Dual-Use PLL Frequency Synthesizer for Compact RF Transceivers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional RF transceivers are expensive, power-intensive, and occupy significant die space due to the use of translational loops with separate PLL frequency synthesizers for transmitting and receiving modes.
Innovation Solution
A dual-use PLL frequency synthesizer is implemented, which operates as both a local oscillation generator for receiving and a transmitter, eliminating the need for a translational loop and reducing die area while maintaining functionality in both modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate PLL frequency synthesizer is used for each transmitting and receiving mode, then the transceiver can operate independently in both modes, but the die area, power consumption, and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dual-use PLL frequency synthesizer that serves both transmitting and receiving modes through a single shared unit. The synthesizer can be configured to operate as either a transmitter or receiver based on control signals, eliminating the need for separate dedicated synthesizers for each mode while maintaining independent operation capability.
2Reliability
If a separate PLL frequency synthesizer is used for each transmitting and receiving mode, then the transceiver can operate independently in both modes, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dual-use PLL frequency synthesizer consolidates the functionality of separate transmit and receive synthesizers into a single power-consuming unit. By sharing the same hardware resources and eliminating redundant circuits, the overall power consumption is reduced while maintaining the ability to operate independently in both transmitting and receiving modes.
3Reliability
If a translational loop with separate PLL frequency synthesizers is used, then the transceiver achieves conventional performance, but the cost and die area increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the translational loop structure from the conventional transceiver architecture. By removing this intermediate conversion stage and using the dual-use PLL synthesizer directly for both transmit and receive operations, the system achieves the same performance with reduced complexity and smaller die area.
4Reliability
If a translational loop with separate PLL frequency synthesizers is used, then the transceiver achieves conventional performance, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the separate transmit and receive PLL frequency synthesizers into a single dual-use unit, reducing the total component count and simplifying the manufacturing process. This consolidation maintains full transceiver performance while lowering production costs through reduced material usage and assembly complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A dual-use PLL frequency synthesizer for use in a transceiver is capable of operating as a local oscillation generator in a receiving mode and as a transmitter in a transmitting mode. The PLL frequency synthesizer includes a digital processor, a Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC), a low pass filter and a phase locked loop. The digital processor generates a digital signal, in which the digital signal is a modulated digital signal in the transmitting mode, and the digital signal is a reference digital signal in the receiving mode. The DAC converts the digital signal to an analog signal, and the low pass filter filters the analog signal to produce a filtered analog signal. The phase locked loop up-converts the filtered analog signal to an RF signal. In the transmitting mode, the RF signal is a modulated RF signal, and in the receiving mode, the RF signal is a reference RF signal.