Methods and appartuses for reducing power loss in cellular systems

Abstract

A method is provided. The method comprises measuring a voltage on a power cable proximate to a remote radio head coupled to the power cable; and transmitting the measured voltage to affect an adjustment to an output voltage of a programmable power supply coupled to the power cable.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a voltage meter having an input and an output;   wherein the input is configured to be coupled to a power cable proximate to a remote radio head coupled to the power cable;   wherein the output is configured to be coupled to a programmable power supply that is coupled to the power cable;   wherein the voltage meter is configured to measure the voltage on the power cable proximate to the remote radio head; and   wherein the programmable power supply is configured to have its output voltage adjusted in response to the measured voltage.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the programmable power supply is configured to have its output voltage adjusted in response to the measured voltage comprises the programmable power supply is configured to maintain the voltage proximate to the remote radio head at a constant or within a range. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the voltage meter is configured to measure a DC voltage. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a controller coupled to the voltage meter;   a communications module coupled to the controller; and   wherein the communications module is configured to couple the voltage meter to the programmable power supply.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the communications module comprises one of a wired or wireless transmitter. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the wireless transmitter comprises one of a Bluetooth transmitter and a cellular transmitter. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the wired transmitter is coupled to one of the power cable and a separate wired connection. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a meter having an input and an output;   wherein the input is configured to be coupled to a power cable proximate to a remote radio head that is coupled to the power cable;   wherein the output is configured to be coupled to a programmable power supply coupled to the power cable;   wherein the meter is configured to measure at least one parameter on the power cable proximate to the remote radio head;   wherein the at least one parameter can be used to determine a voltage on the power cable proximate to the remote radio head; and   wherein the programmable power supply is configured to have its output voltage adjusted in response to the determined voltage.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the programmable power supply is configured to have its output voltage adjusted in response to the determined voltage comprises the programmable power supply is configured to maintain the voltage proximate to the remote radio head at a constant or within a range. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a controller coupled to the voltage meter;   a communications module coupled to the controller; and   wherein the communications module is configured to couple the meter to the programmable power supply.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the controller determines the voltage, on the power cable proximate to the remote radio head, with the measured at least one parameter. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the communications module comprises one of a wired or wireless transmitter. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the wireless transmitter comprises one of a Bluetooth transmitter and a cellular transmitter. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the wired transmitter is coupled to one of the power cable and a separate wired connection. 
     
     
         15 . A method, comprising:
 measuring a voltage on a power cable proximate to a remote radio head coupled to the power cable; and   transmitting the measured voltage to affect an adjustment to an output voltage of a programmable power supply coupled to the power cable.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein transmitting the measured voltage to affect an adjustment to an output voltage of the programmable power supply coupled to the power cable comprises transmitting the measured voltage to affect an adjustment to the output voltage of the programmable power supply to maintain the voltage proximate to the remote radio head at a constant or within a range. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein measuring a voltage on a power cable proximate to the remote radio head coupled to the power cable comprises measuring a DC voltage on a power cable proximate to the remote radio head coupled to the power cable. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein, transmitting the measured voltage comprises transmitting the measured voltage by wireless or wired transmission. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein transmitting the measured voltage by wireless or wired transmission comprises transmitting the measured voltage by one of Bluetooth transmission, cellular transmission, transmission over the power cable, or transmission over a separate wired connection. 
     
     
         20 . A method, comprising:
 measuring at least one parameter on a power cable proximate to a remote radio head coupled to the power cable;   determining, using the at least one parameter, a voltage on the power cable proximate to the remote radio head; and   
       transmitting the determined voltage to affect an adjustment to an output voltage of a programmable power supply coupled to the power cable. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein transmitting the determined voltage to affect the adjustment to the output voltage of the programmable power supply coupled to the power cable comprises transmitting the determined voltage to affect an adjustment to the output voltage of the programmable power supply to maintain the voltage proximate to the remote radio head at a constant or within a range. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein, transmitting the measured voltage comprises transmitting the measured voltage by wireless or wired transmission. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein transmitting the voltage by wireless or wired transmission comprises transmitting the voltage by one of Bluetooth transmission, cellular transmission, transmission over the power cable, or transmission over a separate wired connection. 
     
     
         24 . A system, comprising:
 a mounting structure;   an antenna mounted on the mounting structure;   a remote radio head mounted on the mounting structure;   a programmable power supply;   a power cable having a power supply conductor and a return conductor coupled between the programmable power supply and the remote radio head;   a power signal voltage control module co-located with the remote radio head and coupled to the programmable power supply;   wherein the power signal voltage control module is configured to ascertain a voltage on the power cable proximate to the remote radio head; and   wherein the programmable power supply is configured to have its output voltage adjusted in response to the ascertained voltage.   
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein ascertaining a voltage comprises measuring a voltage. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the programmable power supply is configured to have its output voltage adjusted in response to the ascertained voltage comprises the programmable power supply is configured to maintain the voltage proximate to the remote radio head at a constant or within a range 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the programmable power supply comprises a DC-DC converter. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the power signal voltage control module comprises:
 a voltage meter;   a communications module;   a controller coupled to the voltmeter and the communications module; and   wherein the communications module couples the power signal voltage control module to the programmable power supply.   
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the communications module comprises one of a wired or wireless transmitter. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the wireless transmitter comprises one of a Bluetooth transmitter and a cellular transmitter. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the power signal voltage control module is coupled to the programmable power supply by a wireless or wired connection. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the wireless connection comprises one of a Bluetooth connection or cellular connection. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the wired connection comprises one of the power cable and a separate wired connection. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 24 , further comprising a shunt capacitance unit that is separate from the remote radio head and is electrically coupled between a power supply conductor and a return conductor of the power cable. 
     
     
         35 . A method, comprising:
 providing electrical power from a programmable power supply;   supplying the electrical power over a cable to a remote radio head mounted on a mounting structure;   measuring at least one parameter related to a voltage on the power cable proximate to the remote radio head; and   adjusting the output voltage of the programmable power supply in response to the measured at least one parameter.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein measuring the at least one parameter related to the voltage on the power cable proximate to the remote radio head comprises measuring a voltage on the power cable proximate to the remote radio head. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprises determining, using the at least one parameter, the voltage on the power cable proximate to the remote radio head. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising transmitting the at least one parameter, related to the voltage, to the programmable power supply. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein communicating the parameter, related to voltage, to the programmable power supply comprises communicating the parameter to the programmable power supply by one of wireless communications and wired communications. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein adjusting the output voltage of the programmable power supply in response to the measured at least one parameter comprises adjusting the output voltage of the programmable power supply to maintain the voltage proximate to the remote radio head at a constant or within a range.