Radio-frequency integrated circuit (RFIC) chip(s) for providing distributed antenna system functionalities, and related components, systems, and methods
View Patent ↗Radio-frequency (RF) integrated circuit (RFIC) chip(s) allow for the integration of multiple electronic circuits on a chip to provide distributed antenna system functionalities. RFIC chips are employed in central unit and remote unit components, reducing component cost and size, increasing performance and reliability, while reducing power consumption. The components are also easier to manufacture. The RFIC chip(s) can be employed in distributed antenna systems and components that support RF communications services and/or digital data services.
1. A central unit for providing communications signals in a wireless communications system, comprising:
a radio-frequency (RF) communications interface configured to:
receive downlink RF communication signals at a RF communications frequency for a RF communications service; and
provide uplink RF communication signals at the RF communications frequency for the RF communications service;
at least one RF integrated circuit (IC) (RFIC) chip comprising at least one of:
a first frequency conversion circuitry configured to shift a frequency of the downlink RF communication signals to an intermediate frequency (IF) having a different frequency than the RF communications frequency, to provide downlink IF communications signals; and
a second frequency conversion circuitry configured to shift the frequency of uplink IF communication signals to the RF communications frequency to provide the uplink RF communications signals, wherein
the downlink RF communication signals are comprised of MIMO downlink RF communication signals,
the uplink RF communications signals are comprised of MIMO uplink RF communication signals,
the downlink IF communications signals are comprised of MIMO downlink IF communication signals,
the uplink IF communication signals are comprised of MIMO uplink IF communications signals; and
the RF communications interface is further configured to:
receive second MIMO downlink RF communication signals at the RF communications frequency for the RF communications service; and
receive second MIMO uplink RF communication signals at the RF communications frequency for the RF communications service, the central unit further comprising
at least one second RFIC chip comprising at least one of:
a third frequency conversion circuitry configured to shift the frequency of the second MIMO downlink RF communication signals to a second IF having a different frequency than the RF communications frequency, to provide second MIMO downlink IF communications signals; and
a fourth frequency conversion circuitry configured to shift the frequency of second MIMO uplink IF communication signals to the RF communications frequency to provide the second MIMO uplink RF communications signals.
2. The central unit of claim 1 , wherein the IF and the second IF do not overlap, and the at least one RFIC chip is comprised of a single RFIC chip.
3. The central unit of claim 2 , wherein the first frequency conversion circuitry is comprised of an up conversion frequency conversion circuitry, the second frequency conversion circuitry is comprised of a down conversion frequency conversion circuitry.
4. The central unit of claim 1 , wherein the first frequency conversion circuitry is comprised of an up conversion frequency conversion circuitry, the second frequency conversion circuitry is comprised of a down conversion frequency conversion circuitry.
5. A central unit for providing communications signals in a wireless communications system, comprising:
a radio-frequency (RF) communications interface configured to:
receive downlink RF communication signals at a RF communications frequency for a RF communications service; and
provide uplink RF communication signals at the RF communications frequency for the RF communications service;
at least one RF integrated circuit (IC) (RFIC) chip comprising at least one of:
a first frequency conversion circuitry configured to shift a frequency of the downlink RF communication signals to an intermediate frequency (IF) having a different frequency than the RF communications frequency, to provide downlink IF communications signals; and
a second frequency conversion circuitry configured to shift the frequency of uplink IF communication signals to the RF communications frequency to provide the uplink RF communications signals; and
a communications interface comprising RF communications circuitry configured to:
provide the downlink IF communications signals over a communications medium to one or more remote units (RUs); and
receive the uplink IF communication signals provided over a communications medium from the one or more RUs and provide the uplink IF communication signals to the second frequency conversion circuitry, wherein
the downlink RF communication signals are comprised of MIMO downlink RF communication signals, and
the uplink RF communications signals are comprised of MIMO uplink RF communication signals.
6. The central unit of claim 5 , wherein:
the downlink IF communications signals are comprised of MIMO downlink IF communication signals, and
the uplink IF communication signals are comprised of MIMO uplink IF communications signals.
7. A central unit for providing communications signals in a wireless communications system, comprising:
a radio-frequency (RF) communications interface configured to:
receive downlink RF communication signals at a RF communications frequency for a RF communications service; and
provide uplink RF communication signals at the RF communications frequency for the RF communications service;
at least one RF integrated circuit (IC) (RFIC) chip comprising at least one of:
a first frequency conversion circuitry configured to shift a frequency of the downlink RF communication signals to an intermediate frequency (IF) having a different frequency than the RF communications frequency, to provide downlink IF communications signals; and
a second frequency conversion circuitry configured to shift the frequency of uplink IF communication signals to the RF communications frequency to provide the uplink RF communications signals;
a second communications interface configured to:
receive second downlink RF communication signals at a second RF communications frequency for a second RF communications service; and
receive second uplink RF communication signals at the second RF communications frequency for the second RF communications service; and
at least one second RFIC chip comprising at least one of:
a third frequency conversion circuitry configured to shift the frequency of the second downlink RF communication signals to a second intermediate frequency (IF) having a different frequency than the second RF communications frequency, to provide second downlink IF communications signals; and
a fourth frequency conversion circuitry configured to shift the frequency of second uplink IF communication signals to the second RF communications frequency to provide the second uplink RF communications signals, wherein
the downlink RF communication signals are comprised of MIMO downlink RF communication signals, and
the uplink RF communications signals are comprised of MIMO uplink RF communication signals.
8. The central unit of claim 7 , further comprising a communications interface comprising RF communications circuitry configured to:
provide the downlink IF communications signals over a communications medium to one or more remote units (RUs); and
receive the uplink IF communication signals provided over a communications medium from the one or more RUs and provide the uplink IF communication signals to the second frequency conversion circuitry.
9. The central unit of claim 8 , wherein:
the downlink IF communications signals are comprised of MIMO downlink IF communication signals, and
the uplink IF communication signals are comprised of MIMO uplink IF communications signals.
10. The central unit of claim 9 , wherein the RF communications interface is configured to:
receive second MIMO downlink RF communication signals at the RF communications frequency for the RF communications service; and
receive second MIMO uplink RF communication signals at the RF communications frequency for the RF communications service.