Transmission system

• US 5,678,208 A
• Filed: 07/19/1995
• Issued: 10/14/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kirchhoff, Kirby Eric, Tennant, David Thomas, Fillingim, Steven James, Kowalewski, Rolf Ernst
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisenzopf, Reinhard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Lee
• Application Number:
  US08/504,210
• Time in Patent Office: 818 Days
• Field of Search: 455/115, 455/102, 455/103, 455/67.1, 455/8, 455/9, 455/92, 455/56.1, 455/116, 455/126, 455/67.4, 524/95, 379/59, 379/60
• US Class Current: 455/115.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/52 using AGC [Automatic Gain Control] circuits or amplifiers

Abstract

A remote power measuring device (1) is used to measure the power output of the transmission system (20). The measured power is then transmitted to a controller (5) and used by the controller (5), along with preset calibration data (41) for each power amplifier (3), to determine power output adjustment factors (22). The adjustment factors (22) are then communicated to the appropriate power amplifier (3) to adjust its output.

Claims

1. A transmission system comprising:

measuring means for measuring a power output of a plurality of power amplifiers of said transmission system and for providing a measured power signal;

a power amplifier, of said plurality of power amplifiers, having a control input/output, said control input/output being coupled to receive an adjustment factor used to adjust a power output of said power amplifier, said power amplifier further having a calibration data for that power amplifier;

control means for controlling said power amplifier, said control means having an input coupled to an output of said measuring means and an output coupled to said control input/output of said power amplifier, said control means using said calibration data from said power amplifier and said measured power signal from said measuring means with which to calculate a power adjustment factor for a plurality of power output steps of said power amplifier; and

communicating means for communicating said measured power signal received from said control means and receiving a command to output said adjustment factor to said power amplifier for a desired power output step.

2. The transmission system of claim 1 wherein said measuring means comprises a remote power monitor coupled to measure an output power of an antenna of said transmission system.

3. The transmission system of claim 1 wherein said calibration data is stored in said control means.

4. The transmission system of claim 1 wherein said power amplifier is a single tone power amplifier.

5. The transmission system of claim 1 wherein said adjustment factor is derived from said measured power signal when said plurality of power amplifiers are transmitting at a target output power for said transmission system.

6. The transmission system of claim 1 further comprising managing means for managing said plurality of power amplifiers, said managing means being coupled to receive said measured power signal from said communicating means and to select a desired power adjustment factor in said control means for control of the power output level of said power amplifier.

7. The transmission system of claim 6 wherein said managing means comprises a base site controller.

8. The transmission system of claim 6 wherein said managing means comprises a local maintenance facility.

9. A transmission system comprising:

measuring means for measuring a power output of a plurality of power amplifiers of said transmission system and for providing a measured power signal;

a power amplifier, of said plurality of power amplifiers, containing a calibration data and further having a control input/output, said control input/output being coupled to receive an adjustment factor used to adjust a power output of said power amplifier, said adjustment factor being derived from said measured power signal when said power amplifier is transmitting at a target output power for said transmission system;

control means for controlling an output of said power amplifier, said control means having an input coupled to an output of said measuring means and a power adjustment interface coupled to said control input/output of said power amplifier, said control means determining said adjustment factor based upon said measured power signal, said calibration data, and a target output power;

communicating means for communicating said measured power signal received from said measuring means, said calibration data from said power amplifier, and sending a power adjustment factor to the control input/output of said power amplifier, and receiving a control command for a power adjustment of said power amplifier; and

managing means for managing the power output of said plurality of power amplifiers, said managing means being coupled to receive said measured power signal from said communicating means and to provide said control command to said communicating means.

10. The transmission system of claim 9 wherein said measuring means comprises a remote power monitor coupled to measure an output power of an antenna of said transmission system.

11. The transmission system of claim 9 wherein said calibration data is stored in said control means.

12. The transmission system of claim 9 wherein said power amplifier is a single tone power amplifier.

13. The transmission system of claim 9 wherein said managing means comprises a base site controller.

14. The transmission system of claim 9 wherein said managing means comprises a local maintenance facility.

15. The transmission system of claim 9 wherein said control means comprises a first set of power adjustment factors for a first predetermined frequency and a second set of power adjustment factors for a second predetermined frequency.

16. The transmission system of claim 9 wherein said control means comprises a first set of power adjustment factors for use at a first predetermined power output level and a second set of power adjustment factors for use at a second predetermined power output level.

17. A transmission system comprising:

a remote power monitor coupled to measure a power output at an antenna;

a plurality of power amplifiers each having a radio frequency, RF, input, an RF output and a control input/output;

a combiner having a plurality of inputs coupled to each of said RF outputs of said plurality of power amplifiers and an output coupled to said antenna;

a power amplifier control interface having an input coupled to an output of said remote power monitor and a power adjustment interface coupled to said control input/output for each of said plurality of power amplifiers, a communication interface is provided for receiving a control command;

a plurality of transceivers each having a transceiver control port, and an RF output coupled to an RF input of at least one of said plurality of power amplifiers;

a second communications interface having a first input/output for receiving control commands, a second input/output connected to all transceiver control ports for control of all transceiver functions, and a third input/output coupled to the communication interface of said power amplifier control interface;

a base site controller having an input/output coupled to said first input/output of said second communications interface for sending said control commands; and

a local maintenance facility having an input/output temporarily connected to the input/output of said power amplifier control interface to effect local control of all transceivers, power amplifiers and power monitors for service purposes.