Base Station Interface Module for Distributed Antenna Systems

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing distributed antenna systems face challenges in reducing manufacturing costs and miniaturization due to the use of expensive and large high power attenuators, which also lead to passive inter-modulation distortion and communication failures.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a base station interface module that uses a power coupler or divider and simple attenuators, along with a pre-compensator to adjust and compensate for the power levels of base station signals, effectively reducing the size and cost while preventing passive inter-modulation distortion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a high power attenuator is used to adjust base station signal power levels, then the signal power level is reduced to prevent passive inter-modulation distortion, but the manufacturing cost increases and the device size increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal processing qualityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the single high-power attenuation function into multiple lower-power attenuation stages. The signal is attenuated in steps through multiple attenuators rather than using one high-power attenuator, which reduces the power handling requirement for each individual component and allows use of cheaper, smaller attenuators.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a power divider as an intermediary component between the base station signal input and the attenuators. The power divider splits the high-power signal into multiple lower-power signal paths, enabling subsequent attenuators to operate at lower power levels and preventing passive inter-modulation distortion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a high power attenuator is used to adjust base station signal power levels, then the signal power level is reduced to prevent passive inter-modulation distortion, but the device size increases limiting miniaturization

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal processing qualityVSAvoiddevice size

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a nested structure where the power divider and multiple attenuators are integrated into a compact arrangement. The signal paths are nested within each other, with the power divider feeding into multiple attenuator branches, allowing efficient space utilization and miniaturization of the overall device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Power

If a winding-type attenuator with wound cable is used to adjust power levels, then the power level is reduced, but the device size increases and manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower level adjustmentVSAvoiddevice size

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the winding cable structure from the attenuator design. Instead of using a winding-type attenuator that requires physical cable winding, the patent uses a planar power divider and attenuator configuration that achieves the same power reduction function without the bulky wound cable structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical winding-type attenuator structure with an electrical circuit-based power divider and attenuator system. This substitution eliminates the need for physical cable winding and mechanical adjustment mechanisms, resulting in a more compact and integrated design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution enhances the price competitiveness of the distributed antenna system by reducing manufacturing costs, miniaturizing equipment, and improving service reliability by preventing communication failures due to passive inter-modulation distortion.

Implementation Method 1

a power coupler dividing a base station signal into first and second base station signals having different power levels

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPower coupling:

Implementation Method 2

a pre-compensator compensating for at least one of an amplitude and a phase of the first base station signal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSignal compensation:

Data Source

PatentEP3764735B1Base station interface module of a distributed antenna sytem

Publication Date: 2023.10.18 SOLID

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AI summary

A base station interface module included in a distributed antenna system includes: a separator configured to separate a base station signal input from a base station and output first and second base station signals; a pre-compensator configured to compensate for at least one of an amplitude and a phase of the first base station signal based on a preset compensation value; a first attenuator configured to attenuate the compensated first base station signal and to output the attenuated first base station signal to the distributed antenna system; and a second attenuator configured to attenuate the second base station signal and to terminate the attenuated second base station signal.