Transmitting and receiving antenna voltage standing wave ratios measuring circuit of base station in mobile communication system

• US 6,178,310 B1
• Filed: 12/29/1997
• Issued: 01/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LG-Ericsson Company Limited (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Original Assignee: LG Information & Communications Ltd. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Jeong, Il Yong
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thanh Cong
• Assistant Examiner(s): Armstrong, Darnell R.
• Application Number:
  US08/998,773
• Time in Patent Office: 1,121 Days
• Field of Search: 455/115, 455/129, 455/122, 455/123, 455/124, 455/125, 455/423, 455/67.1, 455/226.1, 455/425
• US Class Current: 455/67.11
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/0085 using test signal generators
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/318 Received signal strength

Abstract

A transmitting and receiving antenna VSWRs (voltage standing wave ratio) measuring circuit of a base station in a mobile communication system comprises: transmitting and receiving antennas for transmitting and receiving a radio frequency signal of a predetermined frequency band in a mobile communication system; transmitting antenna VSWR measuring means for variable-attenuating and detecting a transmitting signal received from the transmitting antenna and sending a transmitting signal strength to a measuring controller whereby to measure transmitting power and reflected power; and receiving antenna VSWR measuring means for variable-attenuating and detecting a receiving signal received from the transmitting antenna and sending a receiving signal strength to a measuring controller whereby to measure receiving power and reflected power.

Claims

1. A transmitting and receiving antenna VSWRs (voltage standing wave ratio) measuring circuit of a base station in a mobile communication system, the circuit comprising:

transmitting and receiving antennas for transmitting and receiving a radio frequency signal of a predetermined frequency band in a mobile communication system;

transmitting antenna VSWR measuring means for variable-attenuating and detecting a transmitting signal received from the transmitting antenna and sending a transmitting signal strength to a measuring controller whereby to measure transmitting power and reflected power; and

receiving antenna VSWR measuring means for variable-attenuating and detecting a receiving signal received from the receiving antenna and sending a receiving signal strength to a measuring controller whereby to measure receiving power and reflected power.

2. The circuit according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting and receiving antenna VSWR measuring means are implemented in a single board.

3. The circuit according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting antenna VSWR measuring means comprises a directional coupler for outputting the transmitting radio frequency signal of the transmitting antenna through multiple output ports, a transmitting power measuring unit for variable-attenuating the transmitting radio frequency signal from the directional coupler and measuring the transmitting power based upon a predetermined frequency signal, a reflection power measuring unit for making the transmitting radio frequency signal have a predetermined frequency band and measuring the reflection power based upon the said frequency signal, and a frequency signal generator for applying a predetermined frequency signal to the transmitting and reflection power measuring units.

4. The circuit according to claim 3, wherein the transmitting power measuring unit comprises variable attenuators coupled to the directional coupler for attenuating the transmitting radio frequency signal, frequency mixers for down-converting the attenuated transmitting radio frequency signal into an intermediate frequency signal, band pass filters respectively coupled to the frequency mixers for filtering off a signal outside of an intermediate frequency band, amplifiers respectively coupled to the band pass filters for amplifying the intermediate frequency signal, and receiving signal strength indicators respectively coupled to the amplifiers for converting the intermediate frequency signal into direct voltage and sending a transmitting signal strength resulting from the conversion to a measuring controller.

5. The circuit according to claim 3, wherein the reflection power measuring unit comprises a wireless switch coupled to output ports of the directional coupler for selecting one of the output ports, a first band pass filter coupled to the wireless switch for filtering off an element outside of a radio frequency band, a first amplifier coupler to the first band pass filter for amplifying a radio frequency signal, a variable attenuator coupled to the first amplifier for attenuating the amplified transmitting radio frequency signal, a frequency mixer coupled to the variable attenuator for down-converting the transmitting radio frequency signal into an intermediate frequency, a second band pass filter coupled to the frequency mixer for filtering off the portion of a signal outside of the intermediate frequency band, a second amplifier coupled to the second band pass filter for amplifying the intermediate frequency signal, and a receiving signal strength indicator coupled to the second amplifier for converting the intermediate frequency signal into direct voltage and sending a transmitting signal strength resulting from the conversion to a measuring controller.

6. The circuit according to claim 3, wherein the frequency signal generator comprises a local oscillator for generating a predetermined frequency signal and a signal distributor for applying the frequency signal generated by the local oscillator to a plurality of frequency mixers.

7. The circuit according to claim 1, wherein the receiving antenna VSWR measuring means comprises first and second directional couplers for outputting the receiving radio frequency signal of the receiving antenna via a forward or reverse path, a receiving power measuring unit for variable-attenuating the receiving radio frequency signal from the directional coupler and measuring the receiving power based upon a predetermined frequency signal, a reflection power measuring unit for making the receiving radio frequency signal have a predetermined frequency band and measuring the reflection power based upon the frequency signal, and a frequency signal generator for applying a predetermined frequency signal to the forward path of the receiving power measuring unit and the reverse path of the reflection power measuring unit.

8. The circuit according to claim 7, wherein the receiving power measuring unit comprises a first wireless switch coupled to output ports of the directional coupler for selecting one of the output ports, a first amplifier for amplifying the receiving radio frequency signal transmitted through the output port selected by the wireless switch, a first band pass filter for eliminating a portion of the signal output by the amplifier, the portion being outside of a radio frequency band, a variable attenuator coupled to the first band pass filter for attenuating the receiving radio frequency signal, a frequency mixer coupled to the variable attenuator for down-converting the receiving radio frequency signal into an intermediate frequency signal, a low pass filter coupled to the frequency mixer for passing a portion of a signal below an intermediate frequency band, a second amplifier coupled to the low pass filter for amplifying the intermediate frequency signal, a second band pass filter coupled to the second amplifier for filtering off a portion of a signal outside of the intermediate frequency band, a third amplifier coupled to the second band pass filter for amplifying a portion of a signal outside of the intermediate frequency band, and a receiving signal strength indicator coupled to the third amplifier for converting the intermediate frequency signal into direct voltage and sending a receiving signal strength resulting from the conversion to a measuring controller.

9. The circuit according to claim 8, wherein the receiving power measuring unit comprises a first frequency mixer coupled to a first local oscillator for down-converting a test frequency signal into an intermediate frequency signal, a band pass filter coupled to the first frequency mixer for filtering off a portion of a signal outside of a test frequency band, an amplifier coupled to the band pass filter for amplifying a signal of the test frequency band, and a receiving signal strength indicator coupled to the amplifier for converting the test frequency signal into direct voltage and sending a test signal strength resulting from the conversion to a measuring controller.

10. The circuit according to claim 7, wherein the reflection power measuring unit comprises a local oscillator for generating a test frequency signal, an amplifier coupled to the local oscillator for amplifying the test signal, a band pass filter coupled to the amplifier for filtering off a portion of a signal outside of a test frequency band, a first directional coupler coupled to the band pass filter and frequency mixer for passing the portion of the signal from the band pass filter to the frequency mixer, an isolator coupled to the first directional coupler for eliminating a reflected wave, and a wireless switch for coupling one of the output ports of a second directional coupler to the isolator.

11. The circuit according to claim 7, wherein the frequency signal generator comprises a first local oscillator for generating a first test frequency signal and applying it to frequency mixers of the receiving power measuring unit and a second local oscillator for generating a second test frequency signal and applying it to an amplifier of the reflection power measuring unit.