Splitter Device for Remote Radio Head Signal Equalization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Deploying wireless communication networks faces challenges in balancing coverage and capacity, particularly in indoor settings where many small cells are costly and lead to significant handover issues due to the need for multiple radio base stations and extensive cabling.
Innovation Solution
A splitter device is introduced that connects multiple remote radio heads to a single trunk cable, featuring gain control units, uplink signal amplifiers, and a signal combiner/splitter to equalize uplink signals and extend range, with automatic gain control, delay compensation, and power management to improve signal quality and reduce cabling needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If multiple radio base stations are deployed to provide coverage in indoor settings, then coverage is improved, but cost and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple remote radio heads are combined and connected to a single aggregation node through a shared trunk cable infrastructure. The splitter device enables multiple radio heads to share common cabling resources, reducing the number of independent base station deployments needed while maintaining coverage area.
Solution Approach 2:
The aggregation node serves multiple remote radio heads simultaneously through a single connection point. The trunk cable infrastructure serves multiple purposes by carrying signals to and from multiple radio heads, reducing the need for dedicated cabling for each base station.
2Productivity
If many small cells are deployed to improve capacity, then capacity increases, but handover overhead increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple remote radio heads are merged into a single cell under one aggregation node, allowing wireless terminals to move between radio heads without triggering handovers. This combines the capacity benefits of multiple small cells while eliminating the handover overhead associated with traditional small cell deployments.
3Area of stationary object
If remote radio heads are placed far from the aggregation node to extend coverage, then coverage range improves, but signal quality deteriorates due to cable loss
Solution Approach 1:
The uplink signal amplifier gain is dynamically adjusted based on automatic gain control signals from each remote radio head. This dynamic compensation allows the system to maintain signal quality even when radio heads are placed at varying distances from the aggregation node, enabling extended coverage range without sacrificing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The gain parameter of the uplink signal amplifier is changed based on the distance and cable loss characteristics of each remote radio head connection. This parameter adjustment compensates for cable loss and maintains optimal signal quality across different deployment scenarios.
4Reliability
If separate cabling is provided for each radio head to maintain signal quality, then signal quality is preserved, but cabling cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple radio heads share a common trunk cable infrastructure through the splitter device, reducing the amount of cabling needed compared to dedicated cabling for each radio head. The gain control and amplification mechanisms ensure signal quality is maintained despite the shared infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The splitter device acts as an intermediary between the aggregation node and multiple remote radio heads, enabling efficient signal distribution and collection over shared cabling. This intermediary component makes the shared infrastructure approach viable while maintaining signal integrity.
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
The splitter device enhances signal quality and range between the aggregation node and remote radio heads, reduces cabling requirements, and improves network reliability by dynamically compensating for cable losses and handovers, thus optimizing coverage and capacity while minimizing costs.
Implementation Method 1
a first uplink signal amplifier, wherein a gain of the first uplink signal amplifier is adjusted based on a signal from the gain control unit
Implementation Method 2
an automatic gain control unit configured to receive automatic gain control signals from the first remote radio head and the second remote radio head, and to control the gain of the first uplink signal amplifier and the second uplink signal amplifier based on the first and second automatic gain control signals
Implementation Method 3
Each one of the first gain control unit and the second gain control unit may comprise a respective cable loss measurement unit
Data Source
AI summary
It is provided a splitter device comprising: a first trunk cable interface for connecting with a first aggregation node via a first trunk cable; a first radio head interface for connecting to a first remote radio head via a first distribution cable; a second radio head interface for connecting to a second remote radio head via a second distribution cable; a signal combiner and splitter connected to the first radio head interface and the second radio head interface; and a radio signal refresh unit provided between the first trunk cable interface and the signal combiner and splitter. The radio head interfaces comprise respective gain control units and uplink signal amplifiers, wherein a gain of the uplink signal amplifiers is adjusted based on a signal from the respective gain control unit.