Digital Front End Super Path for Signal Instrumentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In radio systems, embedding tap points in all valuable positions within digital front end paths is challenging due to the large number of paths, which limits full instrumentability and signal data capture.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a digital front end super path that can access signals from any antenna branch, containing tap points for signal access at different positions within the digital front end signal chain, thereby facilitating custom tap points and instrumentation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If tap points are embedded in all valuable positions within digital front end paths, then full instrumentability and signal data capture are achieved, but device complexity increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a copy of the digital front end signal path (super path) that includes all necessary tap points for instrumentation, while the original paths remain unchanged. This allows full signal capture capability to be achieved by adding one instrumented copy rather than modifying all original paths, thereby reducing the complexity increase from embedding tap points everywhere.
Solution Approach 2:
The super path is designed to be a universal instrumented version that can capture signals from any antenna branch. Instead of creating dedicated instrumented paths for each antenna, a single multi-functional super path structure handles instrumentation for all branches, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining full measurement capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a digital front end super path is implemented to access signals from any antenna branch, then full instrumentation capability is achieved with minimal complexity, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The super path structure is designed to be selectively connectable to different antenna branches through configurable switches or multiplexers. This allows the instrumented path to access any needed signal source on demand, providing high adaptability while keeping the physical structure relatively simple through selective connectivity rather than permanent connections to all branches.
3Loss of information
If multiple antenna branches are monitored with full instrumentation, then complete signal analysis capability is achieved, but the number of required digital front ends increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of creating separate instrumented digital front ends for each antenna branch, the patent creates a single super path that copies and processes signals from any selected antenna branch. This allows complete signal analysis capability across all branches using one shared instrumented path rather than requiring multiple duplicate front ends, thereby reducing the quantity of digital front ends needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A system can comprise a radio unit. The system can further comprise a group of antenna branches of the radio unit. The system can further comprise a group of digital front ends of the radio unit, wherein respective digital front ends of the group of digital front ends are configured to process data of respective antenna branches of the group of antenna branches. The system can further comprise a digital front end super path that is configured to select between the group of antenna branches, wherein the digital front end super path comprises a tap point at which data processed via the digital front end super path is able to be accessed.