Protection of distributed antenna systems
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A distributed antenna apparatus, comprising:
- at least one downlink radio frequency (RF) interface configured to receive downlink RF signals and distribute the downlink RF signals over at least one downlink communications medium to one or more remote antenna units (RAUs);
at least one protection circuit communicatively coupled to the at least one downlink RF interface, the at least one protection circuit being configured fordetecting electrical power of at least a portion of the downlink RF signals, anddiverting a remainder portion of the downlink RF signals away from the at least one downlink RF interface in response to the detected electrical power being equal to or greater than a predetermined electrical power, wherein the remainder portion is a portion of the downlink RF signals that does not include the at least a portion of the downlink RF signals;
wherein the at least one protection circuit comprises;
at least one power detector for detecting the detected electrical power of the at least a portion of the downlink RF signals;
at least one comparator operatively associated with the at least one power detector for determining whether the detected electrical power is equal to or greater than the predetermined electrical power;
at least one RF switch operatively associated with the at least one comparator for diverting at least the remainder portion of the downlink RF signals away from the at least one downlink RF interface in response to the at least one comparator determining that the detected electrical power being equal to or greater than the predetermined electrical power; and
at least one coupler operatively associated with both the at least one power detector and the at least one RF switch, wherein;
the at least one coupler is configured for splitting the at least a portion of the downlink RF signals and the remainder portion of the downlink electrical RF signals from one another,the at least one coupler being operatively associated with the at least one power detector comprises the at least one power detector receiving the at least a portion of the downlink electrical RF signals, andthe at least one coupler being operatively associated with the at least one RF switch comprises the at least one RF switch receiving the remainder portion of the downlink electrical RF signals.
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Abstract
A protection circuit may be configured for detecting electrical power of downlink radio frequency (RF) signals, and diverting a substantial portion of the downlink RF signals away from a downlink RF interface of a distributed antenna system DAS in response to the detected electrical power being equal to or greater than a predetermined electrical power. The downlink RF signals diverted away from the downlink RF interface may be routed to an electrical load. The protection circuit may include hysteresis.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A distributed antenna apparatus, comprising:
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at least one downlink radio frequency (RF) interface configured to receive downlink RF signals and distribute the downlink RF signals over at least one downlink communications medium to one or more remote antenna units (RAUs); at least one protection circuit communicatively coupled to the at least one downlink RF interface, the at least one protection circuit being configured for detecting electrical power of at least a portion of the downlink RF signals, and diverting a remainder portion of the downlink RF signals away from the at least one downlink RF interface in response to the detected electrical power being equal to or greater than a predetermined electrical power, wherein the remainder portion is a portion of the downlink RF signals that does not include the at least a portion of the downlink RF signals; wherein the at least one protection circuit comprises; at least one power detector for detecting the detected electrical power of the at least a portion of the downlink RF signals; at least one comparator operatively associated with the at least one power detector for determining whether the detected electrical power is equal to or greater than the predetermined electrical power; at least one RF switch operatively associated with the at least one comparator for diverting at least the remainder portion of the downlink RF signals away from the at least one downlink RF interface in response to the at least one comparator determining that the detected electrical power being equal to or greater than the predetermined electrical power; and at least one coupler operatively associated with both the at least one power detector and the at least one RF switch, wherein; the at least one coupler is configured for splitting the at least a portion of the downlink RF signals and the remainder portion of the downlink electrical RF signals from one another, the at least one coupler being operatively associated with the at least one power detector comprises the at least one power detector receiving the at least a portion of the downlink electrical RF signals, and the at least one coupler being operatively associated with the at least one RF switch comprises the at least one RF switch receiving the remainder portion of the downlink electrical RF signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification