Use of Cinder Block or Concrete to Re-Radiate an RF Signal

Abstract

A communication system is provided for use of cinder block to re-radiate an RF signal. The system overcomes the limitations of prior art techniques which attempt to work either through or around the cinder block or concrete as an RF obstruction.

In contrast, the system of the present invention uses the cinder block as a re-radiator for the RF signal. Although cinder block or concrete (such as a cinder block or concrete wall) has been described as the building material used to re-radiate, it is understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the same technique can be used with building materials other than cinder block (e.g., concrete or other materials instead of cinder block).

The system is particularly useful when deployed in a MAS system or a jamming system in a prison environment. In this type of deployment, the cinder block or concrete can either be used to re-radiate TX signals from a BTS system or to re-radiate jamming signals from a jammer. The cinder block or concrete can also be used with an associated main receive antenna to improve signal reception.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising: a transmitter; and an antenna, which is further coupled to cinder block for re-radiating a transmit signal which is received by at least one receiver through a receive antenna.

2. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein an external transmit signal is transmitted by an external transmitter.

3. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter is a jammer.

4. A communication system according to claim 2, wherein the transmitter is a jammer.

5. A communication system according to claim 2, wherein the transmitter is a part of a DAS system.

6. A communication system according to claim 2, wherein the transmit signal dominates the external transmit signal.

7. A communication system according to claim 2, wherein the transmit signal is a jamming signal.

8. A communication system according to claim 2, wherein the transmit signal is a MAS signal.

9. A communication system according to claim 1, further comprising: a main receiver associated with the transmitter; and a main receiver antenna coupled to the main receiver.

10. A communication system according to claim 9, wherein the main receive antenna is coupled to cinder block.

11. A communication system comprising: a transmitter; an RF element coupled to the antenna; at least two antennas coupled to the RF element, each of the antennas respectively coupled to cinder block for re-radiating a transmit signal which is received by at least one receiver through a receive antenna.

12. A communication system according to claim 11, further comprising an external transmitter that transmits an external transmit signal.

13. A communication system according to claim 11, wherein the transmitter is a jammer.

14. A communication system according to claim 12, wherein the transmitter is a jammer.

15. A communication system according to claim 12, wherein the transmitter is a part of a DAS system.

16. A communication system according to claim 12, wherein the transmit signal dominates the external transmit signal.

17. A communication system according to claim 12, wherein the transmit signal is a jamming signal.

18. A communication system according to claim 12, wherein the transmit signal is a MAS signal.

19. A communication system according to claim 11, further comprising: a main receiver associated with the transmitter; and a main receiver antenna coupled to the main receiver.

20. A communication system according to claim 19, wherein the main receive antenna is coupled to cinder block.

21. A communication system according to claim 12, wherein the RF element is an RF switch.

22. A communication system according to claim 12, wherein the RF element is an RF splitter.

23. A communication system according to claim 19, wherein the main receive antenna is coupled to cinder block.

24. A communication system comprising: a transmitter; and an antenna, which is further coupled to a building material for re-radiating a transmit signal which is received by at least one receiver through a receive antenna.

25. A communication system according to claim 24, wherein the building material is cinder block.

26. A communication system according to claim 24, wherein the building material is concrete.

27. A communication system according to claim 24, wherein an external transmit signal is transmitted by an external transmitter.

28. A communication system according to claim 24, wherein the transmitter is a jammer.

29. A communication system according to claim 27, wherein the transmitter is a jammer.

30. A communication system according to claim 27, wherein the transmitter is a part of a DAS system.

31. A communication system according to claim 27, wherein the transmit signal dominates the external transmit signal.

32. A communication system according to claim 27, wherein the transmit signal is a jamming signal.

33. A communication system according to claim 27, wherein the transmit signal is a MAS signal.

34. A communication system according to claim 24, further comprising: a main receiver associated with the transmitter; and a main receiver antenna coupled to the main receiver.

35. A communication system according to claim 34, wherein the main receive antenna is coupled to cinder block.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The invention is described in detail below by way of preferred embodiments shown in the drawings.

[0019] FIG. 1 is a drawing showing a transmitter coupled to an antenna which is further coupled to cinder block or concrete for re-radiation of the transmit signal. The transmit signal is received by at least one receiver;

[0020] FIG. 2 is a drawing showing a transmitter, coupled to a switch, which is further coupled to at least two antennas for switching the transmit signal to one of the antennas. The antennas are further coupled to cinder block or concrete for re-radiation of the transmit signal. The transmit signal is received by at least one receiver;

[0021] FIG. 3 is a drawing similar to FIG. 1 with a transceiver on the communication link;

[0022] FIG. 4 is a drawing similar to FIG. 2 with a transceiver on the communication link;

[0023] FIG. 5 is a drawing similar to FIG. 1 with the addition of an external transmit signal generated by an external transmitter;

[0024] FIG. 6 is a drawing similar to FIG. 2 with the addition of an external transmit signal generated by an external transmitter;

[0025] FIG. 7 is a drawing similar to FIG. 3 with the addition of an external transmit signal generated by an external transmitter;

[0026] FIG. 8 is a drawing similar to FIG. 4 with the addition of an external transmit signal generated by an external transmitter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0027] Referring to FIGS. 1-8, a system for the use of cinder block or concrete to re-radiate an RF signal will now be described with several preferred embodiments. It is understood that the embodiments described herein do not limit the scope of the invention, but merely provide examples of the present invention as used in several different instances.

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a communication system comprising a transmitter 100 coupled to an antenna 110, which is further coupled to cinder block/concrete 120 (such as a cinder block/concrete wall) for re-radiating the transmit signal 140. The transmit signal 140 is received by at least one receiver 200 & 300 through respective receive antennas 210 & 310.

[0029] FIG. 2 shows a communication system comprising a transmitter 100 coupled to an RF element 130, which is further coupled to at least two antennas 110a & 110z. Each of the antennas 110a & 110z is respectively coupled to cinder block/concrete 120a & 120z for re-radiating the transmit signal 140. The transmit signal 140 is received by at least one receiver 200 & 300 through respective receive antennas 210 & 310.

[0030] The RF element 130 can be an RF switch which is switched periodically. Alternatively, RF element 130 can be an RF splitter that provides splitting of the RF signal to antennas 110a & 110z.

[0031] FIG. 3 shows a communication system comprising a first transceiver 190 with the associated transmitter 100 coupled to an antenna 110, which is further coupled to cinder block/concrete 120 (such as a cinder block/concrete wall) for re-radiating the transmit signal 140. The first transceiver 190 further includes a main receiver 150 coupled to a main receive antenna 160, which is further coupled to cinder block/concrete 170. The transmit signal 140 is received by at least one secondary transceiver 290 and 390. The secondary transceiver 290 and 390 include a respective secondary receiver 200 & 300 coupled to respective further antennas 210 & 310 to receive transmit signal 140. The secondary transceiver 290 and 390 further include a respective secondary transmitter 220 & 320 coupled to respective further antennas 230 & 330.

[0032] FIG. 4 shows a communication system comprising a first transceiver 190 with the associated transmitter 100 coupled to an RF element 130, which is further coupled to at least two antennas 110a & 110z. Each of the antennas 110a & 110z is respectively coupled to cinder block/concrete 120a & 120z for re-radiating the transmit signal 140. The first transceiver 190 further includes a main receiver 150 coupled to a main receive antenna 160, which is further coupled to cinder block/concrete 170. The transmit signal 140 is received by at least one secondary transceiver 290 and 390. The secondary transceiver 290 and 390 include a respective secondary receiver 200 & 300 coupled to respective further antennas 210 & 310 to receive transmit signal 140. The secondary transceiver 290 and 390 further include a respective secondary transmitter 220 & 320 coupled to respective further antennas 230 & 330.

[0033] The RF element 130 can be an RF switch which is switched periodically. Alternatively, RF element 130 can be an RF splitter that provides splitting of the RF signal to antennas 110a & 110z.

[0034] FIG. 5 shows a communication system comprising a transmitter 100 coupled to an antenna 110, which is further coupled to cinder block/concrete 120 (such as a cinder block/concrete wall) for re-radiating the transmit signal 140. The transmit signal 140 is received by at least one receiver 200 & 300 through respective receive antennas 210 & 310.

[0035] Additionally, the communication system includes an external transmit signal 440 generated by an external transmitter 400 coupled to an external antenna 420 that is transmitting to at least one of the receivers 200 & 300. In this system, the signal strength of transmit signal 140 should dominate the signal strength of the external transmit signal 440 when measured at least one of the receivers 200 & 300.

[0036] In one embodiment of the invention, the transmitter 100 is a jammer and the transmit signal 140 is a jamming signal that jams the external transmit signal 440 of external transmitter 400.

[0037] In another embodiment of the invention, the transmitter 100 is a MAS system and the transmit signal 140 is a MAS signal that dominates the external transmit signal 440 of external transmitter 400.

[0038] FIG. 6 shows a communication system comprising a transmitter 100 coupled to an RF element 130, which is further coupled to at least two antennas 110a & 110z. Each of the antennas 110a & 110z is respectively coupled to cinder block/concrete 120a & 120z for re-radiating the transmit signal 140. The transmit signal 140 is received by at least one receiver 200 & 300 through respective receive antennas 210 & 310.

[0039] The RF element 130 can be an RF switch which is switched periodically. Alternatively, RF element 130 can be an RF splitter that provides splitting of the RF signal to antennas 110a & 110z.

[0040] Additionally, the communication system includes an external transmit signal 440 generated by an external transmitter 400 coupled to an external antenna 420 that is transmitting to at least one of the receivers 200 & 300. In this system, the signal strength of transmit signal 140 should dominate the signal strength of the external transmit signal 440 when measured at least one of the receivers 200 & 300.

[0041] In one embodiment of the invention, the transmitter 100 is a jammer and the transmit signal 140 is a jamming signal that jams the external transmit signal 440 of external transmitter 400.

[0042] In another embodiment of the invention, the transmitter 100 is a MAS system and the transmit signal 140 is a MAS signal that dominates the external transmit signal 440 of external transmitter 400.

[0043] FIG. 7 shows a communication system comprising a first transceiver 190 with the associated transmitter 100 coupled to an antenna 110, which is further coupled to cinder block/concrete 120 (such as a cinder block/concrete wall) for re-radiating the transmit signal 140. The first transceiver 190 further includes a first receiver 150 coupled to a further antenna 160, which is further coupled to cinder block/concrete 170. The transmit signal 140 is received by at least one secondary transceiver 290 and 390. The secondary transceiver 290 and 390 include a respective secondary receiver 200 & 300 coupled to respective further antennas 210 & 310 to receive transmit signal 140. The secondary transceiver 290 and 390 further include a respective secondary transmitter 220 & 320 coupled to respective further antennas 230 & 330.

[0044] Additionally, the communication system includes an external transmit signal 440 generated by an external transmitter 400 coupled to an external antenna 420 that is transmitting to at least one of the receivers 200 & 300. In this system, the signal strength of transmit signal 140 should dominate the signal strength of the external transmit signal 440 when measured at least one of the receivers 200 & 300.

[0045] In one embodiment of the invention, the transmitter 100 is a jammer and the transmit signal 140 is a jamming signal that jams the external transmit signal 440 of external transmitter 400.

[0046] In another embodiment of the invention, the transmitter 100 is a MAS system and the transmit signal 140 is a MAS signal that dominates the external transmit signal 440 of external transmitter 400.

[0047] FIG. 8 shows a communication system comprising a first transceiver 190 with the associated transmitter 100 coupled to an RF element 130, which is further coupled to at least two antennas 110a & 110z. Each of the antennas 110a & 110z is respectively coupled to cinder block/concrete 120a & 120z for re-radiating the transmit signal 140. The first transceiver 190 further includes a first receiver 150 coupled to a further antenna 160, which is further coupled to cinder block/concrete 170. The transmit signal 140 is received by at least one secondary transceiver 290 and 390. The secondary transceiver 290 and 390 include a respective secondary receiver 200 & 300 coupled to respective further antennas 210 & 310 to receive transmit signal 140. The secondary transceiver 290 and 390 further include a respective secondary transmitter 220 & 320 coupled to respective further antennas 230 & 330.

[0048] The RF element 130 can be an RF switch which is switched periodically. Alternatively, RF element 130 can be an RF splitter that provides splitting of the RF signal to antennas 110a & 110z.

[0049] Additionally, the communication system includes an external transmit signal 440 generated by an external transmitter 400 coupled to an external antenna 420 that is transmitting to at least one of the receivers 200 & 300. In this system, the signal strength of transmit signal 140 should dominate the signal strength of the external transmit signal 440 when measured at least one of the receivers 200 & 300.

[0050] In one embodiment of the invention, the transmitter 100 is a jammer and the transmit signal 140 is a jamming signal that jams the external transmit signal 440 of external transmitter 400.

[0051] In another embodiment of the invention, the transmitter 100 is a MAS system and the transmit signal 140 is a MAS signal that dominates the external transmit signal 440 of external transmitter 400.

[0052] While the present invention has been shown and described with reference to a number of preferred embodiments, it is well known to those of skill in the art that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically disclosed and claimed herein.

[0053] For example, although cinder block/concrete (such as a cinder block/concrete wall) has been described as the building material used to re-radiate, it is understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the same technique can be used with building materials other than cinder block (e.g., concrete or other building materials instead of cinder block).

[0054] Likewise, although the use of cinder block/concrete has been shown on all of the antennas in the system in the Figures, it is well understood that the system can include any combination of use of cinder block/concrete to re-radiate with some antennas while not using cinder block/concrete with other antennas in the system.

[0055] Additionally, although some of the TX and RX antennas are shown as separate antennas, it is well known by those of the ordinary skill in the art that the same effect can be accomplished with a single antenna for TX and RX that uses a diplexer to separate signals.