Remote units for distributed communication systems and related installation methods and apparatuses
View Patent ↗Remote units are mounted in a support structure so that cooling air flow is not impeded by the support structure. The remote units may have RF communications circuitry and other components that generate heat in the provision of wireless services.
1. A method of installing a remote unit of a distributed communication system in a building infrastructure, comprising:
providing an installation assembly comprising: a support structure having a first side, a second side, and a mounting aperture extending from the first side to the second side; a remote unit comprising an enclosure and at least one antenna unit configured to transmit RF communication signals into a coverage area, the remote unit being mounted within the mounting aperture so that a first side of the remote unit is visible at a first side of the support structure; and a mounting component to secure the remote unit to the support structure, wherein the remote unit has at least one ventilation aperture to allow cooling air to flow between the first side and a second side of the remote unit, and between the first side and second sides of the support structure;
mounting the installation assembly to a portion of the building infrastructure; and
connecting the remote unit to at least one cable capable of conveying at least one of data and RF communications.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the remote unit comprises at least one optical-to-electrical converter, and wherein connecting the remote unit to at least one cable comprises connecting the remote unit to at least one optical fiber.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the remote unit comprises a circuit board and a heat sink, and wherein the at least one ventilation aperture comprises a plurality of first ventilation apertures at a first side of the enclosure and a plurality of second ventilation apertures at a second side of the enclosure.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the first side of the remote unit protrudes beyond the first side of the support structure and the second side of the remote unit protrudes beyond the second side of the support structure.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein mounting the installation assembly comprises installing the support structure into a ceiling tile support frame.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the support structure comprises a metallic plate having an exterior periphery configured to rest in the ceiling tile support frame.
7. The method of claim 5 , wherein installing the support structure into a ceiling tile support frame comprises installing the support structure into a ceiling tile support frame for ceiling tiles having sides of about two feet in length.
8. The method of claim 5 , wherein the first and second sides of the support structure are generally planar surfaces.
9. The method of claim 4 , wherein the mounting component includes a support mount fixed to the second side of the support structure and a remote mount secured to a second side of the remote unit.
10. A distributed communication system deployed within a building infrastructure, comprising:
head-end equipment configured to receive downlink electrical RF communications services signals and to convert the downlink electrical RF communications services signals into downlink optical RF communications services signals to be communicated over at least one optical RF communications services downlink; and
a plurality of remote unit assemblies communicatively coupled to the head-end equipment to receive downlink optical RF communications services signals, at least one of the remote unit assemblies comprising:
a remote unit comprising an enclosure and at least one antenna unit configured to transmit RF communication signals into a coverage area, the remote unit being mounted in a mounting aperture of a support structure so that a first side of the remote unit is visible at a first side of the support structure,
wherein the remote unit has at least one ventilation aperture to allow cooling air to flow between the first and a second sides of the remote unit and between the first side of the support structure and a second side of the support structure.
11. The distributed communication system of claim 10 , wherein the remote unit comprises a circuit board and a heat sink, and wherein the at least one ventilation aperture comprises a plurality of first ventilation apertures at a first side of the enclosure and a plurality of second ventilation apertures at a second side of the enclosure.
12. The distributed communication system of claim 11 , wherein the first side of the remote unit protrudes beyond the first side of the support structure and the second side of the remote unit protrudes beyond the second side of the support structure.
13. The distributed communication system of claim 12 , wherein the distributed communication system is deployed in at least three floors of a building infrastructure, each floor having at least two of the remote unit assemblies.
14. The distributed communication system of claim 13 , wherein the support structure is accommodated within a ceiling tile support frame of the infrastructure.
15. The distributed communication system of claim 14 , wherein the ceiling tile support frame supports ceiling tiles having sides two feet in length.
16. The distributed communication system of claim 14 , wherein the remote unit assembly further comprises a flange configured to at least partially cover the mounting aperture.
17. The distributed communication system of claim 14 , wherein the first and second sides of the support structure are generally planar surfaces.
18. The distributed communication system of claim 12 , wherein the remote unit assembly further comprises a mounting component secured to a second side of the remote unit.
19. The distributed communication system of claim 18 , wherein the mounting component includes a support mount configured to abut the second side of the support structure and a remote mount secured to the remote unit.