Method and system for configuring a tower top low noise amplifier
First Claim
1. A method of controlling a tower-top low noise amplifier (TTLNA) comprising:
- configuring a TTLNA to the transmit mode by removing a low noise amplifier (LNA) from a receive signal path, wherein removing the LNA from a receive path includes grounding an input of the LNA and terminating the output of the LNA;
at a TTLNA receive duration timing circuit, detecting a start of a radio frequency (RF) transmit signal and an end of an RF transmit signal and responsively generating a receive mode control signal;
configuring a TTLNA to the receive mode by placing the LNA into the receive signal path in response to detecting the end of the RF transmit signal; and
returning the TTLNA to the transmit mode in response to the receive mode control signal generated at the TTLNA in response to the receive duration timing circuit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Controlling a tower-top low noise amplifier (TTLNA) without transmit mode or receive mode timing control signals from a base station. The TTLNA system and associated components autonomously determine the proper mode of operation (transmit/receive), and automatically control the operation of a low noise amplifier (LNA) to prevent signal distortion and/or damage to the wireless system hardware. A preferred method comprises: at a TTLNA, measuring a transmit time period based on detecting radio frequency (RF) transmit signal energy; determining a receive time duration based on the measured time period and a predetermined frame time; and, configuring the TTLNA to a receive mode by placing a low noise amplifier into a receive signal path during the determined receive time duration.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of controlling a tower-top low noise amplifier (TTLNA) comprising:
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configuring a TTLNA to the transmit mode by removing a low noise amplifier (LNA) from a receive signal path, wherein removing the LNA from a receive path includes grounding an input of the LNA and terminating the output of the LNA; at a TTLNA receive duration timing circuit, detecting a start of a radio frequency (RF) transmit signal and an end of an RF transmit signal and responsively generating a receive mode control signal; configuring a TTLNA to the receive mode by placing the LNA into the receive signal path in response to detecting the end of the RF transmit signal; and returning the TTLNA to the transmit mode in response to the receive mode control signal generated at the TTLNA in response to the receive duration timing circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 15)
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12. A tower-top low noise amplifier assembly (TTLNA) comprising:
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a low noise amplifier (LNA) switchably coupled to a receive signal path; a power detection circuit coupled to a transmit signal path for generating a transmit power signal indicative of transmit energy being present; a receive timing circuit coupled to the power detection circuit for generating a receive mode control signal in response to the transmit power signal, wherein the receive timing circuit comprises a counter that is started in response to the transmit power signal, and provides an output indicative of the end of a frame time; and wherein the receive timing circuit is coupled to the LNA and the receive mode control signal is used to couple and decouple the LNA from the receive signal path. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 16, 17)
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Specification