Dual-Use Receiver Chain for Signal Sensing and Reception
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless communication systems face a trade-off between reception capacity and signal sampling, where dedicating a channel to signal sampling reduces potential reception capacity or sensitivity.
Innovation Solution
A dual-use approach where one receiver chain is used for both receiving incoming transmissions and signal sensing purposes, including duplicating signals to maintain reception quality during signal sampling periods, allowing seamless alternation between these functions without affecting the receiver's awareness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a receiver chain is dedicated to signal sampling for quality detection and system improvement, then signal quality monitoring capability is improved, but reception capacity and sensitivity are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The receiver chain is designed to perform multiple functions: it can operate as a dedicated reception channel for incoming transmissions and alternatively be configured as a sampling channel for signal quality monitoring. The system dynamically allocates the receiver chain between these two functions based on operational needs, allowing one hardware resource to serve dual purposes without requiring separate dedicated channels for each function.
2Measurement precision
If a receiver chain is dedicated to signal sampling, then signal quality detection is improved, but system sensitivity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic configuration of the receiver chain, allowing it to switch between reception mode and sampling mode based on real-time operational requirements. This dynamic allocation ensures that the receiver chain maintains high sensitivity when used for reception while providing adequate sampling capability when configured for quality monitoring, avoiding the need for fixed dedicated hardware for each function.
3Productivity
If a receiver chain is used for both reception and signal sampling, then hardware utilization is improved, but reception quality may be compromised during sampling periods
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic sampling where the receiver chain alternates between reception operations and sampling operations in time-division manner. During sampling periods, the receiver chain is temporarily dedicated to quality monitoring, and during reception periods, it focuses on incoming transmissions. This periodic alternation allows the system to achieve both hardware utilization efficiency and acceptable reception quality by carefully managing the timing and duration of sampling operations.
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments of wireless communication systems and methods in which the system seamlessly dual-uses a receiver chain for incoming transmissions and for other signal sensing purposes. The system is configured such that there are multiple receiver chains, and at least one receiver chain alternates between receiving a communication signal with information payload and receiving other signals solely for the purposes of monitoring and/or improving some aspects of the system. In various embodiments, the alternating receiver chain receives alternatively signals with information payloads and signals which have passes through a power amplifier with amplifier distortion characteristics. In various embodiments, the alternating receiver chain receives alternatively signals with information payloads and signals which may be associated with background noise, or other radio transmissions.