Providing digital data services as electrical signals and radio-frequency (RF) communications over optical fiber in distributed communications systems, and related components and methods
First Claim
1. A power unit for distributing power in a distributed antenna system, comprising:
- an electrical input medium comprising a plurality of electrical input links each configured to convey digital data signals and power signals;
an electrical output medium comprising a plurality of electrical output links comprising an upper set of electrical output links and a lower set of electrical output links, wherein;
the upper set of electrical output links and the lower set of electrical output links comprise at least one electrical communications output configured to distribute the digital data signals from the plurality of electrical input links to at least one communications interface;
the lower set of electrical output links comprise at least one electrical power output configured to distribute the power signals to at least one power interface; and
a circuit configured to;
receive the digital data signals from the plurality of electrical input links comprised in the electrical input medium;
receive the power signals from one or more electrical input links of the plurality of electrical input links comprised in the electrical input medium;
provide the received digital data signals from the plurality of electrical input links to the at least one electrical communications output; and
exclusively provide the received power signals from the one or more electrical input links to the lower set of electrical output links of the at least one electrical power output.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Distributed antenna systems providing and supporting radio frequency (RF) communication services and digital data services, and related components and methods are disclosed. The RF communication services can be distributed over optical fiber to client devices, such as remote antenna units for example. Power can also be distributed over electrical medium that is provided to distribute digital data services, if desired, to provide power to remote communications devices and/or client devices coupled to the remote communications devices for operation. In this manner, as an example, the same electrical medium used to transport digital data signals in the distributed antenna system can also be employed to provide power to the remote communications devices and/or client devices coupled to the remote communications devices. Power may be injected and switched from two or more power sources over selected electrical medium to distribute power for power-consuming components supporting RF communications services and digital data services.
751 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A power unit for distributing power in a distributed antenna system, comprising:
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an electrical input medium comprising a plurality of electrical input links each configured to convey digital data signals and power signals; an electrical output medium comprising a plurality of electrical output links comprising an upper set of electrical output links and a lower set of electrical output links, wherein; the upper set of electrical output links and the lower set of electrical output links comprise at least one electrical communications output configured to distribute the digital data signals from the plurality of electrical input links to at least one communications interface; the lower set of electrical output links comprise at least one electrical power output configured to distribute the power signals to at least one power interface; and a circuit configured to; receive the digital data signals from the plurality of electrical input links comprised in the electrical input medium; receive the power signals from one or more electrical input links of the plurality of electrical input links comprised in the electrical input medium; provide the received digital data signals from the plurality of electrical input links to the at least one electrical communications output; and exclusively provide the received power signals from the one or more electrical input links to the lower set of electrical output links of the at least one electrical power output. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for distributing power in a distributed antenna system using a power unit, comprising:
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conveying digital data signals and power signals through a plurality of electrical input links comprised in an electrical input medium; distributing the digital data signals to at least one communications interface through at least one electrical communications output comprising a plurality of electrical output links comprising an upper set of electrical output links and a lower set of electrical output links; distributing the power signals to at least one power interface through at least one electrical power output comprising the lower set of electrical output links; receiving the digital data signals from the plurality of electrical input links comprised in the electrical input medium; receiving the power signals from one or more electrical input links of the plurality of electrical input links comprised in the electrical input medium; providing the received digital data signals from the plurality of electrical input links to the at least one electrical communications output; and exclusively providing the received power signals from the one or more electrical input links to the lower set of electrical output links of the at least one electrical power output. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A distributed antenna system, comprising:
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at least one remote antenna unit (RAU), comprising; an optical input; and a data medium input comprising a data input and a power input; at least one optical fiber configured to couple head-end equipment (HEE) to the at least one RAU through the optical input, the at least one optical fiber configured to carry radio frequency (RF) communications signals thereon between the HEE and the at least one RAU; and at least one power unit, comprising; an electrical input medium comprising a plurality of electrical input links each configured to convey digital data signals and power signals; an electrical output medium comprising a plurality of electrical output links comprising an upper set of electrical output links and a lower set of electrical output links, wherein; the upper set of electrical output links and the lower set of electrical output links comprise at least one electrical communications output configured to distribute the digital data signals from the plurality of electrical input links to at least one communications interface; the lower set of electrical output links comprise at least one electrical power output configured to distribute the power signals to at least one power interface; and a circuit configured to; receive the digital data signals from the plurality of electrical input links comprised in the electrical input medium; receive the power signals from one or more electrical input links of the plurality of electrical input links comprised in the electrical input medium; provide the received digital data signals from the plurality of electrical input links to the at least one electrical communications output; and exclusively provide the received power signals from the one or more electrical input links to the lower set of electrical output links of the at least one electrical power output. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification