Multistage Combining Subsystem for Distributed Antenna Signal-to-Noise Ratio
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Solution Overview
Problem
In distributed antenna systems, combining uplink signals from multiple remote units degrades the signal-to-noise ratio due to noise accumulation, leading to reduced quality of the combined signal.
Innovation Solution
A multistage combining sub-system that divides broadband uplink signals into narrowband signals, selects subsets based on signal power thresholds, and combines only the signals with useful information for routing to a base station, using filter banks, selector devices, and combiner devices to exclude unnecessary signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If uplink signals from multiple remote units are combined at the master unit, then the coverage area and signal reception capability are improved, but the signal-to-noise ratio of the combined signal deteriorates due to noise accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the broadband uplink signal into multiple narrowband signals using filter banks before combining. This segmentation allows selective combination of only those narrowband signals that contain useful information, preventing noise accumulation across the entire broadband spectrum while maintaining the benefits of combining multiple remote unit signals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only the useful information-bearing narrowband signals from the broadband uplink signals received at multiple remote units. By using filter banks to divide the broadband signals and selectors to identify and extract only the meaningful narrowband components, the system combines only beneficial signals while excluding noise, thereby improving the signal-to-noise ratio of the combined output.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If broadband uplink signals are divided into narrowband signals and only useful signals are combined, then the signal-to-noise ratio is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional filter banks and selector devices
Solution Approach 1:
The filter banks serve multiple functions: they divide broadband signals into narrowband components, enable frequency-selective processing, and facilitate the identification of useful signals. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function, thereby managing device complexity while achieving signal-to-noise ratio improvement.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary division of broadband signals into narrowband signals using filter banks before the combining process. This preliminary action allows the selectors to efficiently identify and extract only the useful narrowband signals, preventing unnecessary noise from being combined in the first place, thus improving signal-to-noise ratio without requiring complex real-time filtering during combination.
Data Source
AI summary
A multistage combining sub-system for a distributed antenna system (“DAS”) is disclosed. The combining sub-system can receive broadband uplink signals from remote units of the DAS. The sub-system can divide the received broadband uplink signals into sets of narrowband uplink signals. The combining sub-system can select subsets of narrowband uplink signals from the sets of narrowband uplink signals. The subsets can be selected based on the narrowband signals in the subsets having a signal characteristic indicative of useful information. The combining sub-system can combine the selected subsets of narrowband uplink signals for routing to a base station. Combining the selected subsets of narrowband uplink signals can involve excluding narrowband uplink signals that are not included in the selected subsets of narrowband uplink signals.