Systems and Methods for Receiver Upgrade

Abstract

Systems and methods for an upgradeable and/or reconfigurable receiver are provided. In general, the present invention is directed to providing systems and methods for designing an electronic communication system having easy and cost effective upgradeable receiver systems and components including, for example, an amplifier and/or a filter. For example, a receiver may include a receiver front end that is configured so that at least one of the original conventional system components may be used along with one or more new system components to provide greater receiver sensitivity and/or selectivity. In various embodiments, portions of an upgradeable receiver system may be made as modular components that allow easy replacement for the upgradeable components which may include a signal amplifier and/or a signal filter. In various embodiments the receiver may be upgraded by replacing a conventional low noise amplifier (LNA) with a high temperature superconductor (HTS) filter and/or a cryo-cooled LNA.

1 . A receiver front end, comprising:
 a duplexer formed in a rectangular shape that has long first side and a long second side that are parallel to each other, and a short third side and a short fourth side that are parallel with each other and perpendicular with the long first side and long second side; and   two connectors extending from the short third side an two connectors extending from the short fourth side and extending in an opposite direction.   
   
   
       2 . The receiver front end of  claim 1 , wherein the duplexer includes one or more cavities. 
   
   
       3 . The receiver front end of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a tube or pipe extending laterally along the long first or second side coupling one of the cavities with one of the connectors.   
   
   
       4 . The receiver front end of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more cavities;   a tube or pipe extending laterally along the long first or second side coupling one of the cavities with one of the connectors.   
   
   
       5 . A wireless communication system comprising:
 a fixed position base station including a receiver front end having a first housing enclosure including at least a first function module having at least one electrical component of a first set of components, the first functional module being at least partially contained within the first housing enclosure; and   an upgraded second functional module having at least one electrical component of a second set of components, the second set of components providing greater received signal sensitivity than a replaced set of components included with the first housing enclosure initially and prior to upgrade.   
   
   
       6 . The wireless communication system of  claim 5 , wherein the first function module includes a duplexer. 
   
   
       7 . The wireless communication system of  claim 6 , wherein the duplexer is formed in a rectangular shape that has long first side and a long second side that are parallel to each other, and a short third side and a short fourth side that are parallel with each other and perpendicular with the long first side and long second side, and two connectors extending from the short third side an two connectors extending from the short fourth side and extending in an opposite direction. 
   
   
       8 . The receiver front end of  claim 7 , wherein the duplexer includes one or more cavities. 
   
   
       9 . The receiver front end of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a tube or pipe extending laterally along the long first or second side coupling one of the cavities with one of the connectors.   
   
   
       10 . The receiver front end of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a second housing enclosure coupled to the first housing enclosure and including the upgraded second functional module enclosed within second housing enclosure.   
   
   
       11 . The wireless communication system of  claim 10 , wherein the second housing enclosure and first housing enclosure are contiguous and in direct physical connection along at least one side. 
   
   
       12 . The wireless communication system of  claim 6 , wherein at least a portion of the first housing enclosure is removed and replaced by a plate with holes in it so as to surround the duplexer. 
   
   
       13 . The wireless communication system of  claim 5 , wherein the second set of components includes one or more cryogenically cooled components. 
   
   
       14 . The wireless communication system of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more cryogenically cooled components includes at least one cryogenically cooled amplifier. 
   
   
       15 . The wireless communication system of  claim 14 , wherein the cryogenically cooled amplifier is a low noise amplifier. 
   
   
       16 . A method for upgrading a receiver or transceiver front end, comprising the step of:
 providing a modular design so that one or more parts of a first complete receiver front end system may be used as parts of a second complete receiver front end system, the first completer receiver front end system including a first housing enclosure and a first complete set of electrical components including a duplexer, wherein the duplexer is formed in a rectangular shape that has long first side and a long second side that are parallel to each other, and a short third side and a short fourth side that are parallel with each other and perpendicular with the long first side and long second side, and two connectors extending from the short third side an two connectors extending from the short fourth side and extending in an opposite direction.   
   
   
       17 . The method for upgrading a receiver or transceiver front end of  claim 16 , further comprising the steps of:
 removing one or more components of the first set of components and keeping the duplexer; and   capping off the first housing enclosure with a plate, cap, or second enclosure so as to enclose the duplexer.   
   
   
       18 . The method for upgrading a receiver or transceiver front end of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of:
 coupling a second enclosure, that includes upgrade components, to the first enclosure.   
   
   
       19 . The method for upgrading a receiver or transceiver front end of  claim 18 , wherein the upgraded components includes one or more cryogenically cooled components. 
   
   
       20 . The method for upgrading a receiver or transceiver front end of  claim 18 , further comprising the step of:
 removing one or more sections of the first housing enclosure.