Desktop signal booster

• US 10,348,392 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2017
• Issued: 07/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wilson Electronics LLC (Wilson Electronics Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: Wilson Electronics LLC (Wilson Electronics Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: Ashworth, Christopher Ken, Mouser, Michael James
• Primary Examiner(s): Rego, Dominic E
• Application Number:
  US15/814,223
• Publication Number:
  US 20180138967A1
• Time in Patent Office: 601 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15535 Control of relay amplifier gain amplifier gain control in general H03G3/00; gain control reducing self - or loop interference H04B7/15578
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15571 by signal isolation, e.g. isolation by frequency or by antenna pattern, or by polarization

Abstract

Technology for a desktop signal booster is disclosed. The desktop signal booster can include a cellular signal amplifier, an integrated device antenna coupled to the cellular signal amplifier, an integrated node antenna coupled to the cellular signal amplifier, and wireless charging circuitry. The cellular signal amplifier can be configured to amplify signals for a wireless device, and the wireless device can be within a selected distance from the desktop signal booster. The integrated device antenna can be configured to transmit signals from the cellular signal amplifier to the wireless device. The integrated node antenna can be configured to transmit signals from the cellular signal amplifier to a base station. The wireless charging circuitry can be configured to wirelessly charge the wireless device when the wireless device is placed in proximity to the desktop signal booster.

Claims

1. A desktop signal booster, comprising:

a cellular signal amplifier configured to amplify signals for a wireless device, wherein the wireless device is within a selected distance from the desktop signal booster;

an integrated device antenna coupled to the cellular signal amplifier, wherein the integrated device antenna is configured to transmit signals from the cellular signal amplifier to the wireless device; and

an integrated node antenna coupled to the cellular signal amplifier, wherein the integrated node antenna is configured to transmit signals from the cellular signal amplifier to a base station,

wherein the cellular signal amplifier further comprises one or more amplification and filtering signal paths configured to be positioned between the integrated device antenna and the integrated node antenna,

wherein the cellular signal amplifier further comprises a bypass signal path configured to be positioned between the integrated device antenna and the integrated node antenna, wherein the bypass signal path does not amplify and filter signals traveling through the bypass signal path, wherein signals are directed to one of the amplification and filtering signal paths or the bypass signal path depending on a power level of the signals in relation to a defined power level threshold.

2. The desktop signal booster of claim 1, wherein the desktop signal booster is configured to operate in series with one or more additional devices, wherein the additional devices include at least one of:

a non-portable signal booster, or a sleeve that amplifies signals for a wireless device placed in the sleeve.

3. The desktop signal booster of claim 1, wherein a spacing between the integrated device antenna and the integrated node antenna is selected to increase isolation between the integrated device antenna and the integrated node antenna.

4. The desktop signal booster of claim 1, wherein the amplification and filtering signal paths are configured to amplify and filter signals for communication to the base station via the integrated node antenna or for communication to the wireless device via the integrated device antenna.

5. The desktop signal booster of claim 1, wherein the cellular signal amplifier further comprises one or more detectors configured to detect the power levels of the signals.

6. The desktop signal booster of claim 1, wherein the cellular signal amplifier further comprises one or more directional couplers used to form the amplification and filtering signal paths and the bypass signal path.

7. The desktop signal booster of claim 1, wherein:

signals are directed to one of the amplification and filtering signal paths when power levels of the signals are below the defined power level threshold; and

signals are directed to the bypass signal path when power levels of the signals are above the defined power level threshold.

8. The desktop signal booster of claim 1, wherein the amplification and filtering signal paths includes a high band amplification and filtering signal path operable to direct signals within high frequency bands, wherein the high frequency bands includes band 4 (B4) and band 25 (B25).

9. The desktop signal booster of claim 1, wherein the amplification and filtering signal paths includes a low band amplification and filtering signal path operable to direct signals within low frequency bands, wherein the low frequency bands includes band 5 (B5), band 12 (B12) and band 13 (B13).

10. The desktop signal booster of claim 1, further comprising wireless charging circuitry configured to wirelessly charge the wireless device when the wireless device is placed in proximity to the desktop signal booster.

11. A wireless device charging station, comprising:

an integrated device antenna configured to communicate signals with a wireless device;

an integrated node antenna configured to communicate signals with a base station; and

a cellular signal amplifier that includes one or more amplification and filtering signal paths, wherein the amplification and filtering signal paths are configured to amplify and filter signals for communication to the base station via the integrated node antenna or for communication to the wireless device via the integrated device antenna,

wherein the cellular signal amplifier further includes one or more detectors configured to detect power levels of the signals, and the one or more amplification and filtering signal paths include one or more bypassable amplifiers that are configurable depending on detected power levels of the signals.

12. The wireless device charging station of claim 11, further comprising a battery configured to provide power to the cellular signal amplifier and the wireless device.

13. The wireless device charging station of claim 11, wherein:

the one or more amplification and filtering signal paths include one or more switchable band pass filters that are configurable depending on the detected power levels of the signals.

14. The wireless device charging station of claim 11, wherein:

the signals bypass the amplifiers to conserve energy when the power levels of the signals are above a defined power level threshold;

or

the signals do not bypass the amplifiers when the power levels are below a defined power level threshold.

15. The wireless device charging station of claim 11, wherein:

the band pass filters are switched in when the power levels of the signals are below a defined power level threshold;

or

the band pass filters are switched out when the power levels of the signals are above the defined power level threshold.

16. The wireless device charging station of claim 11, wherein the band pass filters are switched out to reduce a noise figure of the cellular signal amplifier and extend a coverage area of the cellular signal amplifier.

17. The wireless device charging station of claim 11, wherein the switchable band pass filters correspond to high frequency bands or low frequency bands, wherein the high frequency bands include band 4 (B4) and band 25 (B25), and the low frequency bands include band 5 (B5), band 12 (B12) and band 13 (B13).

18. The wireless device charging station of claim 11, wherein the one or more amplification and filtering signal paths include one or more downlink (DL) amplification and filtering signal paths and one or more uplink (UL) amplification and filtering signal paths.

19. The wireless device charging station of claim 11, further comprising wireless charging circuitry operable to wirelessly charge the wireless device when the wireless device is placed in proximity to the wireless device charging station.

20. A signal booster, comprising:

a cellular signal amplifier configured to amplify signals for a wireless device,

wherein the cellular signal amplifier further comprises a bypass signal path that does not amplify and filter signals traveling through the bypass signal path, wherein signals are directed to an amplification and filtering signal path or the bypass signal path depending on a power level of the signals in relation to a defined power level threshold.

21. The signal booster of claim 20, further comprising:

an integrated device antenna configured to transmit signals from the cellular signal amplifier to the wireless device; and

an integrated node antenna configured to transmit signals from the cellular signal amplifier to a base station.

22. The signal booster of claim 21, wherein the cellular signal amplifier is coupled to the integrated device antenna using a directional coupler.

23. The signal booster of claim 20, wherein the signal booster is a desktop signal booster.

24. The signal booster of claim 20, wherein the cellular signal amplifier further comprises one or more detectors configured to detect the power levels of the signals.

25. The signal booster of claim 20, wherein the cellular signal amplifier further comprises one or more directional couplers used to form the amplification and filtering signal paths and the bypass signal path.

26. The signal booster of claim 20, wherein:

signals are directed to one of the amplification and filtering signal paths when power levels of the signals are below the defined power level threshold; and

signals are directed to the bypass signal path when power levels of the signals are above the defined power level threshold.

27. The signal booster of claim 20, further comprising wireless charging circuitry configured to wirelessly charge the wireless device when the wireless device is placed in proximity to the signal booster.