Communication system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A communication system comprising:
- a non-radiating broad band distribution system having a plurality of connection points for transmission in a first outbound broad band spectrum and reception in a first inbound broad band spectrum, which are sufficiently spaced from one another to permit separate amplification thereof;
a plurality of wide band antenna means, for transmitting and receiving a plurality of signals in a second outbound wide band spectrum and a second inbound wide band spectrum, each wide band antenna means comprising an elongate distributed antenna providing communication within an area having a configuration corresponding to the topology covered by the distributed antenna;
means for maintaining signal levels in the broad band distribution system between desired limits; and
a plurality of distributed antenna units, each connected between a respective connection point of the broad band distribution system and a respective wide band antenna means for bidirectional processing of signals therebetween;
wherein each distributed antenna unit comprises;
a main connection port connected to a respective connection point of the broad band distribution system;
an antenna port connected to a respective wide band antenna means;
a plurality of signal processing devices, for bidirectional processing of signals between the main connection and antenna ports and connected to the main connection port, each signal processing device being able to receive signals from and transmit signals to the main connection port in a first outbound frequency band and a first inbound frequency band respectively, and to receive signals from and transmit signals to the antenna port in at least one second inbound frequency band and at least one second outbound frequency band respectively, with each signal processing device being able to effect required translation in frequency, amplitude and modulation between the first and second inbound frequency bands and between the first and second outbound frequency bands, and with each signal processing device ensuring that each signal transmitted to the main connection port in the respective first inbound frequency band is at a desired level compatible with the broad band distribution system, and with the first inbound frequency bands all being in the first inbound frequency spectrum and the first outbound frequency bands all being in the first outbound frequency spectrum; and
a frequency band splitter and combiner means connected between the signal processing means and the antenna port, the band splitter and combiner means being capable of combining signals in different frequency bands being transmitted to the antenna port and being capable of splitting frequencies received from the antenna port for separate processing by the signal processing means.
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Abstract
A communication system, particularly for a mine, has a broad band distribution system. Antennas, which may comprise leaky coax feeders, are connected to this distribution system by interface units. As required, the interface units effect signal level adjustment, frequency translation, and/or modulation technique changes. It is provided for each of the distribution system and the antennas to have separate in- and out- bound broad band spectra, with the antenna typically utilizing different frequency bands from the distribution system. A variety of information, including mobile and fixed radio, LANs, data acquisition systems, video, can communicate over this system.
188 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A communication system comprising:
- a non-radiating broad band distribution system having a plurality of connection points for transmission in a first outbound broad band spectrum and reception in a first inbound broad band spectrum, which are sufficiently spaced from one another to permit separate amplification thereof;
a plurality of wide band antenna means, for transmitting and receiving a plurality of signals in a second outbound wide band spectrum and a second inbound wide band spectrum, each wide band antenna means comprising an elongate distributed antenna providing communication within an area having a configuration corresponding to the topology covered by the distributed antenna;
means for maintaining signal levels in the broad band distribution system between desired limits; and
a plurality of distributed antenna units, each connected between a respective connection point of the broad band distribution system and a respective wide band antenna means for bidirectional processing of signals therebetween;wherein each distributed antenna unit comprises;
a main connection port connected to a respective connection point of the broad band distribution system;
an antenna port connected to a respective wide band antenna means;
a plurality of signal processing devices, for bidirectional processing of signals between the main connection and antenna ports and connected to the main connection port, each signal processing device being able to receive signals from and transmit signals to the main connection port in a first outbound frequency band and a first inbound frequency band respectively, and to receive signals from and transmit signals to the antenna port in at least one second inbound frequency band and at least one second outbound frequency band respectively, with each signal processing device being able to effect required translation in frequency, amplitude and modulation between the first and second inbound frequency bands and between the first and second outbound frequency bands, and with each signal processing device ensuring that each signal transmitted to the main connection port in the respective first inbound frequency band is at a desired level compatible with the broad band distribution system, and with the first inbound frequency bands all being in the first inbound frequency spectrum and the first outbound frequency bands all being in the first outbound frequency spectrum; and
a frequency band splitter and combiner means connected between the signal processing means and the antenna port, the band splitter and combiner means being capable of combining signals in different frequency bands being transmitted to the antenna port and being capable of splitting frequencies received from the antenna port for separate processing by the signal processing means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
- a non-radiating broad band distribution system having a plurality of connection points for transmission in a first outbound broad band spectrum and reception in a first inbound broad band spectrum, which are sufficiently spaced from one another to permit separate amplification thereof;
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22. A distributed antenna unit comprising:
- a main connection port for connection to a non-radiating broad band distribution system for reception in a first outbound broad band spectrum and transmission in a first inbound broad band spectrum, which are sufficiently spaced from one another to permit separate amplification thereof;
an antenna port;
a plurality of signal processing devices, for bidirectional processing of signals between the main connection and antenna ports and connected to the main connection port, each signal processing device being able to receive signals from and transmit signals to the main connection port in a first outbound frequency band and first inbound frequency band respectively, and to receive signals from and transmit signals to the antenna port in at least second inbound frequency band and at least one second outbound frequency band respectively, with each signal processing device being able to effect required translation in frequency, amplitude and modulation between the first and second inbound frequency bands and between the first and second outbound frequency bands, and with each signal processing device ensuring that each signal transmitted to the main connection port in the respective first inbound frequency band is at a desired level compatible with a broad band distribution system, and with the first inbound frequency bands all being in the first inbound frequency spectrum and the first outbound frequency bands all being in the first outbound frequency spectrum; and
a frequency band splitter connected between the antenna port and the signal processing devices, the frequency band splitter being such as to combine signals received from the signal processing devices for transmission out through the antenna port and such as to split an incoming signal received from the antenna port to provide separate connections to respective signal processing devices. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
- a main connection port for connection to a non-radiating broad band distribution system for reception in a first outbound broad band spectrum and transmission in a first inbound broad band spectrum, which are sufficiently spaced from one another to permit separate amplification thereof;
Specification