Wireless communication systems, interrogators and methods of communicating within a wireless communication system
View Patent ↗A wireless communication system includes an interrogator including a housing including circuitry configured to generate a forward link communication signal; communication circuitry configured to communicate the forward link communication signal; and a communication station remotely located with respect to the housing and configured to receive the forward link communication signal from the communication circuitry and to radiate a forward link wireless signal corresponding to the forward link communication signal; and at least one remote communication device configured to receive the forward link wireless signal. A method of communicating within a wireless communication system includes providing an interrogator and at least one remote communication device; generating a forward link communication signal using circuitry within a housing of the interrogator; communicating the forward link communication signal from the housing using communication circuitry; receiving the forward link communication signal from the communication circuitry within a communication station of the interrogator remotely located from the housing; radiating a forward link wireless signal corresponding to the forward link communication signal using the communication station; and receiving the forward link wireless signal within the at least one remote communication device.
1. An interrogator system comprising:
a plurality of communication stations;
an interrogator housing coupled to the plurality of communication stations via a plurality of communication circuitry, wherein the interrogator housing is remotely located with respect to the communication stations, each communication circuitry being individually configured to communicate forward link signals intermediate the interrogator housing and one of the plurality of communication stations;
the interrogator housing comprising circuitry for providing packets in a proper format for the forward link signals to remote communication devices and for demodulating return link communications from the remote communication devices; and
the communication stations having transmit and receive circuitry for communicating with the remote communication devices, wherein the transmit circuitry comprises first adjustment circuitry for adjusting one or more characteristics of the forward link signals.
2. The interrogator system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more characteristics of the forward link signals include a power level.
3. The interrogator system of claim 2 , wherein the first adjustment circuitry includes automatic gain control (AGC) circuitry.
4. The interrogator system of claim 1 , wherein the AGC circuitry includes a loop filter that compares a voltage associated with the forward link signals to a reference voltage, and that provides a control signal to a variable gain amplifier.
5. The interrogator system of claim 1 , further comprising:
second adjustment circuitry in the interrogator housing for adjusting one or more characteristics of the return link signals.
6. The interrogator system of claim 5 , wherein the one or more characteristics of the return link signals include a power level.
7. The interrogator system of claim 5 , wherein the second adjustment circuitry includes automatic gain control (AGC) circuitry.
8. The interrogator system of claim 7 , wherein the AGC circuitry includes a loop filter that compares a voltage associated with the return link signals to a reference voltage, and that provides a control signal to a variable gain amplifier.
9. The interrogator system of claim 7 , wherein the AGC circuitry is operable to limit the return link signals to a power level that will prevent saturation of components in the interrogator housing.
10. A method of communicating with a plurality of remote communication devices comprising:
providing an interrogator housing coupled to a plurality of communication stations via a plurality of communication circuitry;
providing, in the interrogator housing, packets having a proper format for forward link communications from the interrogator housing to the remote communication devices via the plurality of communication stations;
transmitting a forward link communication signal from the interrogator housing to a corresponding one of the plurality of communication stations, wherein each of the communication circuitry is individually configured to communicate a forward link signal intermediate the housing and one of the communication stations;
demodulating, in the interrogator housing, return link communications from the remote communication devices;
adjusting at least one electrical characteristic of the forward link signals using first automatic gain control circuitry; and
adjusting at least one electrical characteristic of reverse link signals using second automatic gain control circuitry.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the adjusting at least one electrical characteristic of the forward link signals is adjusting a power level.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the adjusting at least one electrical characteristic of the reverse link signals is adjusting a power level.
13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
comparing a voltage associated with the forward link signals to a reference voltage; and
providing a control signal to a variable gain amplifier.
14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
second comparing a voltage associated with the reverse link signals to a reference voltage;
generating a second control signal based on the second comparing; and
providing the second a control signal to a variable gain amplifier.