D-ZIF Tuner Architecture with BAW Filter Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current tuner architectures for the 5-6 GHz band, particularly the super-heterodyne and ZIF types, fail to provide complete integration and effective rejection of adjacent channels, limiting the performance of wireless local area networks like those defined by the 802.11A standard.
Innovation Solution
A D-ZIF tuner architecture with a two-stage down conversion to baseband, utilizing a common bulk acoustic wave or surface acoustic wave filter, which allows for precise channel rejection and integration on a single chip, along with in situ determination of the filter's central frequency to ensure optimal performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If super-heterodyne tuner architecture is used, then channel reception is possible, but complete integration cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the reception channel and transmission channel into a single integrated tuner architecture. The reception channel includes a first down-conversion stage to intermediate frequency and a second down-conversion stage to baseband, while the transmission channel includes up-conversion stages, all integrated on a single chip. This merging of functions enables complete integration while maintaining performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The tuner architecture is segmented into distinct functional stages: a first down-conversion stage to intermediate frequency with BAW/SAW filtering, and a second down-conversion stage to baseband. This segmentation allows each stage to be optimized independently while contributing to overall integration capability.
2Ease of manufacture
If ZIF (zero intermediate frequency) tuner architecture is used, then integration is improved, but adjacent channel rejection becomes poorer
Solution Approach 1:
The down-conversion process is divided into two stages: first to intermediate frequency where BAW/SAW filtering provides excellent adjacent channel rejection, then to baseband. This segmentation allows the system to benefit from both good rejection characteristics and integration capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate frequency stage acts as an intermediary between the RF input and baseband output. By introducing this intermediate stage with BAW/SAW filtering, the system achieves both good adjacent channel rejection and integration capability that pure ZIF architecture cannot provide.
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
The solution enables excellent 3rd-order intermodulation rejection ratio and complete integration of the tuner and digital processing stages on a single chip, improving channel rejection and reducing noise interference in wireless local area networks.
Implementation Method 1
A tuning module has a reception channel of the type with a two-stage down conversion to baseband, and is connected between the input/output terminal and an analog-to-digital conversion stage. The electronic component may further comprise a digital reception unit connected to the output of the analog-to-digital conversion stage, and a digital transmission unit may be connected to the input of the digital-to-analog conversion stage. In addition, the two channels of the tuning module (tuner) may comprise a common filter of the bulk acoustic wave type (BAW filter), or of the surface acoustic wave type (SAW filter).
Data Source
AI summary
An input/output terminal receives a multi-channel analog signal within a predetermined frequency band, and transmits a single-channel analog signal within this frequency band. A tuning module has a reception channel based upon a two-stage down conversion to baseband, and is connected between the input/output terminal and an analog-to-digital conversion stage. A transmission channel based upon a two-stage up conversion is connected between a digital-to-analog conversion stage and the input/output terminal. The two channels include a common filter of the bulk acoustic wave type or of the surface acoustic wave type between the two frequency transposition stages of the two channels. A digital reception unit is connected to the output of the analog-to-digital conversion stage, and a digital transmission unit is connected to the input of the digital-to-analog conversion stage.