US 9,178,635 B2 · Separation of communication signal sub-bands in distributed antenna systems (DASs) to reduce interference

Abstract

Separation of sub-bands of communications signals to reduce interference in distributed antenna systems (DASs) is disclosed. A sub-band separation circuit coupled to a plurality of antennas is configured to distribute and receive and transmit a pair of downlink and uplink sub-band signals. The sub-band separation circuit is coupled to a duplexed port of a remote unit that distributes uplink communications signals to the DAS and receives downlink communications signals from the DAS. In order to isolate the downlink communications signals from the uplink communications path in the remote unit, the isolation circuit includes a plurality of sub-band isolation circuits. Each sub-band isolation circuit is configured to isolate at least one sub-band of the downlink communications signal to generate a downlink sub-band signal that has a desired frequency separation or gap with uplink communication signals received at the duplexed port.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A sub-band separation circuit for providing band separation between sub-bands of downlink communications signals and uplink communications signals in a remote unit of a distributed antenna system (DAS), comprising:

a downlink splitter configured to:
receive a downlink communications signal having a downlink bandwidth comprising a plurality of downlink communications sub-bands on a downlink splitter input;
and
split the received downlink communications signal into a plurality of split downlink communications signals on a plurality of splitter outputs;
a plurality of sub-band isolation circuits, each sub-band isolation circuit comprising:
a downlink isolation circuit configured to:
receive a split downlink communications signal among the plurality of split downlink communications signals from a split output among the plurality of splitter outputs;
and
isolate at least one downlink communications sub-band among the plurality of downlink communications sub-bands in the split downlink communications signal to generate a communications sub-band signal;
and
a duplexer configured to:
receive the communications sub-band signal on a downlink duplexer input;
receive an uplink communications signal on an antenna interface coupled to an antenna;
and
pass the communications sub-band signal to the antenna interface.

12 more elements

A method providing band separation between sub-bands of downlink communications signals and uplink communications signals in a remote unit of a distributed antenna system (DAS), the method comprising:

receiving a downlink communications signal having a downlink bandwidth comprising a plurality of downlink communications sub-bands on a downlink splitter input;
splitting the received downlink communications signal into a plurality of split downlink communications signals;
for each split downlink communications signal, isolating at least one downlink communications sub-band among the plurality of downlink communications sub-bands in the split downlink communications signal to generate a communications sub-band signal;
and
passing each communications sub-band signal to an antenna interface of a respective duplexer.

2 more elements

A distributed antenna system (DAS) comprising:

head-end equipment (HEE);
a plurality of remote units, each configured to receive at least one downlink communications signal from the HEE and transmit at least one uplink communications signal to the HEE, each remote unit comprising:
a sub-band separation circuit for providing band separation between sub-bands of the at least one downlink communications signal and the at least one uplink communications signal in the remote unit, comprising:
a downlink splitter configured to:
receive a downlink communications signal having a downlink bandwidth comprising a plurality of downlink communications sub-bands on a downlink splitter input;
and
split the received downlink communications signal into a plurality of split downlink communications signals on a plurality of splitter outputs;
a plurality of sub-band isolation circuits, each sub-band isolation circuit comprising:
a downlink isolation circuit configured to:
receive a split downlink communications signal among the plurality of split downlink communications signals from a split output among the plurality of splitter outputs;
and
isolate at least one downlink communications sub-band among the plurality of downlink communications sub-bands in the split downlink communications signal to generate a communications sub-band signal;
and
a duplexer configured to:
receive the communications sub-band signal on a downlink duplexer input;
receive an uplink communications signal on an antenna interface coupled to an antenna;
and
pass the communications sub-band signal to the antenna interface.

15 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Separation of communication signal sub-bands in distributed antenna systems (DASs) to reduce interference

Life of this patent

Separation of communication signal sub-bands in distributed antenna systems (DASs) to reduce interference

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims24