# US 11,765,559 B2 · Passive radio frequency components with voltage standing wave ratio monitors > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,765,559 B2 - Document ID: US11765559B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/110,112 - Filed: 2018-08-23 - Published: 2019-02-28 - Granted: 2023-09-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-08-29 - Assignees: Microlab/FXR - Applicants: Microlab/Fxr LLC - Inventors: Luke Getto; Alejandro Pieroni; Phil Chen; Andre Prazeres - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11765559B2 ## CPC - H04W 4/38: for collecting sensor information - H02J 50/001: {Energy harvesting or scavenging} - H04B 17/103: {Reflected power, e.g. return loss} - H04L 67/12: specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks - H02J 7/345: {using capacitors as storage or buffering devices} - H02J 50/20: using microwaves or radio frequency waves - H04W 4/90: Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS] - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - H04B: TRANSMISSION - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract Systems and methods for monitoring passive components of a passive public safety distributed antenna system are provided, including a bi-directional amplifier, a public safety monitor coupled to and in communication with the bi-directional amplifier, and at least one smart node coupled to and in communication with the public safety monitor. The at least one smart node includes a processor configured to monitor signal characteristic information of at least one passive component of the system and transmit the signal characteristic information of the at least one passive component to the public safety monitor. The public safety monitor generates system performance information based on a signal at the bi-directional amplifier and the transmitted signal characteristic information of the at least one passive component from the at least one smart node. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for monitoring passive components of a passive public safety distributed antenna system, comprising: a bi-directional amplifier, a public safety monitor coupled to and in communication with the bi-directional amplifier, at least one smart node coupled to and in communication with the public safety monitor, and a system timer defining a first time interval when the at least one smart node is operated in an active mode and defining a second time interval when the at least one smart node is operated in a low current mode, wherein the at least one smart node includes a processor configured to monitor signal characteristic information of at least one passive component of the system and transmit the signal characteristic information of the at least one passive component to the public safety monitor, and the public safety monitor generates system performance information based on a signal at the bi-directional amplifier and the transmitted signal characteristic information of the at least one passive component from the at least one smart node, and wherein the at least one smart node is operable to relay signal information monitored by a second smart node in communication with the at least one smart node to the public safety monitor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one smart node is coupled to and in communication with one or more additional smart nodes. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the public safety monitor transmits the generated system performance information via a modem to a user of the system. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one smart node is coupled to the public safety monitor via a coaxial cable. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the monitored signal characteristic information of the at least one passive component of the system is a voltage standing wave ratio. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is an Internet of Things microprocessor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the smart node further includes a battery and the battery powers the smart node. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the smart node further includes a bias tee and the bias tee powers the smart node. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the smart node further includes a USB bridge and the USB bridge powers the smart node. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the smart node further includes a radio frequency power harvesting component and the radio frequency power harvesting component powers the processor by converting radio frequency energy to direct current. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the smart node further includes a radio frequency power harvesting component having an energy storage device, the radio frequency power harvesting component converting radio frequency energy to direct current and storing the direct current in the energy storage device to power the processor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the energy storage device is one of a battery and a capacitor. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the smart node further includes a battery and the energy storage device is a capacitor such that capacitor powers the smart node and when the capacitor is discharged the battery powers the smart node. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one smart node is housed in aluminum housing or constructed with a conversion coating. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the smart node operates within the 100 MHz to 1 GHz frequency range. ### Claim 16 A method for monitoring passive components of a passive public safety distributed antenna system, comprising the steps of: monitoring, by a processor, signal characteristic information of at least one passive component of the system and transmitting the signal characteristic information of the at least one passive component to a public safety monitor, generating, by the public safety monitor, system performance information based on a signal at a bi-directional amplifier and the transmitted signal characteristic information of the at least one passive component, and receiving, at the public safety monitor, signal information monitored by a first smart node and relayed to the public safety monitor by a second smart node in communication with the public safety monitor, wherein at least one of the first smart node or the second smart node includes a system timer defining a first time interval when the smart node is operated in an active mode and defining a second time interval when the smart node is operated in a low current mode. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising transmitting the generated system performance information via one of a modem, Ethernet, and an IP network to a user of the system. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising generating an alert based on the generated system performance information and transmitting the generated alert via one of a modem, Ethernet, and an IP network to a user of the system. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising harvesting radio frequency energy and converting the harvested radio frequency energy to direct current to power the processor. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises harvesting radio frequency energy, converting the harvested radio frequency energy to direct current, and storing the converted direct current in an energy storage device to power the processor. ### Claim 21 A system for monitoring passive components, comprising: a bi-directional amplifier, a public safety monitor coupled to and in communication with the bi-directional amplifier, and at least one smart node coupled to and in communication with the public safety monitor, wherein the at least one smart node monitors signal characteristic information of at least one passive component of the system and the public safety monitor generates system performance information based on a signal at the bi-directional amplifier and the monitored signal characteristic information of the at least one passive component transmitted from the at least one smart node, wherein the at least one smart node is operable to relay signal information monitored by a second smart node in communication with the at least one smart node to the public safety monitor, and wherein the at least one smart node includes a system timer defining a first time interval when the at least one smart node is operated in an active mode and defining a second time interval when the at least one smart node is operated in a low current mode. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, wherein the generated system performance information is an alert. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The system of claim 22, wherein the public safety monitor transmits the alert to a mobile terminal of a user of the system via a network connection. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, wherein the at least one smart node includes a microcontroller and a radio frequency to direct current converter, the radio frequency to direct current converter converting radio frequency energy of a signal received via a coaxial cable to direct current to power the microcontroller.