MIMO Receiver Architecture with Offset Frequency Signal Combining
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional MIMO systems face challenges in complexity, cost, and power consumption due to the need for multiple RF front ends and analog-to-digital converters, especially in higher MIMO structures like 4×4 or 8×8, which complicates hardware design and increases size, cost, and power consumption.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves combining multiple receiver or transmitter channels through common signal processing paths using unique offset frequencies or local oscillators, allowing for IF signal combination and processing within a single device, maintaining orthogonality and independence of signals, and reducing the complexity of hardware design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple RF front ends and analog-to-digital converters are used in conventional MIMO systems, then signal processing capability is improved, but device complexity, size, cost, and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple receiver or transmitter channels through common signal processing paths. Multiple channels share common components including mixers, filters, and analog-to-digital converters, reducing the overall number of hardware components while maintaining the ability to process multiple signals simultaneously through frequency division and signal separation techniques
Solution Approach 2:
The common signal processing paths are designed to handle multiple channels with different offset frequencies. A single mixer and filter configuration can process signals from multiple antennas by utilizing frequency offsetting, making the hardware components universal rather than dedicated to specific channels
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple RF front ends and analog-to-digital converters are used in conventional MIMO systems, then signal processing capability is improved, but size and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple channels are merged into common signal processing paths that share physical hardware components. The patent demonstrates that 4×4 or 8×8 MIMO configurations can be achieved with significantly reduced hardware footprint by having multiple channels utilize the same mixers, filters, and converters through frequency-division-based separation
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple RF front ends and analog-to-digital converters are used in conventional MIMO systems, then signal processing capability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces power consumption by having multiple channels share common powered components. Instead of having separate RF front ends and analog-to-digital converters for each channel that would consume independent power, the merged architecture uses a single set of powered components that serve all channels through frequency offsetting and signal separation
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple RF front ends and analog-to-digital converters are used in conventional MIMO systems, then signal processing capability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces manufacturing cost by reducing the total number of components that need to be produced, assembled, and tested. The common signal processing paths eliminate redundant hardware, simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing component costs while maintaining full MIMO functionality through frequency-division-based signal separation
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 reduces the size, cost, and power consumption of MIMO architectures, making them more cost-effective for pico-cell and femto-cell platforms while maintaining signal quality and orthogonality, enabling wider adoption of MIMO technologies.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the N channels is downconverted to a different intermediate frequency using N different local oscillators having different offset frequencies from a common reference frequency
Implementation Method 2
The N RF signals are combined with N different local oscillator signals at N different mixers, respectively, to produce N different intermediate frequency signals
Implementation Method 3
The N different intermediate frequency signals are converted to digital signals by N different analog-to-digital converters
Data Source
AI summary
A multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) receiver includes a receive path circuitry configured to receive a first signal from a first antenna and a second signal from a second antenna, downconvert the first signal to a first frequency to generate a first intermediate frequency (IF) signal, downconvert the second signal to a second frequency different from the first frequency to generate a second IF signal, and combine the first IF signal and the second IF signal into a common signal.