Power distribution module(s) for distributed antenna systems, and related power units, components, systems, and methods

Abstract

A power distribution module can be installed in and connected to a power unit for providing power to a power-consuming DAS component(s), such as a remote unit(s) (RU(s)) as a non-limiting example. The RU may include an antenna, and may sometimes be referred to as a remote antenna unit or RAU. Power from the power distribution module is distributed to any power-consuming DAS components connected to the power distribution modules including but not limited to remote units. The power distribution modules distribute power to the power-consuming DAS components to provide power for power-consuming components in the power-consuming DAS components. In a first configuration, the power distribution module uses two power links to provide power to a single RU. In a second configuration, the power distribution module uses two power links to provide power to two RUs.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 providing a power distribution module with a plurality of power outputs;   connecting a plurality of power controllers to respective ones of the plurality of power outputs in parallel;   coupling each power controller to a respective power output port;   in a first configuration, providing power to a single remote unit (RU) through a plurality of power output ports; and   in a second configuration, providing power to a plurality of RUs through the plurality of power output ports.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing the power distribution module comprises providing a power supply configured to generate approximately 200 W. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising communicating radio frequency (RF) communications signals from head-end equipment (HEE) associated with the power distribution module to the plurality of RUs. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing power comprises providing 100 W or less to each power output port. 
     
     
         5 . A distributed antenna system for distributing communications and power signals across multiple floors of a building, the distributed antenna system comprising:
 a plurality of remote units (RUs), at least one RU on each floor of multiple floors of a building, each RU comprising:
 a first power input configured to receive a first power signal from a power distribution module through a first power medium; 
 a second power input electrically isolated from the first power input, the second power input configured to receive a second power signal from the power distribution module through a second power medium; 
 a communications module configured to receive power from at least one of the first power input and the second power input to communicate radio frequency (RF) communications with client devices through an antenna defining an antenna coverage area associated with the RU; and 
 at least one wired service port configured to couple to the at least one of the first power input and the second power input to distribute power to an external module coupled to the at least one wired service port; and 
   head-end equipment (HEE) comprising an RF communications interface configured to:
 receive downlink RF communications signals for at least one RF communications service; 
 distribute the downlink RF communications signals to one or more RUs over a communications medium, wherein 
   each RU is configured to:
 receive the downlink RF communications signals from the HEE for the at least one RF communications service; and 
 distribute the downlink RF communications signals to at least one client device, and wherein 
   the power distribution module disposed between the HEE and the at least one RU for distributing power to the at least one RU, comprising:
 a communications interface configured to receive and pass through the communications medium to the at least one RU; 
 a power supply configured to provide a plurality of power outputs; and 
 a plurality of power controllers each connected to a respective one of the plurality of power outputs in parallel to provide split power from the power supply to a respective power controller output; 
 at least two power outputs configured to be coupled to a single one of the one or more RUs in a first connection configuration and each power controller output configured to be coupled to a respective RU of the one or more RUs in a second configuration. 
   
     
     
         6 . The distributed antenna system of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of RUs comprises a plurality of RUs on each floor of the building. 
     
     
         7 . The distributed antenna system of  claim 5 , wherein each RU comprises an optical-to-electrical (O/E) converter configured to convert incoming optical RF signals from an optical fiber downlink to electrical RF signals. 
     
     
         8 . The distributed antenna system of  claim 5 , wherein each RU comprises an electrical-to-optical (E/O) converter configured to convert received electrical RF communications signals from clients to optical RF communications signals. 
     
     
         9 . The distributed antenna system of  claim 5 , wherein the HEE comprises an electrical-to-optical (E/O) converter configured to convert downlink electrical RF signals to downlink optical RF signals. 
     
     
         10 . The distributed antenna system of  claim 5 , wherein the HEE comprises an optical-to-electrical (O/E) converter configured to convert uplink optical signals into uplink electrical RF signals. 
     
     
         11 . A wireless system for distributing communications and power signals across multiple floors of an infrastructure, the system comprising:
 a plurality of remote units (RUs), at least one RU on each floor of multiple floors of the infrastructure, each RU comprising:
 a first power input configured to receive a first power signal from a power distribution module through a first power medium; 
 a second power input electrically isolated from the first power input, the second power input configured to receive a second power signal from the power distribution module through a second power medium; 
 a communications module configured to receive power from at least one of the first power input and the second power input to communicate radio frequency (RF) communications with client devices through an antenna associated with the RU; and 
 at least one service port configured to couple to the at least one of the first power input and the second power input to distribute power to an external module coupled to the at least one service port; and 
   head-end equipment (HEE) comprising an RF communications interface configured to receive downlink RF communications signals for at least one RF communications service and distribute the downlink RF communications signals to one or more RUs over a communications medium, wherein   each RU is configured to:
 receive the downlink RF communications signals from the HEE for the at least one RF communications service; and 
 distribute the downlink RF communications signals to at least one client device, and wherein 
   the power distribution module disposed between the HEE and the at least one RU for distributing power to the at least one RU, comprising:
 a communications interface configured to receive and pass through the communications medium to the at least one RU; 
 a power supply configured to provide a plurality of power outputs; and 
 a plurality of power controllers each connected to a respective one of the plurality of power outputs to provide split power from the power supply to a respective power controller output. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein each RU comprises an optical-to-electrical (O/E) converter configured to convert incoming optical RF signals from an optical fiber downlink to electrical RF signals, and an electrical-to-optical (E/O) converter configured to convert received electrical RF communications signals from clients to optical RF communications signals. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein at least two power output ports are configured to be coupled to a single one of the one or more RUs in a first connection configuration and each power controller output is configured to be coupled to a respective RU of the one or more RUs in a second configuration. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the HEE comprises an electrical-to-optical (E/O) converter configured to convert downlink electrical RF signals to downlink optical RF signals, and an optical-to-electrical (O/E) converter configured to convert uplink optical signals into uplink electrical RF signals. 
     
     
         15 . The distributed antenna system of  claim 14 , wherein at least two power output ports are configured to be coupled to a single one of the one or more RUs in a first connection configuration, and each power controller output is configured to be coupled to a respective RU of the one or more RUs in a second configuration.