Non-bandlimiting antenna sharing method and apparatus for base stations

• US 6,792,289 B1
• Filed: 11/08/1999
• Issued: 09/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Judson, Bruce A.
• Primary Examiner(s): GELIN, JEAN ALLAND
• Application Number:
  US09/436,083
• Time in Patent Office: 1,772 Days
• Field of Search: 455/422, 455/13.3, 455/13.4, 455/19, 455/25, 455/78, 455/82, 455/83, 455/560, 455/561, 455/562, 455/550, 455/11.1, 455/307, 342/359, 342/360, 342/361
• US Class Current: 455/562.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/246 specially adapted for base stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/30 Combinations of separate antenna units operating in different wavebands and connected to a common feeder system
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 23/00 Antennas with active circuits or circuit elements integrated within them or attached to them
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

A method and apparatus for sharing antennas between bases stations that is non-band limiting. A transmit signal is received at a first port coupled to a base station. The transmit signal travels from the first port through a plurality of circulators prior to being transmitted by an antenna. A received signal is received at a second port that is communicatively coupled to the antenna. The received signal conceptually travels through the apparatus in a reverse direction to the transmit signal, through at least one of the circulator units, and is admitted to the base station using at least the same port that received the transmit signal. The signal may be split, and also received by a different base station.

Claims

1. A method for sharing antennas, comprising:

receiving a transmit signal at a first port communicatively coupled to a base station, wherein the transmit signal travels from the first port through a plurality of direction units prior to being transmitted by an antenna , the direction units assure the transmit signal follows a desired transmit path;

receiving a received signal at a second port communicatively coupled to the antenna; and

routing the received signal to the first port or optionally to a third port coupled to another base station in a reverse direction to the transmit signal, through at least one of the direction units, through a rejection filter for rejecting frequencies used for transmission of the transmit signal, and along a path used by the transmit signal, the at least one direction unit routes the received signal along the desired receive path.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the path along which the received signal is routed is similar to the path used by the transmit signal.

3. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the received signal and the transmit signal are duplexed.

4. An apparatus for sharing antennas, comprising:

a first port, wherein the first port is communicatively coupled to a first base station;

a second port communicatively coupled to an antenna;

a third port communicatively coupled to a second base station;

a plurality of direction units communicatively coupled to the first port and the second port, wherein the plurality of direction units prevents a transmit signal received at the first port from traveling the same path as a receive signal that is received at the second port travels, wherein at least one direction unit routes the received signal along the desired receive path , and wherein the receive signal is admitted to the first base station at the first port or optionally to the second base station at the third port; and

a rejection filter on a receive path suppressing frequencies of a transmit signal.

5. The apparatus in accordance with claim 4, wherein the plurality of direction units prevents the transmit signal from traveling substantially the same path as the received signal.

6. The apparatus in accordance with claim 4, wherein the plurality of direction units prevents the transmit signal from traveling a similar path as the received signal.

7. The apparatus in accordance with claim 4, wherein the apparatus is a duplexed apparatus.

8. The apparatus in accordance with claim 4, further comprising;

a filter communicatively connected to at least one of the plurality of direction units;

an amplifier communicatively connected to the filter; and

a signal splitter communicatively coupled to the amplifier, at least one of the plurality of direction units, and the third port.

9. A method for processing signals in a wireless communication system, comprising:

routing a transmit signal from a base station along a first path through a plurality of directions units to an antenna, the direction units assure the transmit signal follows a desired transmit path;

receiving a receive signal at the antenna; and

routing the receive signal along a second path through at least one of the plurality of direction units, the at least one direction unit routes the received signal along the desired receive path comprising;

filtering out transmit frequencies, wherein transmit frequencies and receive frequencies are different;

splitting the received signal; and

,

optionally routing the received signal to a third port.

10. A method as in claim 9, wherein routing the receive signal further comprises:

amplifying the receive signal.

11. An apparatus for processing transmit and receive signals in a wireless communication system, comprising:

a first port coupled to a transceiver;

a first direction unit coupled to the first port;

a second direction unit coupled to the first port via a first path and second path, the first direction unit assures the transmit signals follow the first path, the second direction unit routes the receive signals along the second path to the first port and optionally to a third port coupled to another transceiver;

a filter coupled between the second direction unit and the first direction unit on the second path, wherein the filter is adapted to filter out transmit frequencies; and

a splitter coupled between the filter and the first direction unit an the second path.

12. An apparatus as in claim 11, further comprising:

an amplifier coupled between the filter and the amplifier on the second path.

13. An apparatus as in claim 11, wherein transmit signals travel from the first direction unit to the second direction unit.

14. An apparatus as in claim 11, wherein receive signals travel from the second direction unit to the first direction unit.

15. The apparatus as in claim 14, wherein the antenna is used by a plurality of base stations.

16. A method for sharing antennas, comprising:

receiving a transmit signal at a first port communicatively coupled to a base station

selecting a processing path in response to the transmit signal, wherein the path is defined from the first port through a plurality of direction units prior to being transmitted by an antenna;

receiving a received signal at a second port communicatively coupled to the antenna;

selecting a second processing path in response to the frequency of the receive signal; and

routing the received signal on the second path, wherein the second path is defined to the first port and optionally to a third port coupled to another base station in a reverse direction to the transmit signal, through at least one of the direction units, through a rejection filter for rejecting frequencies of the transmit signal, and along at least a portion of the path used by the transmit signal.

17. An apparatus for sharing antennas, comprising:

means for receiving a transmit signal at a first port communicatively coupled to a base station

means for selecting a processing path in response to the transmit signal, wherein the path is defined from the first port through a plurality of direction units prior to being transmitted by an antenna;

means for receiving a received signal at a second port communicatively coupled to the antenna;

means for selecting a second processing path in response to the frequency of the receive signal; and

means for routing the received signal on the second path, wherein the second path is defined to the first port and optionally to a third port coupled to another base station in a reverse direction to the transmit signal, through at least one of the direction units, through a rejection filter for rejecting frequencies of the transmit signal, and along at least a portion of the path used by the transmit signal.