Antenna Module Front End Circuit Switching for Power and Sensitivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing antenna module configurations face challenges in efficiently selecting antenna elements for transmission and reception across multiple frequency bands, leading to increased power consumption and reduced reception sensitivity.
Innovation Solution
The proposed antenna module incorporates a front end circuit with switch circuits and branching circuits to selectively connect radio frequency circuits to a baseband circuit, allowing for efficient switching between different antenna elements and reducing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a fixed connection configuration between RF circuits and baseband circuit is used, then the circuit connection is simple, but the transmission power cannot be increased and reception sensitivity cannot be improved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by replacing fixed circuit connections with switchable connections. The front end circuit includes switch circuits that can dynamically connect different RF circuits to the baseband circuit based on operational requirements. This allows the system to adapt the connection configuration in real-time, enabling flexible selection of active antenna elements while maintaining simple overall architecture.
2Device complexity
If all RF circuits are connected to the baseband circuit simultaneously, then the circuit configuration is simple, but unwanted power consumption occurs in unused antenna elements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the switch circuit from the traditional fixed connection architecture and places it in the front end circuit. This extracted switch circuit acts as a gatekeeper that selectively connects only the active RF circuit(s) to the baseband circuit, while disconnecting inactive RF circuits. This extraction enables independent control of signal paths, preventing power consumption in unused antenna elements while maintaining configuration simplicity.
3Reliability
If a single baseband circuit is connected to multiple antenna panels, then the transmission power can be increased and reception sensitivity improved, but the circuit connection becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the front end circuit as an intermediary component between the baseband circuit and multiple RF circuits. This intermediary contains switch circuits that manage the connections, allowing a single baseband circuit to be logically connected to multiple antenna panels without creating complex direct connection paths. The intermediary simplifies the overall architecture by centralizing the switching function in one location.
Data Source
AI summary
An antenna module includes radio frequency circuits and a front end circuit that transfers a signal between a BBIC and the radio frequency circuits. The front end circuit includes switches that are connected to the radio frequency circuits, switches that are connected to the BBIC, and branching elements. The front end circuit is configured to, by switching of each of the switches, switch between a first state in which a signal is transferred between one of the radio frequency circuit and the radio frequency circuit and the BBIC and a second state in which a signal is transferred between both the radio frequency circuits and the BBIC.