Reverse link antenna diversity in a wireless telephony system

• US 6,336,042 B1
• Filed: 06/05/1998
• Issued: 01/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Transcept, Inc. (Crown Castle International Corporation)
• Inventors: Dawson, Michael T., Bianchi, Charles H., Johnson, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Congvan
• Application Number:
  US09/092,638
• Time in Patent Office: 1,306 Days
• Field of Search: 455/422, 455/561, 455/562, 455/101, 455/103, 455/133, 455/137, 455/4.1, 455/3.1, 455/3.3, 455/403, 455/167.1, 455/424, 379/56.1, 379/56.2, 379/56.3
• US Class Current: 455/562.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/085 Access point devices with remote components

Abstract

A wireless telephony system is described wherein remotely distributed transceivers, each of which has only a single antenna for receiving signals from wireless telephones, and such remote transceivers are located close enough so adjacent transceivers receive signals from the same wireless telephones to provide reverse link antenna diversity to help prevent loss of signal from a wireless telephone.

Claims

1. A remote antenna driver for receiving wireless telephony signals from a wireless telecommunications device and forwarding the wireless telephony signals to a telephone system via a broadband distribution network, comprising:

a transmitting antenna for transmitting wireless telephony signals received from the telephone system over the broadband distribution network to the wireless telecommunications device;

a single receiving antenna;

a first heterodyne circuit connected to the single receiving antenna for converting a carrier frequency of the wireless telephony signals; and

a coupler connected to the first heterodyne circuit for coupling the frequency converted wireless telephony signals to the broadband distribution network, and wherein first heterodyne circuit includes;

a first mixer having a first input terminal connected to the single receiving antenna, a second input terminal, and an output terminal connected to the coupler; and

a first local oscillator having an output terminal connected to the second input terminal of the first mixer, wherein a frequency of an output signal from the first local oscillator is controlled by a control signal received at a control terminal of the first local oscillator from a microprocessor.

2. The remote antenna driver of claim 1, further comprising a second heterodyne circuit having an input terminal connected to an output terminal of the first heterodyne circuit and having an output terminal connected to the coupler.

3. A remote antenna driver for receiving wireless telephony signals from a wireless telecommunications device and forwarding the wireless telephony signals to a telephone system via a broadband distribution network, comprising:

a transmitting antenna for transmitting wireless telephony signals received from the telephone system over the broadband distribution network to the wireless telecommunications device;

a single receiving antenna;

a first heterodyne circuit connected to the single receiving antenna for converting a carrier frequency of the wireless telephony signals;

a coupler connected to the first heterodyne circuit for coupling the frequency converted wireless telephony signals to the broadband distribution network;

a directional coupler having a first input terminal connected to the single receiving antenna, a second input terminal, and an output terminal connected to an input terminal of the first heterodyne circuit; and

a gain tone oscillator having an output terminal connected to the second input terminal of the directional coupler, wherein a frequency of an output signal from the gain tone oscillator is controlled by a control signal received at a control terminal of the gain tone oscillator from a microprocessor.

4. The remote antenna driver of claim 3, further comprising a step attenuator having an input terminal connected to an output terminal of the first heterodyne circuit, an output terminal connected to the coupler, and a control terminal connected to the microprocessor.

5. A remote antenna driver for receiving wireless telephony signals from a wireless telecommunications device and forwarding the wireless telephony signals to a telephone system via a broadband distribution network, comprising:

a transmitting antenna for transmitting wireless telephony signals received from the telephone system over the broadband distribution network to the wireless telecommunications device;

a single receiving antenna;

a first heterodyne circuit connected to the single receiving antenna for converting a carrier frequency of the wireless telephony signals;

a coupler connected to the first heterodyne circuit for coupling the frequency converted wireless telephony signals to the broadband distribution network;

a signal combiner having a first input terminal connected to the receiving antenna, a second input terminal, and an output terminal connected to the coupler; and

a control signal oscillator having an output terminal connected to the second input terminal of the signal combiner, wherein a frequency of an output signal from the control signal oscillator is controlled by a control signal received at a control terminal of the control signal oscillator from a microprocessor.

6. The remote antenna driver of claim 5, wherein the control signal oscillator includes a control terminal connected to a microprocessor.