Digital Transceiver Up/Down Conversion Without Coaxial Cable Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current base transceiver stations (BTS) face challenges with signal loss and space requirements due to the use of coaxial cables for connecting antennas to radio units, which also raises aesthetic concerns and complicates installation and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of digital Up-Converters (DUC) and Down-Converters (DDC) within a digital radio unit that directly connect to antennas, eliminating the need for coaxial cables by converting digital base-band signals into digital band-pass signals, utilizing over-sampling units, sigma-delta modulators, and quadrature modulation to minimize signal loss and reduce space requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If coaxial cables are used to connect antennas to radio units, then electrical noise shielding is improved, but signal loss increases and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the coaxial cable from the system by implementing a digital antenna system where the radio unit is integrated directly with the antenna elements. This eliminates the need for coaxial cables that cause signal loss while maintaining electrical noise shielding through digital signal processing and integrated architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/electrical connection system (coaxial cables) with a digital signal processing system. Digital signals are processed and transmitted through integrated circuits and digital interfaces, substituting the physical cable-based transmission with electronic/digital signal pathways that reduce signal loss.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If coaxial cables are used to connect antennas to radio units, then electrical noise shielding is improved, but installation and maintenance complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the radio unit and antenna elements into a single integrated digital antenna system. By combining these previously separate components, the system eliminates the need for cable connections, simplifying both installation (no cable routing required) and maintenance (fewer connection points to troubleshoot).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the coaxial cable infrastructure from the system architecture. By eliminating the cable connection layer between antennas and radio units, the system reduces installation complexity (no cable installation needed) and maintenance complexity (no cable connections to secure or replace).
3Area of stationary object
If radio units are located at a distance from antennas, then space requirements for base station are reduced, but signal loss and cable requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a distributed architecture (antennas separated from radio units by cables) to an integrated architecture where the radio unit is embedded within the antenna structure itself. This dimensional reorganization places the signal processing functionality at the same location as the antenna elements, eliminating cable-related signal loss while maintaining compact base station footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the radio unit with the antenna elements into a single integrated unit. This combination eliminates the need for long cable runs, reducing signal loss, while the overall system maintains a compact form factor suitable for modern base station space constraints.
Data Source
AI summary
Digital Transceiver (DTRX) usable in a radio communications systems for transmitting and receiving digital base-band signals, wherein the DTRX (300) comprises: at least one digital up-converter (DUC) (310) for transmitting digital base-band signals and at least one digital down-converter for receiving digital base-band signals. In one aspect of the teachings disclosed herein the DUC (310) comprises at least two over-sampling units (314, 315), at least one quadrature modulation unit (340), and at least one time-discrete sigma delta band-pass modulator (318). The digital down-converter comprises at least one quadrature demodulation unit (360), at least two decimator units (356,357), and at least two sub-sampling units (354, 355). The digital base-band signal comprises an in-phase component (I-signal) and a quadrature component (Q-signal).