Antenna Diversity Receiver Using Time-Multiplexed Signal Processing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In low power wireless communication systems like Zigbee, there is a conflict between minimizing energy consumption and implementing antenna diversity, as existing designs require longer training symbols for accurate signal evaluation, which increases power usage and circuit complexity.
Innovation Solution
A receiver design that time-multiplexes antenna signals, allowing a single receiving circuit to process multiple antennas in parallel, using a multiplexer, processing unit, and demultiplexer to generate control signals for selecting antennas equally within a symbol period, enabling accurate autocorrelation and reducing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If antenna diversity is implemented using multiple receiving circuits to evaluate signals from multiple antennas, then signal quality and reliability are improved, but power consumption and circuit complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the signal evaluation function into a single receiving circuit by time-multiplexing multiple antenna signals. The single circuit sequentially receives and processes signals from multiple antennas during the training symbol period, eliminating the need for multiple parallel receiving circuits while maintaining antenna diversity functionality and reducing power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic time-multiplexed switching between multiple antenna inputs within the training symbol period. The single receiving circuit periodically switches to evaluate each antenna signal in sequence, enabling antenna diversity through periodic sampling rather than continuous parallel processing, thus reducing energy requirements.
2Measurement precision
If multiple receiving circuits are used to process antenna signals in parallel, then measurement precision of signal quality is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple parallel receiving circuits into a single receiving circuit that processes antenna signals sequentially through time-multiplexing. This merging reduces device complexity by eliminating redundant circuitry while maintaining signal evaluation accuracy through systematic sequential processing of each antenna's signal during the training period.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from spatial parallel processing (multiple circuits operating simultaneously) to temporal sequential processing (single circuit operating at different times). By moving the diversity evaluation into the time dimension rather than maintaining spatial parallelism, the system reduces circuit complexity while preserving measurement precision through adequate sampling of each antenna signal.
3Reliability
If the training symbol period is extended to accommodate accurate evaluation of multiple antenna signals, then antenna diversity performance is improved, but power consumption increases due to longer transmission overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple antenna signal evaluations into a single receiving circuit's sequential processing within the existing training symbol period. This allows accurate antenna diversity evaluation without extending the training period duration, as the single circuit efficiently processes multiple antenna inputs through time-multiplexed switching rather than requiring extended parallel processing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses periodic time-multiplexed switching to evaluate multiple antenna signals within the fixed training symbol period. By periodically switching between antenna inputs rather than extending the evaluation period, the system maintains antenna diversity performance while avoiding the power consumption penalty associated with longer training overhead.
Data Source
AI summary
A receiver and method for receiving symbols having a symbol period with duration SP comprising. N antenna signals are selected equally in time over a symbol period to obtain a combined antenna signal. An autocorrelation is performed on the combined antenna signal to obtain a combined signal. The combined signal is split into the corresponding antenna signal parts and subjected to an integration function. The output of the integration function is used the select the antenna signal with the best signal quality. The invention enables to perform an efficient antenna diversity circuit, which can partially be used for simultaneously preamble detection and frequency offset estimation.