Apparatus and method for distributing wireless communications signals to remote cellular antennas

A remote antenna signal processor, comprising:

• a summer having a first input terminal for receiving a telecommunications transmission signal and a second input terminal for receiving a first control signal, wherein the telecommunications transmission signal and the first control signal are for transmission over a network to a remote antenna driver, and wherein the first control signal is for use by the remote antenna driver to control a gain factor of the remote antenna driver;
• a first signal processor having an input terminal and an output terminal, wherein the input terminal is coupled to an output terminal of the summer;
• a coupler having an input terminal coupled to the output terminal of the first signal processor and having an output terminal for coupling to the network;
• a first sample circuit having an input terminal and an output terminal, wherein the input terminal is for receiving the telecommunications transmission signal;
• a demodulator for separating a second control signal from a signal received over the network from the remote antenna driver, wherein the second control signal is indicative a power level of the telecommunications transmission signal at a transmit antenna of the remote antenna driver, wherein the demodulator includes an input terminal coupled to the network;
• and
• a microprocessor having a first input terminal coupled to the output terminal of the first sample circuit, a second input terminal coupled to an output terminal of the demodulator, and an output terminal coupled to the second input terminal of the summer.

A telecommunications system, comprising:

• a remote antenna signal processor;
• and
• at least one remote antenna driver in communication with the remote antenna signal processor via a network, wherein the remote antenna signal processor includes:
• a first signal processor for processing a telecommunications transmission signal and a first control signal for transmission over the network to the remote antenna driver;
• a first sample circuit for measuring a power level of the telecommunications transmission signal prior to processing by the first signal processor;
• a demodulator for separating a second control signal from a signal received from the remote antenna driver over the network, wherein the second control signal is indicative a power level of the telecommunications transmission signal at a transmit antenna of the remote antenna driver;
• and
• a first microprocessor for generating the first control signal based on an output signal from the first sample circuit and an output signal from the demodulator;
• and wherein the remote antenna driver includes:
• a splitter having an input terminal for receiving the telecommunications transmission signal and the first control signal from the remote antenna driver over the network;
• a second signal processor having an input terminal coupled to a first output terminal of the splitter;
• a demodulator having an input terminal coupled to a second output terminal of the splitter;
• a power amplifier having an input terminal coupled to the output terminal of the second signal processor;
• a transmit antenna coupled to an output terminal of the power amplifier;
• and
• a second microprocessor having an input terminal coupled to an output terminal of the demodulator and having an output terminal coupled to a control terminal of the power amplifier.