MMW RF Front End With Current Reuse for Beamforming Linearity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transceivers face challenges in reducing power consumption while maintaining linear signal amplification in beamforming systems with multiple transmit and receive elements.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a millimeter wave RF front end with a current reuse architecture that combines DC current from in-phase and quadrature branches of a vector modulator amplifier to a low noise amplifier, reducing power consumption and providing a good AC ground for both components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple transmit and receive elements with phase shifters are implemented in a beamforming system, then system capacity is increased, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the DC current paths of the in-phase and quadrature variable gain amplifiers into a shared current source that also supplies the low noise amplifier. This merging of current paths allows multiple amplifiers to share a common power supply, reducing the total power consumption while maintaining the functionality of multiple transmit and receive elements for beamforming operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The shared current source serves multiple functions: it provides DC current to the low noise amplifier for signal reception, and simultaneously provides DC current to both the in-phase and quadrature variable gain amplifiers for signal amplification. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate power supply circuits needed, thereby reducing overall power consumption while supporting multiple operational modes.
2Productivity
If multiple transmit and receive elements with phase shifters are implemented in a beamforming system, then system capacity is increased, but linear signal amplification becomes more difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the DC current supply paths of multiple amplifiers into a shared current source. This ensures that all amplifiers operate from a common, stable current reference, which helps maintain consistent linear amplification characteristics across multiple transmit and receive elements, thereby improving signal reliability while supporting increased system capacity.
3Ease of manufacture
If separate DC current paths are used for variable gain amplifiers and low noise amplifier, then each component can be optimized independently, but power consumption and circuit complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines separate DC current paths into a shared current source that supplies multiple amplifiers. This reduces the number of independent power supply circuits, thereby reducing power consumption and circuit complexity while still allowing each amplifier to maintain its own gain control and optimization characteristics through individual control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The shared current source is designed to serve multiple amplifier types (low noise amplifier and variable gain amplifiers) simultaneously. This universal power supply approach reduces overall circuit complexity and power consumption while maintaining the ability to independently optimize each amplifier's performance through separate control pathways.
Data Source
AI summary
A radio frequency (RF) front end for a communication system includes a phase shifter having an in phase variable gain amplifier (I VGA) and a quadrature VGA (Q VGA) configured to receive radio frequency (RF) signals, the I VGA and the Q VGA configured to provide a selectable output to primary sides of first and second electromagnetic (EM) elements, respectively, the I VGA and the Q VGA configured to selectively provide DC current to a low noise amplifier (LNA).