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A method and apparatus for processing multiple signals at a common frequency combined into a single radio frequency cable and subsequently recovering the signals without significant losses, distortion, or cross-talk. The method and apparatus includes processing multiple signals at a common frequency

A method and apparatus for processing multiple signals at a common frequency combined into a single radio frequency cable and subsequently recovering the signals without significant losses, distortion, or cross-talk. The method and apparatus includes processing multiple signals at a common frequency fed through a single radio frequency (RF) cable with or without one or more amplifiers and utilized for either forward or reverse link transmissions. The invention enables a single power amplifier to amplify multiple RF signals that occupy a common frequency channel and after amplification splitting these signals into amplified copies of the originals. The amplified signals may be sent to different antenna ports to illuminate different base station sectors if required. The signal splitting function is performed at the antenna masthead such that this method reduces the number of feeder cables running up the antenna tower by a factor of N, where N is the number of common frequency signals (e.g., the number of sectors) amplified by the single power amplifier. This invention enables a single power amplifier to simultaneously provide all the radio frequency signals necessary to feed a general N input phased array antenna system and form multiple antenna beams uniquely for several individual users simultaneously.

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1. An apparatus for processing N input signals having a common carrier frequency, the apparatus comprising: at least N−1 first frequency shifters operable to frequency shift at least N−1 of the N input signals to provide N signals having N distinct carrier frequencies, wherein N is greater than 2;a

1. An apparatus for processing N input signals having a common carrier frequency, the apparatus comprising: at least N−1 first frequency shifters operable to frequency shift at least N−1 of the N input signals to provide N signals having N distinct carrier frequencies, wherein N is greater than 2;a combiner operable to combine the N signals having distinct carrier frequencies into an aggregate signal;at least N−1 multiport circulator coupled to the combiner;at least N−1 filters; andat least N−1 second frequency shifters;wherein the at least N−1 multiport circulators, the filters and the second frequency shifters are coupled together in series and configured to separate and frequency shift the aggregate signal to reconstitute the N input signals having a common carrier frequency. 2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least N−1 circulators are coupled to the combiner, each of the at least N−1 filters are coupled to a respective one of the N−1 circulators, and each of the at least N−1 second frequency are being coupled to a respective one of the at least N−1 circulators. 3. The apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the N−1 circulators are each coupled to a respective one of the N−1 filters and each of the N−1circulators is co-operable with its respective filter to separate a respective one of the N signals having a respective one of the carrier frequencies from the aggregate signal. 4. The apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein one or more of the N−1 circulators are each coupled to a respective one of the N−1 filters and a respective one of the N−1 second frequency shifters, and each of the N−1 second frequency shifters is operable to shift a respective component of the aggregate signal from one of the N distinct carrier frequencies to the common carrier frequency. 5. The apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein the N−1st circulator is coupled to an additional one of the N−1 filters and an additional one of the N−1 second frequency shifters, the additional second frequency shifters being operable to shift another component of the aggregate signal from another of the N distinct carrier frequencies to the common carrier frequency. 6. The apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein a first of the N−1 circulators is coupled to a respective one of the N−1 filters to separate from the aggregate signal a component of the aggregate signal having the common carrier frequency. 7. The apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein each of the N−1 circulators has an input port for receiving an input signal having plural components having respective carrier frequencies, an intermediate port for coupling the input signal to a respective one of the N−1 filters, the respective filter being operable to pass one of the plural components having a respective one of the carrier frequencies and to reflect all other components of the input signal back into the intermediate port for coupling to an output port of the circulator. 8. The apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein the output port of a first of the N−1 circulators is coupled to an input port of a next of the N−1 circulators. 9. The apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein one or more of the N−1 circulators each have a respective second frequency shifter coupled to their respective input port, the respective second frequency shifter being operable to shift a respective component of the aggregate signal from one of the N distinct carrier frequencies to the common carrier frequency. 10. The apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein the output port of the N−1st circulator is coupled to a second one of the N−1 filters and a second one of the N−1 second frequency shifters, the second one of the second frequency shifters being operable to shift another component of the aggregate signal from another of the N distinct carrier frequencies to the common carrier frequency. 11. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one multiport circulator is coupled to the combiner by a cable. 12. The apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein the cable spans at least a portion of an antenna structure. 13. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of amplifiers each located such that said input signals pass through a respective one of said plurality of amplifiers prior to passing through said at least N−1 number of first frequency shifters. 14. The apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein the input signals are forward link transmissions and the plurality of amplifiers are high power amplifiers. 15. The apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein the input signals are reverse link transmissions and the plurality of amplifiers are low power preamplifiers. 16. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the input signals are forward link transmissions and the apparatus further comprises a single high power amplifier operable to amplify the aggregate signal. 17. A method for processing N input signals having a common carrier frequency, the method comprising: frequency shifting at least N−1 of the N input signals to provide N signals having N distinct carrier frequencies, wherein N is greater than 2;combining the N signals having distinct carrier frequencies into an aggregate signal;coupling together in series and applying the aggregate signal to the at least N−1 multiport circulators, at least N−1 filters, and at least N−1 frequency shifters;wherein the circulators, the filters and the frequency shifters separating and frequency shifting the aggregate signal to reconstitute the N input signals having a common carrier frequency. 18. An apparatus for frequency shifting and separating an aggregate signal comprising N signal components each having a respective carrier frequency, wherein N is greater than 2, the apparatus comprising: at least N−1 multiport circulator configured to receive the aggregate signal;at least N−1 filters; andat least N−1 frequency shifters;wherein the at least N−1 multiport circulators, the filters and the frequency shifters are coupled together in a series configuration and configured to separate and frequency shift the aggregate signal to provide N output signals having a common carrier frequency. 19. The apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein each of the at least N−1 filters being coupled to a respective one of the N−1 circulators, and each of the at least N−1 frequency shifters being coupled to a respective one of the at least N−1 circulators. 20. The apparatus as defined in claim 19, wherein the N−1 circulators are each coupled to a respective one of the N−1 filters and each of the N−1 circulators is co-operable with its respective filter to separate a respective one of the N signals having a respective one of the carrier frequencies from the aggregate signal. 21. The apparatus as defined in claim 20, wherein one or more of the N−1 circulators are each coupled to a respective one of the N−1 filters and a respective one of the N−1 frequency shifters, and each of the N−1 frequency shifters is operable to shift a respective component of the aggregate signal from one of the N distinct carrier frequencies to the common carrier frequency. 22. The apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein the N−1st circulator is coupled to an additional one of the N−1 filters and an additional one of the N−1 frequency shifters, the additional frequency shifter being operable to shift another component of the aggregate signal from another of the N distinct carrier frequencies to the common carrier frequency. 23. The apparatus as defined in claim 20, wherein a first of the N−1 circulators is coupled to a respective one of the N−1 filters to separate from the aggregate signal a component of the aggregate signal having the common carrier frequency. 24. The apparatus as defined in claim 19, wherein each of the N−1 circulators has an input port for receiving an input signal having plural components having respective carrier frequencies, an intermediate port for coupling the input signal to a respective one of the N−1 filters, the respective filter being operable to pass one of the plural components having a respective one of the carrier frequencies and to reflect all other components of the input signal back into the intermediate port for coupling to an an output port of the circulator. 25. The apparatus as defined in claim 24, wherein the output port of the first N−2 circulators is coupled to an input port of a next of the N−1 circulators. 26. The apparatus as defined in claim 25, wherein N−2 of the circulators each have a respective frequency shifter coupled to their respective input port, the respective frequency shifter being operable to shift a respective component of the aggregate signal from one of the N distinct carrier frequencies to the common carrier frequency. 27. The apparatus as defined in claim 26, wherein the output port of the N−1st circulator is coupled to a second one of the N−1 filters and a second one of the N−1 frequency shifters, the second frequency shifter being operable to shift another component of the aggregate signal from another of the N distinct carrier frequencies to the common carrier frequency.