Repeaters for wireless communication systems

• US 7,577,398 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2001
• Issued: 08/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Andrew LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lovinggood, Breck W., Veihl, Jonathon C., Tennant, David T., Judd, Mano D., Maca, Gregory A., Kuiper, William P., Alford, James L., Thomas, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; John J
• Application Number:
  US10/181,109
• Publication Number:
  US 20040110469A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,136 Days
• Field of Search: 455/11.1, 455/24, 455 631- 3, 455/63.4, 455/67.11, 455/67.13, 455/562.1, 455/15, 455/9, 455/278.1, 455/277.1, 455/296, 455/90.2, 455/90.3, 455/561, 455/16, 455/17, 455/19, 455/20, 455/25, 455/13, 455/7, 455/276.1, 455/273, 455/13.1, 455/13.3, 343/702, 343/824
• US Class Current: 455/11.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/25 involving aiding data received from a cooperating element, e.g. assisted GPS
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/007 specially adapted for indoor communication
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/246 specially adapted for base stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/061 Two dimensional planar arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/29 Combinations of different interacting antenna units for giving a desired directional characteristic H01Q25/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 23/00 Antennas with active circuits or circuit elements integrated within them or attached to them
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/005 providing two patterns of opposite direction; back to back antennas H01Q25/004 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/2611 Means for null steering; Adaptive interference nulling
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/2647 Retrodirective arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/46 Active lenses or reflecting arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0825 with main and with auxiliary or diversity antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/10 Polarisation diversity; Directional diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15507 Relay station based processing for cell extension or control of coverage area, network planning with network coordinated processing with regard to cell extension H04W16/26; network topologies using dedicated repeater stations H04W84/047; terminal devices adapted for relaying to or from an other terminal H04W88/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/1555 Selecting relay station antenna mode, e.g. selecting omnidirectional -, directional beams, selecting polarizations
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15564 Relay station antennae loop interference reduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15585 by interference cancellation

Abstract

A flat-panel repeater includes a housing having a pair of oppositely facing surfaces, at least one antenna element mounted to each of the surfaces for radiating energy in a direction opposite to that of an antenna element mounted to the other of the surfaces, and an electronic circuit mounted within the housing and operatively coupling signals between at least one antenna element on each of the oppositely facing surfaces of the module. Isolation between the antennas on opposite sides of the repeater is improved by various techniques, such as use of adaptive cancellation which removes a significant portion of the feedback signal power, therefore increasing the total system isolation by the same amount. This additional isolation can be used to achieve greater system gain, and therefore significantly extend the range of the system. The repeater may also include a beamforming arrangement for creating a desired antenna pattern of one antenna relative to a base station and a desired antenna pattern of the other antenna relative to subscriber equipment.

Claims

1. A modular repeater comprising:

a housing having generally oppositely facing surfaces;

at least one antenna positioned on each of said surfaces for radiating energy in generally opposite directions;

electronic circuitry positioned in the housing and operatively coupling signals between the antennas, the electronic circuitry including feedback suppression structures for improving side-to-side isolation,

wherein said antennas each comprise radiating antenna elements located centrally on an associated ground plane of sufficient area within the housing to contribute significant feedback suppression.

2. The repeater of claim 1 wherein said electronic circuitry includes a digital adaptive cancellation system.

3. The repeater of claim 1 wherein said electronic circuitry includes an automatic gain control circuit.

4. A repeater comprising:

a housing having generally opposing sides;

a first antenna mounted closely adjacent to one of the generally opposing sides of said housing;

a second antenna mounted closely adjacent to the other of said generally opposing sides of said housing;

repeater electronics mounted in said housing and operatively interconnecting said antennas; and

said repeater electronics including an interference cancellation circuit for effectively reducing interference feedback signals between said antennas in both an uplink path and a downlink path.