Patent · US Expired

Cellular communications system with centralized base stations and distributed antenna units

US5627879A · kind A · utility

501Cited by
37References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 2, 1994
Grant dateMay 6, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 2, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04W36/18
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A microcellular communications network includes a plurality of base station units and corresponding antenna units. The base station units are housed in a common location. Each includes either conventional transmitters and receivers or all digital transmitter and receiver equipment, and interface circuitry to a mobile telecommunications switching office. The microcell traffic output is applied to a frame generator/multiplexer. The output of the frame generator/multiplexer is applied to a digitally modulated laser. The laser output is conveyed by fiber to a remote antenna unit, which demultiplexes the microcell traffic signal and applies it to a digital-to-analog converter. The output of the digital-to-analog converter is applied to a power amplifier, which in turn is connected to a main antenna. RF signals from the mobile units are received at both a main and a diversity antenna. The received signals are filtered, digitized, multiplexed together and transmitted over the optical fiber back to the base station. The strongest signal is selected for use.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.