Radio system for radio communication

Abstract

A radio system for radio communication comprises at least two antennas that are spaced from each other by a distance. The distance is set to enable independent transmission or reception of radio signals via the at least two antennas. The system comprises a selection module configured to select at least one of the at least two antennas for radio transmission and/or radio reception.

Claims

1. A radio system for radio communication, comprising at least two antennas that are spaced from each other by a distance, the distance being set to enable independent transmission or reception of radio signals via the at least two antennas, the system comprising a selection module configured to select at least one of the at least two antennas for radio transmission or radio reception, wherein the radio system comprises at least one remote antenna device having at least one of the at least two antennas, wherein the radio system comprises a radio having at least one of the at least two antennas, wherein the at least one remote antenna device and the radio are connected with each other, and wherein in a first operation mode, only a first antenna of the at least two antennas is selected via the selection module for either transmitting a radio signal only via the first antenna or receiving a radio signal only via the first antenna, in a second operation mode, a second antenna of the at least two antennas is selected via the selection module for either transmitting a radio signal only via the second antenna or receiving a radio signal only via the second antenna, and in a third operation mode, both the first antenna and the second antennas are selected via the selection module for either transmitting a radio signal via the first antenna and the second antenna in parallel or receiving a radio signal via the first antenna and the second antenna in parallel, such that a best antenna configuration for the intended radio communication is selected via the selection module.

2. The radio system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the least two antennas comprises a transceiver.

3. The radio system according to claim 1, wherein the radio comprises a signal and/or waveform processing unit.

4. The radio system according to claim 1, wherein the radio comprises a transceiver.

5. The radio system according to claim 1, wherein the radio and the at least one of the least two antennas are connected with each other via a cable connection, the cable connection being a hybrid cable connection, the hybrid cable connection comprising a direct current link to transmit energy and an optical link to transmit a data stream.

6. The radio system according to claim 1, wherein the system comprises a remote adapter.

7. The radio system according to claim 1, wherein the distance is adjustable between 1 meter and several hundred meters.

8. The radio system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one of the least two antennas is a remote radio head.

9. A radio system for radio communication, the radio system comprising a radio and at least one remote antenna device with an amplifier module for operating the remote antenna device, the radio and the at least one remote antenna device being connected with each other via a cable connection, the cable connection being a hybrid cable connection, the hybrid cable connection comprising a direct current link to transmit energy and an optical link to transmit a data stream, the radio having a least one antenna and a transceiver, and the at least one remote antenna device having at least one antenna, a transceiver and a signal and/or waveform processing unit configured to provide a certain waveform and/or signal to be transmitted or to receive and analyze a certain signal and/or waveform received, wherein the antennas of the radio and the at least one remote antenna device both are connected to the same signal and/or waveform processing unit, wherein the system comprises a selection module configured to select at least one of the antennas of the radio and the at least one remote antenna device for either radio transmission or radio reception, and wherein the selection module is configured to combine the signals received by the antennas of the radio and the at least one remote antenna device simultaneously.

10. The radio system according to claim 9, wherein the direct current link is configured to transmit energy from the radio to the at least one remote antenna device.

11. The radio system according to claim 9, wherein the direct current link is configured to transmit energy from the radio to the amplifier module of the at least one remote antenna device.

12. The radio system according to claim 9, wherein the optical link is configured to transmit the data stream to and/or from the remote antenna device.

13. The radio system according to claim 9, wherein the remote antenna device is a remote radio head.

14. A radio system for radio communication, comprising at least two antennas that are spaced from each other by a distance, the distance being set to enable independent transmission or reception of radio signals via the at least two antennas, the distance between the at least two antennas being at least 5 m such that two different locations for the at least two antennas of the radio system are provided wherein different transmission properties or receiving properties with regard to the radio communication are assigned to the different locations, the system comprising a selection module configured to select at least one of the at least two antennas for radio transmission or radio reception, the radio having at least one antenna, a transceiver and an amplifier module, the at least one remote antenna device having at least one antenna, a transceiver and an amplifier module, and wherein a best radio connection between the two distant locations of the antennas is selected via the selection module, as the selection module is enabled to decide which of the at least two antennas enables the best connection for radio communication.

15. The radio system according to claim 14, wherein the selection module is configured to combine the radio signals received via the at least two antennas and/or to transmit radio signals via the at least two antennas in parallel.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of the claimed subject matter will become more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 schematically shows a representative embodiment of a radio system according to the present disclosure; and

(3) FIG. 2 schematically shows a cross-sectional view of the cable connection used by the radio system of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(4) The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings, where like numerals reference like elements, is intended as a description of various embodiments of the disclosed subject matter and is not intended to represent the only embodiments. Each embodiment described in this disclosure is provided merely as an example or illustration and should not be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. The illustrative examples provided herein are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the claimed subject matter to the precise forms disclosed.

(5) FIG. 1 schematically shows a radio system 10 for radio communication, which comprises a radio 12 as well as at least one remote antenna device 14.

(6) The radio 12 as well as the at least one remote antenna device 14 each have at least one antenna 16. Thus, the radio system 10 shown in FIG. 1 comprises at least two antennas 16.

(7) In general, the radio 12 as well as the at least one remote antenna device 14 each comprise a transceiver 17 such that the radio 12 and the remote antenna device 14 each are configured to receive and to transmit radio signals. Put another way, the radio 12 and the remote antenna device 14 may be operated in different modes, namely a transmission mode or a reception mode. The respective transceiver 17 may be integrated in the respective device.

(8) Accordingly, the radio system 10 has two transceivers 17.

(9) The radio 12 and the at least one remote antenna device 14 are located at different positions such that the at least two antennas 16 are spaced from each other by a distance D that is set to enable independent transmission or reception of radio signals via the at least two antennas 16.

(10) The radio system 10 further comprises a remote adapter 18 that is assigned to the radio 12. The remote adapter 18 is connected to the radio 12 as well as the remote antenna device 14.

(11) In the shown embodiment, the remote adapter 18 is connected to the radio 12 via a relay line 20 connected to a relay interface of the radio 12, whereas the remote adapter 18 is connected to the remote antenna device 14 via a cable connection 22 that is shown in FIG. 2 in more detail.

(12) Generally, the radio system 10 comprises a signal and/or waveform processing unit 24.

(13) In the shown embodiment, the signal and/or waveform processing unit 24 is integrated in the radio 12.

(14) As the remote antenna device 14 is connected to the radio 12, the at least one remote antenna device 14 is also connected to the signal and/or waveform processing unit 24. Particularly, the connection is established via the cable connection 22, the remote adapter 18 as well as the relay line 20 even though the remote antenna device 14 is located remotely with respect to the radio 12, particularly the signal and/or waveform processing unit 24.

(15) The radio system 10, particularly the radio 12, comprise a selection module 26 that is configured to select one of the at least two antennas 16 for radio transmission and/or reception. For instance, one of both antennas 16 may be actively selected for radio transmission or rather radio reception. Hence, the selection module 26 may also select both antennas 16 for radio transmission or rather radio reception.

(16) In other words, the selection module 26 is configured to combine the radio signals received via the at least two antennas 16.

(17) In addition, the selection module 26 is configured to transmit radio signals via the at least two antennas 16 in parallel.

(18) Generally, the best antenna configuration is (automatically) selected such that the best radio connection can be chosen for the radio system 10. This is ensured by the selection module 28.

(19) In fact, the radio system 10 may be operated as a Single Input Multiple Output (SIMO), Multiple Input Single Output (MISO) or rather Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) radio system 10.

(20) The selection module 26 and the signal and/or waveform processing unit 24 may be established by a common control and processing module of the radio 12.

(21) In general, the distance D between the at least two antennas 16, namely the distance D between the at least one remote antenna device 14 as well as the radio 12, can be set by an operator or rather user of the radio system 10. The respective distance D set may depend on the frequency used by the radio signals.

(22) The distance may be approximately 1 meter in case that the antennas 16 are located on a vehicle or rather sever hundred meters up to more than 1 km in case that the remote antenna device 14 is located on a mountain.

(23) In fact, the distance D may also depend on the specific application intended.

(24) As already mentioned above, the radio 12 and the at least one antenna device 14 may be connected with each other via the cable connection 22 that is established by a hybrid cable connection 28 shown in FIG. 2 in more detail.

(25) The hybrid cable connection 28 comprises a direct current link 30, which is configured to transmit energy via a direct current, as well as an optical link 32 that is configured to transmit a data stream.

(26) In the shown embodiment, the direct current link 30 and the optical link 32 are located in a common sleeve 34. The common sleeve 34 may have electromagnetic shielding properties. However, the direct current link 30 and the optical link 32 of the cable connection 22 may also be formed separately from each other.

(27) Generally, the energy may be forwarded from the radio 12, particularly the assigned remote adapter 18, to the at least one remote antenna device 14 that may comprise an amplifier module 36 that requires energy for operation purposes. The amplifier module 36 may be integrated within the remote antenna device 14.

(28) The optical link 32 ensures high data rates with regard to the data stream exchanged between the radio 12 and the at least one remote antenna device 14. As the at least one remote antenna device 14 as well as the radio 12 each comprise transceivers 17, the optical link 32 ensures a bidirectional communication between the radio 12 and the at least one remote antenna device 14.

(29) In fact, the data exchanged may be assigned to a radio signal received by the at least one remote antenna device 14 or rather a radio signal to be transmitted via the at least one remote antenna device 14.

(30) Since the energy for operating the at least one remote antenna device 14 is forwarded to the at least one remote antenna device 14 via the direct current link 30, it is ensured that no electromagnetic radiation is produced in contrast to alternate current signals used for energy and/or data transmission.