Multi-Antenna Signal Conditioning Without RF Phase Shifters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic devices for radio frequency applications with multiple antennas face high electrical power consumption and significant silicon space occupancy due to the need for spatial filtering operations, particularly in the transmission chain that includes power amplifiers and phase shifters.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that condition signals from multiple antennas using a transmission path with a 90° power divider and a 90° power combiner, along with variable gain power amplification, where the gains are adjusted based on the characteristics of the input signal and antennas, allowing phase shifting and amplification without a phase shifter, thus reducing power consumption and silicon space requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional transmission chains with phase shifters and power amplifiers are used for spatial filtering, then signal transmission capability is improved, but electrical power consumption increases and silicon space occupancy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the phase shifting function and power amplification function into a single integrated transmission path. The hybrid coupler stages perform both power division/combinion and phase shifting operations simultaneously, eliminating the need for separate phase shifter components and reducing overall power consumption while maintaining signal transmission capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The hybrid coupler is designed to perform multiple functions: power division, power combination, and phase shifting. By making the coupler multi-functional, the patent eliminates the need for dedicated phase shifter components, thereby reducing both power consumption and silicon space occupancy while maintaining reliable signal transmission.
2Reliability
If traditional transmission chains with phase shifters and power amplifiers are used for spatial filtering, then signal transmission capability is improved, but silicon space occupancy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the phase shifting function into the hybrid coupler stages, eliminating the need for separate phase shifter components. This integration significantly reduces the silicon space required for the transmission path while maintaining the necessary signal transmission capability through the coupled stages.
Solution Approach 2:
The hybrid coupler is designed to perform multiple functions including power division, power combination, and phase shifting. By making the coupler multi-functional, the patent reduces the total number of components needed, thereby decreasing silicon space occupancy while preserving reliable signal transmission.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple transmission lines are used for each antenna to provide spatial filtering, then beamforming control capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple transmission paths into a single integrated path using hybrid coupler stages. The first and second hybrid coupling stages work together to achieve the spatial filtering and beamforming control that would otherwise require multiple separate transmission lines, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The transmission path is segmented into distinct functional stages: a first hybrid coupling stage for power division and initial phase control, variable gain power amplification stages for signal amplification, and a second hybrid coupling stage for power combination and final phase control. This segmentation allows complex beamforming operations to be achieved through coordinated simple stages.
Data Source
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AI summary
The electronic device includes at least two antennas for transmitting signals, and at least one transmission path (2, 3), the transmission path comprising a first coupling stage (7) and a second coupling stage (8), and variable gain power amplification means (4), two inputs of the first coupling stage being intended to receive a power input signal, each output of the first coupling stage being connected to a different input of the second coupling stage via the power amplification means, each output of the second coupling stage being connected to a different antenna, the electronic device comprising control means (14) configured to drive the gains of the power amplification means according to the characteristics of the power input signal, the characteristics of the signals transmitted by the antennas and the characteristics of the coupling stages.