Diversity Receiver Front End with Post-Amplifier Bandpass Filtering
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communication systems, diversity receive antennas often suffer from signal attenuation and noise due to physical separation from primary antennas, leading to reduced data throughput and increased complexity in signal processing.
Innovation Solution
A receiving system with a controller that selectively activates multiple paths between multiplexers, including amplifiers and bandpass filters, to filter and amplify signals for specific frequency bands, reducing signal loss and noise by using complementary bandpass filters and variable-gain amplifiers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If diversity receive antennas are placed physically far from primary antennas, then signal diversity and data throughput are improved, but signal attenuation and noise increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by placing bandpass filters before the low-noise amplifiers (LNAs) in the signal path. This pre-filtering removes out-of-band noise and interference before the signals are amplified, preventing these harmful factors from being amplified along with the desired signal. This resolves the contradiction by addressing signal attenuation and noise at the source rather than attempting to compensate for them later.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful effect of physical separation (which causes signal attenuation) into a benefit by utilizing the spatial diversity it creates. The system deliberately places antennas at different locations to receive different signal versions, then uses post-amplifier filters and signal processing to combine these diverse signals constructively, transforming the attenuation problem into improved signal diversity and throughput.
2Reliability
If multiple bandpass filters and amplifiers are added to reduce signal loss and noise, then signal-to-noise ratio is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the filtering function into multiple stages: pre-amplifier bandpass filters for each frequency band, and post-amplifier bandpass filters. This segmented approach allows each filter to handle specific frequency ranges efficiently, improving signal-to-noise ratio while maintaining manageable system complexity through functional decomposition.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements universality by designing the receiving system to handle multiple frequency bands (e.g., LTE bands 2, 5, 12, 13, 17, 25, 26) using a standardized architecture of amplifiers and filters that can be selectively activated. This multi-functional design improves reliability across different bands while avoiding the need for completely separate systems for each band, thus controlling complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If post-amplifier filters are added to each path, then filtering precision is improved, but manufacturing cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by implementing bandpass filters before the amplifiers to pre-condition the signals. This preliminary filtering removes out-of-band interference before amplification, reducing the burden on post-amplifier filters and allowing them to focus on finer frequency selection, thereby improving overall filtering precision while optimizing component usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial action by providing post-amplifier filters for each frequency band path, but not necessarily all paths simultaneously. The system can selectively activate filters and amplifiers based on which frequency bands are currently in use, achieving high filtering precision when needed while reducing complexity during operation with fewer bands.
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
Improves signal-to-noise ratio and data throughput by reducing signal attenuation and noise, while simplifying filter design and reducing the number of components, thereby enhancing the performance and efficiency of wireless communication systems.
Implementation Method 1
Each one of the first plurality of bandpass filters can be disposed along a corresponding one of the plurality of paths at an output of a corresponding one of the plurality of amplifiers and can be configured to filter a signal received at the bandpass filter to a respective frequency band
Implementation Method 2
Each one of the plurality of amplifiers can be disposed along a corresponding one of the plurality of paths and can be configured to amplify a signal received at the amplifier
Data Source
AI summary
Diversity receiver front end system with post-amplifier filters. A receiving system can include a controller configured to selectively activate one or more of a plurality of paths between an input of a first multiplexer and an output of a second multiplexer. The receiving system can further include a plurality of amplifiers. Each one of the plurality of amplifiers can be disposed along a corresponding one of the plurality of paths and can be configured to amplify a signal received at the amplifier. The receiving system can include a first plurality of bandpass filters. Each one of the first plurality of bandpass filters can be disposed along a corresponding one of the plurality of paths at an output of a corresponding one of the plurality of amplifiers and can be configured to filter a signal received at the bandpass filter to a respective frequency band.