Duplexer Switch Control Unit RF Power Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Prior duplexer designs limit switching speed from transmission to reception state to protect the receiver, which can result in missed echoes from subjects close to the antenna, as they switch based on the termination of a transmission gate signal rather than actual radio frequency power levels.
Innovation Solution
A duplexer with a switch control unit that monitors radio frequency power at the common input/output port and switches from transmission to reception state when the power falls below a threshold level, independent of the transmission gate signal termination, allowing faster state changes while ensuring receiver safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the duplexer is kept in transmit state for a pre-determined period after transmission pulse generation to protect the receiver, then receiver protection is improved, but switching speed from transmit to receive state deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The switch control unit monitors the actual RF power level at the common input/output port and uses this feedback to determine when to switch from transmit to receive state. The switching decision is based on real-time power level feedback rather than a predetermined time delay, enabling faster switching while maintaining receiver protection by ensuring the power level has actually dropped below the threshold.
2Device complexity
If the duplexer switches based on transmission gate signal termination, then device complexity is reduced, but detection capability for close subjects deteriorates due to missed echoes
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates RF power level monitoring that provides feedback to the switch control unit. This feedback mechanism enables the duplexer to detect when the actual RF power has dropped below a threshold level, allowing it to switch to receive state promptly and capture echoes from close subjects, thereby improving detection capability while maintaining reasonable control complexity.
Data Source
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Figure 5
AI summary
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a duplexer for a radio frequency antenna, comprising: a radio frequency signal transmitter port arranged for connection to a radio frequency signal transmitter; a radio frequency signal receiver port arranged for connection to aradio frequency signal receiver; a switch arranged selectively to adopt either one of: a first state which connects the transmitter port to a common input/output port of the switch arranged for connection to a radio frequency antenna; and a second state which connects the receiver port to the common input/output port; a switch control unit arranged to monitor radio frequency power at the common input/output port and to receive a transmission gate signal; wherein the switch control unit is arranged to control the switch to adopt the first state upon receipt of the transmission gate signal, and, subsequently, to control the switch to adopt the second state when the monitored radio frequency power falls below a threshold level.