NARROWBAND SIGNAL DETECTION

• US 20180102861A1
• Filed: 10/03/2017
• Published: 04/12/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2016
• 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, Cook, Patrick Lee, VanBuren, Vernon Alan
• Granted Patent: US 10,432,332 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/409 by means of resistance, voltage or current measurement
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/14 Relay systems
• 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 7/15578 by gain adjustment

Abstract

Technology for a repeater is disclosed. The repeater can measure a first power level within a passband. The repeater can adjust a gain of the repeater by a selected amount. The repeater can measure a second power level within the passband. The repeater can calculate a difference between the first power level and the second power level. The repeater can determine that the repeater is approaching an oscillation when the difference is different than a selected amount by a predetermined threshold.

Claims

1. A repeater, comprising one or more processors and memory configured to:

measure a first power level within a passband;

adjust a gain of the repeater by a selected amount;

measure a second power level within the passband;

calculate a difference between the first power level and the second power level; and

determine that the repeater is approaching an oscillation when the difference is different than a selected amount by a predetermined threshold.

2. The repeater of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors and memory are further configured to measure the first power level and the second power level across an entire passband.

3. The repeater of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors and memory are further configured to:

measure the first power level as a plurality of narrowband power level measurements at selected frequencies across the passband to determine a plurality of first power levels;

measure the second power level as a plurality of narrowband power level measurements at the selected frequencies across the passband to determine a plurality of second power levels;

calculate a difference between each of the plurality of first power levels and the plurality of second power levels to determine a plurality of power level differences; and

determine that the repeater is approaching the oscillation when one or more of the plurality of power level differences is greater than the selected amount by the predetermined threshold.

4. The repeater of claim 3, wherein the plurality of narrowband power level measurements are performed by sweeping the passband using a narrowband detector.

5. The repeater of claim 3, wherein the determination that the repeater is approaching the oscillation occurs when one or more of the plurality of power level differences occurs at a frequency that is not a signal frequency within the passband.

6. A signal booster, comprising one or more processors and memory configured to:

identify first power levels for a plurality of sub-bands included in a defined passband, wherein the signal booster is configured to amplify signals on frequencies within the defined passband in accordance with an amplification level;

identify second power levels for the plurality of sub-bands included in the defined passband after the amplification level is adjusted by a predetermined amount;

compare the first power levels with the second power levels to determine whether or not the signal booster is approaching an oscillation; and

modify the amplification level depending on whether the signal booster is approaching the oscillation or not approaching the oscillation.

7. The signal booster of claim 6, further comprising a narrowband detector configured to detect the first power levels and the second power levels for the plurality of sub-bands included in the defined passband.

8. The signal booster of claim 6, wherein the one or more processors and memory are configured to:

determine that the signal booster is approaching the oscillation when the first power levels and the second power levels are separated by greater than a defined value; and

decrease the amplification level when the signal booster is approaching the oscillation.

9. The signal booster of claim 6, wherein the one or more processors and memory are configured to:

determine that the signal booster is not approaching the oscillation when the first power levels and the second power levels are separated by less than a defined value; and

increase the amplification level when the signal booster is not approaching the oscillation;

or

maintain a current amplification level when the signal booster is not approaching the oscillation.

10. The signal booster of claim 6, wherein the one or more processors and memory are configured to:

decrease the amplification level when the signal booster is approaching the oscillation;

determine that the signal booster is no longer approaching the oscillation after a defined period of time; and

increase the amplification level to a previous amplification level.

11. The signal booster of claim 6, wherein the one or more processors and memory are configured to:

identify peak to valley differentials for power level measurements obtained at the signal booster; and

determine that the signal booster is approaching the oscillation when the peak to valley differentials exceed a defined threshold.

12. The signal booster of claim 6, wherein the one or more processors and memory are configured to:

identify peak to valley differentials for power level measurements obtained at the signal booster; and

determine that the signal booster is approaching the oscillation when the peak to valley differentials correspond to known peak to valley differentials that indicate an approaching oscillation.

13. The signal booster of claim 6, wherein the one or more processors and memory are configured to:

determine that the signal booster is approaching the oscillation when frequencies of power level measurements are periodic, wherein a periodicity of the power level measurements is based on a passband frequency.

14. The signal booster of claim 6, wherein the oscillation is created when a first antenna of the signal booster is within a defined distance of a second antenna of the signal booster.

15. The signal booster of claim 6, wherein the one or more processors and memory are configured to:

modify the amplification level prior to the oscillation being created at the signal booster, wherein the amplification level is modified to prevent an occurrence of the oscillation at the signal booster.

16. The signal booster of claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of sub-bands can range from 100 kilohertz (KHz) to 2 megahertz (MHz).

17. A signal booster, comprising:

a narrowband detector operable to detect power levels for a plurality of sub-bands included in a defined passband, wherein the signal booster is configured to amplify signals on frequencies within the defined passband in accordance with an amplification level; and

a controller configured to;

compare the detected power levels with baseline power levels to determine whether or not the signal booster is approaching an oscillation; and

modify the amplification level depending on whether the signal booster is approaching the oscillation or not approaching the oscillation.

18. The signal booster of claim 17, wherein the controller is configured to:

determine that the signal booster is approaching the oscillation when the detected power levels and the baseline power levels are separated by greater than a defined value; and

decrease the amplification level when the signal booster is approaching the oscillation.

19. The signal booster of claim 17, wherein the controller is configured to:

determine that the signal booster is not approaching the oscillation when the detected power levels and the baseline power levels are separated by less than a defined value; and

increase the amplification level when the signal booster is not approaching the oscillation.

20. The signal booster of claim 17, wherein the controller is configured to:

identify peak to valley differentials for a noise floor of the signal booster over a defined period of time; and

determine that the signal booster is approaching the oscillation when the peak to valley differentials exceed a defined threshold.

21. The signal booster of claim 17, wherein the controller is configured to:

identify peak to valley differentials for a noise floor of the signal booster over a defined period of time; and

determine that the signal booster is approaching the oscillation when the peak to valley differentials correspond to known peak to valley differentials that indicate an approaching oscillation.

22. The signal booster of claim 17, wherein the controller is configured to determine that the signal booster is approaching the oscillation when frequencies of power level measurements are periodic, wherein a periodicity of the power level measurements is based on a passband frequency.