US 2018/0124706 A1 · INTERFACE DEVICE PROVIDING POWER MANAGEMENT AND LOAD TERMINATION IN DISTRIBUTED ANTENNA SYSTEM

Abstract

Certain aspects involve an interface device for a distributed antenna system (“DAS”). In some aspects, the interface device can include an interface, a power detector, and a processor. The interface can include one or more ports for communicatively coupling the interface device to a base station and a switch that is switchable between first and second configurations. The first configuration connects a port to a downlink path of the DAS, and the second configuration connects the port to a signal reflection path. The processor can switch the switch between the first and second configurations based on a signal power measured by the power detector at the port. In other aspects, the interface device can include additional ports and termination loads. The processor can cause a signal path to be connected to a termination load instead of a port based on the port being disconnected from a unit of the DAS.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An interface device for a distributed antenna system, the interface device comprising:

a port configured to communicatively couple the interface device to a base station;
a switching component coupled to the port, wherein the switching component is switchable from a first configuration to a second configuration, the first configuration connecting the port to a downlink path from the interface device to the distributed antenna system, the second configuration connecting the port to a load;
a first power detector communicatively coupled to the port and configured to measure a signal power of an input signal provided via the port;
at least a second power detector communicatively coupled to the downlink path and configured to measure a signal power of a gain-adjusted signal traversing the downlink path;
and
at least one switchable hybrid module in the downlink path.

3 more elements

A method comprising:

receiving an input signal via a port communicatively coupling an interface device to a base station;
selectively switching a switching component between a first configuration and a second configuration with a processing device, wherein the first configuration comprises connecting the port to a downlink path from the interface device to a unit of a distributed antenna system, wherein the second configuration comprises connecting the port to a load;
measuring a signal power of the input signal at the port with a first power detector of the interface device communicatively coupled to the port;
measuring a signal power of a gain-adjusted signal traversing the downlink path of the interface device with a second power detector of the interface device communicatively coupled to the downlink path;
and
selectively switching at least one switchable hybrid module in the downlink path of the interface device.

3 more elements

A program product tangibly stored on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions which, when executed by at least one programmable processor, cause the at least one programmable processor to:

selectively switch a switching component between a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein the switching component is configured to connect a port of an interface device to a downlink path from the interface device to a unit of the distributed antenna system in the first configuration, wherein the switching component is configured to connect the port to a load in the second configuration, wherein the port communicatively couples the interface device to a base station;
measure a signal power of an input signal received at the port of the interface device with a first power detector of the interface device communicatively coupled to the port;
measure a signal power of a gain-adjusted signal traversing the downlink path of the interface device with a second power detector of the interface device communicatively coupled to the downlink path;
and
selectively switch at least one switchable hybrid module in the downlink path of the interface device.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Interface device providing power management and load termination in distributed antenna system

Life of this patent

Interface device providing power management and load termination in distributed antenna system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20