Radio-frequency integrated circuit (RFIC) chip(s) for providing distributed antenna system functionalities, and related components, systems, and methods

• US 9,338,823 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2014
• Issued: 05/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Corning Optical Communications Wireless Ltd. (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Saban, Ofer, Shapira, Isaac
• Primary Examiner(s): GESESSE, TILAHUN
• Application Number:
  US14/486,387
• Publication Number:
  US 20150038185A1
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 455/525, 455/524, 455/452.2, 455/562.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0075 using different intermediate frequencied for the different bands
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0413 MIMO systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6459 Multiplexing, e.g. TDMA, CDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/085 Access point devices with remote components
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Radio-frequency (RF) integrated circuit (RFIC) chip(s) allow for the integration of multiple electronic circuits on a chip to provide distributed antenna system functionalities. RFIC chips are employed in central unit and remote unit components, reducing component cost and size, increasing performance and reliability, while reducing power consumption. The components are also easier to manufacture. The RFIC chip(s) can be employed in distributed antenna systems and components that support RF communications services and/or digital data services.

Claims

1. A distributed antenna system for distributing communications signals, comprising:

a plurality of remote units; and

a central unit, comprising;

a central unit radio-frequency (RF) communications interface configured to;

receive downlink RF communication signals at a RF communications frequency for a RF communications service; and

receive uplink RF communication signals at the RF communications frequency for the RF communications service;

at least one central unit radio-frequency integrated circuit (RFIC) chip comprising;

a down conversion RF integrated circuit (IC) comprising down conversion circuitry configured to shift the frequency of the downlink RF communication signals to an intermediate frequency (IF) having a different frequency than the RF communications frequency, to provide downlink IF communications signals; and

an up conversion circuitry configured to shift the frequency of uplink IF communications signals to the RF communications frequency to provide the uplink RF communication signals; and

a central unit communications interface comprising communications circuitry configured to;

receive the downlink IF communications signals and provide the downlink IF communications signals to the plurality of remote units over a communications medium; and

receive the uplink IF communication signals from the plurality of remote units over the communications medium and provide the uplink IF communications signals to the up conversion circuitry;

the plurality of remote units each comprising;

a remote unit communications interface configured to;

receive the downlink IF communications signals from the central unit for the RF communications service; and

receive uplink RF communication signals at a RF communications frequency for the RF communications service; and

at least one remote unit RFIC chip, comprising;

an up conversion circuitry configured to shift the frequency of downlink IF communications signals to the RF communications frequency to radiate the downlink RF communication signals over a first antenna element; and

a down conversion circuitry configured to shift the frequency of uplink RF communication signals received from a second antenna element to the IF to provide the uplink IF communications signals.

2. The distributed antenna system of claim 1, wherein the communications medium has a different frequency rating than the RF communications frequency.

3. The distributed antenna system of claim 1, wherein the communications medium has a different bandwidth rating than bandwidth of the RF communications frequency.

4. The distributed antenna system of claim 1, wherein the central unit communications interface further comprises a switching matrix configured to switch received downlink IF communications signals to selected remote units among the plurality of remote units.

5. The distributed antenna system of claim 1, wherein the at least one central unit RFIC chip further comprises a synthesizer circuitry configured to generate at least one first frequency conversion reference signal provided to a first frequency conversion circuitry and generate at least one second frequency conversion reference signal provided to a second frequency conversion circuitry.

6. The distributed antenna system of claim 5, wherein the central unit further comprises synthesizer circuitry configured to generate at least one first frequency conversion reference signal provided to the first frequency conversion circuitry and generate at least one second frequency conversion reference signal provided to the second frequency conversion circuitry.

7. The distributed antenna system of claim 6, wherein the synthesizer circuitry is provided in the at least one central unit RFIC chip.

8. The distributed antenna system of claim 5, wherein:

the first frequency conversion circuitry is further configured to receive at least one first local oscillator (LO) signal to shift the frequency of the downlink RF communication signals to the IF to provide the downlink IF communications signals, and

the second frequency conversion circuitry is further configured to receive at least one second LO signal to shift the frequency of the uplink IF communications signals to the RF communications frequency to provide the uplink RF communication signals.

9. The distributed antenna system of claim 1, wherein the central unit further comprises:

a second central unit RF communications interface configured to;

receive second downlink RF communication signals at a second RF communications frequency for a second RF communications service; and

receive second uplink RF communication signals at the second RF communications frequency for the second RF communications service; and

the at least one central unit RFIC chip further comprises at least one of;

a third frequency conversion circuitry configured to shift the frequency of the second downlink RF communication signals to a second intermediate frequency (IF) having a different frequency than the second RF communications frequency, to provide second downlink IF communications signals; and

a fourth frequency conversion circuitry configured to shift the frequency of second uplink IF communication signals to the second RF communications frequency to provide the second uplink RF communication signals.

10. The distributed antenna system of claim 1, wherein:

the downlink RF communication signals are comprised of multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) downlink RF communication signals,

the uplink RF communication signals are comprised of MIMO uplink RF communication signals,

the downlink IF communications signals are comprised of MIMO downlink IF communication signals, and

the uplink IF communications signals are comprised of MIMO uplink IF communication signals;

the central unit RF communications interface is further configured to;

receive second MIMO downlink RF communication signals at the RF communications frequency for the RF communications service; and

receive second MIMO uplink RF communication signals at the RF communications frequency for the RF communications service;

the at least one central unit RFIC chip further comprising at least one of;

a third frequency conversion circuitry configured to shift the frequency of the second MIMO downlink RF communication signals to a second IF having a different frequency than the RF communications frequency, to provide second MIMO downlink IF communications signals; and

a fourth frequency conversion circuitry configured to shift the frequency of second MIMO uplink IF communication signals to the RF communications frequency to provide the second MIMO uplink RF communication signals; and

the remote unit communications interface is further configured to;

receive second MIMO downlink IF communication signals at the second IF for the RF communications service; and

receive second MIMO uplink IF communication signals at the second IF for the RF communications service;

the at least one remote unit RFIC chip comprising at least one of;

a third frequency conversion circuitry configured to shift the frequency of second downlink IF communication signals to the RF communications frequency to radiate the second downlink RF communication signals over a third antenna element; and

a fourth frequency conversion circuitry configured to shift the frequency of second uplink RF communication signals received from a fourth antenna element to the second IF to provide second uplink IF communications signals.

11. The distributed antenna system of claim 1, wherein the at least one central unit RFIC chip is comprised of a single central unit RFIC chip.

12. The distributed antenna system of claim 1, wherein the at least one remote unit RFIC chip is comprised of a single remote unit RFIC chip.

13. The distributed antenna system of claim 5, wherein the first frequency conversion circuitry is comprised of a down conversion frequency conversion circuitry, and the second frequency conversion circuitry is comprised of an up conversion frequency conversion circuitry.

14. The distributed antenna system of claim 5, wherein the first frequency conversion circuitry is comprised of an up conversion frequency conversion circuitry, the second frequency conversion circuitry is comprised of a down conversion frequency conversion circuitry.

15. The distributed antenna system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of remote units further comprises:

a second remote unit communications interface configured to;

receive second downlink intermediate frequency (IF) communication signals at a second IF for a second RF communications service; and

receive second uplink RF communication signals at a second RF communications frequency for the second RF communications service;

the at least one remote unit RFIC chip further comprising at least one of;

a third frequency conversion circuitry configured to shift the frequency of the second downlink IF communication signals to the second RF communications frequency of the RF communications service to radiate second downlink RF communications signals over a third antenna element; and

a fourth frequency conversion circuitry configured to shift the frequency of the second uplink RF communication signals received from a fourth antenna element to the second IF to provide second uplink IF communication signals.

16. The distributed antenna system of claim 15, wherein the at least one central unit RFIC chip is comprised of a single central unit RFIC chip and the at least one remote unit RFIC chip is comprised of a single remote unit RFIC chip.

17. The distributed antenna system of claim 15, wherein the at least one central unit RFIC chip further comprises a synthesizer circuitry configured to generate at least one first frequency conversion reference signal provided to a first frequency conversion circuitry and generate at least one second frequency conversion reference signal provided to a second frequency conversion circuitry.

18. The distributed antenna system of claim 15, wherein the first frequency conversion circuitry is comprised of a down conversion frequency conversion circuitry, the second frequency conversion circuitry is comprised of an up conversion frequency conversion circuitry.

19. The distributed antenna system of claim 15, wherein the first frequency conversion circuitry is comprised of an up conversion frequency conversion circuitry, the second frequency conversion circuitry is comprised of a down conversion frequency conversion circuitry.

20. The distributed antenna system of claim 15, further comprising at least one optical fiber connecting the remote units to the central unit.