ASDIV RF Path Selection for Overlapping WWAN-WLAN Bands
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication technologies face challenges in managing radio frequency paths for antenna switching diversity, particularly in coexisting networks with overlapping frequency bands, leading to signal loss or degradation.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for a user equipment (UE) to select and manage radio frequency (RF) paths for transmit antenna switch diversity (ASDIV) by detecting metrics exceeding a threshold and removing inappropriate RF paths to avoid signal loss or degradation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If RF paths are shared between Wi-Fi and Bluetooth using a single LNA and ADC, then device complexity is reduced, but coexistence interference occurs between the two radio technologies
Solution Approach 1:
The RF path is segmented into separate processing chains for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The system divides the single RF input into multiple processing paths, allowing independent optimization for each radio technology while sharing common components like antenna and LNA, thus reducing coexistence interference while maintaining reasonable complexity
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary processing stage is introduced between the LNA and the final processing stage. This intermediary enables selective routing and independent processing of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth signals, allowing the system to manage coexistence interference without requiring completely separate RF paths for each technology
2Object-affected harmful factors
If separate LNAs and ADCs are used for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to avoid coexistence interference, then coexistence interference is reduced, but device complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs universal components that can serve multiple functions. The LNA and ADC are designed to handle both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth signals, reducing the need for completely separate hardware chains while still enabling independent processing to minimize coexistence interference
Solution Approach 2:
The RF path configuration is made dynamic, allowing the system to switch between different processing modes depending on which radio technology is active. This dynamic reconfiguration enables separate processing paths when needed while sharing resources at other times, balancing interference reduction with complexity management
3Object-affected harmful factors
If separate RF paths are used for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, then coexistence interference is minimized, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth RF paths at strategic points, combining common components like the antenna and LNA while maintaining separate processing sections. This merging reduces the total number of active components and their associated power consumption while preserving the interference isolation benefits of separate processing
4Use of energy by moving object
If a single RF path is shared between Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, then power consumption is reduced, but signal processing flexibility is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The RF path architecture is designed to be dynamic and reconfigurable, allowing the system to adapt its processing flexibility based on operational requirements. When both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are active, the system can configure separate processing paths; when only one is active, it uses a simplified single path, thus balancing power consumption with processing flexibility
Data Source
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AI summary
Aspects of the present disclosure relate to wireless communications, and more particularly, to techniques for a UE to determine whether to maintain or remove a radio frequency (RF) path from a set of candidate paths considered for transmit antenna switch diversity (ASDIV). The determination allows the UE to avoid signal loss or degradation in coexisting networks at similar frequency ranges. For example, ASDIV allows two or more antennas to form different input and output ports to establish different RF paths. Coexistent networks, such as wireless wide-area-network (WWAN) and wireless local- area-network (WLAN) may utilize different RF paths to optimize reliability and efficiency. The overlapping of the bands may cause signal attenuation or degradation from at least one of the networks. The present disclosure provides techniques for detecting signal attenuation at least partially caused by overlapping bands and removing an associated RF path to avoid such signal loss or attenuation.