WO2020181075A1

WO2020181075A1 - A signal booster for 5g communication, and related systems, methods and devices

Info

Publication number: WO2020181075A1
Application number: PCT/US2020/021170
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hongtao ZHUAN; Xulei LIN; Scott Terry
Original assignee: Cellphone-Mate, Inc.
Priority date: 2019-03-05
Filing date: 2020-03-05
Publication date: 2020-09-10

Abstract

Signal boosters, signal booster systems, and arrangements of signal boosters in communication networks are described. Also described are base station and mobile station antennas for signal boosters, signal booster systems, and arrangements of signal boosters in communication networks.

Description

A SIGNAL BOOSTER FOR 5G COMMUNICATION,

AND RELATED SYSTEMS, METHODS AND DEVICES

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims the benefit of the filing date of United States Provisional

Patent Application Serial No. 62/813,815, filed March 5, 2019, for“Signal Booster For 5g Communication, And Related Systems, Methods and Devices,” the entire contents and disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by this reference. TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the disclosure relate, generally to electronic systems and, in particular, to radio frequency (RF) communication systems, and related systems, methods, and devices. BACKGROUND

The 5G era is coming. The communication frequency used by 5G is relatively high, generally around 3.5G (G refers to gigahertz), and some operators use a 28G frequency band or even higher frequency band. The higher the radio frequency, the worse the penetration characteristics and the faster the attenuation, therefore, the coverage of the 5G base station with the same transmit power is much smaller than that of the 4G base station or the 3G base station, which means that the area that the original 3G base station can cover now needs multiple 5G base station to cover. The inventors of this disclosure appreciate that this will bring a big impact on network construction; the operators will need to invest huge resources to build the 5G network.

In the 5G era, the inventors of this disclosure appreciate that the micro base station radio unit (radio unit) becomes a very important network device. In order to achieve the high bandwidth and low latency service standard of 5G, a micro base station radio unit may be needed every few tens of meters, each radio unit is connected to the macro base station via an optical fiber. However, the cost of using a large number of micro base stations radio unit is high, and the optical fiber installation also requires high cost. DISCLOSURE

One or more embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a signal booster that is simple to install and relatively low in cost to assist the arrangement of the 5G network. Using the signal booster can expand the signal coverage of the micro base station radio unit, reduce the number of radio units per unit area.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure may be understood more fully by reference to the following detailed description of example embodiments and accompanying figures, which include::

FIG. 1 is one embodiment of a 5G network device arrangement;

FIG. 2 is an embodiment of a 5G network devices arrangement;

FIG. 3 is an embodiment of a 5G network devices arrangement;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a 5G Signal booster working in a network;

FIG. 5A depicts one embodiment of an array antenna of mobile station antenna in

FIG. 4;

FIG. 5B depicts an embodiment of an array antenna of mobile station antenna in

FIG. 4;

FIG. 5C depicts an embodiment of an array antenna of mobile station antenna in

FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 depicts an embodiment of the 5G signal booster powered by solar panels FIG. 7 depicts an embodiment of the 5G signal booster system;

FIG. 8 depicts an embodiment of the 5G signal booster system;

FIG. 9 depicts an embodiment of the 5G signal booster system;

FIG. 10 depicts one embodiment of the 5G signal booster system;

FIG. 11 depicts an embodiment of the 5G signal booster system;

FIG. 12 depicts an embodiment of the 5G signal booster system;

FIG. 13 depicts a 5G network device signal coverage map;

FIG. 14 is another 5G network devices arrangement network embodiment;

FIG. 15 depicts an embodiment of the 5G signal booster system;

FIG. 16 depicts an embodiment of the shared circuit in the FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 depicts an embodiment of the synchronization circuit in the FIG. 15;

FIG. 18 depicts an embodiment of a 5G signal booster system schematic;

FIG. 19 depicts an embodiment of a 5G signal booster system; FIG. 20 depicts an embodiment of a 5G signal booster system;

FIG. 21 depicts an embodiment of a 5G signal booster system in FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 depicts an embodiment of a 5G signal booster system in FIG. 21;

FIG. 23 depicts an embodiment of a 5G signal booster system in FIG. 21;

FIG. 24 depicts an embodiment of the synchronization of indoor unit and outdoor unit of the 5G signal booster system in FIG. 21;

FIG. 25 depicts an embodiment of a modulate circuit in FIG. 24;

FIG. 26 depicts an embodiment of a demodulate circuit in FIG. 24;

FIG. 27 depicts an embodiment of a 5G signal booster system;

FIG. 28 depicts an embodiment of the actual use of the 5G signal booster system in FIG. 27; and

FIG. 29 depicts an embodiment of the actual indoor distribution use of the 5G signal booster system in FIG. 27.

FIG. 30 shows an architecture of an embodiment of a two-box booster unit separated by coaxial cable.

FIG. 31 shows an embodiment of a 5G booster implemented as two boxes and that does not use up/down conversion into an intermediate frequency.

FIG. 32 shows an embodiment of a 4G/5G booster.

FIG. 33 is a diagram that depicts an embodiment compensating for cable loss so that antenna ports on each end form a booster that meets the Network Protection Standards for a consumer booster.

FIG. 34 shows an embodiment of an in-building booster.

FIG. 35 shows a configuration of an embodiment of a self-contained 28GHz booster.

MODE(S) FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which are shown, by way of illustration, specific examples of embodiments in which the present disclosure may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable a person of ordinary skill in the art to practice the present disclosure. However, other embodiments enabled herein may be utilized, and structural, material, and process changes may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure. The illustrations presented herein are not meant to be actual views of any particular method, system, device, or structure, but are merely idealized representations that are employed to describe the embodiments of the present disclosure. In some instances similar structures or components in the various drawings may retain the same or similar numbering for the convenience of the reader; however, the similarity in numbering does not necessarily mean that the structures or components are identical in size, composition, configuration, or any other property.

It will be readily understood that the components of the embodiments as generally described herein and illustrated in the drawings could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following description of various embodiments is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure, but is merely representative of various embodiments. While the various aspects of the embodiments may be presented in the drawings, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale unless specifically indicated.

Furthermore, specific implementations shown and described are only examples and should not be construed as the only way to implement the present disclosure unless specified otherwise herein. Elements, circuits, and functions may be shown in block diagram form in order not to obscure the present disclosure in unnecessary detail. Conversely, specific implementations shown and described are exemplary only and should not be construed as the only way to implement the present disclosure unless specified otherwise herein. Additionally, block definitions and partitioning of logic between various blocks is exemplary of a specific implementation. It will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the present disclosure may be practiced by numerous other partitioning solutions. For the most part, details concerning timing considerations and the like have been omitted where such details are not necessary to obtain a complete understanding of the present disclosure and are within the abilities of persons of ordinary skill in the relevant art.

Those of ordinary skill in the art would understand that information and signals may be represented using any of a variety of different technologies and techniques. Some drawings may illustrate signals as a single signal for clarity of presentation and description. It will be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art that the signal may represent a bus of signals, wherein the bus may have a variety of bit widths and the present disclosure may be implemented on any number of data signals including a single data signal.

The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and circuits described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented or performed with a general purpose processor, a special purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an Integrated Circuit (IC), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A general-purpose processor (may also be referred to herein as a host processor or simply a host) may be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor may be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller (also referred to as an MCU), or state machine. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, such as a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration. A general-purpose computer including a processor is considered a special-purpose computer while the general-purpose computer is configured to execute computing instructions (e.g., software code) related to embodiments of the present disclosure.

The embodiments may be described in terms of a process that is described or depicted as a flow process, flowchart, a flow diagram, a structure diagram, or a block diagram.

Although a flowchart may describe operational acts as a sequential process, many of these acts can be performed in another sequence, in parallel, or substantially concurrently. In addition, the order of the acts may be re-arranged. A process may correspond to a method, a thread, a function, a procedure, a subroutine, a subprogram, other structure, or combinations thereof. Furthermore, the methods disclosed herein may be implemented in hardware, software, or both. If implemented in software, the functions may be stored or transmitted as one or more instructions or code on computer-readable media. Computer-readable media includes both computer storage media and communication media including any medium that facilitates transfer of a computer program from one place to another.

Any reference to an element herein using a designation such as“first,”“second,” and so forth does not limit the quantity or order of those elements, unless such limitation is explicitly stated. Rather, these designations may be used herein as a convenient method of distinguishing between two or more elements or instances of an element. Thus, a reference to first and second elements does not mean that only two elements may be employed there or that the first element must precede the second element in some manner. In addition, unless stated otherwise, a set of elements may comprise one or more elements.

As used herein, the term“substantially” in reference to a given parameter, property, or condition means and includes to a degree that one of ordinary skill in the art would understand that the given parameter, property, or condition is met with a small degree of variance, such as, for example, within acceptable manufacturing tolerances. By way of example, depending on the particular parameter, property, or condition that is substantially met, the parameter, property, or condition may be at least 90% met, at least 95% met, or even at least 99% met.

The following description may include examples to help enable one of ordinary skill in the art to practice the disclosed embodiments. The use of the terms“exemplary,”“by example,”“by way of example,”“for example,”“e.g.,” and the like means that the related description is explanatory, and though the scope of the disclosure is intended to encompass the examples and legal equivalents, the use of such terms is not intended to limit the scope of an embodiment or this disclosure to the specified components, steps, features, functions, or the like.

FIG. 1 depicts an embodiment of a 5G network device arrangement. Each micro base station radio unit in the network is connected to the macro base station via an optical fiber.

The frequency used by the 5G is usually relatively high. To ensure the coverage quality, a large number of radio units and optical fibers are required to be arranged, which is high in cost and difficult in construction. Around the radio unit, signal boosters (SBs) are installed at the weak signal positions, which can expand the coverage of the signal of the radio unit, thereby reducing the number of radio units per unit area and reducing the cost of the network arrangement and the difficulty of construction.

FIG. 2 depicts an embodiment of a 5G network devices arrangement.

FIG. 3 depicts an embodiment of a 5G network devices arrangement. FIG. 3 is further optimized on the basis of FIG. 1, the signal booster (SB) is arranged between the two radio units, thereby extending the distance between the two radio units, reducing the number of radio units per unit area, reducing the cost and construction difficulty.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a 5G Signal booster working in a network. The 5G Signal booster may be located at the lamppost, tower top, roof or other locations. On the one hand, the base station antenna receives the downlink signal from the radio unit, and then the signal booster amplifies it by the downlink amplification path and finally sends it to the users via mobile station antenna; on the other hand, the mobile station antenna receives the uplink signal from the users and then the signal booster amplifies it by the uplink amplification path and finally sends it to the radio unit via the base station antenna. Non-limiting examples of 5G users include fixed points and mobile terminals. In order to adapt to the high frequency characteristics of 5G, the base station antenna used by the Signal booster described in some embodiments of this disclosure may be a directional antenna with high directivity and high gain. In some embodiments, a mobile station antenna is a single directional antenna or an array antenna of multiple directional antennas.

FIG. 5A depicts one embodiment of an array antenna of a mobile station antenna in FIG. 4. Two directional antennas are used, selected via the radio frequency (RF) switch in the signal booster; the switch is controlled by the control circuit in the signal booster. The control circuit can select the antenna array unit according to the user usage of the two array units Array unitl and Array unit2 of mobile station antenna. For the 5G system which adopts the TDD mode, the control circuit can also include a digital synchronization circuit, or can extract the synchronization signal from the TDD modem, or can sample the downlink signal from the radio unit, and demodulate the synchronization signal by power detection, thereby synchronize the signal booster system of embodiments of the disclosure with the radio unit system.

FIG. 5B depicts an embodiment of an array antenna of mobile station antenna in FIG. 4. Three directional antennas are used, selected via the RF switch in the signal booster.

FIG. 5C depicts an embodiment of an array antenna of mobile station antenna in FIG. 4. Four directional antennas are used, selected via the RF switch in the signal booster.

The above embodiments are just a few example embodiments of a mobile station antenna. Mobile station antennas of this disclosure are not limited to the several embodiments mentioned, and variations may include, but are not limited to, using more antennas to form an antenna array of a mobile station antenna and using a digital phased array antenna for one or more of the antennas that form an antenna array. In some embodiments, mobile station antenna array units may be connected to the signal booster via other devices, such as splitters.

FIG. 6 depicts an embodiment of a 5G signal booster powered by solar panels. In a contemplated operation, the solar panel converts light energy into electrical energy and the energy charges the signal booster's battery. The signal booster’s battery supplies DC power to the signal booster. Additionally or alternatively, a signal booster may be powered by, for example, a power source of a street light or a building depending on the installation location.

FIG. 7 depicts an embodiment of a 5G signal booster system. The 5G signal booster system may be used for outdoor coverage, wherein the directional antenna base station antenna and the directional antenna mobile station antenna are respectively located on both sides of the signal booster, back-to-back structure. The two antennas maintain a certain distance D. The magnitude of the D value may be related to one or more of the following factors: the antenna front-to-back ratio, the gain of the antenna, and the gain of the signal booster. In order to facilitate installation, the system of this invention can minimize the D value. In some cases, D may be based, at least in part, on a degree of isolation between two mobile station antennas, and so in some cases D may be reduced by improving the isolation between two mobile station antennas.

FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 depict two embodiments that further improve the isolation of mobile station antennas.

FIG. 8 depicts an embodiment of a 5G signal booster system. A directional antenna of a base station antenna and a directional antenna of a mobile station antenna may have a vertical distance H as depicted by FIG. 8, and have a horizontal distance D , as depicted by FIG. 7 and FIG. 8. The greater the distance H, the greater the isolation between the MS antenna and the BS antenna. The 5G signal booster system of FIG. 8 may take into account a antenna horizontal distance D, a vertical distance H, an antenna gain, an antenna front-to-back ratio and a signal booster gain, to obtain a best coverage effect to facilitate installation.

FIG. 9 depicts an embodiment of a 5G signal booster system. The 5G signal booster system can include one or more isolation boards to improve the isolation between the two antennas (MS antenna and BS antenna) and/or to prevent system oscillation. In some embodiments, an isolation board may be integrated with a signal booster housing or integrated with the SB antenna. In some embodiments, an isolation board may be planar or curved. In some embodiments, an isolation board may include or be formed from metallic material and/or absorbing materials. In some embodiments, a signal booster may include an analog or a digital ICS (Interference Cancellation System) circuit to improve system isolation and reduce the distance D.

FIG. 10 depicts an embodiment of a 5G signal booster system. The frequency used by 5G is typically relatively high (such as 28 GHz), high-power power amplifiers (PAs) for high- frequency are relatively rare, and/or the volume is large and/or the cost is high. In some embodiments, a signal booster may include multiple low power PAs in parallel to realize a high power output level. In a contemplated operation, an uplink and downlink output select an appropriate number of low power PAs according to one or more coverage requirements. In some embodiments, heat dissipation of a device (e.g., a signal booster) may be achieved by physical heat dissipation, air cooling, water cooling, or oil cooling, without limitation.

FIG. 11 depicts an embodiment of a 5G signal booster system. The system includes a control circuit of a signal booster. For a 5G system that adopts a TDD mode, the control circuit may include a digital synchronization circuit, or may extract a synchronization signal from a TDD modem or sample the downlink signal from the radio unit, and demodulate the synchronization signal by power detection. The uplink and downlink amplification paths may be switched by a RF switch, and the control circuit controls the RF switch according to a TDD synchronization signal.

FIG. 12 depicts an embodiment of a 5G signal booster system. The system downlink amplification path and the uplink amplification path are separated into a DL unit and an UL unit, and each unit has a separate base station antenna and mobile station antenna. The DL unit receives the downlink signal from the radio unit via the base station antenna base station ANTI, and transmits it to the users via the mobile station antenna mobile station ANTI after being amplified. The UL unit receives the uplink signal from the users via the mobile station antenna mobile station ANT2, and then transmits it to the radio unit via the base station antenna base station ANT2 after being amplified, thereby implementing bi-directional communication. There is a certain distance L between the DL unit and the UL unit.

FIG. 13 depicts a 5G network device signal coverage map in accordance with one or more embodiments. The SB (Signal Booster) adopts mobile station antenna of FIG. 5C, which adopts an antenna array composed of multiple directional antennas; its network coverage area is larger than that adopts mobile station antenna (FIG. 1) with a single directional antenna.

FIG. 14 depicts an embodiments of a 5G network devices arrangement of a 5G network. Near a signal booster another signal booster is installed at the weak signal position. The other signal booster wirelessly receives a downlink signal from the previous signal booster, amplifies the downlink signal and sends the amplified downlink signal to the users. The other signal booster wirelessly receives an uplink signal from the users, amplifies the uplink signal and sends the amplified uplink signal to the previous signal booster. This arrangement can continue expanding a radio unit signal coverage area and achieve wireless relay coverage, which may further reduce a number of radio units per unit area, and reduce costs and installation difficulty.

FIG. 15 depicts an embodiment of the 5G signal booster system. A signal booster of the 5G signal booster system includes a plurality of amplification paths which include at least one downlink (DL) path and one uplink (UL) path, a synchronization circuit and a shared circuit for the downlink (DL) path and uplink (UL) path. The shared circuit receives the downlink signals from the 5G RU via the BS antenna (BS ANT) and transmits the uplink signals from the mobile side (MS) antenna (MS ANT) which are amplified by the uplink amplification path to the 5G RU via the BS antenna (BS ANT). The shared circuit sends 5G signals to the synchronization circuit which outputs synchronization signal. The uplink path and downlink path may be switched by one or more switches which are controlled by the synchronization signal.

FIG. 16 depicts an embodiment of the shared circuit of FIG. 15. The shared circuit may include a coupler which operatively couples the 5G signal to the synchronization circuit. The shared circuit can also include one or more filters which may be micro strip, ceramic, surface acoustic wave or other forms of filter which may be used for 5G frequencies. The shared circuit may also include other devices such as a circulator, a switch, a power divider, etc.

FIG. 17 depicts an embodiment of the synchronization circuit of FIG. 15. The synchronization circuit may include a frequency conversion circuit receiving a 5G signal from the shared circuit and a synchronization module, the frequency conversion circuit converts 5G signal frequencies to operating frequencies required by the synchronization module, and the converted signal which is amplified and filtered is sent to the synchronization module to be demodulate to output a synchronization signal. The frequency conversion circuit may include one or more 5G signal amplifiers, filters, mixers, local oscillator circuit (LO), amplifiers and filters for converted frequencies, etc. The frequency conversion circuit shown in FIG. 17 is only one example arrangement of components for a signal path. In fact, the selection of various components and the arrangement may be changed according to actual needs.

FIG. 18 depicts a schematic of an embodiment of a 5G signal booster system. BS ANT receives a 5G downlink signal from 5G RU, a coupler which is shared by the downlink path and the uplink path operatively couples the 5G signal to a frequency conversion circuit. The frequency conversion circuit amplifies and filters the 5G signal, and then converts 5G signal frequencies to the operating frequencies required by the synchronization module via a mixer, the local oscillator circuit (LO) provides local oscillator signal for the mixer, the converted signal is amplified by one or more intermediate frequency gain blocks (IF GBs), filtered by one or more low frequency pass filters, and then send to the synchronization module which outputs synchronization signal (Ctrll, Ctrl2). The coupler operatively couples a switch which is controlled/controllable by the synchronization signal to switch the downlink path and the uplink path. In one embodiment, an interface of the switch operatively couples with an input of the downlink path, and another interface of the switch operatively couples with an output of the uplink path. Each of the downlink path and the uplink path includes one or more LNAs, filters, attenuators, PAs and detectors. The output of the downlink path operably couples with the MS ANT via an interface of a circulator. Another interface of the circulator

simultaneously operably couples with an input of the uplink path via another switch which is also controlled/controllable by the synchronization signal. The power supplies of the downlink path and the uplink path are also controlled by the synchronization signal.

FIG. 19 depicts an embodiment of a 5G signal booster system. The system may include a remote monitor. A users may remotely query the operating status (gain, output power level, oscillation status, etc.) of the signal booster, set the parameters (attenuated magnitude, output power level, power on or off, etc.) of the signal booster. The remote monitor has one or more remote accesses, such as Ethernet, Cellular, internet of things (IoT), etc.

FIG. 20 depicts an embodiment of a 5G signal booster system. The system may include two units, an outdoor unit and an indoor unit connected with each other via a cable. The outdoor unit may integrate BS ANT and the booster circuit, the BS ANT receives the 5G downlink signal from the 5G RU, the booster circuit amplifies and filters the 5G downlink and uplink signals. The indoor unit may include MS ANT which receives 5G uplink signals and retransmits/transmits 5G downlink signals. In another case, the indoor unit may integrate the booster circuit and MS ANT.

FIG. 21 depicts an embodiment of a 5G signal booster system of FIG. 20 that includes an outdoor unit and an indoor unit. Each of the two units includes a signal conversion circuit. One signal conversion circuit converts the 5G signal frequencies to low frequencies, and another conversion circuit converts the low frequencies back to 5G signal frequencies. The cable transmits the converted signal of low frequencies.

FIG. 22 depicts an embodiment of a 5G signal booster system of FIG. 21. The outdoor unit includes a transceiver antenna (ANTI) which operatively couples with the signal conversion circuit in the outdoor unit, the indoor unit includes another transceiver antenna (ANT2), which operatively couples with the signal conversion circuit in the indoor unit, the two antennas wirelessly transmit and receive the converted signal between the two units without cable. FIG. 23 depicts an embodiment of a 5G signal booster system in FIG. 21. The conversion circuit in the outdoor unit includes a DL frequency down conversion circuit which down converts 5G downlink signal of high frequencies to downlink converted signal of low frequencies and an UL frequency up conversion circuit which up converts uplink converted signal of low frequencies to 5G uplink signal of high frequencies. The conversion circuit in the indoor unit includes a DL frequency up conversion circuit which up converts downlink converted signal of low frequencies back to 5G downlink signal of high frequencies and an UL frequency down conversion circuit which down converts 5G uplink signal of high frequencies to uplink converted signal of low frequencies. The cable transmits the downlink and the uplink converted signal of low frequencies.

FIG. 24 depicts an embodiment of the synchronization of an indoor unit and an outdoor unit of the 5G signal booster system in FIG. 21. The outdoor unit includes a synchronization circuit to generate a synchronization signal to control the outdoor unit circuit, and the outdoor unit also includes a modulate circuit. The modulate circuit generates a modulated signal with the synchronization signal, and the modulated signal is transmitted to the indoor unit via a cable or other suitable connector(s). The indoor unit includes a demodulate circuit which demodulates the modulated signal to output the synchronization signal to control the indoor unit circuit.

FIG. 25 depicts an embodiment of a modulate circuit of FIG. 24. The modulate circuit may include a signal generator (such as a frequency synthesizer) and a switch which is controlled/controllable by the synchronization signal to output a modulated signal with synchronization information. The modulate circuit may also include one or more amplifiers, filters, etc.

FIG. 26 depicts an embodiment of a demodulate circuit of FIG. 24. The demodulate circuit may include a filter, an amplifier, a detector, and a high speed comparison circuit. The detector detects the power level of the modulated signal which is filtered and amplified, and outputs a DC voltage which is send to the high speed comparison circuit to output synchronization signal. The demodulate circuit may include no amplifier or one or more amplifiers.

FIG. 27 depicts an embodiment of a 5G signal booster system. The 5G signal booster system uses a combined antenna technology (e.g., commercially available from Kenbotong Technology Co., without limitation). A combined antenna includes two antennas, a first antenna is used as a BS antenna and a second antenna is used as a MS antenna, the 5G signal booster may be locate between the two antennas. The combined antenna may also include a structure as an isolation board for improving isolation between the two antennas. In disclosed embodiments, isolation may be increased by adding material between the antennas.

FIG. 28 depicts an embodiment of a contemplated operation of a 5G signal booster system, e.g., the 5G signal booster system of FIG. 27, without limitation. In this example, a system sits at an exterior window of a building without a cable. The BS antenna, which receives a 5G downlink signal from 5G RU, faces outside the building, and the MS antenna, which receives 5G uplink signal from the terminal users, faces inside the building. The BS antenna transmits the 5G uplink signals to the 5G RU, and the MS antenna transmits the 5G downlink signals to terminal users.

FIG. 29 depicts an embodiment of an indoor distribution use of the 5G signal booster system of FIG. 27. In the operation contemplated by FIG. 29, using two signal boosters realizes the remote transmission of 5G signals inside a building. The signal booster 1 operates as the system in the FIG. 28. The signal booster 2 includes two units, unit 1 and unit 2 (such as the signal booster system in FIG. 20). Wherein the unit 1 is located on one side of the wall towards the signal booster 1 in one room (room 1), and the unit 2 is on the other side of the wall towards the other room (room 2). The unit 1 and unit 2 are operatively coupled with each other via a short cable or wirelessly without cable. The unit 1 is used to achieve 5G signal coverage for room 1, and the unit 2 is used to achieve 5G signal coverage for room 2.

FIG. 30 shows the architecture of a two-box booster unit separated by coaxial cable. This drawing shows how the millimeter wave frequency is down-converted to 2GHz and then shared with the 4G 700MHz signal. On the other side the 2GHz is up-converted to the original 28GHz. Each side of the cable needs both an up-convert and a down-convert to handle uplink and downlink. It also shows how the TDD sync signal is determined on one side, and then sent via any communication method over to the other side in order to drive the TDD switches (to determine uplink/downlink direction).

The 700MHz signal could also include all other 4G bands such as band 12, band 13, band 5, band 2/25, band 4, band 66, band 71, band 26, and band 30. Also the 28GHz band could be any other millimeter wave band (e.g. 24GHz or 39GHz).

The indoor box can contain a secondary amplifier stage, or it may be only passive and go directly to the antenna.

FIG. 31 shows an embodiment of a 5G booster configured as two blocks, a donor unit block and an indoor coverage unit block. Notably, the 5G booster depicted by FIG. 31 is not configured to use up/down conversion into an intermediate frequency. Each side (e.g., each block) amplifies a signal with sufficient gain to cover the absence of a coaxial cable between the two blocks (another wired connection may be used). By way of non-limiting example, RG-6 cable may be used between the two units, or a cable with less loss such as LMR-400 may be used as needed for long distances.

FIG. 32 depicts an embodiment of a 4G/5G booster. It shows a multiple-in-multiple- out (MIMO) beam-forming antenna used on a donor side (i.e., a window mount donor unit) to electronically aim an antenna directly at a 5G 28GHz tower. The 4G/5G booster may also be used for other millimeter wave bands such as 24GHz and 39GHz, without limitation. By way of non-limiting example, a MIMO antenna may be a 4-element, 16-element, 64-element, 256- element or any other combination.

As depicted by FIG. 32, the indoor unit (i.e., indoor desk mount unit) may use omni directional antennas. These omni-directional antennas may also be directional, or may be MIMO beam-forming directional antennas.

The low frequency 4G band depicted by FIG. 32 is band 13, however the disclosure is not so limited and a 4G/5G booster may be configured for any cellular frequency bands. In some embodiments, the 4G/5G booster may include a cable compensation circuit for the low frequency 4G bands that compensates for the cable loss in a downlink direction and still meet consumer booster Network Protection Standards.

FIG. 33 is a diagram that depicts compensating for cable loss so that antenna ports on each end form a booster that meets a Network Protection Standard for a consumer booster. FIG. 33 also shows how a 4G booster may be a consumer booster or an industrial booster that does not meet the Network Protection Standards.

The 4G and 5G booster pairs at each end may be combined (e.g., electrically coupled) by a diplexer or any other type of circuit. Respective diplexers may be operatively coupled by a wired connection such as a coax cable or fiber optic cable, without limitation. Signals may be transported over the wired connection (e.g., between respective diplexers and ends more generally) in digital or analog form.

FIG. 34 shows an embodiment of an in-building signal booster. An outside antenna of the in-building signal booster includes a MIMO beam-steering antenna that is aimed at a cellular tower electronically. In another embodiment the outside antenna may include a panel antenna that is aimed at a cellular tower manually. An amplifier may be included at the location of the antenna, and down-convert amplifies an incoming signal that is sent across a coaxial cable.

The coaxial cable feeds into an indoor interface control box of the in-building signal booster. The Indoor interface control box monitors a signal carried by the coaxial cable and passes the signal to remote indoor antenna units of the in-building signal booster. In some embodiments, an in-building signal booster includes a liquid crystal display (LCD) to enable a user (e.g., a person) to view a status of the in-building signal booster or signal boosting more generally. In some embodiments, a control box supports a remote interface to allow monitoring of the system of the in-building signal booster of FIG. 34. In some embodiments, the control box may supports powering outside and inside units using power-over-cable for power coupling.

The remote amplifiers are located at the indoor antennas, and are configured to up- convert amplify the downlink signal to the original frequency (e.g., the 28GHz, without limitation). These units may be monitored by an interface controller and/or by a remote access.

In an uplink direction, the indoor units down-convert amplifies the signal and the outside antenna unit up-convert amplifies the signal to the original frequency (e.g., 28GHz signal).

A MIMI beam-forming antenna is used to capture a signal from a 28GHz base station. This signal is analyzed to determine the uplink and downlink timing of the time-division duplexing (TDD) of the millimeter wave signal. This timing then controls the switches to change the direction. The 28GHz may be any millimeter wave band.

The antenna for the mobile side may be a panel-type directional antenna or may be a MIMO beam-forming antenna. If it is panel-type, it may be aimed toward the direction where the mobile users need to be supported with 5G signal. If it is beam-forming, the beam may be controlled via software to aim the highly directional beam at the mobile user. The software for aiming the beam may be done independent of the 5GNR radio protocol, or it may use the 5GNR protocol to act as the tower role in doing the beam-forming. In addition, the beam forming antenna on the base station side may use the 5GNR protocol communication to act as the mobile device role in performing the beam forming.

This design can also implement interference cancellation so that high gain may be achieved even with the antennas being close together. The interference cancellation may be done by using material or orientation that better isolate the two antennas at 28GHz frequencies, or it may be done electrically by cancelling out the output signal that is fed back to the input. This signal cancelling may be done either in analog or in digital.

Additional non-limiting example embodiments of the disclosure include:

A Signal booster for 5G communication. In a 5G network, around the radio unit, signal boosters are installed at the weak signal positions, which can expand the coverage of the signal of the radio unit, thereby reducing the number of radio units per unit area.

A 5G Signal booster may be located at the lamppost, tower top, roof or other locations. On the one hand, the base station antenna receives the downlink signal from the radio unit, and then the signal booster amplifies it by the downlink amplification path and finally sends it to the users via mobile station antenna; on the other hand, the mobile station antenna receives the uplink signal from the users and then the signal booster amplifies it by the uplink amplification path and finally sends it to the radio unit via the base station antenna. The base station antenna is a directional antenna. The mobile station antenna is a directional antenna or an array antenna of multiple directional antennas. The array units may be selected via the RF switch in the signal booster; the switch is controlled by the control circuit in the signal booster, thereby covering users in different directions. The control circuit can select the antenna array unit according to the user usage of the array units.

The mobile station antenna array units may be connected to the signal booster via other devices, such as splitters. The mobile station antenna may be a digital phased array antenna. The control circuit can also include a digital synchronization circuit, or can extract the synchronization signal from the time-division duplex (TDD) modem, or can sample the downlink signal from the radio unit, and demodulate the synchronization signal by power detection, thereby synchronize the signal booster system of embodiments of the disclosure with the radio unit system. The uplink and downlink amplification paths may be switched by a RF switch, and the control circuit controls the RF switch according to the TDD

synchronization signal. The 5G signal booster system can also include a solar panel, a battery which is powered by the solar panel. The battery supplies direct current (DC) power to the signal booster. The signal booster may be powered by, for example, a power source of a street light or a building depending on the installation location.

The directional antenna base station antenna and the directional antenna mobile station antenna are respectively located on both sides of the signal booster, back-to-back structure.

The two antennas maintain a certain distance D. The magnitude of the D value is related to the following factors: the antenna front-to-back ratio, the gain of the antenna, and the gain of the signal booster. The directional antenna base station antenna and the directional antenna mobile station antenna may have a vertical distance H in addition to the horizontal distance D. The larger the H distance, the better the isolation between the two antennas. The 5G signal booster system takes into account the antenna horizontal distance D, the vertical distance H, the antenna gain, the antenna front-to-back ratio and the signal booster gain, to obtain the best coverage effect in the case of facilitate installation.

The 5G signal booster system can include one or more isolation boards to improve the isolation between the two antennas. The isolation board may be integrated with the signal booster housing or integrated with the antenna. The isolation board may be either planar or curved. The isolation board is usually metallic and/or may also contain RF absorbing materials. The signal booster can also include an analog or a digital ICS (Interference Cancellation System) circuit.

The 5G signal booster uses multiple low power power-amplifiers (PAs) in parallel to realize high power output level. The uplink and downlink outputs select an appropriate number of low power PAs according to the coverage requirements. The heat dissipation of the 5G signal booster may be achieved by physical heat dissipation, air cooling, water cooling, and oil cooling, etc.

The downlink amplification path and the uplink amplification path of the 5G signal booster system are separated into a DL unit and an UL unit, and each unit has a separate base station antenna and mobile station antenna. The DL unit receives the downlink signal from the radio unit via the base station antenna base station ANTI, and transmits it to the users via the mobile station antenna mobile station ANTI after being amplified. The UL unit receives the uplink signal from the users via the mobile station antenna mobile station ANT2, and then transmits it to the radio unit via the base station antenna base station ANT2 after being amplified, thereby implementing bi-directional communication. There is a certain distance L between the DL unit and the UL unit.

Near the signal booster, another signal booster is installed at the weak signal position, which receives the downlink signal from the previous signal booster wirelessly, amplifies it and sends it to the users, and receives the uplink signal from the users, amplifies it and sends it to the previous signal booster. This arrangement can achieve wireless relay coverage. While the present disclosure has been described herein with respect to certain illustrated embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize and appreciate that the present invention is not so limited. Rather, many additions, deletions, and modifications to the illustrated and described embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed along with their legal equivalents. In addition, features from one embodiment may be combined with features of an embodiment while still being encompassed within the scope of the invention as contemplated by the inventor.

Claims

What is claimed is: 1. A 5G signal booster system for communication configured such that in a 5G network, near a radio unit, 5G signal boosters are installed at locations corresponding to weak signal positions to expand coverage of a signal of the radio unit, wherein a number and/or location of the 5G signal boosters is selected to minimize a number of radio units per unit area in the 5 G network.

2. A 5G signal booster, wherein the 5G signal booster may be located at a lamppost, tower top, roof or other locations; or a base station antenna receives a downlink signal from a radio unit, and the 5G signal booster amplifies the signal by a downlink amplification path and sends the amplified signal to users via a mobile station antenna; or the mobile station antenna receives the uplink signal from the users and then the signal booster amplifies it by the uplink amplification path and finally sends it to the radio unit via the base station antenna.

3. The 5G signal booster of claim 2, wherein the base station antenna is a directional antenna.

4. The 5G signal booster of claim 2, wherein the mobile station antenna is a directional antenna or an array antenna of multiple directional antennas, wherein array units may be selected via a radio frequency switch in the 5G signal booster, wherein the radio frequency switch is controlled by the control circuit in the 5G signal booster, thereby covering users in different directions.

5. The 5G signal booster of claim 4, wherein the control circuit may select an antenna array unit according to a user usage of the array units.

6. The 5G signal booster of claim 4, wherein the array units are operatively coupled to 5G signal boosters via other devices, such as splitters.

7. The 5G signal booster of claim 4, wherein the mobile station antenna is a digital phased array antenna.

8. The 5G signal booster of claim, wherein the control circuit also includes a digital synchronization circuit, or is configured to extract the synchronization signal from a time division duplex modem, or is configured to sample the downlink signal from the radio unit, and demodulate the synchronization signal by power detection and thereby synchronize a 5G signal booster system with a radio unit system.

9. The 5G signal booster of claim 4, wherein the uplink and downlink amplification paths are switchable by a radio frequency switch, and the control circuit controls the radio-frequency switch according to a time division duplex synchronization signal.

10. The 5G signal booster system of claim 1 , wherein the 5G signal booster system includes a solar panel, and the solar panel is operatively coupled to a battery of a 5G signal booster, wherein the battery is configured to be powered by the solar panel, and is configured to provide DC power to the 5G signal booster.

11. The 5G signal booster system of claim 1 , comprising a 5G signal booster configured to be powered by a power source of a street light or a building at an installation location of the 5G signal booster.

12. The base station antenna and a mobile station antenna of a 5G signal booster, wherein a directional antenna of the base station antenna and a directional antenna of the mobile station antenna are respectively located on both sides of the 5G signal booster, in a back-to-back structure, wherein the two antennas maintain a certain distance D, wherein the magnitude of the D value is based, at least in part, on one or more of: an antenna front-to-back ratio, a gain of one or both of the two antenna, and a gain of the 5G signal booster.

13. A base station antenna and the mobile station antenna of a 5G signal booster, wherein a directional antenna of the base station antenna and a directional antenna of the mobile station antenna may have a vertical distance H in addition to the horizontal distance D, wherein the larger the H distance, the better the isolation between the two antennas, wherein the 5G signal booster system takes into account one or more of: the antenna horizontal distance D, the vertical distance H, the antenna gain, the antenna front-to-back ratio and the signal booster gain, to obtain a best coverage effect in a facility installation.

14. The base station antenna and the mobile station antenna of a 5G signal booster of claim 13, wherein one or more isolation boards to at least partially isolate the two antennas, wherein the isolation boards is integrated with a 5G signal booster housing or is integrated with one of the two antennas.

15. The base station antenna and the mobile station antenna of a 5G signal booster of claim 14, wherein an isolation board of the one or more isolation boards is planar or curved.

16. The base station antenna and the mobile station antenna of a 5G signal booster of claim 14, wherein an isolation board of the one or more isolation boards includes materials selected from a group consisting of: metallic and radio-frequency absorbing materials.

17. The base station antenna and the mobile station antenna of a 5G signal booster of claim 16, wherein the radio-frequency absorbing materials are radio-frequency radiation absorbing materials.

18. The base station antenna and the mobile station antenna of a 5G signal booster of claim 13, wherein the 5G signal booster comprises an analog or a digital ICS (Interference Cancellation System) circuit.

19. The base station antenna and the mobile station antenna of a 5G signal booster of claim 13, wherein the 5G signal booster is configured to use multiple low power power-amplifiers in parallel to realize high power output level, wherein uplink and downlink outputs select an appropriate number of low power power-amplifiers according to coverage requirements.

20. The base station antenna and the mobile station antenna of a 5G signal booster of claim 13„ wherein a heat dissipation of the 5G signal booster is achievable by physical heat dissipation, air cooling, water cooling, and oil cooling.

21. A 5G signal booster system configured for bi-directional communication, wherein a downlink amplification path and an uplink amplification path of the 5G signal booster system are separated into a downlink unit and an uplink unit, and each such unit has a base station antenna and a mobile station antenna that are separate, wherein the downlink unit is configured to receive a downlink signal from a radio unit via a base station antenna ANTI, and transmit an amplified downlink signal to users via a mobile station antenna ANTI, wherein the uplink unit is configured to receive an uplink signal from users via a mobile station antenna ANT2, and transmit an amplified uplink signal to the radio unit via a base station antenna ANT2, wherein there is a certain distance L between the downlink unit and the uplink unit.

22. A 5G signal booster system configured for wireless relay coverage, wherein near a first 5G signal booster a second 5G signal booster is installed at a weak signal position, wherein the second 5G signal booster is configured to wirelessly receive a downlink signal from the first 5G signal booster, amplify the downlink signal and send an amplified downlink signal to users, wherein the second 5G signal booster is configured to receive an uplink signal from users, amplifies the uplink signal and send the amplified uplink signal to the first 5G signal booster.

23. A 5G signal booster system comprising: a plurality of amplification paths which include at least one downlink (DL) path and one uplink (UL) path, a synchronization circuit and a shared circuit for the downlink (DL) path and uplink (UL) path, wherein the shared circuit is configured to receive downlink signals from the 5G RU via a BS antenna (BS ANT) and transmit an amplified uplink signals from an MS antenna (MS ANT), wherein an uplink amplification path to the 5G RU via the BS antenna (BS ANT) is configured to amplify an uplink signal, wherein the shared circuit is configured to send 5G signals to a synchronization circuit and the synchronization circuit is configured to output a

synchronization signal, wherein the uplink path and downlink path are operable to be switched by one or more switches which are controlled/controllable by the synchronization signal.

24. The 5G signal booster system of claim 23, wherein the shared circuit comprises a coupler configured to operably couple the 5G signal to the synchronization circuit, one or more RF filters, wherein the one or more filters are chosen from micro strip, ceramic, surface acoustic wave or other forms of filter which usable for 5G frequencies, and one or more other devices, wherein the one or more devices are chosen from a circulator, a switch, and a power divider .

25. The 5G signal booster system of claim 23, wherein the synchronization circuit comprises a frequency conversion circuit configured to: receive a 5G signal from a shared circuit and a synchronization module, convert 5G signal frequencies to operating frequencies useable by the synchronization module, amplify and filter the converted signal , and send the converted signal to the synchronization module, wherein the synchronization module is configured to demodulate the converted signal and to output a synchronization signal, wherein the frequency conversion circuit comprises one or more of 5G signal amplifiers, filters, mixers, local oscillator circuit (LO), amplifiers, and filters for converted frequencies.

26. The 5G signal booster system of claim 23, further comprising a remote monitor, wherein the remote monitor is configured to respond to user queries of an operating status of the signal booster, and user requests to set parameters of the signal booster, wherein the operating status is chosen from gain, output power level, and oscillation status, wherein the parameters are chosen from attenuated magnitude, output power level, power on, and power off, wherein the remote monitor has one or more interfaces for remote accesses, wherein the one or more interfaces are configured to enable remote accesses via Ethernet, Cellular, or internet of things (IoT.

27. A 5G Signal booster system, comprising: two units, wherein the two units comprise an outdoor unit and an indoor unit operatively coupled with each other via a cable, wherein the outdoor unit is configured to integrate a base station antenna (BS ANT) and a booster circuit, wherein the BS ANT is configured to receive a 5G downlink signal from a 5G receiving unit (RU), wherein the booster circuit is configured to amplify and filter the 5G downlink and uplink signals, wherein the indoor unit comprises an MS ANT configured to receive 5G uplink signals and retransmits/transmits 5G downlink signals.

28. The 5G signal booster system of claim 27, wherein the indoor unit is configured to integrate the booster circuit and the MS ANT.

29. The 5G Signal booster system of claim 27, wherein each of the two units comprises a signal conversion circuit, wherein a first signal conversion circuit is configured to convert the 5G signal frequencies to low frequencies, and a second signal conversion circuit is configured to convert the low frequencies to 5G signal frequencies and output a converted signal.

30. The 5G Signal booster system of claim 27, wherein the cable is configured to transmit the converted signal.

31. The 5G Signal booster system of claim 27, wherein the outdoor unit comprises a first transceiver antenna (ANTI) operably coupled with a signal conversion circuit of the outdoor unit, and wherein the indoor unit comprises a second transceiver antenna (ANT2) operably coupled to a signal conversion circuit of the indoor unit, wherein the first and second transceiver antennas are configured to wirelessly transmit and receive a converted signal between the indoor unit and the outdoor unit.

32. The 5G Signal booster system of claim 31 , wherein the conversion circuit of the outdoor unit comprises a DL frequency down conversion circuit configured to down convert a 5G downlink signal of high frequencies to a downlink converted signal of low frequencies, and an UL frequency up conversion circuit configured to up convert an uplink converted signal of low frequencies to a 5G uplink signal of high frequencies.

33. The 5G Signal booster system of claim 31, wherein the conversion circuit of the indoor unit comprises: a DL frequency up conversion circuit configured to up convert a downlink converted signal of low frequencies to a 5G downlink signal of high frequencies, and an UL frequency down conversion circuit configured to down convert a 5G uplink signal of high frequencies to an uplink converted signal of low frequencies,

34. The 5G Signal booster system of claim 33, wherein the conversion circuit comprises a cable is configured to transmit the downlink and the uplink converted signal of low frequencies.

35. The 5G Signal booster system of claim 34, wherein the outdoor unit comprises: a synchronization circuit configured to generate a synchronization signal for controlling an outdoor unit circuit, and a modulate circuit, wherein the modulate circuit is configured to generate a modulated signal responsive to the synchronization signal, and to transmit the modulated signal to an indoor unit via a cable.

36. The 5G Signal booster system of claim 35, wherein the indoor unit comprises a demodulate circuit configured to demodulate a modulated signal and output a

synchronization signal for controlling an indoor unit circuit.

37. The 5G Signal booster system of claim 36, wherein the modulate circuit comprising: a signal generator , and a switch which is controllable by a synchronization signal to output a modulated signal with synchronization information.

38. The 5G Signal booster system of claim 37, wherein the modulate circuit further comprising one or more amplifiers or filters.

39. The 5G Signal booster system of claim 37, wherein the signal generator is a frequency synthesizer.

40. The 5G Signal booster system of claim 36, wherein the demodulate circuit comprises: a filter, an amplifier, a detector, and a high speed comparison circuit, wherein the detector is configured to detect a power level of a modulated signal has been filtered and amplified, and output a DC voltage, and wherein the high speed comparison circuit is configured to receive the DC voltage and to output a synchronization signal responsive to the DC voltage.

41. The 5G Signal booster system of claim 40, wherein the demodulate circuit comprises one or more amplifiers.

42. A 5G signal booster system, comprising a combined antenna wherein the combined antenna comprises two antennas, the two antennas comprising a BS antenna and an MS antenna, and wherein a 5G signal booster is locate between the two antennas, wherein the combined antenna comprises an isolation structure or isolation region located between the two antennas.

43. The 5G signal booster system of claim 42, wherein the isolation structure or isolation region may include one or more isolation materials.

44. A 5G signal booster system located at an exterior window of a building, wherein a base station (BS) antenna configured to receive 5G downlink signals from a 5G RU faces outside the building, and a mobile station (MS) antenna configured to receive 5G uplink signals from terminal users faces inside the building, wherein the BS antenna is configured to wirelessly transmit the 5G uplink signals to the 5G RU, and the MS antenna is configured to wirelessly transmit the 5G downlink signals to the terminal users.

45. A 5G signal booster system for remote transmission of 5G signals inside a building, comprising two signal boosters , wherein a first signal booster is located at a window of a building, wherein the first signal booster comprising a BS antenna that faces outside the building and configured to receive 5G downlink signals from a 5G RU, and an MS antenna that faces inside the building and configured to receive 5G uplink signals from terminal users, wherein the second signal booster comprising a first unit in a first room of first and second rooms at least partially defined by a wall, the wall having a first side in the first room and a second side in the second room, wherein the first unit is located at the first side of the wall and facing the first signal booster, and the second unit is on the a second side of the wall , wherein the first unit is operatively coupled to the second unit via a short cable or wirelessly, wherein the first unit is configured to provide 5G signal coverage for room 1, and the second unit is configured to provide 5G signal coverage for room 2.