Method and system for equalizing cable losses in a distributed antenna system
First Claim
1. A distributed antenna system comprising:
- a plurality of wireless sources coupled to at least one wiring closet unit;
a first cable run connecting a first wiring closet unit to a first antenna unit;
a second cable run connecting a second wiring closet unit to a second antenna unit;
a first signal measurement component located at a first end of the first cable run and a first equalization component coupled to the first cable run, the first signal measurement component being adapted for receiving a first received signal over the first cable run, wherein the first received signal is generated at a second opposite end of the first cable run by a first measurement signal generation component remotely positioned from the first signal measurement component, and the first signal measurement component for controlling the first equalization component to adjust an amplitude of a signal transferred over the first cable run as a function of the received signal; and
a second signal measurement component and a second equalization component coupled to the second cable run, the second signal measurement component being adapted for receiving a second received signal over the second cable run and for controlling the second equalization component to adjust an amplitude of a signal transferred over the second cable run as a function of the second received signal.
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Abstract
The invention is directed to a method and system for equalizing the signal losses over cable runs in a Distributed Antenna System (DAS). In a DAS, two or more antennae are connected to the system by cable runs that can vary widely in length. As a result, the signal loss over a given cable run can also vary widely which can impact the design and deployment of the DAS and reduce antenna spacing. In addition, for a broadband DAS that supports many frequency bands or ranges using a common antenna unit, the signal losses vary with respect to frequency further making it difficult to equalize the cable losses. According to one embodiment of the invention, the method and system provide for measuring and adjusting the signal losses of each cable run to be a predefined value. According to another embodiment of the invention, the DAS can include a hybrid passive-active antenna unit which includes a frequency multiplexer that separates the signal into frequency bands or ranges that are connected to an antenna element associated with a particular frequency band or range. Where a single frequency band needs to be amplified (or attenuated), a single band amplification block (SBAB) can be inserted in the connection between the frequency multiplexer and the antenna element to amplify (or attenuate) the desired frequency band. Where more than one frequency band need to be amplified (or attenuated), a multiband amplification block (MBAB) can be inserted in the connection between the frequency multiplexer and the appropriate antenna element to amplify (or attenuate) the desired frequency bands.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A distributed antenna system comprising:
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a plurality of wireless sources coupled to at least one wiring closet unit; a first cable run connecting a first wiring closet unit to a first antenna unit; a second cable run connecting a second wiring closet unit to a second antenna unit; a first signal measurement component located at a first end of the first cable run and a first equalization component coupled to the first cable run, the first signal measurement component being adapted for receiving a first received signal over the first cable run, wherein the first received signal is generated at a second opposite end of the first cable run by a first measurement signal generation component remotely positioned from the first signal measurement component, and the first signal measurement component for controlling the first equalization component to adjust an amplitude of a signal transferred over the first cable run as a function of the received signal; and a second signal measurement component and a second equalization component coupled to the second cable run, the second signal measurement component being adapted for receiving a second received signal over the second cable run and for controlling the second equalization component to adjust an amplitude of a signal transferred over the second cable run as a function of the second received signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 21, 22, 23)
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15. A method of equalizing signal losses over cable runs in a distributed antenna system, the system comprising two or more antenna units, each connected to an associated wiring closet unit by a cable run, the method comprising:
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generating a measurement signal at a first end of at least one of the cable runs; transmitting the measurement signal over at least a portion of the at least one of the cable runs; receiving the measurement signal at a second opposite end of the at least a portion of the at least one of the cable runs; determining a measure of signal loss over the portion of the at least one cable run; and adjusting signal gain of a signal transferred over at least one of the cable runs as a function of the signal loss. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification