceding stage and passing the combined signal to the stage output. Where the stages are part of a transmitting system, the coupler is replaced by or functions as a splitter, an input thereto from, for example, a preceding stage, being applied to the stage antenna and to the stage output.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A distributed antenna system comprising:
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at least two antennas for receiving broadcast signals; and a separate compensating amplifier means corresponding to each of the least two antennas and connected to receive a signal related to an output from the corresponding antenna; at least selected ones of said at least two antennas and said compensating amplifier means being arranged to form at least one connecting stage, each said connecting stage including one of said at least two antennas, the amplifier means corresponding to said one of said at least two antennas, input means for receiving as an input signal an output of an amplifier means other than the amplifying means for said stage, means for coupling broadcast signals received by said antenna with said input signal received by said input means, a combined signal appearing at the coupling means output, said amplifier means for said stage amplifying said combined signal, and output means for outputting the amplified signal, the elements included in said connecting stage located in close proximity to each other. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A distributed antenna system comprising:
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at least two stages, each having an antenna connected to a coupler/splitter means, and a pair of input/output means connected to said coupler/splitter means, cable means interconnecting each two adjacent stages, wherein said stages are series connected to pass signals therebetween, the cable means being connected to the input/output means of each of the two adjacent stages; and separate amplifier means in each stage corresponding to each antenna to compensate for signal losses in the stage and in a cable connected thereto, the amplifier means connected between the coupler/splitter means and one of the pair of input/output means.
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18. A distributed antenna system comprising:
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means for generating a first signal, containing information corresponding to information in a received broadcast signal; and a plurality of connecting stages, each said connecting stage including input means for receiving an input signal, an antenna for receiving broadcast signals, means for coupling broadcast signals received by said antenna with the input signal received by said input means, a combined signal appearing at the coupling means output, means for amplifying said combined signal, and output means for outputting the amplified signal, the means for receiving the input signal of a first one of the plurality of connecting stages connected to receive the first signal, and the elements included in each said connecting stage located in close proximity to each other; and further including cable means for connecting the output means of each stage to the input means of a succeeding stage, wherein said stages are series connected; and wherein, for each connecting stage, said input means has an attenuation factor of LI ; said amplifying means has a gain of A; said output means has an attenuation factor of LO ; said coupling means attenuates said broadcast signals by a factor LCA and attenuates input signal received by a factor LCB, wherein the cable means has an attenuation factor LCABLE ; and
wherein ##EQU5## - View Dependent Claims (20)
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19. A distributed antenna system as in claim 19 wherein LCA and LCB are substantially equal.
Specification