Corning Optical Communications LLC

Corning Optical Communications Wireless Ltd

Corning Research & Development Corporation

Dror Ben-Shlomo

Isaac Shapira

Dror Harel

Gavriel Mizrahi

Ofer Nisan

Time-division duplexing (TDD) in distributed communications systems, including distributed antenna systems (DASs) is disclosed. In one embodiment, a control circuit is provided and configured to control the TDD transmit mode of a DAS to control the allocation of time slots for uplink and downlink communications signal distribution in respective uplink path(s) and downlink path(s). The control circuit includes separate power detectors configured to detect either a transmit power level in a downlink path or a receive power level in an uplink path. If the transmit power detected in the downlink path is greater than receive power detected in the uplink path, the control circuit switches the TDD transmit mode to the downlink direction. In this manner, the control circuit does not have to control the TDD transmit mode based solely on detected power in the downlink path, where a directional coupler may leak uplink power in the downlink path.

Time-division duplexing (TDD) in distributed communications systems, including distributed antenna systems (DASs)

Isolation for antennas in a wireless communication system is achieved between transmit and receive paths for a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) antenna array by separating a first transmit path from an associated receive path to be matched with a second transmit path and matching the first receive path with the second receive path. It is expected that the two transmit paths operate on sufficiently different frequencies that there is minimal interference there and the additional spacing from the transmit path to the receive path will reduce interference therebetween without increasing a footprint of the antenna array.

Systems and methods for providing isolation for antennas in a wireless communication system

Time-division duplexing (TDD) in distributed communications systems, including distributed antenna systems (DASS)

Embodiments of the disclosure relate to allocating digital channels into spectrum chunks in a wireless distribution system (WDS). In a WDS, a central unit is configured to communicate downlink and uplink communications signals with a plurality of remote units over a plurality of downlink and uplink communication links. In one aspect, discrete downlink channels in the downlink communications signals are grouped into downlink spectrum chunks at the central unit when the processing circuitry at the central unit is underutilized. In another aspect, discrete uplink channels in the uplink communications signals are grouped into uplink spectrum chunks at the remote units when the processing circuitries at the remote units are underutilized. By grouping discrete downlink channels into downlink spectrum chunks and/or grouping uplink discrete channels into uplink spectrum chunks, it is possible to optimize system resource utilization in the WDS, thus providing enhanced overall performance in the WDS.

Allocating digital channels associated with communications signals into assigned spectrum chunks in a wireless distribution system (WDS) based on determined utilization of processing resources

Embodiments of the disclosure relate to combining uplink radio frequency (RF) communications signals in a remote unit in a wireless distribution system (WDS) using a differential mixer. A remote unit in a WDS receives a first uplink RF communications signal(s) and a second uplink RF communications signal(s). A differential mixer, which is typically configured to combine a pair of differential input signals, is controlled to combine the first uplink RF communications signal(s) and second uplink RF communications signal(s) without requiring the first uplink RF communications signal(s) and second uplink RF communications signal(s) to be converted into the pair of differential input signals. As a result, it may be possible to eliminate a signal combiner and a BalUn circuit from the remote unit, thus helping to save component costs and board space, and to reduce insertion loss and ripple to improve uplink signal quality in the remote unit.

Combining uplink radio frequency (RF) communications signals in a remote unit in a wireless distribution system (WDS) using a differential mixer

Separation of sub-bands of communications signals to reduce interference in distributed antenna systems (DASs) is disclosed. A sub-band separation circuit coupled to a plurality of antennas is configured to distribute and receive and transmit a pair of downlink and uplink sub-band signals. The sub-band separation circuit is coupled to a duplexed port of a remote unit that distributes uplink communications signals to the DAS and receives downlink communications signals from the DAS. In order to isolate the downlink communications signals from the uplink communications path in the remote unit, the isolation circuit includes a plurality of sub-band isolation circuits. Each sub-band isolation circuit is configured to isolate at least one sub-band of the downlink communications signal to generate a downlink sub-band signal that has a desired frequency separation or gap with uplink communication signals received at the duplexed port.

Growing community of inventors

Reut, Israel

Dror Ben-Shlomo