Multi-channel Digital Transceiver Linearization via Direct RF Sampling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current transceivers face challenges in efficiently performing frequency conversion and filtering operations across multiple frequency bands and standards, leading to increased complexity, cost, and distortion, particularly due to the need for analog components like mixers and filters.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a multi-channel, multi-band linearized digital transceiver circuit that utilizes millimeter wave ADCs and DACs for direct RF sampling and synthesis, allowing for processing in the digital domain and reducing the need for analog components, thereby enhancing flexibility and accuracy across wide frequency bands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If analog components (mixers, filters, amplifiers) are used for frequency conversion and filtering operations, then the transceiver can perform traditional RF signal processing, but the system complexity, cost, and distortion increase particularly across multiple frequency bands
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces analog RF signal processing components (mixers, filters, amplifiers) with digital signal processing operations. The ADC converts RF signals to digital domain where all processing is performed digitally, eliminating the need for multiple analog components across different frequency bands. This substitution of mechanical/analog systems with digital systems directly resolves the contradiction by reducing device complexity while maintaining multi-band adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The digital signal processing architecture provides universal processing capability that can handle multiple frequency bands and standards through software configuration rather than hardware changes. A single digital processing unit can be reconfigured to operate across different bands (e.g., GSM, CDMA, WCDMA, LTE) without requiring separate analog component sets for each band, thus achieving multi-functionality while reducing overall system complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple analog components are used to support multiple frequency bands and standards, then the transceiver achieves multi-band operation, but the cost and system size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for multiple physical analog components by performing all signal processing operations in the digital domain. The ADC brings the RF signal into the digital domain where a single set of digital processing resources can serve all frequency bands and standards, dramatically reducing the quantity of physical components and system size while maintaining full multi-standard support.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functions of multiple frequency-specific analog processing chains into a single digital processing platform. Instead of having separate analog signal paths for each frequency band and standard, the architecture combines them all into one digital domain where resource sharing and dynamic allocation reduce the total quantity of components needed.
3Reliability
If analog components are used for frequency conversion, then the transceiver can perform signal processing, but distortion increases particularly in multi-band operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes analog signal processing with digital signal processing to eliminate the distortion inherent in analog components. Digital signal processing operations are exact and can be performed with arbitrary precision, avoiding the nonlinear distortion, noise, and interference that plague analog mixers, filters, and amplifiers. This substitution maintains full signal processing capability while dramatically reducing distortion across multi-band operations.
4Use of energy by moving object
If traditional analog transceiver architecture is used, then the system can perform RF operations, but flexibility across wide frequency bands is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the fixed-frequency analog RF architecture with a digital architecture that provides inherent flexibility. The digital signal processing can be dynamically reconfigured through software to operate across wide frequency bands and adapt to different standards without hardware changes, providing superior flexibility while maintaining full RF signal processing capability through the ADC and digital processing chain.
Data Source
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AI summary
A multi-channel, multi-band system for wireless communication includes a radio frequency (RF) front end, a mixed-signal front end for converting an incoming analog RF signal into an incoming digital RF signal and converting a composite outgoing digital RF signal into an outgoing analog RF signal, a summation circuit for combining multiple outgoing digital RF signals to the composite outgoing digital RF signal, and multi-band transceivers. Each of the multi-band transceivers may process the incoming digital RF signal to provide an incoming baseband signal and process an outgoing baseband signal to provide an outgoing digital RF signal. The mixed-signal front end may apply a loading control to each transceiver for adjusting an amount of loading on the transmit path from the transceiver to the mixed-signal front-end. The transceivers may individually conduct a feedback calibration on the receive path to optimize the incoming baseband signal for each band.