Input selective smart bias tee

Abstract

The Invention comprises a method and Interface for powering and controlling an antenna, having an RF signal input, an AISG signal input, including a DC current, wherein the RF signal input is coupled to the antenna by a filter, so the filter blocks a signal with DC current, and the AISG signal is coupled to the antenna through a switch, so that if an AISG signal is present, the switch automatically allows the AISG signal through to the antenna for control of the antenna, and if no AISG signal is present, the RF signal is automatically allowed through to the antenna for control of the antenna.

Description

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 61 / 943,156, filed February 21, 2014. Background technique [0002] A Smart Bias Tee (SBT) is often used inside the antenna to allow power and control signals for the actuator to be delivered to the antenna via an RF coaxial cable rather than a separate multi-conductor cable. At the bottom, a first SBT puts power and control signals on the RF cable. At the top of the tower, a second SBT pulls it back off. See, for example, US Patent Application Publication No. 2007 / 0161348 ("348 Application"), which is incorporated herein by method. [0003] exist figure 1 A known application for SBT is shown in . The electrical downtilt of the antenna beam can be controlled by a remote electric tuning (RET) device 15. A base station can comprise three or more such tower mounted antennas. System 10 includes a control subsystem 16 that interfaces with RET 15, a radio 17 that interfaces with antenna 13, and a DC ...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0007] Utilizing SBTs to provide DC power and control signals to tower-mounted equipment becomes more complicated in the case of multi-band antennas. In particular, the current problem is that using standard antennas that utilize blind-mate, capacitively coupled, coaxial connectors There are certain advantages to the interface. However, capacitively coupled connectors are inherently incapable of transferring DC power through the connection interface due to the DC blocking properties, so conventional smart biasers cannot be used to transfer power to devices using this type of interface. Connectors on tower-mounted equipment. Correspondingly, more flexible structures are required for transmitting AISG control signals and DC power to RET antennas and other tower-mounted equipment.

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