MEMS Resonator Filter Bank for Strong Interference Rejection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing MEMS filters struggle to effectively separate desired signals from stronger interference signals due to instability in resonance frequency, manufacturing variances, and the need for precise linear processing, which leads to either allowing interference to pass through or distorting the desired signal.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing a bank of MEMS resonators configured to resonate at different frequency ranges, with selective activation to shunt strong interference components to ground, allowing desired signals to pass without filtering, and using a band pass filter to preprocess signals before processing by the MEMS filter bank.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If MEMS filters are used to filter out interference signals, then interference reduction is improved, but the desired signal may be distorted due to filter processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using band pass filters to pass only desired signals (which processes and may distort them), the patent uses band stop filters to block only interference signals. This inverts the traditional filtering approach, allowing the desired signal to pass through unaffected while removing harmful interference components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes only the harmful interference components from the signal mixture using band stop filters, rather than extracting and processing the entire signal through band pass filters. This selective removal preserves the integrity of the desired signal while eliminating interference.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple MEMS filters are used to cover entire frequency bands, then interference coverage is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The band stop filters are designed to block multiple interference frequencies simultaneously, providing multi-functionality. Instead of requiring separate filters for each interference frequency, a single band stop filter can address multiple harmful signals across different frequency ranges, reducing overall system complexity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If band pass filters are used to remove out of band interferers, then interference reduction is improved, but signals outside filter range are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the filtering approach by using band stop filters instead of band pass filters. This allows all signals including desirable ones outside the traditional filter range to pass through, while only blocking specific interference frequencies. This eliminates the problem of losing desirable signals that fall outside the filter's pass band.
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
This approach effectively reduces interference while preserving the desired signal, allowing for recovery of weak signals proximate to stronger interference without distortion, and is less sensitive to manufacturing precision and environmental changes.
Implementation Method 1
A method utilizing a bank of MEMS resonators configured to resonate at different frequency ranges, with selective activation to shunt strong interference components to ground
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for recovering at least one signal of interest are provided. The method includes receiving an overall signal, the overall signal including the at least one signal of interest and a plurality of other signals, identifying at least one of the strongest components of the plurality of other signals, attenuating, using at least one MEMS resonator, any of the components identified by the identifying, wherein the overall signal will be modified to include the at least one signal of interest, attenuated versions of the components identified by the identifying, and the remaining portions of the plurality of other signals that were not subject to the attenuating, and recovering, after the attenuating, the at least one signal of interest.