Antenna detection with non-volatile memory powered by DC over coaxial cable
First Claim
1. A method of identifying an antenna, the method comprising:
- coupling radio frequency (RF) signals between a transceiver unit and an antenna over first and second sections of a coaxial cable coupled between the transceiver unit and the antenna;
coupling a direct current (DC) voltage onto the first section of the coaxial cable and across a capacitor coupled between the first and second sections of the coaxial cable;
powering a non-volatile memory coupled across the capacitor from the DC voltage;
sending a read request from the transceiver unit over the coaxial cable to the non-volatile memory;
receiving the read request at the non-volatile memory;
sending a response to the read request from the non-volatile memory over the coaxial cable, wherein the non-volatile memory has an identifier stored therein for identifying the antenna and wherein the non-volatile memory includes the identifier in the response; and
receiving the response at the transceiver unit, the response identifying the antenna to the transceiver unit.
12 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In one embodiment, an antenna unit is provided that includes an antenna and a coax connector. The coax connector includes an inner conductor configured to contact a signal conductor of a coaxial cable and a ground contact configured to contact a metal shield of the coaxial cable. The coax connector is coupled to the antenna such that RF signals on the inner conductor are coupled to the antenna and such that RF signals sensed by the antenna are coupled to the inner conductor. The antenna unit also includes a non-volatile memory coupled to the coax connector such that the non-volatile memory can send and receive signals over the inner conductor. The non-volatile memory is configured to obtain operating power from a direct current voltage provided over a coaxial cable. The non-volatile memory has an identifier stored therein for identifying the antenna unit.
12 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A method of identifying an antenna, the method comprising:
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coupling radio frequency (RF) signals between a transceiver unit and an antenna over first and second sections of a coaxial cable coupled between the transceiver unit and the antenna; coupling a direct current (DC) voltage onto the first section of the coaxial cable and across a capacitor coupled between the first and second sections of the coaxial cable; powering a non-volatile memory coupled across the capacitor from the DC voltage; sending a read request from the transceiver unit over the coaxial cable to the non-volatile memory; receiving the read request at the non-volatile memory; sending a response to the read request from the non-volatile memory over the coaxial cable, wherein the non-volatile memory has an identifier stored therein for identifying the antenna and wherein the non-volatile memory includes the identifier in the response; and receiving the response at the transceiver unit, the response identifying the antenna to the transceiver unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An in-line antenna identifying device, comprising:
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a first coax connector configured to connect to a coaxial cable, the first coax connector including an inner conductor configured to contact a signal conductor of a coaxial cable connected thereto and a ground contact configured to contact a metal shield of the coaxial cable connected thereto; a second coax connector configured to connect to a coaxial cable, the second coax connector including an inner conductor configured to contact a signal conductor of a coaxial cable connected thereto and a ground contact configured to contact a metal shield of the coaxial cable connected thereto, wherein radio frequency (RF) signals received on either of the inner conductors are coupled to the other of the inner conductors; a non-volatile memory physically coupled to and between the first coax connector and the second coax connector such that the non-volatile memory can send and receive signals over the inner conductor of the first coax connector, the non-volatile memory configured to obtain operating power from a direct current voltage provided over a coaxial cable connected to the first coax connector, wherein the non-volatile memory has an identifier stored therein for identifying an antenna coupled to the second coax connector and is configured to send the identifier over the inner conductor in response to a read request received over the inner conductor; wherein the non-volatile memory has a one-wire serial interface coupled to the inner conductor of the first coax connector and a ground contact coupled to the inner conductor of the second coax connector; and a capacitor in series between the first coax connector and the second coax connector such that a first end of the capacitor is coupled to the inner conductor of the first coax connector and the second end of the capacitor is coupled to the inner conductor of the second coax connector, wherein the one-wire serial interface of the non-volatile memory is coupled to the first end of the capacitor and the ground contact of the non-volatile memory is coupled to the second end of the capacitor. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system, comprising:
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a transceiver unit coupled to a first section of a coaxial cable and configured to send and receive RF signals over a signal conductor of the coaxial cable; an antenna coupled to a second section of the coaxial cable; a capacitor coupled between the first and second sections of the coaxial cable; a non-volatile memory coupled across the capacitor such that the non-volatile memory is configured to send and to receive signals over the coaxial cable, the non-volatile memory configured to obtain operating power from a direct current (DC) voltage across the capacitor; wherein the transceiver unit includes an antenna identifying circuit configured to send a read request over the coaxial cable to the non-volatile memory; and wherein the non-volatile memory has an identifier stored therein for identifying the antenna and is configured to send the identifier over the coaxial cable in response to the read request received over the coaxial cable. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification