Determining distance to source of passive intermodulation product (pim) in a distributed base station
AssigneeCommScope Technologies LLC
InventorMartial Germain Gander
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for determining the distance to source of a passive intermodulation (PIM) product for a distributed base station is provided. The method includes generating a test signal; transmitting the test signal on a front haul communication link between a baseband unit and a remote radio head of the distributed base station; receiving the PIM product as a reflected signal at the remote radio head; multiplying the reflected signal by a conjugate of the test signal to create a sinewave; determining a frequency of the sinewave; and determining the distance to the source of the PIM based on the determined frequency of the sinewave.
Claims23
A method for determining the distance to a source of a passive intermodulation (PIM) product for a distributed base station, the method comprising:
- transmitting a plurality of test signals on a front haul communication link between a baseband unit and a remote radio head of the distributed base station;
- determining a relative timing for the PIM product;
- determining a relative timing of a signal path internal to the remote radio head;
- and
- determining the distance to the source of the PIM product based on the relative timing of the PIM product and the relative timing of an internal signal path of the distributed base station.
A method for determining the distance to a source of a passive intermodulation (PIM) product for a distributed base station, the method comprising:
- generating a test signal;
- transmitting the test signal on a front haul communication link between a baseband unit and a remote radio head of the distributed base station;
- receiving the PIM product as a reflected signal at the remote radio head;
- multiplying the reflected signal by a conjugate of the test signal to create a sinewave;
- determining a frequency of the sinewave;
- and
- determining the distance to the source of the PIM based on the determined frequency of the sinewave.
A method for determining the distance to a source of a passive intermodulation (PIM) product for a distributed base station, the method comprising:
- generating a test signal;
- transmitting the test signal on a front haul communication link between a baseband unit and a remote radio head of the distributed base station;
- receiving the PIM product as a reflected signal at the remote radio head;
- analyzing an Eigen component of the reflected signal;
- and
- determining the distance to the source of the PIM based on the analysis of the Eigen component.
A method for determining the distance to a source of a passive intermodulation (PIM) product for a distributed base station, the method comprising:
- transmitting at least one first test signal on a front haul communication link between a baseband unit and a remote radio head of the distributed base station;
- determining a coarse timing for the PIM product based on a reflection of the at least one first test signal;
- transmitting at least one second test signal on the front haul communication link at a power level that does not saturate circuitry in the remote radio head;
- determining a relative timing for the PIM product based on a reflection of the at least one second test signal;
- transmitting at least one third test signal on the front haul communication link at a power level that causes at least some circuitry of the remote radio head to saturate;
- determining a relative timing of an intermodulation (IM) product based on the IM product caused by the at least one third test signal;
- and
- determining the distance to the source of the PIM product based on the coarse timing, the relative timing for the PIM product and the relative timing for the IM product.
A method for determining the distance to a source of a passive intermodulation (PIM) product for a distributed base station, the method comprising:
- transmitting at least one first test signal on a front haul communication link between a baseband unit and a remote radio head of the distributed base station;
- determining a coarse timing for the PIM product based on a reflection of the at least one first test signal;
- transmitting at least one second test signal on the front haul communication link
- determining a relative timing for the PIM product based on a reflection of the at least one second test signal;
- transmitting at least one third test signal on the front haul communication link at a power level that causes at least some circuitry of the remote radio head to saturate;
- determining a relative timing of an intermodulation (IM) product based on the IM product caused by the at least one third test signal;
- and
- determining the distance to the source of the PIM product based on the coarse timing, the relative timing for the PIM product and the relative timing for the IM product.
A tester for determining the distance from a distributed base station to a source of passive intermodulation (PIM), the tester comprising:
- a signal generator configured to be coupled to a front haul communication link between a baseband unit and a remote radio head of the distributed base station, wherein the signal generator is configured to generate a test signal and to transmit the test signal on the front haul communication link;
- a digital signal processor, configured to be coupled to the front haul communication link, wherein the digital signal processor is operable to cause the tester to do the following:
- receiving the PIM product as a reflected signal at the remote radio head;
- multiplying the reflected signal by a conjugate of the test signal to create a sinewave;
- determining a frequency of the sinewave;
- and
- determining the distance to the source of the PIM based on the determined frequency of the sinewave.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.