RF Signal Extender for Wireless Control Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wireless control systems have limited RF signal coverage areas, preventing control commands and operational status data transmission when devices move out of range, and are prone to interference from other wireless control systems.
Innovation Solution
An RF signal extender is introduced between the first and second electronic devices, receiving, analyzing, and re-transmitting RF signals to expand coverage while ensuring compliance with the wireless control system's communication protocol, thereby reducing interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If RF signal coverage area is extended by adding more devices, then the total coverage area increases, but the device complexity and potential for interference from other systems increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an RF signal extender as an intermediary device that receives RF signals from one electronic device and re-transmits them to extend coverage. This mediator approach allows coverage extension without requiring direct peer-to-peer communication between all devices, simplifying the overall system architecture while achieving expanded coverage area.
2Area of stationary object
If RF signals are re-transmitted to extend coverage, then the coverage area is extended, but interference from other wireless control systems increases
Solution Approach 1:
The RF signal extender incorporates a protocol analysis function that acts as a feedback mechanism. Before re-transmitting received RF signals, the extender analyzes them to verify compliance with the wireless control system's protocol. This feedback loop ensures that only valid, protocol-compliant signals are re-transmitted, preventing interference from malformed or incompatible signals while extending coverage.
3Reliability
If protocol analysis is performed on received RF signals, then interference from non-compliant signals is reduced, but the processing time and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protocol analysis function in the RF signal extender performs partial verification of received signals by checking key protocol elements rather than complete validation. This partial action approach provides sufficient reliability to filter out non-compliant signals while avoiding the excessive complexity of full protocol validation, achieving a practical balance between reliability and complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of extending RF signals in a wireless control system which includes a first electronic device, a second electronic device, and an RF signal extender. RF signal coverage areas of the electronic devices partially overlap, and each of the electronic devices is out of the RF signal coverage area of the other one. The RF signal extender is in an overlapping area between the RF signal coverage areas, and the electronic devices are in an RF signal coverage area of the RF signal extender. The method includes the steps of: receiving an RF signal with the RF signal extender; analyzing the received RF signal to retrieve the data carried therein; and compiling the data into an RF signal for transmission if the retrieved data follows an RF communication protocol of the wireless control system. Whereby, a total RF signal coverage area can be expanded, and interferences can be reduced.