Multi-use booster

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11031995-B2
Application number	US-202016874520-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 14, 2020
Priority date	May 15, 2019
Publication date	Jun 8, 2021
Grant date	Jun 8, 2021

Abstract

A repeater system comprises a repeater with a donor port, a server port, and first and second direction amplification paths to amplify one or more RF communication signals coupled between the server and donor ports. A signal splitter is communicatively coupled to the repeater and has first and second signal splitter ports. Signal splitter paths are coupled to the signal splitter ports. The repeater system can be configured to communicate the RF communication signals to a server antenna device on each signal splitter path with a different gain relative to the donor port.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A repeater system comprising:
a repeater comprising:
a donor port configured to be coupled to a donor antenna to communicate one or more radio frequency (RF) communications signals;
a server port;
a first direction amplification and filtering path coupled between the donor port and the server port;
a second direction amplification and filtering path coupled between the donor port and the server port;
a signal splitter communicatively coupled to the server port and having at least first and second signal splitter ports;
the first signal splitter port being configured to be communicatively coupled to one or more of:
a first cradle having a first interface capable of selectively carrying a first wireless user device and a first RF signal coupler configured to wirelessly couple the one or more RF communication signals to the first wireless user device carried by the first interface of the first cradle; or
a first direct connect device; and
the second signal splitter port being configured to be communicatively coupled to one or more of:
a second cradle with a second interface capable of selectively carrying a second wireless user device and a second RF signal coupler; or
a server antenna; or
a second direct connect device; and

the repeater system having a predetermined maximum gain of the one or more RF communications signals at the first signal splitter port or the second signal splitter port relative to the one or more RF communications signals at the donor port.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the signal splitter is integrated into the repeater.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the repeater system is configured to provide a maximum gain of:
23 decibels (dB) for the first cradle or the second cradle;
15 dB for the first direct connect device or the second direct connect device;
50 dB for the server antenna in a moving vehicle; or
65-72 dB for the server antenna in a stationary vehicle or a building.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second cradle coupled to the second signal splitter port of the signal splitter and having the second interface capable of selectively carrying the second wireless user device; and
a second RF signal coupler configured to wirelessly couple the one or more RF communication signals to the second wireless user device when the second wireless user device is carried by the second cradle.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein:
the first and second cradles comprise a single, shared housing; or
the first and second interfaces are disposed adjacent one another in the shared housing; or
the repeater is disposed in the shared housing; or
the first and second signal splitter ports of the signal splitter are equidistance from the repeater; and wherein the signal splitter is configured such that a power of the one or more RF communication signals is substantially the same at the first and second signal splitter ports of the signal splitter; or
the first wireless user device comprises a cellular phone; and wherein the second wireless user device comprises a wireless hotspot, or vice versa.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the signal splitter comprises a signal tap capable of splitting the one or more RF communication signals disproportionally between at least a coupled signal path to the first signal splitter port, and a second signal path to the second signal splitter port; and wherein a power or system gain of the one or more RF communication signals at the second signal splitter port is greater than a power or system gain of the one or more RF communication signals at the first signal splitter port.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the signal splitter comprises n signal splitter ports, where n is a positive integer greater than or equal to 2.

8. The system of claim 6 , further comprising a housing; and wherein the first cradle and the signal tap are carried by the housing.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the second signal splitter port of the signal tap is carried by the housing.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the repeater is disposed in the housing.

11. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a housing; and wherein the repeater and the signal splitter are disposed in the housing.

12. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a housing forming the first cradle and the first interface;
the donor port carried by the housing;
the second signal splitter port carried by the housing;
the first RF signal coupler disposed in the housing adjacent to the first interface;
the repeater disposed in the housing;
the signal splitter comprising a signal tap disposed in the housing and being capable of splitting the one or more RF communication signals disproportionally between a coupled signal path to the first signal splitter port, and a second signal path to the second signal splitter port; and wherein a power or a system gain of the one or more RF communication signals at the second signal splitter port is greater than a power or a system gain of the one or more RF communication signals at the first signal splitter port.

13. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second repeater having a first port and a second port, wherein the first port is coupled to the second signal splitter port to enable the second repeater to provide additional gain to the one or more RF signals; or
a server antenna coupled to the second port of the second repeater.

14. A repeater system comprising:
a housing;
a repeater disposed in the housing configured to amplify one or more Radio Frequency (RF) communications signals and comprising:

a donor port coupled to the repeater and carried by the housing, and configured to be coupled to a donor antenna;
a server port;
a first direction amplification and filtering path coupled between the donor port and the server port of the repeater; and
a second direction amplification and filtering path coupled between the donor port and the server port of the repeater;
a signal splitter disposed in the housing and communicatively coupled to the server port of the repeater, the signal splitter having first and second signal splitter ports;
the signal splitter having a predetermined maximum gain at the first signal splitter port;
a first interface associated with the housing and capable of selectively carrying a first wireless user device;
a first RF signal coupler disposed in the housing adjacent to the first interface and communicatively coupled to the first signal splitter port of the signal splitter, and configured to wirelessly couple the one or more RF communication signals to the first wireless user device carried by the first interface of the first cradle; and
the second signal splitter port being configured to be communicatively coupled to one or more of:
a second cradle with a second interface capable of selectively carrying a second wireless user device and a second RF signal coupler; or
a server antenna.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the repeater is configured to provide a maximum gain of 15 decibels (dB) or 23 dB at the first cradle.

16. The system of claim 14 , further comprising:
a second interface associated with the cradle housing and capable of selectively carrying a second wireless user device; and
a second RF signal coupler disposed in the cradle housing adjacent to the second interface and communicatively coupled to the second signal splitter port of the signal splitter, and configured to wirelessly couple the one or more RF communication signals to the second wireless user device when carried by the second interface; or

Assignees

• Wilson Electronics Llc

Inventors

• Ashworth Christopher Ken
• Gudewicz Jeffrey Thomas
• Cook Patrick Lee

Classifications

• H04B7/1555 Primary

  Selecting relay station antenna mode, e.g. selecting omnidirectional -, directional beams, selecting polarizations · CPC title

• H04B1/0483

  Transmitters with multiple parallel paths · CPC title

• H04B7/15564

  Relay station antennae loop interference reduction · CPC title

• H04B1/0057

  using diplexing or multiplexing filters for selecting the desired band · CPC title

• H04B1/3877

  Arrangements for enabling portable transceivers to be used in a fixed position, e.g. cradles or boosters · CPC title