Extremely high frequency (EHF) distributed antenna systems, and related components and methods
First Claim
1. A base unit for distributing extremely high frequency (EHF) modulated data signals to at least one remote antenna unit (RAU), comprising:
- a downlink data source input configured to receive a downlink electrical data signal from a data source;
an electrical-to-optical (E-O) converter configured to convert the downlink electrical data signal into a downlink optical data signal;
an oscillator configured to generate an electrical carrier signal at a center frequency in an EHF band;
a modulator configured to combine the downlink optical data signal with the electrical carrier signal to form a downlink modulated optical signal comprising the downlink optical data signal modulated at the center frequency of the electrical carrier signal, the modulator further configured to send the downlink modulated optical signal to at least one RAU; and
an uplink receiver comprising at least one antenna, the uplink receiver configured to operate at a frequency substantially lower than EHF to receive uplink electromagnetic signals from at least one wireless client through the at least one antenna.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
Extremely High Frequency (EHF) distributed antenna systems and related components and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, a base unit for distributing EHF modulated data signals to a RAU(s) is provided. The base unit includes a downlink data source input configured to receive downlink electrical data signal(s) from a data source. The base unit also includes an E-O converter configured to convert downlink electrical data signal(s) into downlink optical data signal(s). The base unit also includes an oscillator configured to generate an electrical carrier signal at a center frequency in the EHF band. The base unit also includes a modulator configured to combine the downlink optical data signal(s) with the electrical carrier signal to form downlink modulated optical signal(s) comprising a downlink optical data signal(s) modulated at the center frequency of the electrical carrier signal. The modulator is further configured to send the downlink modulated optical signal to the RAU(s).
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A base unit for distributing extremely high frequency (EHF) modulated data signals to at least one remote antenna unit (RAU), comprising:
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a downlink data source input configured to receive a downlink electrical data signal from a data source; an electrical-to-optical (E-O) converter configured to convert the downlink electrical data signal into a downlink optical data signal; an oscillator configured to generate an electrical carrier signal at a center frequency in an EHF band; a modulator configured to combine the downlink optical data signal with the electrical carrier signal to form a downlink modulated optical signal comprising the downlink optical data signal modulated at the center frequency of the electrical carrier signal, the modulator further configured to send the downlink modulated optical signal to at least one RAU; and an uplink receiver comprising at least one antenna, the uplink receiver configured to operate at a frequency substantially lower than EHF to receive uplink electromagnetic signals from at least one wireless client through the at least one antenna. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A method for distributing extremely high frequency (EHF) modulated data signals to at least one remote antenna unit (RAU), comprising:
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receiving a downlink electrical data signal from a downlink data source; converting the downlink electrical data signal into a downlink optical data signal; combining the downlink optical data signal with an electrical carrier signal operating in an EHF band to form a downlink modulated optical signal comprising the downlink optical data signal modulated at a center frequency of the electrical carrier signal; sending the downlink modulated optical signal from a base unit to at least one RAU; and receiving an uplink electromagnetic signal from a wireless client at the base unit, the uplink electromagnetic signal having a frequency substantially lower than EHF. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for distributing extremely high frequency (EHF) modulated data signals to at least one remote antenna unit (RAU), the system comprising:
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a base unit comprising; a downlink data source input configured to receive a downlink electrical data signal from a data source; an electrical-to-optical (E-O) converter configured to convert the downlink electrical data signal into a downlink optical data signal; an oscillator configured to generate an electrical carrier signal at a center frequency in a EHF band; and a modulator configured to combine the downlink optical data signal with the electrical carrier signal to form a downlink modulated optical signal comprising the downlink optical data signal modulated at the center frequency of the electrical carrier signal; an uplink receiver comprising a first antenna, the uplink receiver configured to operate at a frequency substantially lower than EHF to receive uplink electromagnetic signals from at least one wireless client through the first antenna; and at least one RAU comprising a second antenna and the at least one RAU configured to receive the downlink modulated optical signal from the modulator, convert the downlink modulated optical signal to a downlink modulated electromagnetic signal, and transmit the downlink modulated electromagnetic signal to the at least one wireless client through the second antenna. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A base unit for distributing extremely high frequency (EHF) modulated data signals to at least one remote antenna unit, comprising:
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a downlink digital data source input configured to receive a downlink electrical digital data signal from a data source; an electrical-to-optical (E-O) converter configured to convert the downlink electrical digital data signal into a downlink optical digital data signal, wherein the E-O converter comprises a laser diode; a local oscillator configured to generate an electrical carrier signal at a center frequency at approximately 60 GHz; a modulator configured to combine the downlink optical digital data signal with the electrical carrier signal to form a downlink modulated optical signal comprising the downlink optical digital data signal modulated at the center frequency of the electrical carrier signal, the modulator further configured to send the downlink modulated optical signal to at least one RAU; and an uplink receiver comprising at least one antenna, the uplink receiver configured to operate at a frequency substantially lower than EHF to receive uplink electromagnetic signal from at least one wireless client through the antenna. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification