Intermediate Power Supply Unit for Remote DAS Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Distributed antenna systems (DAS) face challenges in efficiently and safely distributing power to remote units due to regulatory limitations on direct current delivery, which can result in power loss and increased installation complexity and cost, especially when high voltage is required to reduce current through wires.
Innovation Solution
An intermediate power supply unit that converts higher voltage power from a power source to lower voltage for distribution to remote units, incorporating a power coupling circuit for safety features like touch detection and decoupling to prevent electrical shock, and a power converter circuit to manage voltage levels, allowing for efficient power delivery while ensuring safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If higher voltage is used to reduce current through wires, then power delivery efficiency is improved, but safety risks increase due to potential electrical shock
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediate power supply unit that acts as a mediator between the high voltage power source and the remote units. This intermediate unit steps down the high voltage to lower voltage levels, allowing efficient power delivery over long distances while ensuring safety at the point of distribution. The intermediate unit effectively decouples the efficiency benefit of high voltage from the safety risk, resolving the contradiction.
Solution Approach 2:
The power distribution system is segmented into multiple stages: a high voltage distribution stage for efficient long-distance power delivery, and local intermediate power supply units that step down voltage for safe local distribution. This segmentation allows different parts of the system to operate at different voltage levels optimized for their specific functions, resolving the contradiction between efficiency and safety.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If regulatory limitations on direct current delivery are imposed, then safety is improved, but power delivery capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the voltage parameter in the power distribution system by introducing intermediate units that convert high voltage to lower voltage levels. This parameter change allows the system to deliver high power over long distances using high voltage, then safely distribute it locally using lower voltage, thus maintaining both safety compliance and power delivery capability.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If high voltage protection circuits are added to remote units, then safety is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate power supply unit serves as an intermediary that handles the voltage conversion and safety functions centrally, allowing remote units to operate with simpler, lower-voltage circuits. This eliminates the need for complex high voltage protection circuits in each remote unit, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining safety.
4Ease of manufacture
If higher voltage is used to reduce current, then wire size and installation cost are reduced, but safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the power distribution into high voltage transmission portions (where thin wires are acceptable due to low current) and low voltage distribution portions (where safety is paramount). This segmentation allows the use of smaller, cheaper wires for the high voltage portion while maintaining safety through the intermediate voltage conversion units.
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
The solution enables efficient power distribution to remote units with reduced voltage drop and enhanced safety features, reducing installation complexity and costs by allowing the use of standard remote units without high voltage protection circuits and enabling power delivery through the same communication lines.
Implementation Method 1
a power converter circuit to convert voltage on one or more higher voltage inputs to a lower voltage applied to one or more lower voltage outputs
Data Source
AI summary
An intermediate power supply unit for distributing lower voltage power to remote devices is disclosed. The intermediate power supply unit includes a higher voltage power input configured to receive power distributed by a power source and a power coupling circuit configured to couple the higher voltage power input to a plurality of power coupling outputs. If it is determined that a wire coupling the power source to the higher voltage power input is touched, the higher voltage power input is decoupled from the power coupling outputs. The intermediate power supply unit also includes a power converter circuit configured to convert voltage on higher voltage inputs to a lower voltage applied to one or more lower voltage outputs. The power converter circuit is also configured to distribute power from the one or more lower voltage outputs over a power conductor coupled to an assigned remote device.