Oscillation detecting system for wireless repeater

• US 5,815,795 A
• Filed: 07/25/1996
• Issued: 09/29/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Inventors: Iwai, Tohru
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US08/686,034
• Time in Patent Office: 796 Days
• Field of Search: 455/7, 455/9, 455/10, 455/11.1, 455/13.1, 455/13.4, 455/12.1, 455/18, 370/226, 370/246, 370/274, 370/315, 370/318
• US Class Current: 455/9
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/60 Supervising unattended repeaters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15564 Relay station antennae loop interference reduction

Abstract

An oscillation detecting apparatus for detecting an oscillation of a wireless repeater intervening between a base station and a mobile station brought in communication with each other through a TDMA system. The wireless repeater produces an input signal based on a radio wave transmitted from one of the base station and the mobile stations, and amplifies the input signal to produce an output signal. The output signal is transmitted from the wireless repeater to the other of the base station and the mobile station. The oscillation detecting apparatus comprises producing apparatus for producing a power level signal varied in proportion with an amplitude of the output signal. The power level signal is formed by, for example, an envelope of the output signal. The oscillation detecting apparatus further comprises first detecting apparatus for detecting a direct current component included in the power level signal, and second detecting apparatus for detecting an alternating current component included in the power level signal. The oscillation detecting apparatus further comprises first judging apparatus for judging whether the direct current component of the power level signal has reached a predetermined upper-limiting level, and second judging apparatus for judging whether the alternating current component of the power level signal is smaller than a predetermined criterion level. The oscillation detecting apparatus includes deciding apparatus for deciding that the wireless repeater is oscillating when both judgments are affirmative, thereby making it possible to enhance the accuracy of the oscillation detection.

Claims

1. An oscillation detecting apparatus for detecting an oscillation of a wireless repeater intervening between a base station and a mobile station brought in communication with each other through a time division multiple access system, said wireless repeater being operated to produce an input signal based on a radio wave transmitted from one of said base station and said mobile station, and amplify said input signal to produce an output signal, said wireless repeater being further operated to transmit said output signal in the form of a radio wave to the other of said base station and said mobile station, and said oscillation detecting apparatus comprising:

producing means for producing a power level signal varied in proportion with an amplitude of said output signal;

first detecting means for detecting a direct current component included in said power level signal;

second detecting means for detecting an alternating current component included in said power level signal;

first judging means for judging whether said direct current component of said power level signal has reached a predetermined upper-limiting level or not;

second judging means for judging whether said alternating current component of said power level signal is smaller than a predetermined criterion level or not; and

deciding means for deciding that said wireless repeater is oscillating when said first judging means judges that said direct current component of said power level signal has reached said predetermined upper-limiting level, and when said second judging means judges that said alternating current component of said power level signal is smaller than said predetermined criterion level.

2. An oscillation detecting apparatus as set forth in claim 1, in which said producing means comprises a detection circuit for detecting an envelope of said power level signal,

said first detecting means comprising a filter circuit for allowing only low frequency components including said direct current component of said power level signal to be supplied from said detection circuit to said first judging means, and

said second detecting means comprising a filter circuit for allowing only a frequency band including said alternating current component of said power level signal to be supplied from said detection circuit to said second judging means.

3. An oscillation detecting apparatus as set forth in claim 1, in which said time division multiple access system divides a radio spectrum into a plurality of time slots respectively occupied by users, said time slots collectively forming a frame and each reoccurring every frame, and

said alternating current component having a frequency corresponding to a reciprocal number of duration of said frame.

4. An oscillation detecting apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

first delay means for delaying the judgment made by said first judging means for a first predetermined period; and

second delay means for delaying the judgment made by said second judging means for a second predetermined period longer than said first predetermined period.

5. An oscillation detecting apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

first delay means for delaying the judgment made by said first judging means for a first predetermined period; and

second delay means for delaying the judgment made by said second judging means for a second predetermined period shorter than said first predetermined period.

6. An oscillation detecting apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

third judging means for judging whether an elapsed time after at least one of the judgments by said first and second judging means exceeds a predetermined period; and

outputting means for outputting the decision made by said deciding means when said third judging means judges that the elapsed time after at least one of the judgments by said first and second judging means exceeds said predetermined period.

7. An oscillation detecting apparatus as set forth in claim 6, in which said outputting means is operated to transmit the decision made by said deciding means to communication facilities positioned apart from said oscillating detecting apparatus.

8. An oscillation detecting apparatus as set forth in claim 1, in which said producing means, first and second detecting means, said first and second judging means and said deciding means serve only an up-communication in which said wireless repeater relays the radio wave transmitted from said mobile station to said base station.

9. A wireless repeater intervening between a base station and a mobile station brought in communication with each other through a time division multiple access system, comprising:

receiving means for receiving a radio wave transmitted from one of said base station and said mobile station and producing an input signal based on the received radio wave;

amplifying means for amplifying said input signal to produce an output signal;

transmitting means for reproducing a radio wave on the basis of said output signal and transmitting the reproduced radio wave to the other of said base station and said mobile station;

producing means for producing a power level signal varied in proportion with an amplitude of said output signal;

first detecting means for detecting a direct current component included in said power level signal;

second detecting means for detecting an alternating current component included in said power level signal;

first judging means for judging whether said direct current component of said power level signal has reached a predetermined upper-limiting level or not;

second judging means for judging whether said alternating current component of said power level signal is smaller than a predetermined criterion level or not; and

deciding means for deciding that said wireless repeater is oscillating when said first judging means judges that said direct current component of said power level signal has reached said predetermined upper-limiting level, and when said second judging means judges that said alternating current component of said power level signal is smaller than said predetermined criterion level.

10. A wireless repeater as set forth in claim 9, in which said producing means comprises a detection circuit for detecting an envelope of said power level signal,

said first detecting means comprising a filter circuit for allowing only low frequency components including said direct current component of said power level signal to be supplied from said detection circuit to said first judging means, and

said second detecting means comprising a filter circuit for allowing only a frequency band including said alternating current component of said power level signal to be supplied from said detection circuit to said second judging means.

11. A wireless repeater as set forth in claim 10, further comprising an output signal regulation unit for regulating said output signal on the basis of the low frequency components supplied from said filter circuit of said first detecting means, and

said detection circuit, said filter circuit of said first detecting means and said output signal regulation unit as a whole forming an automatic gain control circuit for controlling a gain indicative of a ratio of said input signal to said output signal to restrict said output signal to said predetermined upper-limiting level.

12. A wireless repeater as set forth in claim 10, further comprising an output signal regulation unit for regulating said output signal on the basis of the envelope of said output signal from said detection circuit and a filter unit interposed between said detection circuit and said output signal regulation unit for allowing only low frequency components included in said power level signal to be supplied from said detection circuit to said output signal regulation unit, and

said detection circuit, said filter unit and said output signal regulation unit as a whole forming an automatic gain control circuit for controlling a gain indicative of a ratio of said input signal to said output signal to restrict said output signal to said predetermined upper-limiting level.

13. A wireless repeater as set forth in claim 9, in which said producing means, said first and second detecting means, said first and second judging means and said deciding means serve only an up-communication in which said wireless repeater relays the radio wave transmitted from said mobile station to said base station.

14. A wireless repeater as set forth in claim 9, in which said time division multiple access system divides a radio spectrum into a plurality of time slots respectively occupied by users, said time slots collectively forming a frame and each reoccurring every frame, and

said alternating current component having a frequency corresponding to a reciprocal number of duration of said frame.

15. A wireless repeater as set forth in claims 9, further comprising:

first delay means for delaying the judgment made by said first judging means for a first predetermined period; and

second delay means for delaying the judgment made by said second judging means for a second predetermined period longer than said first predetermined period.

16. A wireless repeater as set forth in claim 9, further comprising:

first delay means for delaying the judgment made by said first judging means for a first predetermined period; and

second delay means for delaying the judgment made by said second judging means for a second predetermined period shorter than said first predetermined period.

17. A wireless repeater as set forth in claim 9, further comprising:

third judging means for judging whether an elapsed time after at least one of the judgments by said first and second judging means exceeds a predetermined period; and

outputting means for outputting the decision made by said deciding means when said third judging means judges that the elapsed time after at least one of the judgments by said first and second judging means exceeds said predetermined period.

18. A wireless repeater as set forth in claim 17, in which said outputting means is operated to transmit the decision made by said deciding means to communication facilities positioned apart from said wireless repeater.