Reconfigurable Baseband Filter for Non-Contiguous Carrier Reception
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current RF transceivers require separate receive chains to process non-contiguous carriers, leading to high power consumption and space usage, especially in carrier-aggregation systems where simultaneous reception of multiple signals is necessary.
Innovation Solution
A reconfigurable carrier-aggregation receiver and filter that uses a single local oscillator (LO) path, voltage controlled oscillator (VCO), and phase locked loop (PLL) to downconvert multiple non-contiguous carriers, employing complex signal processing at the baseband to extract baseband information signals before analog-to-digital conversion, thereby reducing complexity and current consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate receive chains are used to process non-contiguous carriers, then signal processing capability is improved, but power consumption and space usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple receive chains into a single receive chain that processes multiple non-contiguous carriers sequentially. The receiver shares common components (LNA, mixer, LO, PLL) across different carrier frequencies, eliminating the need for separate receive chains for each carrier. This consolidation directly reduces power consumption while maintaining the capability to process multiple non-contiguous carriers through time-division multiplexing and reconfigurable filtering.
Solution Approach 2:
The receiver is designed with universal components that can handle multiple carrier frequencies. The single receive chain is configured to process different non-contiguous carriers by reconfiguring the baseband filter and adjusting the LO frequency. This multi-functional design allows the same hardware to serve multiple carrier processing functions, reducing overall power consumption and space requirements compared to dedicated separate receive chains.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate receive chains are used to process non-contiguous carriers, then signal processing capability is improved, but device area increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple receive chains into a single receive chain that processes multiple non-contiguous carriers sequentially. The receiver shares common components (LNA, mixer, LO, PLL) across different carrier frequencies, eliminating the need for separate receive chains for each carrier. This consolidation directly reduces power consumption while maintaining the capability to process multiple non-contiguous carriers through time-division multiplexing and reconfigurable filtering.
Solution Approach 2:
The receiver is designed with universal components that can handle multiple carrier frequencies. The single receive chain is configured to process different non-contiguous carriers by reconfiguring the baseband filter and adjusting the LO frequency. This multi-functional design allows the same hardware to serve multiple carrier processing functions, reducing overall power consumption and space requirements compared to dedicated separate receive chains.
3Measurement precision
If multiple LO/VCO/PLL paths are used, then downconversion accuracy is improved, but complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple LO/VCO/PLL paths into a single shared path. The same LO and PLL circuitry is used for downconverting multiple non-contiguous carriers by reconfiguring the filter settings and adjusting the LO frequency appropriately. This eliminates redundant components and reduces system complexity while maintaining downconversion accuracy through proper frequency synthesis and filtering for each carrier.
Solution Approach 2:
The receiver employs dynamic reconfiguration of the baseband filter and LO frequency to adapt to different non-contiguous carriers. Instead of static separate paths, the system dynamically adjusts filter parameters and oscillator frequencies based on the currently processed carrier, enabling a single flexible path to replace multiple fixed paths, thereby reducing complexity while preserving accuracy.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables efficient downconversion of non-contiguous carriers with improved spurious performance by eliminating the need for multiple LO/VCO/PLL paths, reducing power consumption and space requirements while maintaining effective signal processing.
Implementation Method 1
A reconfigurable carrier-aggregation receiver and filter that uses a single local oscillator (LO) path, voltage controlled oscillator (VCO), and phase locked loop (PLL) to downconvert multiple non-contiguous carriers
Implementation Method 2
A reconfigurable carrier-aggregation receiver and filter that uses a single local oscillator (LO) path, voltage controlled oscillator (VCO), and phase locked loop (PLL) to downconvert multiple non-contiguous carriers
Implementation Method 3
employing complex signal processing at the baseband to extract baseband information signals before analog-to-digital conversion
Data Source
AI summary
A device includes, a reconfigurable baseband filter configured to receive a communication signal having a first carrier and a second carrier, the first carrier and the second carrier having non-contiguous respective frequencies, the reconfigurable baseband filter having a first filter portion and a second filter portion, the first filter portion and the second filter portion each comprising respective first and second amplification stages, and a plurality of switches associated with the first filter portion and the second filter portion, the plurality of switches for configuring the reconfigurable baseband filter into a plurality of sub-filters, each configured to generate at least one of a low pass filter output and a bandpass filter output.