Rotating Coupling Loops for Dynamic RF Bandwidth Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current RF cavity resonator systems require site downtime and significant capital expenditures to adjust RF carrier signal bandwidths, as changes cannot be implemented while operational, necessitating the addition of new antennas and equipment racks.
Innovation Solution
The use of rotating coupling loops and Quick Lock connectors allows for adjustable bandwidth selection on a single cavity combiner assembly, enabling changes to RF carrier signal characteristics while the system is operational, using a frequency agile combining manifold to accommodate various frequencies and bandwidths without the need for additional equipment or site shutdown.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If RF carrier frequencies and bandwidths are set during system installation, then system stability is improved, but adaptability deteriorates because changes cannot be implemented in the field without disabling the transmitter
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic bandwidth adjustment by making the coupling loops rotatable about the connector's collinear axis. This allows the resonator bandwidth to be changed from narrow to wide bandwidth configurations while the system remains operational and under power, eliminating the need to disable the transmitter for reconfiguration.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate transmit antennas are added to accommodate different carrier bandwidths, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases and capital costs rise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes a single transmit antenna and cavity combiner assembly universal by enabling it to handle multiple carrier bandwidths (narrow and wide) through rotatable coupling loops. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated transmit antennas for different services like HSD, reducing site design complexity and capital expansion costs.
3Adaptability or versatility
If site equipment is modified to expand RF carrier signal characteristics, then adaptability is improved, but loss of time increases due to required site shutdown
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables dynamic reconfiguration of the cavity resonator bandwidth while the system remains operational. The rotatable coupling loops allow field personnel to adjust from narrow to wide bandwidth configurations without disabling the transmitter, eliminating site downtime and associated productivity losses.
4Adaptability or versatility
If dedicated transmit antennas are added for high data speed services, then adaptability is improved, but capital expansion costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the existing cavity combiner assembly and transmit antenna universal by enabling wide bandwidth operation through rotatable coupling loops. This allows the same equipment to support both traditional narrowband services and high data speed services, eliminating the need for additional dedicated HSD transmit antennas and reducing capital expansion costs.
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
This solution allows for dynamic adjustment of RF carrier signal bandwidths and frequencies on a single transmit antenna, reducing downtime and capital costs, enabling flexible and efficient operation of RF cavity resonator systems, particularly beneficial for public safety communications.
Implementation Method 1
an RF input coupling loop assembly (110) and RF output coupling loop assembly (120) for, respectively, introducing an RF field into and extracting an RF field from the resonator chamber
Implementation Method 2
a resonator body or chamber (130) for containing an RF field
Data Source
AI summary
A radio frequency (RF) cavity resonator having a resonator chamber and one or more RF coupling loop assemblies is presented. The RF coupling loop assembly has a connector with a first connector interface coupled to an inner conductor and a second connector interface coupled to an outer conductor, the first and second connector interfaces forming a pair when mated, the second connector interface rotatable about a collinear axis of the connector and the first connector interface not rotatable about the collinear axis of the connector; a wire loop coupler; and a bandwidth selection element at least partially coupled to the coupling loop assembly. In response to changing the bandwidth selection setting while the RF cavity resonator is operational, the wire loop changes orientation about the collinear axis of the connector and causes the RF resonator chamber to output an RF carrier signal having a bandwidth of the new bandwidth setting.