Modular small cell architecture
A wireless communication system is provided. The system includes a common module, is shaped as a sector of a cylinder and has a power supply. A sector radio module is coupled to the power supply and includes an access radio and an access antenna. The access antenna is configured to serve a sector of not more than 180°, and is also shaped as a sector of a cylinder.
1. A wireless communications system, comprising:
a common module, incorporating a power supply that converts utility power to a voltage and current suitable to power access radio operation, the common module being shaped as a sector of a cylinder and configured to be mounted exteriorily on an antenna mounting pole; and
a sector radio module coupled to and powered by the power supply of the common module, and configured to be mounted adjacent to the common module on the pole, the sector radio module including an access radio and an access antenna, the access antenna being configured to serve a sector of not more than 180°, the sector radio module further being shaped as a sector of a cylinder;
wherein the sector radio module further comprises a back-haul radio and a back-haul antenna;
wherein the sector radio module further comprises a radome, and the radome includes different tuning dielectric inserts for the access antenna and the back-haul antenna to allow dielectric properties of the radome to be matched to the access antenna and the back-haul antenna.
2. The wireless communications system of claim 1 , wherein the common module further provides an optical fiber demarcation and a back-haul link to the access radio of the sector radio module via the optical fiber demarcation.
3. The wireless communications system of claim 1 , wherein the back-haul radio comprises a low capacity back-haul radio.
4. The wireless communications system of claim 1 , wherein the back-haul radio comprises a high capacity back-haul radio.
5. The wireless communications system of claim 1 , wherein the common module comprises a plurality of common modules, and the sector radio module comprises a plurality of sector radio modules, wherein a combination of the plurality of sector radio modules provides 360 degree access radio coverage.
6. The wireless communications system of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of sector radio modules comprises three sector radio modules, each sector radio module being shaped as a 120° sector of a cylinder.
7. The wireless communications system of claim 6 wherein the access antenna is configured to have a half power beam width of approximately 65°.
8. The wireless communications system of claim 1 , wherein the sector radio module comprises a plurality of sector radio modules coupled to the common module.
9. The wireless communications system of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of sector radio modules comprise a first sector radio module associated with a first wireless network operator and a second sector radio module associated with a second wireless network operator mounted adjacent to the first sector radio module on the antenna mounting pole.
10. The wireless communications system of claim 1 , wherein the radome further comprises a lightweight molded plastic cover having perforations allowing intake of cooling air such that the cooling air is directed onto heat sinks of the access radio and back-haul radio.
11. The wireless communications system of claim 1 comprising three common modules, three sector radio modules associated with a first network operator, and three sector radio modules associated with a second network operator wherein the common modules supply power to the sector radio modules of both network operators.
12. A wireless communications system, comprising:
a common module, incorporating a power supply that converts utility power to a voltage and current suitable to power access radio operation, the common module being shaped as a sector of a cylinder and configured to be mounted exteriorily on an antenna mounting pole; and
a sector radio module coupled to and powered by the power supply of the common module, and configured to be mounted adjacent to the common module on the pole, the sector radio module including an access radio and an access antenna, the access antenna being configured to serve a sector of not more than 180°, the sector radio module further being shaped as a sector of a cylinder;
wherein the sector radio module further comprises a back-haul radio and a back-haul antenna;
wherein the sector radio module further comprises a radome including a first dielectric insert tuned to a frequency band of the access antenna, a second dielectric insert tuned to a frequency band of a low capacity back-haul antenna, and a third dielectric insert tuned to a frequency band of a high capacity back-haul antenna.
13. A wireless communications system, comprising:
a common module, incorporating a power supply that converts utility power to a voltage and current suitable to power access radio operation, the common module being shaped as a sector of a cylinder and configured to be mounted exteriorily on an antenna mounting pole; and
a sector radio module coupled to and powered by the power supply of the common module, and configured to be mounted adjacent to the common module on the pole, the sector radio module including an access radio and an access antenna, the access antenna being configured to serve a sector of not more than 180°, the sector radio module further being shaped as a sector of a cylinder;
wherein the system comprises three common modules, three sector radio modules associated with a first network operator, and three sector radio modules associated with a second network operator wherein the common modules supply power to the sector radio modules of both network operators;
wherein a back-haul for the first network operator is established via back-haul radio link and a back-haul for the second network operator is established via an optical fiber demarcation of the common modules.