Programmable power supplies for cellular base stations and related methods of reducing power loss in cellular systems
View Patent ↗Methods of powering a radio that is mounted on a tower of a cellular base station are provided in which a direct current (“DC”) power signal is provided to the radio over a power cable and a voltage level of the output of the power supply is adjusted so as to provide a substantially constant voltage at a first end of the power cable that is remote from the power supply. Related cellular base stations and programmable power supplies are also provided.
1. A method of powering at least one radio, the method comprising:
obtaining a resistance of a power cabling connection between a power supply and the at least one radio;
outputting direct current (DC) power, comprising a voltage, from the power supply;
supplying the DC power that is output from the power supply to the at least one radio over the power cabling connection;
measuring a current level of the DC power;
automatically adjusting a voltage level of the DC power using the obtained resistance and changes in the measured current level of the DC power so that a voltage at the at least one radio remains at a desired voltage level or a voltage within a desired voltage level range;
wherein a voltage drop in the power cabling connection is the current level multiplied by the resistance;
wherein the voltage level of the DC power is equal to the desired voltage level, or the voltage within the desired voltage level range, plus the voltage drop;
wherein obtaining the resistance comprises:
transmitting a voltage pulse onto the power cabling connection at a first end of the power cabling connection; and
measuring a return pulse that is reflected from the second end of the power cabling connection, where the second end is opposite the first end.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one radio comprises at least one remote radio head.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein measuring the current level of the DC power comprises measuring the current level of the DC power at the power supply.
4. A system, comprising
a first power supply;
wherein the first power supply is configured to be coupled to a first end of a power cabling connection, where the power cabling connection has a second end coupled to at least one radio;
wherein the first power supply is further configured to:
obtain a resistance of a power cabling connection;
output direct current (DC) power;
supply the DC power that is output from the first power supply to the at least one radio over the power cabling connection;
measure a current level of the DC power; and
automatically adjust a voltage level of the DC power using the obtained resistance and changes in the measured current level of the DC power so that a first voltage at the at least one radio remains at or near a desired voltage level; wherein the first power supply comprises:
a second power supply, including an output and configured to output the DC power;
a DC-to-DC converter coupled to the output of the second power supply; and
wherein the DC-to-DC converter is configured to output a DC voltage, and comprises:
a voltage conversion circuit configured to convert a second voltage of the DC power to a different voltage level; and
control circuitry that is configured to receive a signal and, based upon the signal, to adjust parameters of the conversion circuit so that the conversion circuit converts the second voltage of the DC power to a different voltage level.
5. The system of claim 4 , wherein a voltage drop in the power cabling connection is the current level multiplied by the resistance; and
wherein the voltage level of the DC power is equal to the desired voltage level plus the voltage drop.
6. The system of claim 4 , wherein the power supply obtains the resistance of the power cabling connection from user input.
7. The system of claim 4 , wherein the current level of the DC power is measured at the power supply.
8. The system of claim 4 , wherein the at least one radio comprises at least one remote radio head.
9. The system of claim 4 , wherein the system of the power supply is configured to be coupled to the measurement circuit by at least one wire.
10. A power supply, comprising:
control logic circuitry configured to obtain a resistance of a power cabling connection between the power supply and at least one radio configured to facilitate cellular communications;
a conversion circuit coupled to the control logic circuitry, and configured to output direct current (DC) power, comprising a voltage;
current sensor circuitry, coupled to the control logic circuitry, configured to measure a current level of the output DC power;
wherein the conversion circuit is further configured to adjust a voltage level of the DC power using the obtained resistance and changes in the measured current level of the output DC power so that a voltage at the at least one radio remains at a desired voltage level or a voltage within a desired voltage level range;
wherein a voltage drop in the power cabling connection is the current level multiplied by the resistance;
wherein the voltage level of the DC power is equal to the desired voltage level, or the voltage within the desired voltage level range, plus the voltage drop; and
at least one of:
(a) a circuit coupled to the control logic circuitry and configured to receive a signal related to the resistance of the power cabling connection; and
(b) user input circuitry coupled to the control logic circuitry and configured to obtain data, from a user, from which the resistance of the power cabling connection may be obtained by the control logic circuitry.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the at least one radio comprises at least one remote radio head.
12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the current sensor circuitry is further configured to measure the current level of the DC power at an output of the power supply.