Cascaded Baseband Processors for Scalable RF Configurations

Solution Overview

Problem

Designing a unified system for cellular base stations with varying capacities and configurations is economically impractical due to the need for different configurations for each radio access technology (RAT) such as 3G, TD-SCDMA, HSPA, DC-HSPA, and LTE, as they have different user capacities, bandwidths, and antenna numbers.

Innovation Solution

The cascading of baseband processors allows for scalable architectures that accommodate different configurations by aligning processors in time and frequency, enabling higher-capacity base stations and increased simultaneous user support over one frequency band using a single RF chipset, with each processor having data ports for exchange and synchronization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If different base station configurations are designed for each radio access technology (RAT), then each RAT can have optimized performance, but the system complexity and manufacturing costs increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveRAT-specific performance optimizationVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal base station configuration that can operate with multiple different RATs (3G, TD-SCDMA, HSPA, DC-HSPA, LTE) using the same hardware architecture. The baseband processors are designed to be software-configurable, allowing a single physical system to adapt to different communication standards through software rather than requiring separate hardware configurations for each RAT.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The base station employs dynamic configuration capabilities where baseband processors can be dynamically allocated and reconfigured based on the specific RAT requirements. The system can dynamically adjust processor assignments, bandwidth allocations, and antenna configurations to match the operational needs of different radio access technologies without physical reconfiguration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If different base station configurations are designed for each radio access technology (RAT), then each RAT can have optimized performance, but the manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveRAT-specific performance optimizationVSAvoidmanufacturing costs

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal base station configuration that can operate with multiple different RATs (3G, TD-SCDMA, HSPA, DC-HSPA, LTE) using the same hardware architecture. The baseband processors are designed to be software-configurable, allowing a single physical system to adapt to different communication standards through software rather than requiring separate hardware configurations for each RAT.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The base station system is segmented into independent baseband processor units that can be individually configured and managed. This modular segmentation allows the same hardware platform to be manufactured once and then software-configured for different RATs, reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining RAT-specific optimization capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If a single RF chipset is used for higher-capacity base stations, then cost is reduced and scalability is improved, but the capacity to support different configurations is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfiguration flexibilityVSAvoidbase station capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The base station employs dynamic configuration capabilities where baseband processors can be dynamically allocated and reconfigured based on the specific RAT requirements. The system can dynamically adjust processor assignments, bandwidth allocations, and antenna configurations to match the operational needs of different radio access technologies without physical reconfiguration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a software configuration dimension that allows a single RF chipset to support multiple capacity levels and configurations. By adding the software programmability dimension, the system can virtually create different capacity configurations from the same physical hardware, effectively increasing adaptability without proportionally increasing physical components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS9590688B2Cascading radio frequency circuits

Publication Date: 2017.03.07 AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL SALES PTE LTD

AI summary

Cellular processors are cascaded to provide different configurations, which result in higher-capacity base stations, increased numbers of simultaneous users over one frequency band, and/or aggregation of several carriers while still using only one radiofrequency (RF) chipset. The processors are aligned in both time and frequency, with each processor having a data port that allows data exchange with the other processors. The data alignment and exchange allow the processors, in the aggregate, to act as a single unit, resulting in a scalable architecture that can accommodate different system configurations.