Modular Remote Unit Scaling Distributed Antenna Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Distributed antenna systems (DAS) face inefficiencies due to their design being optimized for fully loaded configurations, leading to non-proportional costs when supporting fewer bands, as they maintain the same infrastructure and equipment even when not fully utilized, resulting in suboptimal performance and increased costs for partially loaded remote units.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of modular components within remote units that can be added or removed to scale, allowing for flexible and efficient configuration, including transport interfaces, signal processors, and radio frequency amplification and filtering sections, enabling scalable and cost-effective expansion without requiring hardware changes for new bands or protocols.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If remote units are designed for fully loaded configurations, then they can support maximum bands and features, but costs become non-proportional and increase when fewer bands are supported
Solution Approach 1:
The remote unit is divided into modular components that can be independently selected and configured. Each module handles specific bands or features, allowing the system to be assembled with only the necessary components for the required functionality, rather than including all possible bands and features in every unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular architecture uses standardized interfaces and common infrastructure components that can serve multiple functions across different configurations. The same base infrastructure supports various band combinations and feature sets by simply changing or adding modular components, making the infrastructure universal rather than specialized for each configuration.
2Reliability
If remote units maintain the same infrastructure for fully loaded configurations, then maximum performance is achieved, but performance becomes suboptimal for partially loaded units
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a static, fixed configuration to a dynamic, adjustable architecture. Modular components can be added, removed, or reconfigured based on current performance requirements, allowing the remote unit to adapt its infrastructure to match the actual load and performance needs at any given time.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the remote unit are optimized for their specific functions rather than using a uniform design throughout. Each modular component is tailored to its specific band or feature requirements, ensuring that each part of the system operates at optimal performance for its designated purpose.
3Adaptability or versatility
If hardware changes are implemented for new bands or protocols, then compatibility is improved, but device complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
Band-specific and protocol-specific functionality is separated into distinct modular components. When new bands or protocols are needed, only the relevant modular component needs to be added or swapped, rather than modifying the entire hardware system. This segmentation isolates complexity to manageable, replaceable units.
Solution Approach 2:
Standardized interface modules serve as intermediaries between the core infrastructure and band-specific components. These intermediary modules handle the complexity of different bands and protocols, presenting a uniform interface to the rest of the system while managing the specific requirements of each band or protocol through standardized connection points.
Data Source
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AI summary
A modular component for interconnection with another modular component to form a remote unit of a distributed antenna system, the modular component includes: an upstream transport interface to receive downlink signals indicative of downlink radio frequency signals originating from another unit in the DAS; a central signal processor to convert the downlink signals received at the upstream transport interface into the downlink radio frequency signals; a radio frequency amplification section to amplify at least a first portion of the downlink radio frequency signals using at least a first radio frequency amplifier; and a radio frequency filtering section to: filter the at least the first portion of the downlink radio frequency signals using at least a first radio frequency filter and provide the at least the first portion of the downlink radio frequency signals to at least one antenna for transmission to at least one subscriber unit.