Digital Carrier Signal Downconversion for RF Receiver
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless radio communications, receiver architectures for carrier-aggregated RF signals face challenges such as cross-talk, intermodulation, and increased power consumption due to multiple receiver paths, especially in intra-band carrier aggregation, which degrades reception quality and complicates filtering.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a wideband RF receiver using digitally controlled oscillators and direct digital frequency synthesizers to generate high-quality digital carrier signals, allowing for downconversion of multiple RF channels using a single digital mixer and reducing intermodulation effects, while minimizing power consumption by employing a single receiver path.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple receiver paths are used to receive carrier aggregated RF signals, then each RF channel can be received with dedicated processing, but cross-talk and intermodulation between carrier signals occur, degrading reception quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple RF signal reception paths into a single receiver path that can handle multiple carrier aggregated signals simultaneously. The digital mixer processes multiple RF channels through a single analog-to-digital converter, eliminating the cross-talk and intermodulation issues that arise from separate receiver paths while maintaining the ability to process each channel independently in the digital domain.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional analog receiver path architecture with a digital signal processing approach. Instead of using separate analog receiver paths for each RF channel, the system uses a single analog receiver path followed by digital mixing and processing, substituting analog signal separation with digital signal processing to eliminate harmful interactions.
2Reliability
If multiple receiver paths are used to receive carrier aggregated RF signals, then each channel can be processed separately, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple receiver paths into a single receiver path that processes multiple RF channels through digital signal processing. This consolidation reduces the number of analog components and power consumption while maintaining the ability to process each channel separately in the digital domain through software-defined radio techniques.
Solution Approach 2:
The single receiver path is designed to be universal, capable of receiving and processing multiple carrier aggregated RF channels simultaneously through digital mixing and processing. This multi-functional approach allows one receiver path to perform the work of multiple dedicated paths, reducing overall power consumption while maintaining full channel processing capability.
3Use of energy by moving object
If a single receiver path is used to receive carrier aggregated RF signals, then power consumption is reduced, but large frequency separation between RF signals becomes difficult to remove, complicating filtering
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional analog filtering with digital signal processing techniques. After the single receiver path captures the RF signals, digital mixing and processing are used to separate channels with large frequency separations, eliminating the need for complex analog filters and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining low power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic digital signal processing that can adaptively adjust processing parameters based on the frequency separation and characteristics of the received signals. This dynamic approach allows the system to handle varying frequency separations efficiently through software-controlled processing rather than fixed hardware filtering, reducing complexity.
4Object-generated harmful factors
If digital carrier signals are used for downconversion, then intermodulation effects are reduced, but frequency synthesis complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses digital copies of carrier signals generated through digital mixing rather than physical analog oscillators. The digital mixer creates digital representations of the carrier waves, which are then used for downconversion. This copying approach eliminates the physical intermodulation issues of analog oscillators while the complexity is managed through efficient digital implementation.
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 enhances reception quality by reducing intermodulation and pulling effects, and lowers power consumption by using a single receiver path, effectively handling both intra- and inter-band carrier aggregation scenarios with improved signal-to-noise ratio and reduced circuit complexities.
Implementation Method 1
This can be achieved, for example, by feeding the RF signal and a carrier signal into a mixer
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~6
AI summary
It is an object to provide an RF receiver for receiving carrier aggregated signals. Using carrier aggregation, CA, a device, such as a mobile device, may receive radio frequency, RF, signals via different RF channels. According to an embodiment, an RF receiver comprises a first frequency synthesizer configured to generate a first digital carrier signal. The RF receiver may further comprise a second frequency synthesizer configured to generate a second digital carrier signal. A digital mixer comprised in the RF receiver may be configured to downconvert a first analog radio frequency signal to a first intermediate frequency and a second analog radio frequency signal to a second intermediate frequency using the first and the second digital carrier signal. An RF receiver, a mobile device, and a method are disclosed.