Digital Transmitter Combining Binary ΔΣ Paths for Higher SNR

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing transmitters for communication and broadcasting equipment face challenges in achieving a high signal-to-noise power ratio without using multilevel class-D amplifiers, which require multiple power supplies, increasing costs and power consumption.

Innovation Solution

The proposed transmitter configuration includes two digital transmitters with binary class-D amplifiers and ΔΣ modulators, where different initial values are used for each transmitter, and their outputs are combined, allowing for improved signal-to-noise power ratio without the need for multiple power supplies, using a combiner to double the signal-to-noise power ratio and reduce power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a multilevel class-D amplifier is used to improve signal-to-noise power ratio, then the signal-to-noise power ratio is improved, but the device complexity and power consumption increase due to requiring multiple power supplies

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal-to-noise power ratioVSAvoidnumber of power supplies
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the system into multiple independent binary transmitters (first and second digital transmitters), each with its own binary class-D amplifier and ΔΣ modulator. By segmenting the system architecture rather than using a single multilevel amplifier, the patent achieves improved signal-to-noise power ratio through combination of multiple binary outputs without requiring multiple power supplies within a single amplifier unit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the output signals from multiple binary class-D amplifiers using a combiner to achieve the signal-to-noise power ratio improvement. This merging approach allows the system to attain the benefits of multilevel operation while maintaining the simplicity of binary amplifiers with single power supplies.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Measurement precision

If a multilevel class-D amplifier is used to improve signal-to-noise power ratio, then the signal-to-noise power ratio is improved, but the power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal-to-noise power ratioVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the amplification function across multiple binary class-D amplifiers, each consuming power from a single common power supply. This segmentation allows the system to achieve improved signal-to-noise power ratio through signal combination rather than through high-power multilevel amplification, thereby reducing overall power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the operational parameters from multilevel voltage levels to binary levels, operating all amplifiers from a single common power supply voltage. This parameter change simplifies the power supply architecture while achieving the desired signal-to-noise power ratio through the combination of multiple binary signals with different initial values.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If binary class-D amplifiers with different initial values are combined to improve signal-to-noise power ratio, then the signal-to-noise power ratio is improved, but the device complexity increases due to requiring multiple transmitters

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal-to-noise power ratioVSAvoidnumber of transmitters
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a combiner to merge the output signals from multiple binary digital transmitters into a single combined output. This merging process achieves the signal-to-noise power ratio improvement while presenting a unified interface to the antenna, thereby managing the device complexity through modular architecture rather than monolithic design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates multiple binary transmitters that are functionally identical but operate with different initial values. This universality allows the system to achieve improved signal-to-noise power ratio through diversity combining while maintaining simplicity in each individual transmitter unit, with all units drawing from a common power supply.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2897296B1transmitter
Publication Date: 2019.05.08 NEC CORP
  • EP2897296B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2897296B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2897296B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A transmitter includes: multiple digital transmitters which perform delta-sigma modulation on the same baseband signal; a combiner that combines the output signals from the plural digital transmitters and outputs the combined result; a control unit that generates an external signal different for every digital transmitter, to be supplied to each of the digital transmitters; and, an input means that supplies the different external signal for every digital transmitter, to the input terminal or the internal node of a delta-sigma modulator that performs the delta-sigma modulation, the delta-sigma modulator being provided for every digital transmitter.