Passive intermodulation (PIM) coaxil protection circuit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9344144-B1
Application number	US-201213692467-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Dec 3, 2012
Priority date	Dec 3, 2012
Publication date	May 17, 2016
Grant date	May 17, 2016

Abstract

A method and system for implementing a passive intermodulation (PIM) coaxial protection circuit is provided. An electrical circuit is created between a radio source, coaxial cable, and antenna to prevent passive intermodulation. The radio source or an external power supply provides direct current and voltage in the electrical circuit, causing the current and voltage to pass through any corrosion that might build up in the path, especially at connectors.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for implementing a passive intermodulation (PIM) coaxial protection circuit, comprising:
implementing a coaxial cable in a wireless telecommunication operation, where the coaxial cable is connected to a radio source at a first coaxial connector and the coaxial cable is connected to an antenna system at a second coaxial connector;
providing a direct current (DC) of at least fifty milliamps to a center core of the coaxial cable, where a delivery of the direct current causes a DC voltage between a metallic shield of the coaxial cable and the center core of the coaxial cable;
forming the PIM coaxial protection circuit between the radio source, the coaxial cable, and the antenna system in the wireless telecommunication operation with the direct current and the DC voltage; and
removing PIM with the PIM coaxial protection circuit.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
implementing a DC isolation transformer in a path of the coaxial cable in proximity to the antenna system and the second coaxial connector, whereby the DC isolation transformer contains the direct current within the coaxial cable and prevents an impact to the antenna system.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein providing the direct current comprises providing the direct current from the radio source.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the DC voltage is at least forty-eight (48) volts DC (VDC).

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the coaxial cable includes the center core, a dielectric insulator, the metallic shield, and a sheath.

6. The method of claim 2 , wherein providing the direct current comprises providing the direct current from an external power supply.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
implementing another DC isolation transformer in the path of the coaxial cable in proximity to the radio source and the first coaxial connector, whereby the DC isolation transformer and the another DC isolation transformer contain the direct current within the coaxial cable and prevent the impact to the antenna system and the radio source.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the DC voltage is at least forty-eight (48) volts DC (VDC).

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the coaxial cable includes the center core, a dielectric insulator, the metallic shield, and a sheath.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein removing PIM with the PIM coaxial protection circuit comprises pushing the direct current and the DC voltage through any oxidation layer that forms.

11. A system for a passive intermodulation (PIM) coaxial protection circuit in a wireless telecommunication environment, comprising:
a coaxial cable connected to a radio source at a first coaxial connector and connected to an antenna system at a second coaxial connector;
the radio source provides a direct current (DC) of a least fifty milliamps to a center core of the coaxial cable, where a delivery of the direct current causes a DC voltage between a metallic shield of the coaxial cable and the center core of the coaxial cable; and
the radio source, the coaxial cable, and the antenna system form a closed electrical circuit with the direct current and the DC voltage, whereby the PIM is removed.

12. The system of claim 11 , further comprising:
a DC isolation transformer operable in a path of the coaxial cable in proximity to the antenna system and the second coaxial connector, whereby the DC isolation transformer contains the direct current within the coaxial cable and prevents an impact to the antenna system.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the DC voltage is at least forty-eight (48) volts DC.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the coaxial cable includes the center core, a dielectric insulator, the metallic shield, and a sheath.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the radio source, the coaxial cable, and the antenna system form a closed electrical circuit with the direct current and the DC voltage comprises the radio source, the coaxial cable, and the antenna system push the direct current and the DC voltage through any oxidation layer that forms.

16. A system for a passive intermodulation (PIM) coaxial protection circuit in a wireless telecommunication environment, comprising:
a coaxial cable connected to a radio source at a first coaxial connector and connected to an antenna system at a second coaxial connector, wherein the first coaxial connector or the second coaxial connector is a T-connector that allows connection to an additional device;
the coaxial cable connected to an external power supply at the T-connector;
the external power provides a direct current (DC) of a least fifty milliamps to a center core of the coaxial cable, where a delivery of the direct current causes a DC voltage between a metallic shield of the coaxial cable and the center copper core of the coaxial cable; and
the radio source, the coaxial cable, the antenna system, and the external power supply form a closed electrical circuit with the direct current and the DC voltage, whereby the PIM is removed.

17. The system of claim 16 , further comprising:
a DC isolation transformer operable in the coaxial cable in proximity to the antenna system at the second coaxial connector, whereby the DC isolation transformer contains the direct current within the coaxial cable and prevents an impact to the antenna system.

18. The system of claim 17 , further comprising:
another DC isolation transformer in the coaxial cable in proximity to the radio source at the first coaxial connector, whereby the DC isolation transformer and the another DC isolation transformer contain the direct current within the coaxial cable and prevent the impact to the antenna system and the radio source.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the DC voltage is at least forty-eight (48) volts DC.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the radio source, the coaxial cable, and the antenna system form a closed electrical circuit with the direct current and the DC voltage comprises the radio source, the coaxial cable, and the antenna system push the direct current and the DC voltage through any oxidation layer that forms.

Assignees

• Sprint Communications Co

Inventors

• Mitchell Jr Eugene S

Classifications

• H04B3/02 Primary

  Details · CPC title