Methods and apparatuses for automatic filter identification
Methods and apparatuses are provided that configure downlink and uplink signal paths by obtaining information about at least one of a downlink filter and an uplink filter in a duplexer unit after the duplexer unit is coupled to a primary uplink signal path and a primary downlink signal path. Based upon such information, at least one component of the downlink and uplink signal paths is adjusted to compensate for the insertion losses of a downlink filter and an uplink filter, where the downlink signal path comprises a secondary downlink signal path in the duplexer unit and the primary downlink signal path, and the uplink signal path comprises a secondary uplink signal path in the duplexer unit and the primary uplink signal path.
1. A method for configuring a downlink signal path and an uplink signal path, the method comprising:
after at least one duplexer unit is coupled to a primary uplink signal path and a primary downlink signal path, receiving duplexer identifier data from each at least one duplexer unit, wherein each duplexer identifier data comprises at least one of: adjustment data corresponding to a type of a duplexer unit and an identifier of the type of the duplexer unit,
wherein the identifier of the type of the duplexer unit comprises at least one of: at least one measured characteristic of a corresponding duplexer unit and an alphanumeric data identifier, and wherein the identifier of the type of the duplexer unit is unique for a corresponding type of duplexer unit;
if at least one duplexer identifier data does not include the adjustment data, then determining the adjustment data based upon corresponding duplexer identifier data; and
based upon the adjustment data, automatically sending control signals for affecting adjustment of at least one component of the downlink signal path and the uplink signal path to compensate for insertion losses of a downlink filter and an uplink filter of each duplexer unit, wherein the downlink signal path comprises a secondary downlink signal path in each of the at least one duplexer unit and the primary downlink signal path, and the uplink signal path comprises a secondary uplink signal path in each of the at least one duplexer unit and the primary uplink signal path.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
based upon the control signals, automatically affecting the adjustment of at least one other component of the downlink and the uplink signal paths.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the adjustment data based upon the corresponding duplexer identifier data comprises determining the adjustment data based upon the corresponding duplexer identifier data using a look up table.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the alphanumeric data identifier comprises an identifier of the type of the duplexer unit.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining at least one identifier of the type of the duplexer unit from the corresponding duplexer identifier data using a look up table.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one measured characteristic of the duplexer unit comprises at least one of: insertion loss of at least one filter in the duplexer unit, return loss of at least one filter in the duplexer unit, at least one characteristic of duplexer unit passive intermodulation distortion, at least one characteristic of current drawn by the duplexer unit, and regulated voltage level provided by the duplexer unit.
7. An apparatus, comprising:
a duplexer unit, comprising:
a secondary downlink signal path comprising a downlink filter comprising an input port and an output port;
a secondary uplink signal path comprising an uplink filter comprising an input port and an output port;
wherein the input port of the uplink filter and the output port of the downlink filter are coupled at a common port, wherein the common port is configured to be coupled to at least one antenna;
wherein the duplexer unit is configured to be coupled to a primary uplink signal path and a primary downlink signal path, wherein a downlink signal path comprises the secondary downlink signal path and the primary downlink signal path, and an uplink signal path comprises the secondary uplink signal path and the primary uplink signal path;
after the duplexer unit is coupled to the primary uplink signal path and the primary downlink signal path, the duplexer unit is configured to provide to duplexer identifier data to at least one component of the apparatus; and
wherein the duplexer identifier data comprises at least one of adjustment data corresponding to a type of the duplexer unit and an identifier of the type of the duplexer unit, wherein the identifier of the type of the duplexer unit comprises at least one of: at least one measured characteristic of the duplexer unit and an alphanumeric data identifier, and wherein the identifier of the type of the duplexer unit is unique for a corresponding type of the duplexer unit;
wherein the at least one component of the apparatus is configured to:
if the duplexer identifier data does not include the adjustment data, then determine the adjustment data based upon corresponding duplexer identifier data;
automatically sending control signals from the at least one component of the apparatus to at least one component of the uplink signal path and the downlink signal path for affecting adjustment of the at least one component of the uplink signal path and the downlink signal path to compensate for insertion losses of at least one of the downlink filter and the uplink filter of the duplexer unit; and
based upon the control signals, automatically affecting the adjustment of the at least one component of the uplink signal path and the downlink signal path.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the alphanumeric data identifier comprises an identifier of the type of duplexer unit.
9. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the at least one measured characteristic of the duplexer unit comprises at least one of: insertion loss of at least one filter in the duplexer unit, return loss of at least one filter in the duplexer unit, at least one characteristic of duplexer unit passive intermodulation distortion, at least one characteristic of current drawn by the duplexer unit, and regulated voltage level provided by the duplexer unit.
10. The apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising memory circuitry comprising the duplexer identifier data, wherein the memory circuitry is configured to be coupled to a component of a communications circuit.
11. The apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising:
a low noise amplifier comprising an input port, an output port, and a direct current DC) bias port, wherein the input port is coupled to the output port of the uplink filter;
bias tee circuitry comprising a radio frequency (RF) signal and DC power port, an RF signal port, and a DC power input port, wherein the output port of low noise amplifier (LNA) is coupled to the RF signal port, and wherein the RF signal and DC power port is configured to be coupled to the primary uplink signal path;
timed switch circuitry having a switch common port, a first switch port, and a second switch port, wherein the switch common port is coupled to the DC power input port and the second switch port is coupled to the DC bias port; and
a resistor coupled between the first switch port and ground;
wherein upon receipt by the timed switch circuitry of DC power, the timed switch circuitry is configured to:
for a time period, couple the switch common port to the first switch port; and
after the time period, couple the switch common port to the second switch port.
12. The apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising:
a first directional coupler coupled between a downlink input port of the duplexer unit, and an input port of the downlink filter, wherein the first directional coupler has a first coupled port;
wherein the first directional coupler is configured to sample a portion of a signal incident at the input port of the downlink filter, and provide a first sample at the first coupled port;
a second directional coupler coupled between the common port and an output port of the downlink filter, wherein the second directional coupler has a second coupled port;
wherein the second directional coupler is configured to sample a portion of a signal emitted from the output port of the downlink filter, and provide a second sample at the second coupled port; and
at least one power detector circuit configured to be coupled to the first coupled port and the second coupled port;
wherein the at least one power detector circuit is configured to measure a power level of each sampled signal.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising:
a third directional coupler coupled between an uplink output port of the duplexer unit, and an output port of the uplink filter, wherein the third directional coupler has a third coupled port;
wherein the third directional coupler is configured to sample a portion of a signal emitted from the output port of the uplink filter, and provide a third sample at the third coupled port;
a fourth directional coupler coupled between the common port and an input port of the uplink filter, wherein the fourth directional coupler has a fourth coupled port; and
wherein the fourth directional coupler is configured to sample a portion of a signal incident at the input port of the uplink filter, and provide a fourth sample at the fourth coupled port;
wherein the at least one power detector circuit is further configured to be coupled to the third coupled port and the fourth coupled port.
14. The apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising:
a first directional coupler coupled between a downlink input port of the duplexer unit, and an input port of the downlink filter, wherein the first directional coupler has a first coupled port;
wherein the first directional coupler is configured to sample a portion of a signal incident at the input port of the downlink filter, and provide a first sample at the first coupled port;
a second directional coupler coupled between the downlink input port of the duplexer unit, and the input port of the downlink filter, wherein the second directional coupler has a second coupled port;
wherein the second directional coupler is configured to sample a portion of a signal reflected from the input port of the downlink filter, and provide a second sample at the second coupled port; and
at least one power detector circuit configured to be coupled to the first coupled port and the second coupled port;
wherein the at least one power detector circuit is configured to measure a power level of each sampled signal.
15. The apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising:
the primary uplink signal path;
the primary downlink signal path; and
a controller circuit configured to:
receive the duplexer identifier data from the duplexer unit, wherein the duplexer identifier data comprises at least one of the adjustment data corresponding to the type of the duplexer unit and the identifier of the type of the duplexer unit, wherein the identifier of the type of the duplexer unit comprises the at least one of: at least one measured characteristics of the duplexer unit and an alphanumeric data identifier, and wherein the identifier of the type of the duplexer unit is unique for the corresponding type of the duplexer unit;
if the duplexer identifier data does not include the adjustment data, then determine the adjustment data based upon the duplexer identifier data; and
based upon the adjustment data, automatically sending control signals for affecting adjustment of at least one component of the downlink signal path and the uplink signal path to compensate for the insertion losses of at least one of the downlink filter and the uplink filter of the duplexer unit.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the alphanumeric data identifier comprises an identifier of a type of the duplexer unit;
wherein the duplexer identifier data comprises at least one of adjustment data corresponding to the type of the duplexer unit and an identifier of the type of the duplexer unit, wherein the identifier of the type of the duplexer unit comprises at least one of: at least one measured characteristics of the duplexer unit and an alphanumeric data identifier, and wherein the identifier of the type of the duplexer unit is unique for the corresponding type of the duplexer unit.
17. An apparatus, comprising:
a primary uplink signal path;
a primary downlink signal path, wherein the primary uplink signal path and the primary downlink signal path are configured to be coupled to a duplexer unit, wherein the duplexer unit comprises a secondary downlink signal path and a secondary uplink signal path, wherein a downlink signal path comprises the primary downlink signal path and the secondary downlink signal path, and wherein an uplink signal path comprises the primary uplink signal path and the primary downlink signal path; and
a controller circuit configured to:
receive duplexer identifier data from the duplexer unit, wherein the duplexer identifier data comprises at least one of adjustment data corresponding to a type of the duplexer unit and an identifier of the type of the duplexer unit, wherein the identifier of the type of the duplexer unit comprises at least one of: at least one measured characteristics of the duplexer unit and an alphanumeric data identifier, and wherein the identifier of the type of the duplexer unit is unique for a corresponding type of the duplexer unit;
if the duplexer identifier data does not include the adjustment data, then determine the adjustment data based upon the duplexer identifier data; and
based upon the adjustment data, automatically sending control signals for affecting adjustment of at least one component of a downlink signal path and an uplink signal path to compensate for insertion losses of at least one of a downlink filter of the duplexer unit and an uplink filter of the duplexer unit.
18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the alphanumeric data identifier comprises an identifier of the type of the duplexer unit.
19. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the duplexer identifier data comprises at least one of adjustment data corresponding to the type of the duplexer unit and an identifier of the duplexer unit, wherein the identifier of the type of the duplexer unit comprises the at least one of: at least one measured characteristics of the duplexer unit and an alphanumeric data identifier, and wherein the identifier of the type of the duplexer unit is unique for the corresponding type of duplexer unit.
20. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the controller circuit comprises a look up table.