Apparatus and method for bypassing amplifiers used to amplify signals received by wireless communication systems
AssigneeJuniper Networks, Inc.
InventorJohn R. Martin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus may include a multi-throw switch having a common terminal connected to an antenna of a wireless communication system. The multi-throw switch may be configured to direct signals received from the antenna between (1) an amplification path that connects a receive terminal of the multi-throw switch to a receiver of the wireless communication system and (2) at least one bypass path that connects an additional receive terminal of the multi-throw switch to the receiver. The amplification path may include at least one amplifier that amplifies signals received from the antenna, and the bypass path may have a gain that is less than a gain of the amplification path. Various other systems and methods are also disclosed.
Claims20
An apparatus comprising:
- a multi-throw switch having a common terminal connected to an antenna of a wireless communication system, the multi-throw switch configured to direct signals received from the antenna between:
- an amplification path that connects a receive terminal of the multi-throw switch to a receiver of the wireless communication system, the amplification path comprising at least one amplifier that amplifies signals received from the antenna;
- and
- at least one bypass path that connects an additional receive terminal of the multi-throw switch to the receiver, the bypass path comprising at least:
- a filter that attenuates unwanted signals received from the antenna;
- an attenuator that optionally produces a desired attenuation of signals received from the antenna;
- and
- a bypass amplifier that optionally produces a desired amplification of signals received from the antenna and that has a gain that is less than a gain of the amplification path;
- wherein the filter in the bypass path comprises a bandpass filter that removes signals outside of a certain frequency range received from the antenna.
A wireless communication system comprising:
- an antenna;
- a receiver;
- and
- a multi-throw switch having a common terminal connected to the antenna, the multi-throw switch configured to direct signals received from the antenna between:
- an amplification path that connects a receive terminal of the multi-throw switch to the receiver, the amplification path comprising at least one amplifier that amplifies signals received from the antenna;
- and
- at least one bypass path that connects an additional receive terminal of the multi-throw switch to the receiver, the bypass path comprising at least:
- a filter that attenuates unwanted signals received from the antenna;
- an attenuator that optionally produces a desired attenuation of signals received from the antenna;
- and
- a bypass amplifier that optionally produces a desired amplification of signals received from the antenna and that has a gain that is less than a gain of the amplification path;
- wherein the filter in the bypass path comprises a bandpass filter that removes signals outside of a certain frequency range received from the antenna.
A method comprising:
- identifying at least one characteristic indicative of received signal strength at an antenna of a wireless communication system;
- and
- directing, based at least in part on the identified characteristic, signals received from the antenna between:
- an amplification path that connects the antenna to a receiver of the wireless communication system, the amplification path comprising at least one amplifier that amplifies signals received from the antenna;
- and
- at least one bypass path that connects the antenna to the receiver, the bypass path comprising at least:
- a filter that attenuates unwanted signals received from the antenna;
- an attenuator that optionally produces a desired attenuation of signals received from the antenna;
- and
- a bypass amplifier that optionally produces a desired amplification of signals received from the antenna and that has a gain that is less than a gain of the amplification path;
- wherein the filter in the bypass path comprises a bandpass filter that removes signals outside of a certain frequency range received from the antenna.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.