MIMO Transceiver Architecture Multiplexer Area Reduction

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing MIMO transceiver architectures face challenges in efficiently implementing multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) functionality with minimal area and current consumption, often resulting in increased noise and reduced signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), which degrades signal quality and increases bit error rates.

Innovation Solution

The proposed solution involves a receiver and transmitter architecture that splits the receive channel of a SISO-only receiver into two equal-area channels, each with half the area and current consumption of a single receive channel, using a multiplexer to selectively route signals and power amplifiers to minimize area and noise overhead, while maintaining sufficient gain and signal quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional MIMO transceiver architecture is used, then MIMO functionality is achieved, but area and current consumption increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveMIMO functionalityVSAvoidreceiver area

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The receiver architecture implements multi-functionality by enabling both SISO and MIMO modes through a single unified design. The multiplexer selectively connects antenna signals to shared processing channels, allowing the same hardware to serve multiple communication modes without requiring separate dedicated circuits for each mode, thereby reducing overall area consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the processing channels by sharing common in-phase and quadrature-phase processing blocks across multiple antenna inputs. Instead of having separate dedicated processing paths for each antenna, the architecture combines signals through multiplexing and shares the subsequent processing resources, significantly reducing the total area required while maintaining MIMO capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Adaptability or versatility

If conventional MIMO transceiver architecture is used, then MIMO functionality is achieved, but current consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveMIMO functionalityVSAvoidreceiver current consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The receiver architecture implements multi-functionality by enabling both SISO and MIMO modes through a single unified design. The multiplexer selectively connects antenna signals to shared processing channels, allowing the same hardware to serve multiple communication modes without requiring separate dedicated circuits for each mode, thereby reducing overall area consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the processing channels by sharing common in-phase and quadrature-phase processing blocks across multiple antenna inputs. Instead of having separate dedicated processing paths for each antenna, the architecture combines signals through multiplexing and shares the subsequent processing resources, significantly reducing the total area required while maintaining MIMO capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Productivity

If multiple antennas are used for MIMO, then data throughput increases, but noise increases and signal-to-noise ratio decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata throughputVSAvoidsignal-to-noise ratio

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The multiplexer acts as an intermediary component that selectively routes signals from multiple antennas to shared processing channels. This intermediate switching mechanism enables the system to manage multiple antenna inputs without directly connecting all signals to separate processing paths, thereby controlling noise propagation while maintaining the ability to process multiple signals for increased throughput.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS8611445B2Multiple-input multiple-output wireless transceiver architecture

Publication Date: 2013.12.17 TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INC

AI summary

A wireless transceiver includes a receiver and a transmitter, the receiver and transmitter implemented to have multiple receive and transmit channels respectively, to provide multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) capability. In an embodiment, the transceiver is implemented to include two transmit channels and two receive channels. Some blocks/circuitry of each of the receive and transmit channels are implemented with reduced area and current consumption, with a corresponding increase in noise. In a single-input single-output (SISO) mode of operation, the receiver combines the output of both the receive channels to compensate for the increase in noise due to the implementation with smaller area and lower current consumption. Similarly, the transmitter combines the output of both the transmit channels to compensate for the increase in noise. The transceiver operates with no signal degradation in SISO mode, and with a small degradation in signal quality in the MIMO mode.