PCT
`
`WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ORGANIZATION
`International Bureau
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`
`
`
`INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT)
`
`
`
`(51) International PatentClassification © ;
`WO 98/27748
`(11DInternational Publication Number:
`
`H04Q
` (43) International Publication Date:
`25 June 1998 (25.06.98)
`
`
`
`
`PCT/IL97/00411|(81) Designated States: AL, AM, AT, AT (Utility model), AU, AZ,
`(21) International Application Number:
`BA, BB, BG, BR, BY, CA, CH, CN, CU, CZ, CZ (Utility
`
`
`
`model), DE, DE (Utility model), DK, DK (Utility model),
`(22) International Filing Date:
`15 December 1997 (15.12.97)
`EE, EE (Utility model), ES, FI, FI (Utility model), GB, GE,
`
`GH, GM, GW, HU,ID,IL, IS, JP, KE, KG, KP, KR, KZ,
`
`
`LC, LK, LR, LS, LT, LU, LV, MD, MG, MK, MN, MW,
` (30) Priority Data:
`
`
`IL
`15 December 1996 (15.12.96)
`Mx, NO, NZ, PL, PT, RO, RU, SD, SE, SG, SI, SK, SK
`119832
`US
`1 July 1997 (01.07.97)
`(Utility model), SL, TJ, TM, TR, TT, UA, UG, US, UZ,
`08/886,695
`
`
`VN, YU, ZW, ARIPO patent (GH, GM, KE, LS, MW,SD,
`
`SZ, UG, ZW), Eurasian patent (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ,
`
`
`
`MD,RU, TJ, TM), European patent (AT, BE, CH, DE, DK,
`(71) Applicant (for all designated States except US): FOXCOM
`LTD.[IL/IL}; P.O. Box 43032, 91430 Jerusalem (IL).
`ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, IE, IT, LU, MC, NL, PT, SE), OAPI
`patent (BF, BJ, CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, ML, MR, NE,
`SN, TD, TG).
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Jerusalem(IL).
` (74) Agents: COLB, Sanford, T.et al.; Sanford T. Colb & Co., P.O.
`
`(72) Inventors; and
`(75) Inventors/Applicants (for US only): FARBER, Allan [IL/IL];
`Har Nevo 7, 73127 Hashmonaim (IL). PETROV, Dmitri
`[ILL]; Hativat Harel 8/11, Beit Shemesh (IL). LOBODA,| Published
`Howard [US/IL]; Rozin Street 7/4, Har Nof, 96925
`Without international search report and to be republished
`upon receipt of that report.
`
`Box 2273, 76122 Rehovot(IL).
`
` (54) Title: WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS STATION AND SYSTEM
`(57) Abstract
`
`
`
`
`
`A wireless communications station comprising a base unit includ-
`ing a communications interface for communicating with plural wireless
`communications networks, a received communications combiner for
`combining received communications signals received from the plural
`wireless communications networks into a single radio frequency out-
`put, a transmit communications splitter for splitting previously com-
`bined transmit communications signals to be transmitted to the plural
`wireless communications networks into plural radio frequency outputs,
`at least one fiberoptic transmitter receiving the single radio frequency
`output and providing a corresponding optical output, and at least one
`fiberoptic receiver receiving an optical input and providing an RF out-
`put containing previously combined transmit communications signals,
`a plurality of remote units, each including plural antennas for com-
`municating with communicators along plural wireless communications
`networks, a received communications splitter for splitting previously
`combined received communications signals from the base unit and sup-
`plying them to the plural antennas, a transmit communications combiner
`for combining transmit communications signals from the plural anten-
`nas into a combined radio frequency output, a fiberoptic transmitter
`receiving the combined radio frequency output and providing a corre-
`sponding optical output, and a fiberoptic receiver receiving an optical
`input and providing an RF outputto the received communicationssplit-
`ter containing previously received transmit communications signals, a
`first optical fiber connecting each fiberoptic transmitter of the base unit
`with a corresponding fiberoptic receiverin a corresponding remote unit,
`and a second optical fiber connecting each fiberoptic transmitter of a
`remote unit with a corresponding fiberoptic receiver in the base unit.
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`SAMSUNG 1008
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`1
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`SAMSUNG 1008
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`FOR THE PURPOSES OF INFORMATION ONLY
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`Spain
`Albania
`Finland
`Armenia
`France
`Austria
`Gabon
`Australia
`United Kingdom
`Azerbaijan
`Georgia
`Bosnia and Herzegovina
`Ghana
`Barbados
`Guinea
`Belgium
`Greece
`Burkina Faso
`ML
`Hungary
`Bulgaria
`MN
`Treland
`Benin
`MR
`Israel
`Brazil
`MW
`Iceland
`Belarus
`Mx
`Italy
`Canada
`NE
`Japan
`Central African Republic
`NL
`Kenya
`Congo
`NO
`Kyrgyzstan
`Switzerland
`NZ
`Democratic People’s
`Céte d'Ivoire
`PL
`Republic of Korea
`Cameroon
`PT
`Republic of Korea
`KR
`China
`RO
`Kazakstan
`KZ
`Cuba
`RU
`Saint Lucia
`LC
`Czech Republic
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`SD
`Liechtenstein
`LI
`Germany
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`Denmark
`LK
`Sri Lanka
`SE
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`Estonia
`LR
`Liberia
`SG
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`Slovenia
`SI
`Slovakia
`SK
`Senegal
`SN
`Swaziland
`SZ
`Chad
`TD
`Togo
`TG
`Tajikistan
`TJ
`™ Turkmenistan
`TR
`Turkey
`IT
`Trinidad and Tobago
`UA
`Ukraine
`UG
`Uganda
`Us
`United States of America
`UZ
`Uzbekistan
`VN
`Viet Nam
`YU
`Yugoslavia
`ZW
`Zimbabwe
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`Lesotho
`Lithuania
`Luxembourg
`Latvia
`Monaco
`Republic of Moldova
`Madagascar
`The former Yugoslav
`Republic of Macedonia
`Mali
`Mongolia
`Mauritania
`Malawi
`Mexico
`Niger
`Netherlands
`Norway
`New Zealand
`Poland
`Portugal
`Romania
`Russian Federation
`Sudan
`Sweden
`Singapore
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`Codes used to identify States party to the PCT on the front pages of pamphlets publishing international applications under the PCT.
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`LS
`LT
`LU
`LV
`MC
`MD
`MG
`MK
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`ES
`FI
`FR
`GA
`GB
`GE
`GH
`GN
`GR
`HU
`IE
`IL
`IS
`It
`JP
`KE
`KG
`KP
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`WO 98/27748
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`1
`WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS STATION AND SYSTEM
`
`PCT/IL97/00411
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates to communications systems generally and more
`particularly to wireless communications systems employing opticalfibers.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`Cellular radio was conceived to provide high capacity mobile communications
`without requiring large amounts of spectrum. The original concept as proposed by AT&T,
`involves the use of a frequency band within a region known as a cell and reusing the same
`frequency bandin other adjacentcells with manageable interference between cells.
`The capacity of a cellular radio network increases as the number ofcells
`increases with decreasing cell size. The small cells are known as microcells. Optical fibers have
`been used to feed the RF signal to microcells. Optical fiber can be run inside buildings, train
`Stations, malls, etc. to improve coverage in a wireless communications system.
`United States Patent 5,457,357 describes a numberof details of a fiber optic
`microcellular radio system.
`
`Present day wireless communications systems may be divided into a number of
`groups. These include cellular telephone networks, cordless telephones, wide area data
`networks, wireless local area networks, paging/messaging andsatellite mobile systems. Each
`wireless communications system has its own frequency band and modulation schemeas well as
`its own geographic location in which the system is deployed. Some of these systems may
`becomie obsolete while others may evolve into future personal communication systems.
`Nevertheless,
`it appears that two or more wireless systems will commonly be found in any
`location.
`
`Conventionally, each wireless communications system has its own network for
`improvedcoverage in buildings and other shadowedareas. A building which requires improved
`coverage for more than one wireless service must be “wired” separately for each service.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`invention seeks to provide an improved distributed antenna
`The present
`network for microcells. The present invention further seeks to provide a single optical fiber
`network whichis used simultaneously for a numberof wireless communications systems.
`There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
`present invention a wireless communications station comprising:
`
`a base unit including:
`
`3
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`WO 98/27748
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`PCT/AIL97/00411
`
`2
`a communications interface for communicating with plural wireless
`
`communications networks;
`
`a
`
`received
`
`communications
`
`combiner
`
`for
`
`combining
`
`received
`
`communications signals received from the plural wireless communications networks into a
`
`single radio frequency output;
`
`a transmit communications splitter for splitting previously combined
`
`transmit communications signals to be transmitted to the plural wireless communications
`
`networksinto plural radio frequency outputs;
`
`at least one fiberoptic transmitter recetving the single radio frequency
`
`10
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`output and providing a corresponding optical output; and
`
`at least one fiberoptic receiver receiving an optical input and providing
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`an RF output containing previously combined transmit communicationssignals;
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`a plurality of remote units, each including:
`
`plural antennas for communicating with communicators along plural
`
`15
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`wireless communications networks;
`
`a received communications splitter for splitting previously combined
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`received communicationssignals from the base unit and supplying them to the plural antennas;
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`a combining—transmittransmit communications combiner for
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`communicationssignals from the plural antennas into a combined radio frequency output;
`
`a fiberoptic transmitter receiving the combined radio frequency output
`
`and providing a corresponding optical output; and
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`a fiberoptic receiver receiving an optical input and providing an RF
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`output
`
`to the received communications
`
`splitter containing previously received transmit
`
`communicationssignals;
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`a first optical fiber connecting each fiberoptic transmitter of the base unit with a
`
`correspondingfiberoptic receiver in a corresponding remote unit; and
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`a second optical fiber connecting each fiberoptic transmitter of a remote unit
`
`with a corresponding fiberoptic receiver in the base unit.
`
`Preferably each remote unit also comprises a diplexer or other isolation
`
`30
`
`apparatus interposed between each of the plural antennas and the combiner and thesplitter, so
`
`as to enable simultaneous two way communications via each antenna at different frequencies
`
`for transmission and reception.
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`4
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`

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`WO 98/27748
`
`PCT/IL97/00411
`
`3
`Preferably the plural wireless communications networks include at least two
`
`communications networks selected from the group consisting of cellular telephone networks,
`
`local area networks, personal
`cordless telephones, wide area data networks, wireless
`communications systems, personal communications networks, paging/messaging networks and
`
`satellite mobile systems.
`
`In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a low
`
`frequency control signal is multiplexed by the communicationsinterface onto the fiber network
`for providing loop back alarm status of each remote unit and to provide control signals thereto,
`
`which control amplifier gain thereof.
`
`In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the plural
`
`antennas include at last one swivel mounted directional antenna whose direction may be
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`adjusted onsite.
`
`Preferably, the base unit also includes tuning circuitry which permits dynamic
`
`tuning and transmission/reception balanceofcell size of each of the remote units.
`
`The base unit may also include a network management interface which allows
`
`monitoring ofthe operational status of a base unit and the remote units connected thereto.
`
`Preferably, the fiberoptic transmitter employs a vertical cavity surface emitting
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`laser or an edge emitting laser coupled to a single or multi mode fiber. The edge emitting laser
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`may be a distributed feedback laser integrated with an optical isolator.
`
`There is additionally provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of
`
`the present invention a microcellular telecommunications system employing a fiber network
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`including optical
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`fibers which may be single or multi mode and optical
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`transmitters for
`
`transmitting signals along the optical fibers,
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`the optical transmitters comprising
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`a vertical
`
`cavity surface emitting laser.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the
`
`following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:
`Fig.
`1
`is a simplified pictorial illustration of part of a wireless communications
`
`station, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
`
`10
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`15
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`20
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`25
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`30
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`invention;
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`Fig. 2 is a simplified block diagram illustration of circuitry employed in the
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`apparatusofFig. 1;
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`5
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`WO98/27748
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`PCT/1L97/00411
`
`4
`Fig. 3 is a somewhat more detailed block diagram illustration of part of the
`
`circuitry of Fig. 2;
`
`Fig. 4 is a simplified block diagram illustration of a soft limiter, constructed and
`
`operative in accordance with a preferred embodimentof the present invention.
`Fig. 5A is a simplified block diagram of part of the circuitry of Fig. 2,
`
`in
`
`accordance with a preferred embodimentofthe present invention;
`
`Fig. 5B is a simplified block diagram of part of the circuitry of Fig. 2,
`
`in
`
`accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present
`
`invention, and including
`
`microprocessor control of remote antenna units;
`
`10
`
`Fig. 5C is a simplified illustration of a remote control unit for remotely con-
`
`trolling control parameters of a local cell, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
`
`present invention;
`
`Fig. 6 is a simplified block diagram illustration of network management
`
`apparatus useful in the apparatus of Figs.
`
`| - SB; and
`
`Fig. 7 is an illustration of the use of directional antennasin a system of the type
`
`illustrated in Figs. 1 - 6.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`
`Reference is now madeto Figs.
`
`1 and 2, whichillustrate a multi-system station
`
`which forms part of a wireless communications
`
`system constructed and operative in
`
`20
`
`accordance with a preferred embodimentof the present invention.
`
`In a typical system a plurality of wireless network services, such as PCS, GSM
`
`and other wireless telephone and radio services as well as paging services, each communicate
`
`via an appropriate antenna (not shown) with one or more multi-system stations such as that
`
`illustrated in Fig. 1. Each station may be a building, part of a building or a plurality of
`
`25
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`buildings, depending upon system requirements.
`
`In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
`
`invention, each
`
`station comprises a base unit 10 which communicates with each of the required wireless
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`network services,
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`typically via wide bandwidth RF interface wired links which provide,
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`typically a GSM input, a GSM output, a PCS input, a PCS output and a paging input. It is
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`30
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`appreciated that any other suitable systems may also be connected to the base unit 10.
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`Asseen in Fig. 2, the base unit 10 preferably comprises an input combiner 12,
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`which combines the various wireless inputs, such as the GSM, PCS and paging inputs into a
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`combined output, typically in the form of a multiplexed signal, and provides the multiplexed
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`6
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`WO 98/27748
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`PCT/IL97/00411
`
`5
`signal via respective fiberoptic transmitters 14 and fiberoptic cables 16 to a plurality of remote
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`units 20, whichare typically distributed on differentfloors, or evenin different rooms of one or
`
`more buildings or any indoor or shadowed areas, depending on the building construction and
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`system requirements.
`
`Each remote unit 20 typically comprises a fiberoptic receiver 22 which receives
`
`the combined output, which is typically an RF output, and supplies it to a splitter 24 whichis
`connected to individual antennas, such as antennas 30, 28 and 26 for PCS, GSM and paging
`networks respectively. Each of antennas 26, 28 and 30 preferably has at least one external
`
`10
`
`antenna connection. The splitter divides the combined outputinto individual output signals,
`such as, for example, PCS, GSM and paging signals which are sent to respective antennas 30,
`28 and 26.
`
`Antennas 26, 28 and 30 transmit signals received via combiner 12, transmitters
`
`14, optical
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`fibers 16,
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`receivers 22, and splitters 24 to subscriber units such as cellular
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`telephones 32 and pagers 34 (Fig. 1).
`
`15
`
`In each remote unit 20, antennas 26, 28 and 30 preferably operate in a full
`duplex mode and also receive signals from subscriber units such as cellular telephones 32
`operating on one or more networks, such as, for example, GSM and PCS networks. These
`signals are supplied to a combiner 42 which combinesthe various wireless signal inputs, such
`as the GSM and PCS signals, into a combined output, typically in the form of a multiplexed
`20
`signal, and provides the multiplexed signal via a fiberoptic transmitter 44 andafiberoptic cable
`46 to base unit 10. Base unit 10 typically comprises a plurality of fiberoptic receivers 48, each
`corresponding to one of remote units 20, which receive the combined signal over fiberoptic
`cable 46 and supply it to an outputsplitter 50, which splits the combined signal into a plurality
`of individualsignal outputs, such as, for example, a GSM output and a PCS output.
`Reference is now madeto Fig. 3 whichillustrates the circuitry of the base unit
`10 in somewhat more detail, showing typical input signal levels and frequency bands of the
`various input signals to the base unit. It
`is seen that the fiber optics transmitter typically
`comprises a laser diode 60. Preferably the transmitter 14 employs a vertical cavity surface
`emitting laser or an edge emitting laser coupled to a single or multi-modefiber 16.
`
`25
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`30
`
`Preferably each fiberoptic receiver 48 comprises a photodiode 62 which
`
`converts the optical signal to RF. A 10 KHz detector 64 detects and filters out a 10 KHz tone.
`
`If the 10 KHz toneis not detected, this is an indication of a break in the communications link
`
`and detector 64 causes illumination of a pilot LED 66. Another indication of a break in the
`
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`WO 98/27748
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`PCT/IL97/00411
`
`6
`communications link is the absence of received light, which may be indicated by an optical
`alarm 68.
`
`Reference is now madeto Fig. 4 whichillustrates a soft limiter 100, constructed
`and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. At the
`uplink, one or more mobile telephonessituated very close to the remote antenna may overdrive
`laser diode 60. Soft limiter 100 may beused at the uplink to prevent laser diode 60 from being
`overdriven, and thereby prevent non-linear distortion in all of the services distributed. At the
`downlink, soft limiter 100 protects any of the wireless services from inadvertently increasing
`input powerto base unit 10.
`
`Soft limiter 100 preferably includes a switched attenuator 102, a comparator
`104 and an RF powerlevel detector 106, as shown in Fig. 4.
`Reference is now made to Fig. SA which is a block diagram ofpart of the
`circuitry of Fig. 2, There are a number of options of antenna communications with the
`
`communications system of the present invention. At the uplink portion of the communications
`system, jumpers may be used to connect the GSM antenna 28 and the PCS antenna 30 tolocal
`
`and/or remote antennas. Specifically, a jumper 70 may be used to connect GSM antenna 28
`
`solely to an internal antenna 72. An additional jumper 72 may be used to connect GSM
`
`antenna 28 to a local antenna 76, whichis preferably the sameinternal antenna 72, and to a
`remote antenna 78. Remote antenna 78 preferably is DC powered to allow for amplification
`and may be connected by coax. Local antenna 76 and remote antenna 78 are preferably
`connected via a power divider/combiner 80. The foregoing description applies equally for PCS
`antenna 30, as shownin Fig. 5A.
`
`The signals from each GSM antenna 28 and PCSantenna30 are each input to a
`low noise amplifier (LNA) 82 via an antenna duplexer 84 in order to enable the same antenna
`to be used for transmission and reception. The signals from both the GSM antenna 28 and PCS
`
`antenna 30 are combined by combiner 42 and inputto fiberoptic transmitter 44.
`At
`the downlink,
`the optical
`signal
`from base unit 10 is amplified and
`demultiplexed by a demultiplexer 85. Preferably three signals are demultiplexed. A 10 KHz
`tone is input to transmitter 44, a low frequency paging signalis input to paging loop antenna
`26, and an RF signal, comprising combined GSM and PCSsignals,is input to a demultiplexer
`86. Thesesignals are each input to their respective antenna via antenna duplexer 84.
`
`20
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`PCT/IL97/00411
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`7
`As seen in Fig. 5A, a gain control is provided at receiver 22 and transmitter 44.
`
`The gain level is controlled by the amplitude of the 10 KHz pilot tone. The simultaneous gain
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`control of the transmitted and received signals determinesthe size of the localcell.
`
`Reference is now made to Fig. 5B whichillustrates microprocessor control of
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`remote units 20. Instead of analog control using the 10 KHz tone, a low frequency data signal
`
`may be multiplexed by a multiplexer 90 along with the RF signal. A microprocessor 92 at each
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`remote unit 20 receives the signal. The absence ofthe signal indicates an alarm status which
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`microprocessor 92 relays to a microprocessor (not shown) at base unit 10. The low frequency
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`data signal may be used for status and control of remote unit 20, and mayinclude the following
`
`10
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`control parameters:
`
`a. Cell size: This controls gains of the transmitted and received signals
`
`b. Balance between transmitted and received signals
`
`c. Threshold ofsoft limiter 100.
`
`Control parameters may be from base unit 10 or remotely controlled through a
`
`network managementinterface. However, it is sometimes more convenient to set these control
`
`parameters locally while the unit is tested in situ. Reference is now made to Fig. 5C which
`
`illustrates a remote control unit 110 for remotely controlling control parameters of a local cell,
`
`in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Remote control unit 110
`
`preferably includes a plurality of control buttons, such as a cell size control button 112 and a
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`20
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`balance control button 114. For example, control button 112 may control volume, while
`
`control button 114 may control transmit cell balance, such as stereo balance. An additional
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`control button 116 may be provided for controlling threshold of soft limiter 100.
`
`Reference is now madeto Fig. 6, which is a simplified block diagram illustration
`
`of network management apparatus useful
`
`in the apparatus of Figs.
`
`1
`
`- 5C. The network
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`management apparatus typically comprises a microprocessor 200 which communicates
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`typically via an RS 232 interface 202 and a modem 204 with an external communications
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`network such as an ordinary telephone network. The microprocessor
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`receives
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`status
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`indications from alarm indicators 206 which indicate malfunctions in remote units 20 (Fig. 1)
`
`based on receipt of loop back signals therefrom.
`
`Microprocessor 200 provides gain control signals to the remote units via a D/A
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`converter 208 and a loop back signal generator 210. Loop back signal generator 210
`
`25
`
`30
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`preferably operates at approximately 10 KHz.
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`9
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`PCT/IL97/00411
`
`8
`Reference is now made to Fig. 7, which is an illustration of the use of
`
`directional antennas in a system of the typeillustrated in Figs.
`
`1
`
`- 6. Fig. 7 shows the use of
`
`two such antennas, indicated by reference numerals 220 and 222, which are aimed in different
`
`directions. Directionality is achieved by rotating the ground plane around the vertical antenna.
`
`Antennas 28 and 30 (Fig. 2) are preferably antennas of this type. This allows for tuning and
`
`balancing of cell size once the basic fixed installations have been made. This further allows for
`
`future tuning and balancing to overcome obstacles or partitions which may be constructed in
`
`the buildingin the future.
`
`It will be appreciated by personsskilled in the art that the present invention is
`
`10
`
`not limited by what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope
`
`of the present invention is defined only by the claims which follow:
`
`10
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`10
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`WO 98/27748
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`PCT/IL97/00411
`
`9
`
`CLAIMS
`
`Whatis claimed1s:
`
`1,
`
`A wireless communications station comprising:
`
`a base unit comprising:
`
`a communications interface for communicating with plural wireless
`
`communications networks;
`
`a
`
`received
`
`communications
`
`combiner
`
`for
`
`combining
`
`received
`
`communications signals received from said plural wireless communications networks into a
`
`single radio frequency output;
`
`a transmit communications splitter for splitting previously combined
`
`transmit communications signals to be transmitted to said plural wireless communications
`
`networksinto plural radio frequency outputs;
`
`at least one fiberoptic transmitter receiving said single radio frequency
`
`output and providing a corresponding optical output; and
`
`at least one fiberoptic receiver receiving an optical input and providing
`
`an RF output containing previously combined transmit communicationssignals;
`
`a plurality of remote units, each comprising:
`
`plural antennas for communicating with communicators along plural
`
`wireless communications networks;
`
`a received communications splitter for splitting previously combined
`
`received communications signals from said base unit and supplying them to said plural
`
`antennas;
`
`a
`
`transmit
`
`communications
`
`combiner
`
`for
`
`combining
`
`transmit
`
`communicationssignals from said plural antennasinto a combined radio frequency output;
`
`a fiberoptic transmitter receiving said combined radio frequency output
`
`and providing a corresponding optical output; and
`
`a fiberoptic receiver receiving an optical input and providing an RF
`
`output
`
`to said received communications splitter containing previously received transmit
`
`communicationssignals;
`
`a first optical fiber connecting each fiberoptic transmitter of said base unit with
`
`a correspondingfiberoptic receiver in a corresponding remote unit; and
`
`a second optical fiber connecting each fiberoptic transmitter of a remote unit
`
`with a corresponding fiberoptic receiver in said base unit.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`11
`
`11
`
`

`

`WO 98/27748
`
`PCT/IL97/00411
`
`10
`
`2.
`
`The wireless communications station according to claim 1 and wherein each
`
`remote unit also comprises a diplexer interposed between each of said plural antennas andsaid
`
`combiner and said splitter, so as to enable simultaneous two way communications via each
`
`antennaat different frequencies for transmission and reception.
`
`3.
`
`A mobile communications system comprising a base unit comprising:
`a
`communications
`interface
`for
`communicating with
`plural wireless
`communications networks;
`
`10
`
`a plurality of antennas each communicating with the communications interface
`
`via a fiber network; and
`
`a single duplex cable interconnecting each ofsaid plurality of antennas with said
`communications interface via the fiber network.
`
`and wherein the plural wireless
`claim 3
`system according to
`The
`4.
`communications networks comprise at least two communications networks selected from the
`
`group consisting ofcellular telephone networks, cordless telephones, wide area data networks,
`wireless local area networks, personal communications systems, personal communications
`networks, paging/messaging networksand satellite mobile systems.
`
`5.
`The wireless communications station according to claim 1 or claim 2 and
`wherein a low frequency control signal is multiplexed by said communications interface onto
`said optical fiber for providing loop back alarm status of each remote unit and for providing
`control signals thereto, which control amplifier gain and balancethereof.
`
`6.
`
`The wireless communications station according to claim 1 or claim 2
`
`and
`
`is multiplexed by said communications interface to a
`wherein a low frequency data signal
`microprocessor for providing loop back alarm status of each remote unit and for providing
`control signals thereto, which control amplifier gain and balance thereof.
`
`7.
`
`The wireless communications station according to claim 1 or claim 2 and
`
`wherein said plural antennas comprise at last one swivel mounted directional antenna whose
`
`direction may be adjusted onsite.
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`12
`
`12
`
`

`

`WO 98/27748
`
`PCT/IL97/00411
`
`il
`
`8.
`
`The wireless communications station according to claim 1 or claim 2 and
`
`wherein said base unit also comprises tuning circuitry which permits dynamic tuning and
`
`transmission/reception balance ofcell size of each of the remote units.
`
`9.
`
`The wireless communications station according to claim 1 or claim 2 and
`
`wherein said base unit also comprises a network management
`
`interface which allows
`
`monitoring of the operational status of a base unit and the remote units connected thereto.
`
`10.
`
`The wireless communications station according to claim 1 or claim 2 and
`
`whereinsaid fiberoptic transmitter employs a vertical cavity surface emitting laser coupled to a
`
`single or multi modefiber.
`
`il.
`
`The wireless communications station according to claim 1 or claim 2 and
`
`15
`
`whereinsaid fiberoptic transmitter employs an edge emitting laser coupled to a single or multi
`
`modefiber.
`
`12.
`
`The wireless communications station according to claim 1 or claim 2 and
`
`comprising a soft limiter for substantially preventing distortion due to an inadvertent increase
`
`20
`
`in communication power.
`
`13,
`
`_
`
`The system according to claim 3 or claim 4 and wherein a low frequency
`
`control signal
`
`is multiplexed by said communications interface onto said optical fiber for
`
`providing loop back alarm status of each remote unit and for providing control signals thereto,
`
`25
`
`which control amplifier gain and balance thereof.
`
`The system according to claim 3 or claim 4 and wherein a low frequency data
`14.
`signal is multiplexed by said communications interface to a microprocessor for providing loop
`
`back alarm status of each remote unit and for providing control signals thereto, which control
`
`30
`
`amplifier gain and balance thereof.
`
`13
`
`13
`
`

`

`WO 98/27748
`
`PCT/IL97/00411
`
`15.
`
`122
`The system according to claim 3 or claim 4 and wherein said plural antennas
`
`comprise at last one swivel mounted directional antenna whose direction may be adjusted on
`
`Site.
`
`16.
`
`The system according to claim 3 or claim 4 and wherein said base unit also
`
`comprises tuning circuitry which permits dynamic tuning and transmission/reception balance of
`
`cell size of each of the remote units.
`
`17.
`
`The system according to claim 3 or claim 4 and wherein said base unit also
`
`comprises a network managementinterface which allows monitoring of the operational status
`
`of a base unit and the remote units connected thereto.
`
`The system according to claim 3 or claim 4 and wherein said fiberoptic
`18.
`transmitter employs a vertical cavity surface emitting laser coupled to a single or multi mode
`
`fiber.
`
`The system according to claim 3 or claim 4 and wherein said fiberoptic
`19.
`transmitter employs an edge emitting laser coupled to a single or multi modefiber.
`
`20.
`
`The system according to claim 3 or claim 4 and comprising a soft limiter for
`
`substantially preventing distortion due to an inadvertent increase in communication power.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`21.
`
`A microcellular
`
`telecommunications
`
`system employing a
`
`fiber network
`
`20
`
`comprising optical fibers which may be single or multi mode and optical
`
`transmitters for
`
`transmitting signals along the optical fibers,
`
`the optical transmitters comprising
`
`a vertical
`
`cavity surface emitting laser.
`
`22.
`
`A microcellular
`
`telecommunications
`
`system employing a
`
`fiber network
`
`25
`
`comprising optical fibers which may be single or multi mode and optical transmitters for
`
`transmitting signals along the optical fibers,
`emitting laser.
`
`the optical
`
`transmitters comprising
`
`an edge
`
`23,
`
`A microcellular telecommunications system according to claim 22 wherein said
`
`30
`
`edge emitting laser comprises a distributed feedback laser integrated with an optical isolator.
`
`14
`
`14
`
`

`

`PCT/IL97/00411
`
`WO 98/27748
`
`15
`
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`WO 98/27748
`
`PCT/IL97/00411
`
`4/9
`
`INPUT
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`seen,
`
`ATTENUATOR
`
`RF POWER
`LEVEL DETECTOR
`
`LIMITED
`OUTPUT
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`THRESHOLD
`SETTING
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`102
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`FIG. 4
`
`18
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`

`

`WO 98/27748
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`PCT/IL97/00411
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