Patent Application
20220224400
A repeater system (such as a distributed antenna system (DAS) or a single-node repeater) is typically used to improve the wireless radio frequency (RF) coverage provided by one or more base stations. A repeater system does this by receiving, amplifying, and re-transmitting one or more RF carriers output by one or more base stations for transmission to user equipment (in the downlink direction) and output by user equipment for transmission to one or more base stations (in the uplink direction).
Repeater systems are typically designed to work at the RF layer. Although some repeater systems digitally process the repeated RF signals, such digital processing typically does not implement any of the processing necessary to implement the physical or higher layers of the relevant wireless air interface.
Repeater systems can be used, for example, in sport stadiums, buildings (hotels, malls, or trade centers), metro stations and airports, trains, and tunnels. Each base station can be coupled to the repeater system via one or more cables or via a wireless connection, for example, using one or more donor antennas. Repeater systems can be used in other applications.
Existing repeater systems have been designed for use with existing wireless air interface standards (such as GSM, UMTS, and LTE) and may not be suitable for use with newer wireless air interface standards, such as the Fifth Generation (5G) New Radio (5G NR) standards.
One embodiment is directed to a repeater system for use with a Fifth Generation (5G) New Radio (NR) base station that implements a 5G NR wireless interface and serves a 5G NR cell. The repeater system includes at least one antenna connector to couple at least one external antenna to the repeater system. The repeater system further includes repeater circuitry communicatively coupled to the at least one antenna connector. The repeater circuitry is configured to receive a downlink signal output by the 5G NR base station for wireless transmission to 5G NR user equipment, generate an amplified version of the downlink signal, and wirelessly transmit the amplified version of the downlink signal into a coverage area associated with the repeater system. The repeater circuitry is also configured to receive an uplink signal wirelessly transmitted by the 5G NR user equipment, generate an amplified version of the uplink signal, and communicate the amplified version of the uplink signal to the 5G NR base station. The repeater system is configured to implement: a predetermined output power specification; a predetermined frequency stability specification; a predetermined out-of-band gain specification; a predetermined unwanted emissions specification; a predetermined Error Vector Magnitude specification; a predetermined input intermodulation specification; a predetermined output intermodulation specification; and a predetermined Adjacent Channel Rejection Ratio specification. In some examples, the repeater system is further configured to implement a predetermined Adjacent Channel Leakage Ratio specification and a predetermined noise figure equivalent specification.
Another embodiment is directed to a repeater system for use with a Fifth Generation (5G) New Radio (NR) base station that implements a 5G NR wireless interface and serves a 5G NR cell. The repeater system includes one or more internal antennas. The repeater system further includes repeater circuitry communicatively coupled to the one or more internal antennas. The repeater circuitry is configured to receive a downlink signal output by the 5G NR base station for wireless transmission to 5G NR user equipment, generate an amplified version of the downlink signal, and wirelessly transmit the amplified version of the downlink signal into a coverage area associated with the repeater system. The repeater circuitry is also configured to receive an uplink signal wirelessly transmitted by the 5G NR user equipment, generate an amplified version of the uplink signal, and communicate the amplified version of the uplink signal to the 5G NR base station. The repeater system is configured to implement: a predetermined over-the-air output power specification; a predetermined over-the-air frequency stability specification; a predetermined over-the-air out-of-band gain specification; a predetermined over-the-air unwanted emissions specification; a predetermined over-the-air Error Vector Magnitude specification; a predetermined over-the-air input intermodulation specification; a predetermined over-the-air output intermodulation specification; and a predetermined over-the-air Adjacent Channel Rejection Ratio specification. In some examples, the repeater system is further configured to implement a predetermined over-the-air Adjacent Channel Leakage Ratio specification and a predetermined over-the-air noise figure equivalent specification.
The details of various embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims.
Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicate like elements.
In both embodiments, the repeater system is configured to be used with at least one Fifth Generation (5G) New Radio (NR) base station 102 that implements a 5G NR wireless interface and serves a 5G NR cell using 5G NR time-division duplexing (TDD). Each 5G NR base station 102 can also be referred to as a “Next Generation NodeB” 102, a “gNodeB” 102, or just a “gNB” 102. The 5G NR base station 102 can be communicatively coupled to the repeater system via one or more cables (as shown in
Each repeater system comprises repeater circuitry 106 that is configured so that it can repeat 5G NR downlink and uplink signals using time-division duplexing (TDD). To do this, the repeater circuitry 106 (and the repeater system more generally) is configured to switch between operating in a downlink mode and an uplink mode.
When operating in the downlink mode, the repeater circuitry 106 is configured to receive a downlink signal that was output by the 5G NR base station 102 for wireless transmission to 5G NR user equipment (UE) 108, generate an amplified version of the downlink signal, and wirelessly transmit the amplified version of the downlink signal into a coverage area associated with the repeater system via one or more coverage antennas 110 associated with the repeater system.
When operating in the uplink mode, the repeater circuitry 106 is configured to receive an uplink signal that was wirelessly transmitted by the 5G NR user equipment 108, generate an amplified version of the uplink signal, and communicate the amplified version of the uplink signal to the 5G NR base station 102.
Typically, the downlink signal received from, and the amplified version of the uplink signal communicated to, the 5G NR base station 102 are received and communicated as analog radio frequency signals, though in some embodiments one or more of the downlink and uplink signals are communicated from and to the 5G NR base station 102 in digital form (for example, in a digital form complying with, for example, the Common Public Radio Interface (“CPRI”) protocol, the Enhanced CPRI (“eCPRI”) protocol, the Open Radio Access Network (“O-RAN”) protocol, the Open Radio Equipment Interface (“ORI”) protocol, the Open Base Station Standard Initiative (“OBSAI”) protocol, or other protocol). Also, the amplified version of the downlink signal wirelessly transmitted to, and the uplink signal wirelessly received from, the 5G NR user equipment 108 are wirelessly transmitted and received as analog radio frequency signals.
Moreover, the downlink signal includes one or more radio frequency channels used for communicating in the downlink direction with the 5G NR user equipment 108 over the relevant 5G NR wireless air interface. Likewise, the uplink signal includes one or more radio frequency channels used for communicating in the uplink direction with the 5G NR base station 102 over the relevant 5G NR wireless air interfaces.
In one implementation, the 5G NR base station 102 is coupled to the repeater system (and the repeater circuitry 106 thereof) using a circulator. The circulator comprises a first (common) port that is coupled to the 5G NR base station 102 (either directly via a cable or wirelessly via a donor antenna 104). The circulator also comprises a second (transmit) port that is coupled to a downlink signal path of the repeater system (and the repeater circuitry 106 thereof). The circulator also comprises a third (receive) port that is coupled to an uplink signal path of the repeater system (and the repeater circuitry 106 thereof). The circulator, when configured in this way, separates the downlink signal from the uplink signal. A circulator can also be used to couple the repeater circuitry 106 to the coverage antenna 110, where a first (transmit) port of the circulator is coupled to a downlink signal path of the repeater circuitry 106, a second (common) port of the circulator is coupled to the coverage antenna 110, and a third (receive port) port of the circulator is coupled to an uplink signal path of the repeater circuitry 106.
The repeater circuitry 106 (and the various features thereof) can be implemented in analog circuitry, digital circuitry, or combinations of analog circuitry and digital circuitry. The repeater circuitry 106 can comprise one or more appropriate connectors, attenuators, combiners, splitters, amplifiers, filters, duplexers, analog-to-digital converters, digital-to-analog converters, electrical-to-optical converters, optical-to-electrical converters, mixers, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), microprocessors, transceivers, framers, etc., to implement the various features described here.
In general, when 5G NR time-division duplexing is used by the 5G NR base station 102 to serve the 5G NR cell, the repeater system (for example, the single-node repeater 100 of
Moreover, an offset can be applied to the transition times determined from the TDD timing for the 5G NR cell in order to account for propagation delays through the repeater system and, in some embodiments, to enable the repeater system to confirm the accuracy of a determined transition time.
In general, the repeater circuitry 106 can be configured to switch between the downlink mode and the uplink mode by switching the state of any RF switches used in the repeater system (for example, by switching a RF switch between a downlink state in which the downlink signal is received from the 5G NR base station 102 and an uplink state in which the amplified version of the uplink signal is communicated to the 5G NR base station 102 and/or by switching a RF switch between a downlink state in which the amplified version of the downlink signal is wirelessly transmitted to the 5G NR user equipment 108 and an uplink state in which the uplink signal is received from the 5G NR user equipment 108), configuring a power amplifier (PA) used to generate the amplified version of the downlink signal (for example, by turning the PA on or off or by ramping the output power up or down), configuring a downlink automatic gain control (AGC) function used to generate the amplified version of the downlink signal (for example, by turning the AGC on or off or by ramping the gain up or down), configuring a low noise amplifier (LNA) used to receive the uplink signal (for example, by unmuting or muting the LNA or by ramping the gain up or down), and/or configuring an uplink AGC function used to generate the amplified version of the uplink signal (for example, by unmuting or muting the AGC or by ramping the gain up or down).
In some examples, multiple TDD channels can utilize a common device (for example, common PA) in a common signal path that is switched or reconfigured by the repeater circuitry 106 in order to switch between the downlink mode and the uplink mode. In some such examples, the TDD timing derived (for example, using the techniques discussed herein) from multiple TDD channels utilizing the common device can be used in combination to derive a switching signal for the common device. The particular mechanism for combining the TDD timing derived from multiple TDD channels is application specific and may depend, for example, on the type of common device, the number of TDD channels, etc.
With the approach shown in
The repeater circuitry 106 can be configured to determine at least some of the basic TDD parameters for the 5G NR cell served by the 5G NR base station 102 by implementing (for example, in an FPGA) at least a part of the 5G NR cell search procedures in order to receive, demodulate, and decode such basic TDD parameters from the downlink signals transmitted from the 5G NR base station 102 (for example, on the Public Broadcast Channel (PBCH), Primary Synchronization Signal (PSS), and Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS)).
The repeater circuitry 106 can also be configured to determine at least some of the basic TDD parameters by receiving at least some of the basic TDD parameters for the 5G NR cell as manually entered parameters (for example, as parameters that are manually entered at a separate management system and communicated to the repeater system and/or as parameters that are manually entered using a management interface implemented by the repeater system itself (using, for example, a web-based or command-line management interface implemented by software executing on the repeater system).
The repeater circuitry 106 can be configured to determine the timing of the 5G NR time-division duplexing used by the 5G NR base station 102 to serve the 5G NR cell based at least in part on correlating a waveform of the downlink signal received by the repeater circuitry 106 with one or more of: a known 5G NR PSS expected to be in the downlink signal as indicated by at least some of the basic TDD parameters for the 5G NR cell and a known 5G NR SSS expected to be in the downlink signal as indicated by at least some of the basic TDD parameters for the 5G NR cell (block 304). This can be done during an initial synchronization phase in which the repeater circuitry 106 determines the timing of the 5G NR time-division duplexing used by the 5G NR base station 102 to serve the 5G NR cell. The repeater circuitry 106 can be configured to switch between operating the repeater circuitry in the downlink mode and operating the repeater circuitry in the uplink mode using the timing of the 5G NR time-division duplexing of the 5G NR cell (block 306). After the timing of the 5G NR time-division duplexing of the 5G NR cell has been determined, a normal operating phase can begin in which the determined TDD timing is used to determine when the repeater system itself should switch between being operated in the downlink mode and being operated in the uplink mode. As noted above, an offset can be applied to the transition times determined from the TDD timing for the 5G NR cell in order to account for propagation delays through the repeater system and, in some embodiments, to enable the repeater system to confirm the accuracy of a determined transition time. Also, while in the normal operating phase, the 5G NR TDD timing for the cell can be re-determined and the repeater circuitry 106 can be re-synchronized in the manner described above (by correlating the waveform in the received downlink signal with the known 5G NR PSS and/or SSS expected to be in the downlink signal) in order to ensure proper synchronization with the 5G NR TDD timing used by the 5G NR base station 102 to serve the 5G NR cell. This can be done periodically and/or in response to an error condition.
As a part of determining the timing of the 5G NR time-division duplexing used by the 5G NR base station 102 to serve the 5G NR cell, the repeater circuitry 106 can be configured to determine PSS and SSS parameters for use in determining the known 5G NR PSS and SSS expected to be in the downlink signal so that they can be correlated with the waveform of the downlink signal received by the repeater circuitry 106. The PSS and SSS parameters can comprise a starting frequency, a cell identifier (ID) for the 5G NR cell, and a burst periodicity. The repeater circuitry 106 can be configured to determine at least some of the PSS and SSS parameters, at least in part, using the 5G NR cell search procedures and/or by receiving at least some of the PSS and SSS parameters as manually entered parameters (for example, as parameters that are manually entered at a separate management system and communicated to the repeater system and/or as parameters that are manually entered using a management interface implemented by the repeater system itself (using, for example, a web-based or command-line management interface implemented by software executing on the repeater system).
In some examples, the repeater operates using multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) signals. In some such examples, it may be the case that the one or more MIMO signals do not include the information needed to determine the timing of 5G NR time-division duplexing. For example, it may be the case that only two MIMO signals in a 4×4 MIMO set include a Synchronization Signal Block (SSB), which includes the PSS and the SSS, and the other two MIMO signals in a 4×4 MIMO set do not include the SSB. In such examples, the repeater can use the determined 5G NR time-division duplexing timing from one of the MIMO signals that includes the SSB in order to control the switching applied to the MIMO signals that do not include the SSB.
With the approach to determining the timing of the time-division duplexing used in the cell shown in
Likewise, the repeater circuitry 106 can be configured to use the power level of the downlink signal detected by the power detector 112 to determine when to switch from operating in the downlink mode to operating in the uplink mode. This switch can be done when the cell (and the base station 102) has transitioned from transmitting in the downlink direction to transmitting in the uplink direction by detecting when the power level of the downlink signal first crosses below a second threshold (referred to here as the “uplink threshold”). That the cell (and the base station 102) has transitioned from transmitting in the downlink direction to transmitting in the uplink direction can be confirmed by waiting to see that the power level of the downlink signal remains below the uplink threshold for a predetermined amount of time. This is done to ensure the accuracy of such a TDD transition determination by filtering out situations where a transient condition causes the power level of the downlink signal to temporarily dip below the uplink threshold but not remain below the uplink threshold for the entire predetermined amount of time.
In one implementation, the downlink and uplink thresholds are different from each other, with the downlink threshold being greater than the uplink threshold in order to implement a degree of hysteresis. However, it is to be understood that the downlink threshold and uplink threshold can be implemented in other ways (for example, the downlink threshold and uplink threshold can be set to the same value).
As noted above, an offset can be applied to the transition times determined from the 5G NR TDD timing for the 5G NR cell in order to account for propagation delays through the repeater system. The offset can also be extended by an additional amount of time (beyond what is needed to account for propagation delays through the repeater system) in order provide additional time for the confirmation steps described above to be performed in order to enable the repeater system to confirm the accuracy of a TDD transition indicated by first crossing of a downlink or uplink threshold. This additional amount of time can be used to perform other confirmation steps.
It is also possible that two or more TDD channels will be received from one or more base stations 102 with different delay. In some examples, the repeater can apply a different amount of offset to the signals received for respective TDD channels in order to synchronize the switching pattern of the signals when signals of the TDD channels are transmitted by the repeater. For example, the repeater can add a delay to the signals on a TDD channel that arrive earlier than the signals on other TDD channels that arrive later.
In one implementation of this second approach (method 400), the process of detecting when the power level of the downlink signal crosses above (and, in some embodiments, remains above) the downlink threshold and detecting when the power level of the downlink signal crosses below (and, in some embodiments, remains below) the uplink threshold is performed on a frame-by-frame, slot-by-slot, or symbol-by-symbol basis during normal operation of the repeater system in order to determine when the repeater system should switch between operating in the downlink mode and operating the uplink mode. However, other implementations can be implemented in other ways.
Moreover, this second approach (method 400) can be used as a confirmation step with the first approach (method 300) described above. That is, during the initial synchronization phase in which the repeater circuitry 106 determines the timing of the 5G NR time-division duplexing of the 5G NR cell by correlating the waveform in the received downlink signal with the known 5G NR PSS and/or SSS expected to be in the downlink signal, additional confirmation of each TDD transition time for the cell can be confirmed using the second approach by detecting when the power level of the downlink signal crosses above (and, in some embodiments, remains above) the downlink threshold and detecting when the power level of the downlink signal crosses below (and, in some embodiments, remains below) the uplink threshold.
The two approaches (methods 300 and 400) for a 5G NR repeater system to determine the TDD timing used by a 5G NR base station to serve a 5G NR cell described above involve a standalone 5G NR deployment where the 5G NR base station 102 is used for both control-plane and user-plane communications.
In some examples, the repeater circuitry 106 is configured to receive separate LTE and 5G NR channels and the switching for the LTE and 5G NR channels is synchronized. In some such examples, the TDD timing derived from the LTE signals (for example, LTE TDD timing determination techniques of the type used in conventional LTE repeaters) can be applied to the LTE channel(s) and the NR channel(s). In other such examples, the TDD timing derived from the NR signals (for example, using methods 300 and 400 discussed above) can be applied to the LTE channel(s) and the NR channel(s).
The techniques described above can be implemented in single-node repeater 100, a DAS 200, and combinations thereof (for example, where a single-node repeater 100 is used to couple a DAS 200 to a remotely located base station 102 using a wireless link).
In the embodiment shown in
In general, the single-node repeater 100 is configured to receive a downlink signal from the 5G NR base station 102. The downlink signal includes one or more radio frequency channels used for communicating in the downlink direction with 5G NR user equipment 108 over the 5G NR wireless air interface. The repeater circuitry is configured to amplify the downlink signals received at the single-node repeater 100 and re-radiate the amplified downlink signals via the coverage antenna 110. As a part of doing this, the repeater circuitry 106 can be configured to filter the downlink signals to separate out the individual channels, individually amplify each filtered downlink channel signal, combine the individually amplified downlink channel signals, and re-radiate the resulting combined signal.
Similar processing is performed in the uplink. The single-node repeater 100 is configured to receive one or more uplink signals from 5G NR user equipment 108. Each uplink signal includes one or more radio frequency channels used for communicating in the uplink direction with the 5G NR base station 102 over the 5G NR wireless air interfaces. The repeater circuitry 106 can be configured to amplify the uplink signals received at the single-node repeater 100 and re-radiate the amplified uplink signals via the donor antenna 104. As a part of doing this, the repeater circuitry 106 can be configured to filter the uplink signal to separate out the individual channels, individually amplify each filtered uplink channel signal, combine the individually amplified uplink channel signals, and re-radiate the resulting combined signal.
In the embodiment shown in
The DAS 200 includes at least one main unit 202 (for example, a master unit) that is communicatively coupled to a plurality of remote antenna units 204. Each remote antenna unit 204 can be coupled directly to the main unit 202 or indirectly via one or more other remote antenna units 204 and/or via one or more intermediary or expansion units 206.
In the embodiment shown in
In general, each main unit 202 is configured to receive the downlink signal from the 5G NR base station 102 and generate one or more downlink transport signals derived from the received downlink signal. The main unit 202 transmits the one or more downlink transport signals to one or more of the remote antenna units 204. Each remote antenna unit 204 receives the downlink transport signals transmitted to it and uses the received downlink transport signals to generate an amplified version of the downlink signal. The amplified version of the downlink signal is radiated from one or more coverage antennas 110 associated with that remote antenna unit 204. The amplified version of the downlink signal is radiated for reception by the 5G NR user equipment 108. Typically, this downlink processing involves, among other things, simulcasting the downlink signal received from the 5G NR base station 102 from multiple remote antenna units 204. In this way, the DAS 200 can increase the coverage area for the downlink capacity provided by the 5G NR base station 102.
Likewise, each remote antenna unit 204 receives an uplink signal transmitted from the 5G NR user equipment 108. Each remote antenna unit 204 generates an uplink transport signal derived from the uplink frequency signal and transmits the uplink transport signal to the main unit 202. The main unit 202 receives the respective uplink transport signals transmitted to it from one or more remote antenna units 204 and uses the received uplink transport signals to generate an amplified version of the uplink signals received at the various remote antenna units 204. The amplified version of the uplink signals received at the various remote antenna units 204 is provided to the 5G NR base station 102. Typically, this uplink processing involves, among other things, combining or summing uplink signals received from multiple remote antenna units 204 in order to produce the amplified version of the uplink signals received at the various remote antenna units 204 that is provided to the 5G NR base station 102. In this way, the DAS 200 can increase the coverage area for the uplink capacity associated with the 5G NR base station 102.
The DAS 200 can use either digital transport, analog transport, or combinations of digital and analog transport for generating and communicating the transport signals between the main units 202 and the remote antenna units 204 (and any intermediary units 206).
In both embodiments, the repeater system is configured to be used with at least one Fifth Generation (5G) New Radio (NR) base station 602 that implements a 5G NR wireless interface and serves a 5G NR cell. In some examples, the 5G NR wireless interface is implemented and the 5G NR cell is served using 5G NR time-division duplexing (TDD). In some examples, the 5G NR wireless interface is implemented and the 5G NR cell is served using 5G NR frequency-division duplexing (FDD). Each 5G NR base station 602 can also be referred to as a “Next Generation NodeB” 602, a “gNodeB” 602, or just a “gNB” 602. The 5G NR base station 602 can be communicatively coupled to the repeater system via one or more cables or via a wireless connection, for example, using one or more donor antennas 604 (shown in
Each repeater system comprises repeater circuitry 606 that is configured so that it can repeat 5G NR downlink and uplink signals. In the examples where the 5G NR wireless interface is implemented using 5G NR TDD, the repeater circuitry 606 (and the repeater system more generally) is configured to switch between operating in a downlink mode and an uplink mode.
The repeater circuitry 606 is configured to receive a downlink signal that was output by the 5G NR base station 602 for wireless transmission to 5G NR user equipment (UE) 608, generate an amplified version of the downlink signal, and wirelessly transmit the amplified version of the downlink signal into a coverage area associated with the repeater system via one or more coverage antennas 610 associated with the repeater system. In the example shown in
The repeater circuitry 606 is configured to receive an uplink signal that was wirelessly transmitted by the 5G NR user equipment 608, generate an amplified version of the uplink signal, and communicate the amplified version of the uplink signal to the 5G NR base station 602.
Typically, the downlink signal received from, and the amplified version of the uplink signal communicated to, the 5G NR base station 602 are received and communicated as analog radio frequency signals, though in some embodiments one or more of the downlink and uplink signals are communicated from and to the 5G NR base station 602 in digital form (for example, in a digital form complying with, for example, the Common Public Radio Interface (“CPRI”) protocol, the Enhanced CPRI (“eCPRI”) protocol, the Open Radio Access Network (“O-RAN”) protocol, the Open Radio Equipment Interface (“ORI”) protocol, the Open Base Station Standard Initiative (“OBSAI”) protocol, or other protocol). Also, the amplified version of the downlink signal wirelessly transmitted to, and the uplink signal wirelessly received from, the 5G NR user equipment 608 are wirelessly transmitted and received as analog radio frequency signals.
Moreover, the downlink signal includes one or more radio frequency channels used for communicating in the downlink direction with the 5G NR user equipment 608 over the relevant 5G NR wireless air interface. Likewise, the uplink signal includes one or more radio frequency channels used for communicating in the uplink direction with the 5G NR base station 602 over the relevant 5G NR wireless air interfaces.
In one implementation, the 5G NR base station 602 is coupled to the repeater system (and the repeater circuitry 606 thereof) using a circulator. The circulator comprises a first (common) port that is coupled to the 5G NR base station 602 (either directly via a cable or wirelessly via an antenna connector 605 and donor antenna 604). The circulator also comprises a second (transmit) port that is coupled to a downlink signal path of the repeater system (and the repeater circuitry 606 thereof). The circulator also comprises a third (receive) port that is coupled to an uplink signal path of the repeater system (and the repeater circuitry 606 thereof). The circulator, when configured in this way, separates the downlink signal from the uplink signal. A circulator can also be used to couple the repeater circuitry 606 to the antenna connector 611 and coverage antenna 610, where a first (transmit) port of the circulator is coupled to a downlink signal path of the repeater circuitry 606, a second (common) port of the circulator is coupled to the antenna connector 611 and the coverage antenna 610, and a third (receive port) port of the circulator is coupled to an uplink signal path of the repeater circuitry 606.
The repeater circuitry 606 (and the various features thereof) can be implemented in analog circuitry, digital circuitry, or combinations of analog circuitry and digital circuitry. The repeater circuitry 606 can comprise one or more appropriate connectors, attenuators, combiners, splitters, amplifiers, filters, duplexers, analog-to-digital converters, digital-to-analog converters, electrical-to-optical converters, optical-to-electrical converters, mixers, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), microprocessors, transceivers, framers, etc., to implement the various features described here.
In the example shown in
In some examples, the repeater system is configured to implement a predetermined transmitter ON/OFF power specification. In some such examples, the transmitter OFF power is −85 dBm/1 MHz. In some examples, the predetermined transmitter ON/OFF power specification is specified in a 3GPP specification.
In some examples, the repeater system is configured to implement a predetermined transmitter transient period specification. In some such examples, the transmitter transient period is less than 10 microseconds. In some examples, the predetermined transmitter transient period specification is specified in a 3GPP specification.
In some examples, the repeater system is configured to operate in the FR1 frequency range. In some examples, the repeater system is configured to operate in the FR2 frequency range. In some examples, the repeater system is configured to operate in both the FR1 and FR2 frequency ranges.
In the embodiment shown in
The DAS 700 includes at least one main unit 702 (for example, a master unit) that is communicatively coupled to a plurality of remote antenna units 704. Each remote antenna unit 704 can be coupled directly to the main unit 702 or indirectly via one or more other remote antenna units 704 and/or via one or more intermediary or expansion units 706.
In the embodiment shown in
In general, each main unit 702 is configured to receive the downlink signal from the 5G NR base station 602 and generate one or more downlink transport signals derived from the received downlink signal. The main unit 702 transmits the one or more downlink transport signals to one or more of the remote antenna units 704. Each remote antenna unit 704 receives the downlink transport signals transmitted to it and uses the received downlink transport signals to generate an amplified version of the downlink signal. The amplified version of the downlink signal is radiated from one or more coverage antennas 610 associated with that remote antenna unit 704. In the example shown in
Likewise, each remote antenna unit 704 receives an uplink signal transmitted from the 5G NR user equipment 608. Each remote antenna unit 704 generates an uplink transport signal derived from the uplink frequency signal and transmits the uplink transport signal to the main unit 702. The main unit 702 receives the respective uplink transport signals transmitted to it from one or more remote antenna units 704 and uses the received uplink transport signals to generate an amplified version of the uplink signals received at the various remote antenna units 704. The amplified version of the uplink signals received at the various remote antenna units 704 is provided to the 5G NR base station 602. Typically, this uplink processing involves, among other things, combining or summing uplink signals received from multiple remote antenna units 704 in order to produce the amplified version of the uplink signals received at the various remote antenna units 704 that is provided to the 5G NR base station 602. In this way, the DAS 700 can increase the coverage area for the uplink capacity associated with the 5G NR base station 602.
The DAS 700 can use either digital transport, analog transport, or combinations of digital and analog transport for generating and communicating the transport signals between the main units 702 and the remote antenna units 704 (and any intermediary units 706).
In both embodiments, the repeater system is configured to be used with at least one Fifth Generation (5G) New Radio (NR) base station 802 that implements a 5G NR wireless interface and serves a 5G NR cell. In some examples, the 5G NR wireless interface is implemented and the 5G NR cell is served using 5G NR time-division duplexing (TDD). In some examples, the 5G NR wireless interface is implemented and the 5G NR cell is served using 5G NR frequency-division duplexing (FDD). Each 5G NR base station 802 can also be referred to as a “Next Generation NodeB” 802, a “gNodeB” 802, or just a “gNB” 802. The 5G NR base station 802 can be communicatively coupled to the repeater system via one or more cables or via a wireless connection, for example, using one or more internal antennas 810 (shown in
Each repeater system comprises repeater circuitry 806 that is configured so that it can repeat 5G NR downlink and uplink signals. In the examples where the 5G NR wireless interface is implemented using 5G NR TDD, the repeater circuitry 806 (and the repeater system more generally) is configured to switch between operating in a downlink mode and an uplink mode.
The repeater circuitry 806 is configured to receive a downlink signal that was output by the 5G NR base station 802 for wireless transmission to 5G NR user equipment (UE) 808, generate an amplified version of the downlink signal, and wirelessly transmit the amplified version of the downlink signal into a coverage area associated with the repeater system via one or more internal antennas 810 associated with the repeater system. In the example shown in
The repeater circuitry 806 is configured to receive an uplink signal that was wirelessly transmitted by the 5G NR user equipment 808, generate an amplified version of the uplink signal, and communicate the amplified version of the uplink signal to the 5G NR base station 802.
Typically, the downlink signal received from, and the amplified version of the uplink signal communicated to, the 5G NR base station 802 are received and communicated as analog radio frequency signals, though in some embodiments one or more of the downlink and uplink signals are communicated from and to the 5G NR base station 802 in digital form (for example, in a digital form complying with, for example, the Common Public Radio Interface (“CPRI”) protocol, the Enhanced CPRI (“eCPRI”) protocol, the Open Radio Access Network (“O-RAN”) protocol, the Open Radio Equipment Interface (“ORI”) protocol, the Open Base Station Standard Initiative (“OBSAI”) protocol, or other protocol). Also, the amplified version of the downlink signal wirelessly transmitted to, and the uplink signal wirelessly received from, the 5G NR user equipment 808 are wirelessly transmitted and received as analog radio frequency signals.
Moreover, the downlink signal includes one or more radio frequency channels used for communicating in the downlink direction with the 5G NR user equipment 808 over the relevant 5G NR wireless air interface. Likewise, the uplink signal includes one or more radio frequency channels used for communicating in the uplink direction with the 5G NR base station 802 over the relevant 5G NR wireless air interfaces.
In one implementation, the 5G NR base station 802 is coupled to the repeater system (and the repeater circuitry 806 thereof) using a circulator. The circulator comprises a first (common) port that is coupled to the 5G NR base station 802 (either directly via a cable or wirelessly via an internal antenna 810). The circulator also comprises a second (transmit) port that is coupled to a downlink signal path of the repeater system (and the repeater circuitry 806 thereof). The circulator also comprises a third (receive) port that is coupled to an uplink signal path of the repeater system (and the repeater circuitry 806 thereof). The circulator, when configured in this way, separates the downlink signal from the uplink signal. A circulator can also be used to couple the repeater circuitry 806 to an internal antenna 810, where a first (transmit) port of the circulator is coupled to a downlink signal path of the repeater circuitry 806, a second (common) port of the circulator is coupled to an internal antenna 810, and a third (receive port) port of the circulator is coupled to an uplink signal path of the repeater circuitry 806.
The repeater circuitry 806 (and the various features thereof) can be implemented in analog circuitry, digital circuitry, or combinations of analog circuitry and digital circuitry. The repeater circuitry 806 can comprise one or more appropriate connectors, attenuators, combiners, splitters, amplifiers, filters, duplexers, analog-to-digital converters, digital-to-analog converters, electrical-to-optical converters, optical-to-electrical converters, mixers, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), microprocessors, transceivers, framers, etc., to implement the various features described here.
In the example shown in
In some examples, the repeater system is configured to implement a predetermined transmitter ON/OFF power specification. In some such examples, the transmitter OFF power is −85 dBm/1 MHz. In some examples, the predetermined transmitter ON/OFF power specification is specified in a 3GPP specification.
In some examples, the repeater system is configured to implement a predetermined transmitter transient period specification. In some such examples, the transmitter transient period is less than 10 microseconds. In some examples, the predetermined transmitter transient period specification is specified in a 3GPP specification.
In some examples, the repeater system is configured to operate in the FR1 frequency range.
In the embodiment shown in
The DAS 900 includes at least one main unit 902 (for example, a master unit) that is communicatively coupled to a plurality of remote antenna units 904. Each remote antenna unit 904 can be coupled directly to the main unit 902 or indirectly via one or more other remote antenna units 904 and/or via one or more intermediary or expansion units 906.
In the embodiment shown in
In general, each main unit 902 is configured to receive the downlink signal from the 5G NR base station 802 via one or more internal antennas 804 and generate one or more downlink transport signals derived from the received downlink signal. The main unit 902 transmits the one or more downlink transport signals to one or more of the remote antenna units 904. Each remote antenna unit 904 receives the downlink transport signals transmitted to it and uses the received downlink transport signals to generate an amplified version of the downlink signal. The amplified version of the downlink signal is radiated from one or more internal antennas 810 included in that remote antenna unit 904. The amplified version of the downlink signal is radiated for reception by the 5G NR user equipment 808. Typically, this downlink processing involves, among other things, simulcasting the downlink signal received from the 5G NR base station 802 from multiple remote antenna units 904. In this way, the DAS 900 can increase the coverage area for the downlink capacity provided by the 5G NR base station 802.
Likewise, each remote antenna unit 904 receives an uplink signal transmitted from the 5G NR user equipment 808. Each remote antenna unit 904 generates an uplink transport signal derived from the uplink frequency signal and transmits the uplink transport signal to the main unit 902. The main unit 902 receives the respective uplink transport signals transmitted to it from one or more remote antenna units 904 and uses the received uplink transport signals to generate an amplified version of the uplink signals received at the various remote antenna units 904. The amplified version of the uplink signals received at the various remote antenna units 904 is provided to the 5G NR base station 802 via the one or more internal antennas 804. Typically, this uplink processing involves, among other things, combining or summing uplink signals received from multiple remote antenna units 904 in order to produce the amplified version of the uplink signals received at the various remote antenna units 904 that is provided to the 5G NR base station 802. In this way, the DAS 900 can increase the coverage area for the uplink capacity associated with the 5G NR base station 802.
The DAS 900 can use either digital transport, analog transport, or combinations of digital and analog transport for generating and communicating the transport signals between the main units 902 and the remote antenna units 904 (and any intermediary units 906).
While the examples described herein refer particularly to 5G NR base stations and 5G NR user equipment, it should be understood that the repeater systems described herein could also be used for 5G evolution, 6G, and further generations of standards for mobile broadband that include similar requirements as for 5G NR.
The methods and techniques described here may be implemented in digital electronic circuitry, or with a programmable processor (for example, a special-purpose processor or a general-purpose processor such as a computer) firmware, software, or in combinations of them. Apparatus embodying these techniques may include appropriate input and output devices, a programmable processor, and a storage medium tangibly embodying program instructions for execution by the programmable processor. A process embodying these techniques may be performed by a programmable processor executing a program of instructions to perform desired functions by operating on input data and generating appropriate output. The techniques may advantageously be implemented in one or more programs that are executable on a programmable system including at least one programmable processor coupled to receive data and instructions from, and to transmit data and instructions to, a data storage system, at least one input device, and at least one output device. Generally, a processor will receive instructions and data from a read-only memory and/or a random access memory. Storage devices suitable for tangibly embodying computer program instructions and data include all forms of non-volatile memory, including by way of example semiconductor memory devices, such as EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory devices; magnetic disks such as internal hard disks and removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and DVD disks. Any of the foregoing may be supplemented by, or incorporated in, specially-designed application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs).
Example 1 includes a repeater system for use with a Fifth Generation (5G) New Radio (NR) base station that implements a 5G NR wireless interface and serves a 5G NR cell, the repeater system comprising: at least one antenna connector to couple at least one external antenna to the repeater system; repeater circuitry communicatively coupled to the at least one antenna connector, wherein the repeater circuitry is configured to: receive a downlink signal output by the 5G NR base station for wireless transmission to 5G NR user equipment, generate an amplified version of the downlink signal, and wirelessly transmit the amplified version of the downlink signal into a coverage area associated with the repeater system; and receive an uplink signal wirelessly transmitted by the 5G NR user equipment, generate an amplified version of the uplink signal, and communicate the amplified version of the uplink signal to the 5G NR base station; wherein the repeater system is configured to implement: a predetermined output power specification; a predetermined frequency stability specification; a predetermined out-of-band gain specification; a predetermined unwanted emissions specification; a predetermined Error Vector Magnitude specification; a predetermined input intermodulation specification; a predetermined output intermodulation specification; and a predetermined Adjacent Channel Rejection Ratio specification.
Example 2 includes the repeater system of Example 1, wherein at least one of the predetermined output power specification, the predetermined frequency stability specification, the predetermined out-of-band gain specification, the predetermined unwanted emissions specification, the predetermined Error Vector Magnitude specification, the predetermined input intermodulation specification, the predetermined output intermodulation specification, and the predetermined Adjacent Channel Rejection Ratio specification comprises a predetermined value, a predetermined range of predetermined values, or a predetermined threshold.
Example 3 includes the repeater system of any of Examples 1-2, wherein at least one of the predetermined output power specification, the predetermined frequency stability specification, the predetermined out-of-band gain specification, the predetermined unwanted emissions specification, the predetermined Error Vector Magnitude specification, the predetermined input intermodulation specification, the predetermined output intermodulation specification, and the predetermined Adjacent Channel Rejection Ratio specification is specified in a 3GPP specification.
Example 4 includes the repeater system of any of Examples 1-3, wherein the 5G NR wireless interface is implemented and the 5G NR cell is served using 5G NR time-division duplexing (TDD).
Example 5 includes the repeater system of any of Examples 1-4, wherein the 5G NR wireless interface is implemented and the 5G NR cell is served using 5G NR frequency-division duplexing (FDD).
Example 6 includes the repeater system of any of Examples 1-5, wherein the repeater system is configured to operate in a FR1 frequency range.
Example 7 includes the repeater system of any of Examples 1-6, wherein the repeater system is configured to implement a predetermined transmitter ON/OFF power specification.
Example 8 includes the repeater system of Example 7, wherein a transmitter OFF power is −85 dBm/1 MHz.
Example 9 includes the repeater system of any of Examples 1-8, wherein the repeater system is configured to implement a predetermined transmitter transient period specification.
Example 10 includes the repeater system of Example 9, wherein the predetermined transmitter transient period is less than 10 microseconds.
Example 11 includes the repeater system of any of Examples 1-10, wherein at least one of the predetermined output power specification, the predetermined frequency stability specification, the predetermined out-of-band gain specification, the predetermined unwanted emissions specification, the predetermined Error Vector Magnitude specification, the predetermined input intermodulation specification, the predetermined output intermodulation specification, and the predetermined Adjacent Channel Rejection Ratio specification is related to a corresponding specification for the 5G NR base station as specified in 3GPP TS38.104 and tested for 3GPP TS38.141-1.
Example 12 includes the repeater system of any of Examples 1-11, wherein the repeater system comprises a distributed antenna system (DAS), wherein the repeater circuitry is distributed across a main unit and a plurality of remote antenna units.
Example 13 includes the repeater system of any of Examples 1-12, wherein the repeater system comprises at least one of a digital DAS, an analog DAS, and a hybrid digital-analog DAS.
Example 14 includes the repeater system of any of Examples 1-13, wherein the repeater system comprises a single-node repeater.
Example 15 includes the repeater system of any of Examples, 1-14, wherein the repeater system is further configured to implement a predetermined Adjacent Channel Leakage Ratio specification and a predetermined noise figure equivalent specification.
Example 16 includes a repeater system for use with a Fifth Generation (5G) New Radio (NR) base station that implements a 5G NR wireless interface and serves a 5G NR cell, the repeater system comprising: one or more internal antennas; and repeater circuitry communicatively coupled to the one or more internal antennas, wherein the repeater circuitry is configured to: receive a downlink signal output by the 5G NR base station for wireless transmission to 5G NR user equipment, generate an amplified version of the downlink signal, and wirelessly transmit the amplified version of the downlink signal into a coverage area associated with the repeater system; and receive an uplink signal wirelessly transmitted by the 5G NR user equipment, generate an amplified version of the uplink signal, and communicate the amplified version of the uplink signal to the 5G NR base station; wherein the repeater system is configured to implement: a predetermined over-the-air output power specification; a predetermined over-the-air frequency stability specification; a predetermined over-the-air out-of-band gain specification; a predetermined over-the-air unwanted emissions specification; a predetermined over-the-air Error Vector Magnitude specification; a predetermined over-the-air input intermodulation specification; a predetermined over-the-air output intermodulation specification; and a predetermined over-the-air Adjacent Channel Rejection Ratio specification.
Example 17 includes the repeater system of Example 16, wherein at least one of the predetermined over-the-air output power specification, the predetermined over-the-air frequency stability specification, the predetermined over-the-air out-of-band gain specification, the predetermined over-the-air unwanted emissions specification, the predetermined over-the-air Error Vector Magnitude specification, the predetermined over-the-air input intermodulation specification, the predetermined over-the-air output intermodulation specification, and the predetermined over-the-air Adjacent Channel Rejection Ratio specification comprises a predetermined value, a predetermined range of predetermined values, or a predetermined threshold.
Example 18 includes the repeater system of Example 17, wherein at least one of the predetermined over-the-air output power specification, the predetermined over-the-air frequency stability specification, the predetermined over-the-air out-of-band gain specification, the predetermined over-the-air unwanted emissions specification, the predetermined over-the-air Error Vector Magnitude specification, the predetermined over-the-air input intermodulation specification, the predetermined over-the-air output intermodulation specification, and the predetermined over-the-air Adjacent Channel Rejection Ratio specification is specified in a 3GPP specification.
Example 19 includes the repeater system of any of Examples 16-18, wherein the 5G NR wireless interface is implemented and the 5G NR cell is served using 5G NR time-division duplexing (TDD).
Example 20 includes the repeater system of any of Examples 16-19, wherein the 5G NR wireless interface is implemented and the 5G NR cell is served using 5G NR frequency-division duplexing (FDD).
Example 21 includes the repeater system of any of Examples 16-20, wherein the repeater system is configured to operate in a FR1 frequency range.
Example 22 includes the repeater system of any of Examples 16-20, wherein the repeater system is configured to operate in a FR2 frequency range.
Example 23 includes the repeater system of any of Examples 16-20, wherein the repeater system is configured to operate in a FR1 frequency range and a FR2 frequency range.
Example 24 includes the repeater system of any of Examples 16-23, wherein the repeater system is configured to implement a predetermined transmitter ON/OFF power specification.
Example 25 includes the repeater system of Example 24, wherein a transmitter OFF power is −85 dBm/1 MHz.
Example 26 includes the repeater system of any of Examples 16-25, wherein the repeater system is configured to implement a predetermined transmitter transient period specification.
Example 27 includes the repeater system of Example 26, wherein the predetermined transmitter transient period is less than 10 microseconds.
Example 28 includes the repeater system of any of Examples 16-27, wherein at least one of the predetermined over-the-air output power specification, the predetermined over-the-air frequency stability specification, the predetermined over-the-air out-of-band gain specification, the predetermined over-the-air unwanted emissions specification, the predetermined over-the-air Error Vector Magnitude specification, the predetermined over-the-air input intermodulation specification, the predetermined over-the-air output intermodulation specification, and the predetermined over-the-air Adjacent Channel Rejection Ratio specification is related to a corresponding specification for the base station as specified in 3GPP TS38.104 and tested for 3GPP TS38.141-2.
Example 29 includes the repeater system of any of Examples 16-28, wherein the repeater system comprises a distributed antenna system (DAS), wherein the repeater circuitry is distributed across a main unit and a plurality of remote antenna units.
Example 30 includes the repeater system of any of Examples 16-29, wherein the repeater system comprises at least one of a digital DAS, an analog DAS, and a hybrid digital-analog DAS.
Example 31 includes the repeater system of any of Examples 16-30, wherein the repeater system comprises a single-node repeater.
Example 32 includes the repeater system of any of Examples 16-31, wherein the repeater system is further configured to implement a predetermined over-the-air Adjacent Channel Leakage Ratio specification and a predetermined over-the-air noise figure equivalent specification.
A number of embodiments of the invention defined by the following claims have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications to the described embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/137,044, filed Jan. 13, 2021, and titled “REPEATER SYSTEM FOR USE WITH 5G NEW RADIO BASE STATION,” and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/137,641, filed Jan. 14, 2021, and titled “REPEATER SYSTEM FOR USE WITH 5G NEW RADIO BASE STATION,” which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63137641 | Jan 2021 | US | |
| 63137044 | Jan 2021 | US |
