Adaptive Wireless Receiver Mixer Power Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional wireless communication receivers face performance degradation due to large blocker signals, which requires increased power consumption to improve linearity and phase noise, leading to inefficient power usage since strong blocking signals are rare.

Innovation Solution

A wireless communication receiver design that includes a first signal processing circuit, a second signal processing circuit, and a detecting circuit, where the detecting circuit monitors the signal level of the first signal processing circuit and generates a control signal to adjust the second signal processing circuit's operation mode, optimizing power consumption based on actual operating conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the mixer module uses large-sized switches to improve linearity for dealing with large blocking signals, then the linearity performance is improved, but the power consumption increases due to larger parasitical capacitors requiring more current from the LO signal generator

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelinearity performanceVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic switching between two mixer circuits (first mixer with large-sized switches for high linearity, second mixer with small-sized switches for low power consumption) based on the detected signal level. The switching controller dynamically selects which mixer to use, making the system adaptable to varying blocking signal conditions rather than operating in a fixed state.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the operational parameters of the mixer by switching between two distinct configurations: one optimized for linearity (large switches) and another for power efficiency (small switches). This parameter change is controlled based on the detected presence of blocking signals, allowing the system to optimize performance metrics according to actual operating conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the LO signal generator consumes more current to improve phase noise performance, then the phase noise is reduced, but the total power consumption of the receiver increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvephase noise performanceVSAvoidtotal power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the LO signal generator's current consumption by switching between two mixer configurations. When blocking signals are present, the first mixer uses higher LO current for better phase noise performance. When blocking signals are absent, the second mixer uses lower LO current, reducing overall power consumption while maintaining adequate performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by using high LO current only when necessary (when blocking signals are detected), rather than continuously. The second mixer configuration uses reduced LO current for normal operation, applying the excessive current action only partially when required by the operating conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Reliability

If the receiver is designed with high linearity and phase noise performance to handle rare strong blocking signals, then the performance under blocking conditions is improved, but the average power consumption increases since these conditions occur rarely

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveperformance under blocking conditionsVSAvoidaverage power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic detection and switching system that monitors signal levels and adapts the mixer configuration in real-time. This allows the receiver to maintain high performance under blocking conditions when they occur, while switching to low-power mode during normal operation, thereby optimizing average power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes operational parameters (mixer configuration, LO current level) based on detected signal conditions. By adjusting these parameters dynamically rather than maintaining fixed high-performance settings, the system achieves good performance under blocking conditions while minimizing average power consumption during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS9008600B2Wireless communication receiver having one signal processing circuit whose operation mode is adjusted by monitoring signal level of specific signal of preceding signal processing circuit and related wireless communication method

Publication Date: 2015.04.14 MEDIATEK SINGAPORE PTE LTD

AI summary

A wireless communication receiver includes a first signal processing circuit, a second signal processing circuit, and a detecting circuit. The first signal processing circuit generates a first processed signal by processing a received radio frequency (RF) signal. The second signal processing circuit is coupled to the first signal processing circuit. The detecting circuit monitors a specific signal of the first signal processing circuit and generates at least a control signal to the second signal processing circuit in response to a signal level of the monitored specific signal. The control signal controls the second signal processing circuit to switch from a first operation mode to a second operation mode.