JP2001144674A - Amplifier - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To amplify a continuous signal transmitted from a base station apparatus to a terminal station apparatus by a down-stream amplifier 13 and to transmit a burst signal transmitted from the terminal station apparatus to the base station apparatus by an up-stream amplifier 14. An amplifying device that amplifies an upstream amplifier 14 without generating a monitoring signal using expensive components as in the related art.
Monitor the gain. For example, in an amplifying device of a wireless communication system employing a TDM / TDMA communication system, an acquisition unit 21 acquires a part of a continuous signal as a monitoring signal, and
4 combines the monitoring signal with the pre-amplification burst signal and amplifies the combined signal with the upstream amplifier 14, and monitoring means using the detectors 22 and 27 and the A / D converters 23 and 28 perform upstream monitoring. The upstream amplifier 1 based on the monitoring signal level before amplification by the amplifier 14 and the monitoring signal level after amplification.
Monitor the gain of 4.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an amplifier for amplifying a continuous signal transmitted from a base station apparatus to a terminal station apparatus and a burst signal transmitted from a terminal station apparatus to the base station apparatus. And an amplifying device capable of efficiently monitoring the gain (Gain) of an upstream amplifier for amplifying a burst signal without generating a monitoring signal (pilot signal) using expensive components as described above. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, digital wireless communication systems have become very popular in the field of wireless communication systems, as represented by digital cellular telephone systems. In particular,
TDM (Time Division Multiplex) / TDMA (Time
Division Multiple Access) communication systems are most often used. This communication system has advantages such as high frequency use efficiency and the like, and is advantageous in terms of power consumption since the terminal station is a burst signal. for,
Many wireless systems are expanding their reach.

In a wireless communication system employing the above-described TDM / TDMA communication system, a continuous wave signal (continuous signal) is generally transmitted by the TDM system in a down link from a base station apparatus to a terminal station apparatus. On the other hand, a signal of a burst wave (burst signal) is transmitted on the uplink (Up Link) from the terminal station apparatus to the base station apparatus by the TDMA method.
Is sent.

In such a wireless communication system,
For example, an amplifying device is provided between a base station device and a terminal station device, and an amplifying device is used to amplify a high-frequency signal (the above-described continuous signal and the above-described burst signal) bidirectionally communicated between the base station device and the terminal station device. It may be essential to amplify the DNA. As a specific example of such a case, for example, there is a case where there is a purpose of expanding a communication area (that is, compensating a signal level of a wireless line) or a communication service to a blind zone such as an underground mall or a subway station premises. Or a case where there is a purpose of amplifying carriers from a plurality of carriers or a plurality of wireless channels in common.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a wireless communication system including the above-described base station device 31, terminal station device 32, and amplifying device 33. In this system, the base station device 31 An amplifying device 33 is provided between these devices 31 and 32 in order to prevent that the radio signal of the terminal device 32 does not reach the terminal station device 32 or that the radio signal from the terminal station device 32 does not reach the base station device 31. ing.

More specifically, the amplifying device 33 receives, for example, a continuous signal wirelessly transmitted from the base station device 31 by an antenna 41 via an air interface (air I / F), and transmits the received continuous signal to a duplexer. The signal is amplified by the down-stream amplifier 43 via 42, and the amplified signal is wirelessly transmitted from the antenna 46 to the terminal station device 32 via the duplexer 45. Similarly, in the amplification device 33, for example, the terminal station device 3
2 is received by the antenna 46 via the air interface, the received burst signal is amplified by the upstream amplifier 44 via the duplexer 45, and the amplified signal is transmitted to the antenna via the duplexer 42. Radio transmission is performed from 41 to the base station apparatus 31.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a wireless communication system including a plurality of (for example, x) base station apparatuses (MDE) 51 to 53, a terminal station apparatus 54, and an amplifying apparatus 55 as described above. In this system, for example, in order to increase the level of a continuous signal output from the base station apparatuses 51 to 53 by a common amplification when the level is low, the amplifying apparatus 55 connects the base station via the wired lines 56 and 57 to the base station. Station device 5
1 to 53 are provided.

More specifically, in the amplifying device 55, continuous signals output from, for example, the base station devices 51 to 53 are input via a wired line 56, and the input continuous signals are amplified by a downstream amplifier 61. The amplified signal is wirelessly transmitted from the antenna 64 via the duplexer 63 to the terminal station device 54 via the air interface. Similarly, in the amplifying device 55, for example, a burst signal wirelessly transmitted from the terminal station device 54 is received by the antenna 64 via the air interface, and the received burst signal is amplified by the upstream amplifier 62 via the duplexer 63. , And the amplified signal
7 to the base station devices 51 to 53.

In the amplifying apparatus as exemplified above, it is usually necessary to secure the stability of the system (for example, to secure a stable communication area). It is necessary to monitor the gain of the amplifier, and such monitoring is performed.

Here, as a method of monitoring the gain of the amplifier (AMP), for example, as shown in FIG. 6A, a monitoring method based on the input / output level of the amplifier 71 to be monitored is generally used. . Specifically, for example, A [dB
m] is input to the amplifier 71 and is amplified by the amplifier 71 into a signal of (A + α) [dBm] and output, and α [dB] is the gain of the amplifier 71. For example, when α ≧ 10, monitoring is performed in a manner of determining that the gain is normal, and when α <9, monitoring is performed in a manner of determining that the gain is abnormal and generating an alarm (warning sound).

Further, such a monitoring method is theoretically applicable to both the upstream amplifier and the downstream amplifier. For example, FIG. 6B shows a method for monitoring the gain of the amplifier 82. Of the related art is shown, and an operation example of this circuit is shown. That is, in the circuit shown in FIG. 2B, a high-frequency signal to be amplified is divided into two signals by a coupler 81, one of the divided signals is input to an amplifier 82 to be monitored, and the other is distributed. The signal is input to a fixed gain amplifier 84 provided for monitoring. In this circuit, the other distributed signal is amplified by a fixed gain amplifier 84, and the amplified signal is detected by a detector (DET) 8
5 to detect a direct current (DC) voltage signal, and convert the direct current voltage signal into an analog-digital converter (A / D converter)
The amplifier 82 which is digitized by 86 and monitored
(In this example, the level of the other distribution signal).

In this circuit, an amplified signal (amplified high-frequency signal) output from the amplifier 82 to be monitored
Is split into two signals by a coupler 83, one of the split signals is output to the outside as an amplified high-frequency signal, and the other is input to a detector 87 provided for monitoring. In this circuit, as in the case of the input level detection described above, the other divided signal is detected by the detector 87.
Then, detection and digitization are performed by the A / D converter 88, and the output level of the amplifier 82 to be monitored (in this example, the level of the other distributed signal) is detected.

The amplifier 8 to be monitored as described above
6B, the circuit shown in FIG. 6B detects the input / output level of the amplifier 82 based on the result of comparing the input level and the output level of the amplifier 82, for example.
Can be monitored. Specifically, for example, when the voltage level (detection voltage value) detected by the A / D converter 86 on the input side of the amplifier 82 is 1 [V], the voltage is detected by the A / D converter 88 on the output side. The voltage level (detection voltage value) of 3 V is a normal gain (in this example,
Comparing with the detection voltage value, normal gain = 3-1 = 2
[V]) state, the output level drops to 2 [V] despite the input level of 1 [V] (that is, the gain drops to 1 [V]). Thus, it can be determined that the gain is abnormal.

Incidentally, as the above-mentioned couplers 81 and 83, couplers of about 20 dB are usually used. Also,
In the above-described circuit, the level of the distributed signal distributed by the coupler 81 is increased by the fixed gain amplifier 84 to increase the level of the distributed signal to a level that can be easily detected by the detector 85. A logarithmic amplifier (LOG-AMP) having a wide range may be used. In the circuit described above, the A / D converter 8
Although the gain of the amplifier 82 is monitored using the amplifiers 6 and 88, for example, a method of applying a comparison circuit of an operational amplifier (op-amp) instead of the A / D converters 86 and 88 is also available.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 7 which shows an example of the detection voltage characteristics of the detectors 85 and 87, the characteristics are generally non-linear. The gain of the amplifier 82 is monitored using a soft table or the like in order to cope with the fluctuation of the level of the signal input to the signal 87.

Specifically, in the graph shown in FIG. 2, the input level [dBm] of the detectors 85 and 87 is shown on the horizontal axis, and the detection voltage value [V] is shown on the vertical axis. The characteristic of the detection voltage value with respect to the level (detection voltage characteristic) is shown. As shown in the figure, the slope of the detection voltage value with respect to the input level differs for each of the input level level ranges A to D. Therefore, for example, if the input level is 10
A software table in which detection voltage values (or A / D conversion values corresponding to the detection voltage values) at various values such as [dBm], 11 [dBm], and 12 [dBm] are associated with the input levels. Are used to monitor the gain,
Further, for example, the input levels of the detectors 85 and 87 are adjusted by an amplifier according to the required resolution.

The range [V] of the detection voltage value in each of the level ranges A to D of the input levels of the detectors 85 and 87 is "0 to 1.0" and "1.0 to 3.
0 "," 3.0-4.5 ", and" 4.5-5.0 ". For example, the A / D converters 86 and 88 convert 5 V to 8 bi.
When performing A / D conversion with a resolution of t, each level range A
The A / D conversion values in D to D are respectively “0 to 51”,
“52 to 153”, “154 to 230”, “231 to 2”
56 ".

However, in the circuit configuration shown in FIG. 6B, for example, the gain of an upstream amplifier for amplifying a high-frequency signal (burst signal) transmitted from a terminal station apparatus to a base station apparatus by the TDMA method is adjusted. It cannot be monitored. The reason for this is that the burst signal from the terminal station device input to such an upstream amplifier is a completely asynchronous signal and cannot be synchronized by ordinary detection, and therefore, synchronization with the burst signal must be achieved. This is because the operation for monitoring the gain of the amplifier 82 described above is not normally performed. Note that it is extremely difficult to perform detection while ensuring synchronization with the burst signal, which is not practical.

Therefore, conventionally, a test signal (pilot signal) for monitoring the gain of the upstream amplifier as described above is generated, and the pilot signal is input to the upstream amplifier to reduce the gain of the upstream amplifier. A circuit for monitoring has been devised, and a configuration example of such a circuit is shown in FIG.
(A).

In the circuit shown in FIG. 1A, for example, a temperature-compensated crystal oscillator (Tcxo) 92 or a voltage-controlled oscillator (Vc
A pilot signal having a predetermined frequency f0 is generated by a pilot signal oscillating section 91 composed of a CO) 93 and a phase locked loop (PLL) 94, and the pilot signal is amplified by an amplifier 95. In this circuit, a high-frequency signal (burst signal) transmitted from the terminal station apparatus to the base station apparatus and the amplified pilot signal are combined by a combiner 96.
And the amplified signal is amplified by the upstream amplifier 97 to be monitored. Note that the frequency f of the pilot signal
0 is different from the frequency f1 of the burst signal from the terminal station device.

In this circuit, the amplified signal output from the upstream amplifier 97 to be monitored is divided into two signals by the coupler 98, and one of the divided signals is transmitted to the base station apparatus. The other distribution signal is input to a band-pass filter 99 provided for monitoring. And
In this circuit, a pilot signal extracted by a band-pass filter 99 is detected by a detector 100 to generate a DC voltage signal, and the DC voltage signal is digitized by an A / D converter 101, and the upstream amplifier to be monitored is provided. 97
(In this example, the level of the pilot signal).

As described above, by detecting the output level of the upstream amplifier 97 to be monitored,
In the circuit shown in (a), for example, the level of the pilot signal generated by the pilot signal oscillating section 91 and input to the upstream amplifier 97 and the level of the pilot signal amplified by the upstream amplifier 97 are determined. The gain of the upstream amplifier 97 can be monitored based on the comparison result.

FIG. 2B shows an example of the filter characteristics of the above-described bandpass filter 99. As shown in FIG. 2B, the bandpass filter 99 is a pilot signal having a frequency f0. The filter has a filter characteristic of passing only the burst signal of the frequency f1 while not passing the burst signal. Also, the pilot signal oscillating section 91
Are necessary for, for example, stably oscillating a pilot signal.

[0024]

However, in the conventional circuit configuration as shown in FIG. 8A, for example, as described above, the upstream signal for amplifying the burst signal transmitted from the terminal station device to the base station device is amplified. Although it is possible to monitor the gain of the power amplifier, it is necessary to provide expensive components such as a VCO for generating a pilot signal, so that the cost increases and the power consumption increases. Therefore, there was a problem that the economy was poor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such a conventional problem. A continuous signal transmitted from a base station apparatus to a terminal station apparatus is amplified by a downlink amplifier, and the terminal station apparatus transmits a signal to the base station. When a burst signal transmitted to a station device is amplified by an upstream amplifier, for example, the gain of the upstream amplifier is monitored without generating a pilot signal using expensive components as shown in the above-described conventional example. It is an object of the present invention to provide an amplifying device capable of performing the following.

[0026]

In order to achieve the above object, an amplifying apparatus according to the present invention amplifies a continuous signal transmitted from a base station apparatus to a terminal station apparatus with a down-stream amplifier, and amplifies the continuous signal from the terminal station apparatus. When the burst signal transmitted to the base station device is amplified by the upstream amplifier, the gain of the upstream amplifier is monitored as follows. That is, the acquisition unit acquires a part of the continuous signal as a monitoring signal, combines the monitoring signal acquired by the combining unit with the burst signal before amplification, amplifies the combined signal with the upstream amplifier, and the monitoring unit The gain of the upstream amplifier is monitored based on the level of the monitoring signal before being amplified by the upstream amplifier and the level of the monitoring signal after being amplified by the upstream amplifier.

Accordingly, since a part of the continuous signal is used as a monitoring signal, it is not necessary to secure synchronization, unlike the case where a burst signal is used as a monitoring signal, for example. Further, since a continuous signal transmitted from the base station apparatus to the terminal station apparatus is used as a monitoring signal, it is not necessary to generate a pilot signal using expensive components as shown in the above-described conventional example. For these reasons,
It is possible to easily and economically monitor the gain of the upstream amplifier.

[0028]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of an amplifying device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, FIG. 1 shows an example of a wireless communication system provided with the amplifying device 3 of the present embodiment. FIG. 2 also shows a schematic configuration example of the amplification device 3 of the present example. The wireless communication system shown in FIG. 1 includes a base station device 1, a terminal station device (in this example, a mobile phone terminal device) 2, and an amplification device 3 of this example.

The amplifying device 3 of the present embodiment is used as a digital cellular phone booster for a dead zone countermeasure. More specifically, the terminal station device 2 existing in the dead zone 4 such as an underground mall is connected to the base station device 1. This enables communication via the amplifying device 3, thereby enabling a telephone call with the terminal station device 2. In the figure, the dead zone 4 is indicated by a dotted line for easy viewing.

In the radio communication system shown in FIG. 1, a TDM / TDMA communication system is adopted. On the downlink from the base station apparatus 1 to the terminal station apparatus 2, a continuous signal according to the TDM system is transmitted. In the uplink from the terminal station device 2 to the base station device 1, a burst signal by the TDMA method is transmitted.

That is, on the downlink, a continuous signal wirelessly transmitted as a high-frequency signal from the base station apparatus 1 is received by the antenna 11 of the amplifier 3, and the amplifier 3 receives the continuous signal received by the antenna 11 The amplified signal (amplified continuous signal) is wirelessly transmitted from the antenna 16 to the dead zone 4 via the duplexer 15 via the duplexer 15. Then, the continuous signal wirelessly transmitted from the amplifying device 3 is received by the terminal station device 2 located in the dead zone 4.

Similarly, in the uplink, a burst signal wirelessly transmitted as a high-frequency signal from the terminal station device 2 located in the dead zone 4 is received by the antenna 16 of the amplifier 3, and the burst signal is received by the antenna 16 of the amplifier 3. The burst signal thus amplified is amplified by the uplink amplifier 14 via the duplexer 15, and the amplified signal (amplified burst signal) is wirelessly transmitted from the antenna 11 to the base station device 1 via the duplexer 12. Then, the burst signal wirelessly transmitted from the amplification device 3 is received by the base station device 1 in this manner.

Next, FIG. 2 shows a detailed circuit configuration example of the amplifying device 3 of the present embodiment described above. In the figure,
The same components as the components 12 to 15 shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the illustration of the two antennas 11 and 16 is omitted. Also,
In this figure, the flow of a continuous signal transmitted from the base station apparatus 1 to the terminal station apparatus 2 is shown using solid arrows to make it easier to understand the processing performed by the amplification apparatus 3 of this example. The flow of the burst signal transmitted from the device 2 to the base station device 1 is shown using dotted arrows.

The amplifying device 3 of the present embodiment has a configuration for amplifying signals (the above-mentioned continuous signal and the above-mentioned burst signal) communicated between the base station device 1 and the terminal station device 2. An antenna 11 for communicating a radio signal with the device 1, an antenna 16 for communicating a radio signal with the terminal station device 2, and a continuous signal received by the antenna 11 and a burst signal transmitted by the antenna 11 are separated. A duplexer 12 for separating a burst signal received by the antenna 16 from a continuous signal transmitted by the antenna 16, and a downlink for amplifying a continuous signal transmitted from the base station apparatus 1 to the terminal station apparatus 2. An amplifier 13 and an upstream amplifier 14 for amplifying a burst signal transmitted from the terminal station device 2 to the base station device 1 are provided. In this example, the frequency of the continuous signal and the frequency of the burst signal are different from each other, and the two signals are separated using the difference in frequency.

The amplification device 3 of the present embodiment has a configuration for monitoring the gain of the upstream amplifier 14 as an amplified signal (continuous signal after amplification) output from the downstream amplifier 13.
Is divided into two signals to acquire a part of the amplified signal as a monitoring signal, and a detector 22 which detects the monitoring signal acquired by the coupler 21 and converts the signal into a DC voltage signal. , Which digitizes the DC voltage signal
A D converter 23, a coupler 24 that combines the monitoring signal acquired by the coupler 21 and the burst signal before being amplified by the upstream amplifier 14 and amplifies the combined signal by the upstream amplifier 14; A coupler 25 for distributing the amplified signal output from the upstream amplifier 14 into two signals, and a filter (for example, a band-pass filter) for extracting an amplified monitoring signal from one of the divided signals distributed by the coupler 25 26, a detector 27 that detects the amplified monitoring signal extracted by the filter 26 and converts it into a DC voltage signal;
An A / D converter 28 for digitizing the DC voltage signal is provided. In the amplifying device 3 of the present embodiment, for example, monitoring of the gain of the downstream amplifier 13 is also performed, but the description is omitted in the present embodiment.

Next, an example of the operation of monitoring the gain of the upstream amplifier 14 by the amplifying device 3 of this embodiment will be described. That is, in the amplifying device 3 of the present example, a part of the continuous signal amplified by the downstream amplifier 13 and output to the duplexer 15 is obtained as a monitoring signal by the coupler 21, and the level of the obtained monitoring signal is changed. The detection is performed by the detector 22 and the A / D converter 22. As a method of detecting a signal level using the detector 22 or the A / D converter 22, for example, a method similar to a conventional method can be used.
The same applies to the detection of the signal level by the / D converter 28.

In the amplifying apparatus 3 of the present embodiment, the monitoring signal obtained as described above is input to the upstream amplifier 14 via the coupler 24. Here, the monitoring signal extracted by the coupler 21 and input to the coupler 24 is a continuous signal, whereas the burst signal input from the duplexer 15 to the coupler 24 is a discontinuous signal. In the combiner 24, when a burst signal is input, a signal obtained by combining the burst signal and the monitoring signal is converted to an upstream amplifier 1
4 while the burst signal is not input, only the monitoring signal is output to the upstream amplifier 14.
In this example, by adopting such a configuration, it is not necessary to monitor while securing synchronization with the burst signal.

In the amplifying device 3 of this embodiment, a part of the amplified signal output from the upstream amplifier 14 to the duplexer 12 is obtained by the coupler 25, and the amplified signal included in the obtained amplified signal is used for monitoring after amplification. Only the signal is extracted by the filter 26, and the level of the extracted monitoring signal after amplification is detected by the detector 27 and A
It is detected by the / D converter 28.

In the amplifier 3 of this embodiment, the level (input level) of the monitoring signal before being amplified by the upstream amplifier 14 to be monitored and the monitoring signal after being amplified by the upstream amplifier 14 are monitored. Based on the result of comparison with the signal level (output level), for example, a control unit (not shown)
Monitor the gain of the upstream amplifier 14. Here, as a method of monitoring the gain of the amplifier 14 for upstream,
For example, a method similar to that shown in the above conventional example can be used.

Since the gain of the downstream amplifier 13 is normally monitored as in this embodiment, for example, even in a conventional amplifier, the above-described coupler 21 and detector 2 are used.
2 and a circuit having the same function as the A / D converter 23 (hereinafter, referred to as a downstream monitoring circuit) are often mounted for monitoring the gain of the downstream amplifier.
In the above, for example, the above-described coupler 21, detector 22 and A / D converter 23 are also used for monitoring the gain of the down-stream amplifier 13. In this case, for example, the detector 22 can be used without adding any component to the conventional downstream monitoring circuit.
If the level of the monitoring signal detected by the A / D converter 23 is corrected by the degree of coupling of the coupler 24, the level of the monitoring signal input to the upstream amplifier 14 can be specified.

Further, when the amplifying device 3 of the present embodiment is actually implemented, the amplified signal (amplified continuous signal) output from the down-stream amplifier 13 is used as it is as a monitoring signal, so that oscillation can occur inside the device. May occur, for example, when two couplers 21, 2
4 to increase the degree of coupling, increase the amount of isolation between transmission and reception of the duplexer 12, and insert a filter between the uplink amplifier 14 and the duplexer 12 that allows only the uplink burst signal to pass. By changing or adding a passive element by adopting the method described above, such oscillation can be easily prevented without increasing power consumption.

The amplifying device 3 of the present embodiment can also operate in the above-described manner, for example, in a situation where the level of the continuous signal input to the down-stream amplifier 13 fluctuates, or in a situation where the gain of the down-stream amplifier 13 fluctuates. It is possible to monitor the gain of the amplifier 14 for upstream,
By providing an automatic gain control amplifier (AGC amplifier) in the stage preceding the step 4, the level of the monitoring signal input to the upstream amplifier 14 can be fixed at a constant level.

Specifically, for example, in a normal amplifier, the output level is proportional to the input level as shown in FIG. 3A, as an example of the input / output characteristics. ) Shows an example of its input / output characteristics.
With respect to an input level within a predetermined level range (“variation range” in FIG. 6B), the input level is absorbed and the output level is maintained at a constant level. The level of the monitoring signal can be fixed at a constant level.

As described above, in the amplifying device 3 of the present embodiment, a part of the continuous signal transmitted from the base station device 1 to the terminal station device 2 is used as a monitoring signal. Unlike when used as
There is no particular need to ensure synchronization. In addition, since such a continuous signal is used as a monitoring signal, a pilot signal (that is, a signal having a role similar to that of the monitoring signal described in the present example) is formed by using expensive components as described in the above-described conventional example. ) Does not need to occur. For these reasons,
In the amplification device 3 of the present example, the base station device 1
When a continuous signal transmitted to the base station device 2 is amplified by the downstream amplifier 13 and a burst signal transmitted from the terminal station device 2 to the base station device 1 is amplified by the upstream amplifier 14, the upstream amplifier is simply and economically increased. Fourteen gains can be monitored.

In the circuit configuration shown in FIG. 8 of the conventional example, for example, a Tcxo (temperature-compensated crystal oscillator) 92, a VCO (voltage controlled oscillator) 93, and a PLL used for generating a pilot signal are used. (Phase Lock Loop) The power consumed by the circuit 94 and the buffer amplifier 95 is, for example, about 100 mA and power corresponding to 5 V. However, the amplifier 3 of the present embodiment does not need to generate such a pilot signal. Such power consumption can be reduced to zero, which is very efficient.

Here, in the present example, the coupler 21 acquires a part of the continuous signal amplified by the down-stream amplifier 13 as a monitoring signal, thereby constituting an acquiring means according to the present invention. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a part of the continuous signal amplified by the downstream amplifier 13 is obtained as a monitoring signal. For example, a part of the continuous signal before being amplified by the downstream amplifier 13 is monitored. It can also be used as a signal.

In this embodiment, the coupler 24 is connected to the coupler 21.
By combining the monitoring signal acquired by the above with the burst signal before being amplified by the upstream amplifier 14 and amplifying the combined signal by the upstream amplifier 14, the combining means according to the present invention is configured. In this example, for example, the level of the monitoring signal detected by the control unit using the detector 22 and the A / D converter 23 (that is,
Of the monitoring signal before being amplified by the detector) and the detector 2
7 and the level of the monitoring signal detected using the A / D converter 28 (that is, the level of the monitoring signal after being amplified by the upstream amplifier 14).
The monitoring means according to the present invention is constituted by monitoring the gain of No. 4.

The configuration of the amplifying device according to the present invention is not necessarily limited to the configuration described in the above embodiment, and various configurations may be used. Further, various configurations may be used as the configuration of the base station device and the configuration of the terminal station device. Specifically, as the terminal station device, a mobile phone terminal device does not necessarily have to be used as shown in the above embodiment, for example, a wireless terminal device mounted on an automobile, a fixed station device fixedly installed, and the like. May be used.

Further, in the present invention, the gain of the upstream amplifier is monitored by using a continuous signal which is continuously transmitted differently from a burst signal which is transmitted intermittently.
For example, it is preferable that the continuous signal is not interrupted at all. For example, even if the signal has a break at regular intervals, the length of the signal portion between adjacent breaks (that is, a portion where the signal is continuous) is determined. Is long enough for practical use,
The signal portion can be used as a continuous signal according to the present invention.

The various processes performed by the amplifying device according to the present invention may be controlled by the processor executing a control program in a hardware resource including a processor and a memory, for example. Each functional means for executing the processing may be configured as an independent hardware circuit. Further, the present invention provides a floppy disk or a C
It can be understood as a computer-readable recording medium such as a D-ROM, and the processing according to the present invention can be performed by inputting the control program from the recording medium to the computer and causing the processor to execute the control program.

[0051]

As described above, according to the amplifying apparatus of the present invention, a continuous signal transmitted from the base station apparatus to the terminal station apparatus is amplified by the down-stream amplifier, and the signal is transmitted from the terminal station apparatus to the base station apparatus. When the transmitted burst signal is amplified by the upstream amplifier, a part of the continuous signal is obtained as a monitoring signal, the obtained monitoring signal is combined with the burst signal before amplification, and the combined signal is amplified by the upstream amplifier. Amplify and monitor the gain of the upstream amplifier based on the level of the monitoring signal before being amplified by the upstream amplifier and the level of the monitoring signal after being amplified by the upstream amplifier. As shown in the embodiment, the gain of the upstream amplifier can be easily and economically monitored.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a wireless communication system including an amplification device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an amplifying device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining signal amplification by an AGC amplifier.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a wireless communication system including an amplification device.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating another example of a wireless communication system including an amplification device.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration for monitoring a gain of an amplifier according to a conventional example.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a detection voltage characteristic.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration for monitoring a gain of an uplink amplifier according to a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

1. Base station device, 2. Terminal station device, 3. Amplifier device, 4. Dead zone, 11, 16, Antenna,
12, 15 ··· Duplexer, 13 · Downstream amplifier, 14
..Upstream amplifiers, 21, 24, and 25.
2, 27 · · · detector, 23, 28 · · · A / D converter,
26 filter

Claims (1)

[Claims] An amplifying apparatus for amplifying a continuous signal transmitted from a base station apparatus to a terminal station apparatus by a down-stream amplifier and amplifying a burst signal transmitted from the terminal station apparatus to the base station apparatus by an up-stream amplifier. Acquiring means for acquiring a part of the continuous signal as a monitoring signal; combining means for combining the acquired monitoring signal with a burst signal before amplification and amplifying the combined signal with an upstream amplifier; Monitoring means for monitoring the gain of the upstream amplifier based on the level of the monitoring signal before being amplified and the level of the monitoring signal after being amplified by the upstream amplifier. apparatus.