US 11,114,852 B2Granted

Power distribution module(s) capable of hot connection and/or disconnection for wireless communication systems, and related power units, components, and methods

AssigneeCorning Optical Communications LLC

InventorsChois Alven Blackwell, Jr., Boyd Grant Brower, Terry Dean Cox

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Abstract

Power distribution modules are configured to distribute power to a power-consuming component(s), such as a remote antenna unit(s) (RAU(s)). By “hot” connection and/or disconnection, the power distribution modules can be connected and/or disconnected from a power unit and/or a power-consuming component(s) while power is being provided to the power distribution modules. Power is not required to be disabled in the power unit before connection and/or disconnection of power distribution modules. The power distribution modules may be configured to protect against or reduce electrical arcing or electrical contact erosion that may otherwise result from “hot” connection and/or connection of the power distribution modules.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A wireless communication system, comprising:

a central unit comprising:
at least one first downlink input configured to receive downlink electrical radio frequency (RF) communications signals;
and
at least one uplink output configured to receive and communicate uplink electrical RF communications signals;
a plurality of remote antenna units (RAUs) communicatively coupled to the central unit by an optical fiber link comprising a plurality of optical fibers, each of the plurality of RAUs configured to provide communications to a corresponding coverage area of one or more coverage areas and comprising one or more optical-to-electrical (O/E) converters and one or more electrical-to-optical (E/O) converters;
wherein the one or more O/E converters in one or more of the plurality of RAUs are configured to convert downlink optical RF communications signals received from one or more of the plurality of optical fibers to electrical RF communications signals to be provided to one or more client devices in the one or more coverage areas of the plurality of RAUs;
and
wherein the one or more E/O converters in one or more of the plurality of RAUs are configured to convert electrical RF communications signals received from the one or more client devices to optical RF communications signals to be provided over one or more of the plurality of optical fibers to the central unit;
and
at least one power distribution module electrically coupled to one or more of the plurality of RAUs by a pair of electrical conductors, at least one power distribution module configured to:
be disposed in a power unit;
receive input power from an external power source;
and
selectively distribute output power based on the input power to at least one of the plurality of RAUs in response to a power enable signal.

11 more elements

A wireless communication system, comprising:

a central unit comprising:
at least one first downlink input configured to receive downlink electrical radio frequency (RF) communications signals;
and
at least one uplink output configured to receive and communicate uplink electrical RF communications signals;
a plurality of remote antenna units (RAUs) communicatively coupled to the central unit by an optical fiber link comprising a plurality of optical fibers, each of the plurality of RAUs configured to provide communications to a corresponding coverage area of one or more coverage areas and comprising one or more optical-to-electrical (O/E) converters and one or more electrical-to-optical (E/O) converters;
wherein the one or more O/E converters in one or more of the plurality of RAUs are configured to convert downlink optical RF communications signals received from one or more of the plurality of optical fibers to electrical RF communications signals to be provided to one or more client devices in the one or more coverage areas of the plurality of RAUs;
and
wherein the one or more E/O converters in one or more of the plurality of RAUs are configured to convert electrical RF communications signals received from the one or more client devices to optical RF communications signals to be provided over one or more of the plurality of optical fibers to the central unit;
and
at least one power distribution module electrically coupled to one or more of the plurality of RAUs by a pair of electrical conductors, wherein:
the at least one power distribution module is configured to be disposed in a power unit, and
the at least one power distribution module comprises:
an input power port configured to receive input power from the external power source;
at least one output power port configured to receive the input power and distribute output power based on the input power to one or more of the plurality of RAUs;
and
at least one power controller comprising a power enable port, the at least one power controller configured to selectively couple the input power port to the at least one output power port based on a power enable signal provided to the power enable port.

13 more elements

A wireless communication system, comprising:

a central unit comprising:
at least one first downlink input configured to receive downlink electrical radio frequency (RF) communications signals;
and
at least one uplink output configured to receive and communicate uplink electrical RF communications signals;
a plurality of remote antenna units (RAUs) communicatively coupled to the central unit by an optical fiber link comprising a plurality of optical fibers, each of the plurality of RAUs configured to provide communications to a corresponding coverage area of one or more coverage areas and comprising one or more optical-to-electrical (O/E) converters and one or more electrical-to-optical (E/O) converters;
wherein the one or more O/E converters in one or more of the plurality of RAUs are configured to convert downlink optical RF communications signals received from one or more of the plurality of optical fibers to electrical RF communication signals to be provided to one or more client devices in the one or more coverage areas of the plurality of RAUs;
and
wherein the one or more E/O converters in one or more of the plurality of RAUs are configured to convert electrical RF communications signals received from the one or more client devices to optical RF communications signals to be provided over one or more of the plurality of optical fibers to the central unit;
and
at least one power distribution module configured to be disposed in a power unit, the power unit configured to receive input power from an external power source, wherein the at least one power distribution module is electrically coupled to one or more of the plurality of RAUs by a pair of electrical conductors and is configured to provide output power to at least one of the plurality of RAUs;
and
wherein the at least one power distribution module comprises:
at least one power controller comprising a power enable port, the at least one power controller configured to receive the input power and selectively distribute the output power to at least one output power port based on a power enable signal provided to the power enable port;
at least one input power conductor configured to receive the input power from the external power source;
at least one input power enable conductor electrically coupled to the power enable port;
at least one output power conductor configured to receive the input power from the at least one power controller;
and
at least one output power enable conductor electrically coupled to the power enable port.

15 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/601,704Filed 15 Oct 2019 · continuation
Priority: 24 Nov 2010
Published: US 2020/0044445 A16 Feb 2020
Granted: 7 Sep 2021
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification12 codes

H02J 3/00
Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks
H04B 10/25753
Optical arrangements for wireless networks: distribution optical network, e.g. between a base station and a plurality of remote units
H04B 10/25758
Optical arrangements for wireless networks: between a central unit and a single remote unit by means of an optical fibre
H04B 10/808
Arrangements for feeding power: electrical power feeding of an optical transmission system

Family

Application61/416,780Us provisional application · filed 24 Nov 2010
PCT/US2011/061761Parent of this continuation · filed 22 Nov 2011
Application13/899,118Parent of this continuation · filed 21 May 2013
Application15/614,124Parent of this continuation · filed 5 Jun 2017
US 9,685,782 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 20 Jun 2017
US 2020/0044445 A1Pre-grant publication · published 6 Feb 2020
US 10,454,270 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2013/0249292 A1Published application
US 2017/0271870 A1Published application
US 11,114,852 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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