Methods and equipment for reducing power loss in radio systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12301107-B2
Application number	US-202218546072-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 14, 2022
Priority date	Feb 16, 2021
Publication date	May 13, 2025
Grant date	May 13, 2025

Abstract

Methods and systems of powering a radio that can be mounted on a tower of a wireless communication system are provided in which a direct current (“DC”) voltage is provided to the radio over a power cable from a power supply configured to change the direct current (DC) output from the power supply based on a measured current level. The power supply is configured to change the DC voltage from a first voltage level to a second voltage level in response to the measured current being greater than or equal to a first threshold value.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A power system, comprising:
input conductors configured to receive a first direct current (DC) voltage level;
output conductors configured to provide a DC voltage to power conductors electrically coupled to a radio;
a current sensor electrically coupled to the output conductors, the current sensor configured to measure a current flowing through the output conductors; and
circuitry electrically coupled to the input conductors and the output conductors, the circuitry configured to:
determine whether a measured current, flowing though the output conductors, exceeds a first DC threshold level;
determining that the measured current exceeds the first DC threshold level, then convert the first DC voltage level to a second DC voltage level and provide the second DC voltage level across the output conductors, wherein an absolute value of the second DC voltage level is greater than an absolute value of the first DC voltage level; and
determining that the measured current does not exceed the first DC threshold level, then provide the first DC voltage level across the output conductors.

2. The power system of claim 1 , wherein provide the first DC voltage level further comprises determining whether the measured current is less than or equal to a second DC threshold level that is less than the first DC threshold level, and determining that that the measured current is less than or equal to the second DC threshold level, then provide the first DC voltage level across the output conductors.

3. The power system of claim 1 , wherein an absolute value of the second DC voltage level exceeds an absolute value of a maximum input voltage specification of the radio.

4. The power system of claim 1 , wherein the first DC voltage level is within a predetermined range of a maximum input voltage specification of the radio.

5. The power system of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to enable selectively a capability of the circuitry to change the DC voltage.

6. The power system of claim 5 , wherein the circuitry is configured to enable selectively the capability based on a user input.

7. The power system of claim 5 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to detect a characteristic of an electrical path between and including the output conductors and the radio, and wherein the circuitry is further configured to enable selectively the capability based on the detected characteristic.

8. The power system of claim 7 , wherein the detected characteristic is a length of the electrical path.

9. The power system of claim 7 , wherein the detected characteristic is an amount of time between transmission of an electrical pulse by the circuitry via the electrical path and reception of a reflection of the electrical pulse resulting from an impedance variation within the electrical path.

10. The power system of claim 9 , wherein the impedance variation is located at a power input port of the radio or at a surge arrestor within the electrical path.

11. A power system, comprising:
input conductors configured to receive a first direct current (DC) voltage level;
output conductors configured to provide a DC voltage to power conductors; and
circuitry coupled to the input conductors and the output conductors, and configured to (a) detect a characteristic value of an electrical path between the power system and a radio electrically coupled to the output conductors through the power conductors, (b) determine whether the characteristic value crosses a first threshold level, (c) determining that the characteristic value crosses the first threshold level, then convert the first DC voltage level to a second DC voltage level and provide the second DC voltage level across the output conductors, and (d) determining that the characteristic value does not cross the first threshold level, then provide the first DC voltage level across the output conductors.

12. The power system of claim 11 , wherein crosses or cross the first threshold level means respectively exceeds or exceed the first threshold level.

13. The power system of claim 11 , wherein provide the first DC voltage level further comprises determine whether the characteristic value is below a second threshold level, and determining that the characteristic value is below the second threshold level, then provide the first DC voltage level across the output conductors.

14. The power system of claim 11 , wherein the detected characteristic is an amount of time between transmission of an electrical pulse by the circuitry via the electrical path and reception of a reflection of the electrical pulse resulting from an impedance variation within the electrical path.

15. A method comprising:
measuring a current at an output of a power system, the output configured to provide a direct current (DC) voltage to a radio through power conductors;
determining whether a measured current, flowing though the output, exceeds a first DC threshold level;
determining that the measured current exceeds the first DC threshold level, then converting the first DC voltage level to a second DC voltage level and providing the second DC voltage level at the output, wherein an absolute value of the second DC voltage level is greater than an absolute value of the first DC voltage level; and
determining that the measured current either does not exceed the first DC threshold level, then providing the first DC voltage level across the output.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein providing the first DC voltage level comprises determining whether the measured current is less than or equal to a second DC threshold value that is less than the first DC threshold value, and determining that the measured current is less than or equal to the second DC threshold value, then providing the first DC voltage level across the output conductors.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein an absolute value of the second DC voltage level exceeds an absolute value of a maximum input voltage specification of the radio.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first DC voltage level is within a predetermined range of a maximum input voltage specification of the radio.

19. A method comprising:
receiving a first direct current (DC) voltage at an input of a power system;
detecting a value of a characteristic of an electrical path between an output of the power system and a radio coupled to the output of the power system, the output configured to be coupled to the radio through power conductors;
determining whether the characteristic value crosses a first threshold level;
determining that the characteristic value crosses the first threshold level, then converting the first DC voltage level to a second DC voltage level and providing the second DC voltage level across the output; and
determining that the characteristic value does not cross the first threshold level, then providing the first DC voltage level across the output.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the first DC voltage level is within a predetermined range of a maximum input voltage specification of the radio.

21. The method of claim 19 , wherein detecting the characteristic of the electrical path between the power system and the radio comprises:
transmitting an electrical pulse via the electrical path; and
receiving a reflection of the electrical pulse from an impedance variation within the electrical path,
wherein the characteristic comprises an amount of time between the transmitting of the electrical pulse by the power system via the e

Assignees

• Outdoor Wireless Networks LLC

Inventors

• Hanley John T

Classifications

• H02M3/04 Primary

  by static converters · CPC title

• H04W52/0296

  switching to a backup power supply · CPC title

• H04W52/0245

  according to signal strength · CPC title

• H04B3/548

  the power on the line being DC (arrangements for feeding power H04L12/10; extracting feeding power from signals H04L25/02) · CPC title

• H02M1/32

  Means for protecting converters other than automatic disconnection · CPC title