Carrier Aggregation Switch and Local Oscillator Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

The increasing number of local oscillators in electronic devices to support carrier aggregation (CA) leads to higher production costs and design complexity, and existing devices may not efficiently support inter-band non-contiguous CA due to simplified RF communication circuits.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device with a wireless communication circuit that performs CA using a plurality of carrier frequencies through a switch, allowing for dynamic switching and processing of carrier signals across different frequency bands, thereby supporting inter-band non-contiguous CA.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the number of local oscillators is increased to support carrier aggregation, then the capability to support multiple carriers is improved, but production costs and design complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecarrier aggregation support capabilityVSAvoidnumber of local oscillators

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A single local oscillator is designed to serve multiple carriers across different frequency bands by implementing dynamic frequency tuning and multi-mode operation capabilities, allowing one oscillator to replace what would traditionally require multiple dedicated oscillators

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The local oscillator system employs dynamic frequency adjustment and reconfiguration mechanisms that allow it to adaptively change operating frequencies and bandwidths based on which carrier is currently active, enabling flexible support for carrier aggregation without requiring dedicated oscillators for each carrier

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of manufacture

If the RF communication circuit is simplified for cost saving, then production costs are reduced, but the ability to support inter-band non-contiguous carrier aggregation is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction costVSAvoidinter-band non-contiguous CA support

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The RF communication circuit implements dynamic parameter adjustment capabilities, including variable frequency tuning and bandwidth adjustment, allowing a simplified circuit architecture to adaptively configure itself for different carrier aggregation scenarios including inter-band non-contiguous operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

A frequency conversion and signal processing unit acts as an intermediary between the simplified RF circuit and multiple frequency bands, enabling the circuit to handle inter-band non-contiguous carriers by converting and processing signals through intermediate frequency stages

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3776875B1Electronic device for performing carrier aggregation using plurality of carrier frequencies via switch and operating method thereof

Publication Date: 2025.02.12 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

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AI summary

An electronic device and method for supporting carrier aggregation are provide. An electronic device may include a communication circuit including a plurality of local oscillators; and a processor configured to determine an operation mode of at least one local oscillator among the plurality of oscillators based on at least one of a number of uplink carriers and a number of downlink carriers; and control the at least one local oscillator to operate based on the determined operation mode.