Hybrid Optical-RF Stamp Cell for Wireless Range Extension
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Solution Overview
Problem
High frequency radio transmissions in emerging wireless standards, such as 5G New Radio, face challenges in achieving longer ranges without an exponential increase in power, making it difficult to develop effective transceivers for wireless cellular networks.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a hybrid optical-RF device, referred to as a 'stamp cell', which converts high frequency RF signals to optical signals for transmission to a cell tower and vice versa, allowing for efficient communication over short distances using passive or low-power active devices, eliminating the need for extensive power cabling and enabling high bandwidth data streams.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high frequency radio transmissions are used to provide large bandwidth, then spectrum utilization is improved, but transmission range deteriorates without exponential power increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an optical signal as an intermediary carrier to transfer RF signals. The RF signal modulates an optical carrier wave, which then propagates through free space to the receiver. This optical intermediary enables high-frequency RF communication over extended ranges by leveraging the directional precision and low loss characteristics of optical propagation, thereby resolving the contradiction between achieving large bandwidth at high frequencies and maintaining transmission range.
2Length of moving object
If transceiver power is increased to extend transmission range, then range is improved, but power consumption increases exponentially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional electromagnetic RF transmission mechanism with an optical transmission mechanism. Instead of directly transmitting high-power RF signals over long distances, the system modulates RF signals onto optical carrier waves for transmission. This substitution leverages the superior propagation characteristics of optical signals, achieving extended transmission range without the exponential power increase that would be required with conventional RF transmission.
3Length of moving object
If conventional RF transceivers are used for long range communication, then transmission range is improved, but device complexity and power requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an optical signal as an intermediary to carry RF information over long distances. The transmitter modulates the RF signal onto an optical carrier, and the receiver detects and demodulates the optical signal to recover the RF information. This intermediary approach simplifies the transceiver design compared to conventional long-range RF systems, as it avoids the need for high-power amplifiers and complex antenna systems, while achieving extended transmission range.
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 high frequency RF communications over short distances with small, inexpensive devices, providing high bandwidth data streams while reducing power requirements and eliminating the need for extensive cabling, thus addressing the power and range limitations of traditional transceivers.
Implementation Method 1
The circuitry may include a photodiode that converts the incoming optical signal to an electrical signal
Data Source
AI summary
A hybrid optical-RF device, called a “stamp cell” herein, may be a small, passive repeating device that is designed to be placed close to User Equipment (UE) such that the UE only needs to reach a few meters using high frequency RF signals. The stamp cell may directly convert the received RF signal to an optical signal which may be transmitted to an optical receiver mounted on a traditional cell tower. Similarly, in the downlink direction, the stamp cell may receive optical signals from the cell tower and convert the optical signals to high frequency RF signals, which may be received by the UE.