Fake Load Current Simulation for Tower-Top Device Fault Location
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Solution Overview
Problem
Base stations without AISG protocol communication function cannot distinguish which tower-top device is faulty when supplying power to multiple devices, as they cannot differentiate current changes among them.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that involves detecting the working current of each tower-top device in real-time and using a fake load with a low dropout linear regulator or direct current switch power supply to simulate the current, allowing the base station to determine if a device is faulty by adjusting the control voltage to match the current value, enabling identification of faulty devices even without AISG protocol communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a base station supplies power to multiple tower-top devices without AISG protocol communication function, then power supply capability is improved, but the ability to locate faulty devices deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the aggregate current measurement into individual device current measurements by introducing separate fake loads for each tower-top device. Each fake load is controlled independently to simulate the current of a specific device, allowing the base station to measure currents separately and identify which device is faulty, thus resolving the inability to locate faults when multiple devices share a power supply.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces fake loads as intermediary components between the base station and the tower-top devices. These fake loads simulate the electrical characteristics of actual devices and are controlled by the tower-bottom MCU to enable current measurement and fault identification, serving as a mediator that allows the base station to detect device status without requiring AISG protocol communication capability.
2Measurement precision
If a base station detects working currents of multiple tower-top devices, then monitoring capability is improved, but the ability to distinguish which device caused current change deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the current measurement process by assigning a dedicated fake load to each tower-top device. The tower-bottom MCU controls each fake load independently to match the current characteristics of its corresponding device, allowing the base station to measure currents separately and identify which specific device caused a current change, thereby preventing loss of device identification information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates electrical current copies using fake loads that simulate the working current characteristics of each tower-top device. By controlling these current copies to match the original device currents, the system enables the base station to monitor and identify device-specific current changes without directly measuring the actual devices, thus preserving device identification information.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a base station without AISG protocol communication function is used, then device compatibility is improved, but fault detection capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces fake loads controlled by the tower-bottom MCU as intermediary components that enable fault detection without requiring AISG protocol communication. These fake loads simulate device currents and allow the base station to detect faults through current measurement alone, maintaining compatibility with base stations that lack AISG protocol functionality while restoring fault detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the AISG protocol communication mechanism with an electrical current simulation approach. Instead of relying on digital communication protocols to convey device status information, the system uses electrical current copies generated by fake loads to transmit fault information to the base station, thereby enabling fault detection in systems without protocol communication capability.
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
Enables the base station to accurately locate faulty tower-top devices by simulating the working current of each device, effectively addressing the challenge of identifying faulty units in scenarios where multiple devices share power supply.
Implementation Method 1
the fake load includes a low dropout linear regulator, LDO, configuration resistors R1, R2 and R3, and a power consumption resistor R
Implementation Method 2
the fake load includes a direct current switch power supply, configuration resistors R1, R2 and R3, and a power consumption resistor R
Implementation Method 3
detecting a working current of each tower-top device in real time to obtain present current value information of each tower-top device
Data Source
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AI summary
The embodiments of the present invention provide a method and an apparatus for locating a faulty tower-top device, and relate to the field of communications. The method comprises: detecting a working current of each tower-top device in real time to obtain present current value information of each tower-top device, controlling, according to the present current value information of each tower-top device, a fake load configured to simulate a working current of the tower-top device to make a current of an input port of the fake load equal to the present current value information of the tower-top device, so that a base station without an Antenna Interface Standards Group AISG communication function learns the present current value information of the tower-top device by detecting the current of the input port of the fake load configured to simulate the tower-top device, and determines whether the tower-top device is faulty according to the present current value information of the tower-top device. The apparatus comprises a tower-top module and a tower-bottom module. By using the above solution, the present invention can locate a faulty tower-top device in scenarios where one base station supplies power for multiple tower-top devices at the same time.