Techniques for determining a resistance of electrical conductors providing electrical power to a radio
AssigneeOutdoor Wireless Networks LLC
InventorsRajiv Koshy, David Barkman, Jr., Willis James
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Techniques are provided for automatically determining when voltage and current levels occur when a DC input of a radio is drawing substantially constant power through electrical conductors from a DC voltage converter. Such voltage and current level occurring when such power draw is substantially constant can then be used to determine a resistance of the electrical conductors. Subsequently, the resistance can be used to vary an output voltage of the DC voltage converter when the power draw, and thus the direct current drawn through the electrical conductors, varies.
Claims24
A method for determining a resistance of electrical conductors through which electrical power is provided by a direct current (DC) voltage converter to a DC power input of a radio, wherein the electrical conductors have converter ends and radio ends, and wherein output current flows from the converter ends to the radio ends, the method comprising:
- obtaining a maximum representation of dispersion of a test output current;
- setting a test output voltage at an output of the of the DC voltage converter;
- when the test output voltage is set at the output of the DC voltage converter, measuring a test output current flowing from the output of the DC voltage converter;
- setting at least one non-test output voltage at the output of the DC voltage converter and measuring a corresponding non-test output current at each non-test output voltage and flowing from the output of the DC voltage converter;
- again setting the test output voltage at the output of the DC voltage converter;
- when the test output voltage is set at the output of the DC voltage converter, measuring another test output current flowing from the output of the DC voltage converter;
- determining a representation of dispersion of a set of test output currents;
- determining whether the representation of dispersion of the set of the test output currents is within the maximum representation of dispersion of the test output current;
- and
- determining that the representation of dispersion of the set of test output currents is within the maximum representation of dispersion of the test output current, then, using at least two voltage and current pairs, wherein each voltage and current pair comprises an output voltage at the output of the DC voltage converter and an output current occurring at the output voltage and flowing from the output of the DC voltage converter, determining the resistance of the electrical conductors, wherein at least one voltage and current pair is a non-test output voltage and a corresponding non-test output current at the non-test output voltage.
A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program causing at least one processor to execute a process for determining a resistance of electrical conductors through which electrical power is provided by a direct current (DC) voltage converter to a DC power input of a radio, wherein the electrical conductors have converter ends and radio ends, and wherein output current flows from the converter ends to the radio ends, the process comprising:
- obtaining a maximum representation of dispersion of a test output current;
- causing a test output voltage to be set at an output of the DC voltage converter;
- when the test output voltage is set at the output of the DC voltage converter, measuring a test output current flowing from the output of the DC voltage converter;
- causing at least one non-test output voltage to be set again at the output of the DC voltage converter and measuring a corresponding non-test output current at each non-test output voltage and flowing from the output of the DC voltage converter;
- causing the test output voltage to again be set at the output of the DC voltage converter;
- when the test output voltage is set at the output of the DC voltage converter, measuring another test output current flowing from the output of the DC voltage converter;
- determining a representation of dispersion of a set of test output currents;
- determining whether the representation of dispersion of the set of the test output currents is within the maximum representation of dispersion of the test output current;
- and
- determining that the representation of dispersion of the set of test output currents is within the maximum representation of dispersion of the test output current, then, using at least two voltage and current pairs, wherein each voltage and current pair comprises an output voltage at the output of the DC voltage converter and an output current occurring at the output voltage and flowing from the output of the DC voltage converter, determining the resistance of the electrical conductors, wherein at least one voltage and current pair is a non-test output voltage and a corresponding non-test output current at the non-test output voltage.
An apparatus for determining a resistance of electrical conductors through with electrical power is provided by a direct current (DC) voltage converter to a DC power input of a radio, wherein the electrical conductors have converter ends and radio ends, and wherein output current flows from the converter ends to the radio ends, the apparatus comprising:
- processing circuitry;
- at least one DC voltage converter communicatively coupled to the processing circuitry;
- and
- wherein each DC voltage converter comprises a DC-DC voltage converter electrically coupled to a current sensor configured to measure direct current flowing through an output of the DC voltage converter;
- wherein the processing circuitry is configured to:
- obtain a maximum representation of dispersion of a test output current;
- cause a test output voltage to be set at the output of the DC voltage converter;
- when the test output voltage is set at the output of the DC voltage converter, measure a test output current flowing from the output of the DC voltage converter;
- cause at least one non-test output voltage to be set to a non-test output voltage level and measuring a corresponding non-test output current at each non-test output voltage level and flowing from the output of the DC voltage converter;
- cause the test output voltage to be set again at the output of the DC voltage converter;
- when the test output voltage is set at the output of the DC voltage converter, measure another test output current flowing from the output of the DC voltage converter;
- determining a representation of dispersion of a set of test output currents;
- determine whether the representation of dispersion of the set of the test output currents is within the maximum representation of dispersion of the test output current;
- and
- determining that the representation of dispersion of the set of test output currents is within the maximum representation of dispersion of the test output current, then, using at least two voltage and current pairs, wherein each voltage and current pair comprises an output voltage at the output of the DC voltage converter and an output current occurring at the output voltage and flowing from the output of the DC voltage converter, determining the resistance of the electrical conductors, wherein at least one voltage and current pair is a non-test output voltage and a corresponding non-test output current at the non-test output voltage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.