Configurable Mixer Switching for Jammer-Tolerant Low-Power Reception
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Solution Overview
Problem
Communication devices face challenges in maintaining signal processing performance and reducing power consumption, especially in the presence of signal jammers or interferers, due to the need for high linearity in mixers which often increases power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A configurable mixer that adjusts its linearity and power consumption based on operating modes, using transistor pairs and switches to selectively couple gate terminals to ground, allowing for linear, legacy, or low-power operating modes, optimizing performance and power usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mixer with high linearity is used to correctly demodulate signals in the presence of jammers or interferers, then signal processing performance is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mixer is designed with dynamic reconfigurability, allowing it to switch between different operating modes (linear mode with higher linearity and legacy mode with lower linearity) based on the presence of jammers or interferers. This dynamic adaptation enables the system to optimize performance when needed while reducing power consumption in normal operating conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the linearity parameter of the mixer by reconfiguring its internal circuitry. By adjusting the operating mode through control signals, the mixer can transition between different linearity states, thereby adapting to varying signal conditions and optimizing the trade-off between performance and power consumption.
2Measurement precision
If a mixer with high linearity is used to reject signal jammers or interferers, then demodulation accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mixer is designed to perform multiple functions through a single reconfigurable structure. It can operate in both linear mode for high-accuracy demodulation and legacy mode for standard operation, eliminating the need for separate mixers for different operating conditions. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity while maintaining the capability for high-precision demodulation when required.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method and apparatus are disclosed for a configurable mixer capable of operating in a linear, a legacy, and a low-power mode. In the linear mode, the configurable mixer is configured to operate as a double-balanced mixer to multiply a first differential signal by a second differential signal. In the legacy mode, the configurable mixer is configured to as a double-balanced mixer to multiply a differential signal by a single-ended signal. In the low-power mode, the configurable mixer is configured to operate as a single-balanced mixer to multiply a differential signal by a single-ended signal. The operating mode of the configurable mixer may be based, at least in part, on a mode control signal. In some embodiments, the configurable mixer may be included in an analog front end of a wireless communication device.