Digital Baseband Multi-Port Amplifier for Signal Leakage Suppression

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing multiport amplifier (MPA) systems suffer from undesired signal leakages due to errors in phase shifts and gain variations in the Butler matrices and amplifiers, which limit communication performance and data throughput.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a digital baseband processing system that replaces the input RF matrix with equivalent linear combinations performed digitally, followed by Digital to Analog conversion and I/Q modulation, allowing for phase and amplitude corrections and suppression of signal leakages.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional Butler Matrix RF implementation is used, then signal routing is achieved, but phase shift errors and gain variations cause signal leakages that limit communication performance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication performanceVSAvoidsignal leakage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional RF-based Butler Matrix (electromagnetic system) with a digital baseband processing system that performs equivalent linear combinations using digital signal processing. This substitution eliminates the physical phase shifters and RF switches that cause leakage, replacing them with digital arithmetic operations that can be precisely controlled and corrected.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the operating domain from RF analog domain to digital baseband domain. By performing the linear combination operations in the digital domain with precisely controllable parameters, the system eliminates the phase shift errors and gain variations that occur in analog RF components, thereby suppressing signal leakages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If digital baseband processing is implemented, then signal leakage is suppressed and gain/phase errors are corrected, but system complexity increases due to additional processing stages

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal leakage suppressionVSAvoidbaseband processing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the linear combination functionality from the RF domain and relocates it to the digital baseband domain. By separating the signal combination operation from the RF amplification and transmission stages, the system can perform precise digital processing while maintaining the simplicity of the RF front-end components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Productivity

If traditional RF matrix implementation is used, then signal combination is achieved, but weight and size of the system increase due to physical RF components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata throughputVSAvoidMPA system weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces heavy physical RF components (Butler Matrix with waveguides, phase shifters, and RF switches) with lightweight digital processing circuits. The digital baseband processing system achieves the same signal combination function with significantly reduced weight and volume, making it particularly advantageous for satellite and mobile applications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 approach effectively suppresses signal leakages, corrects gain and phase errors, and reduces the weight and size of the MPA system, thereby enhancing communication performance and data throughput.

Implementation Method 1

a plurality of complex modulators, wherein each complex modulator is configured to receive an input channel stream

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDigital mixing:

Implementation Method 2

a dual Digital to Analog (DAC) converter, configured to receive summation digital complex output from the summation logic block

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDigital to Analog conversion:

Implementation Method 3

a plurality of RF modulators, wherein each RF modulator is configured to receive a dual analog output as baseband I/Q branches from a corresponding DAC converter

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectI/Q modulation: Phase Modulation

Data Source

PatentUS20250070728A1Multi-port amplifier with baseband processing

Publication Date: 2025.02.27 NSL COMM

AI summary

Systems and methods of multiport amplifier (MPA) implementation system, including: at least one input matrix, including a plurality of complex modulators, wherein each complex modulator is configured to receive an input channel stream, a summation logic block, configured to sum the complex product of the plurality of complex modulators, and a dual Digital to Analog (DAC) converter, configured to receive summation digital complex output from the summation logic block, a plurality of RF modulators, wherein each RF modulator is configured to receive a dual analog output as baseband I/Q branches from a corresponding DAC converter, and a plurality of amplifiers, wherein each complex amplifier is configured to receive the output of a corresponding RF Modulator for amplification to an output RF matrix.