Multi-band Concurrent Receiver Architecture for Low Power Signal Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional multichannel receivers consume high power due to high bandwidth operation, despite only processing the sum of information content from individual channels, and lack efficient signal processing and ADC optimization.
Innovation Solution
A low power receiver architecture that splits the RF signal at a low impedance point into multiple narrowband signal paths, using low resolution, low speed ADCs and baseband filters with bandwidth boosting techniques, allowing for concurrent processing of multiple channels with variable center frequency separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional multichannel receivers operate with high bandwidth to process multiple channels simultaneously, then multiple channels can be received and processed concurrently, but power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The receiver architecture segments the wideband RF signal into multiple narrowband signal paths using bandpass filters, each tuned to a specific channel frequency. This allows concurrent processing of multiple channels through separate narrowband paths rather than a single wideband path, reducing overall power consumption while maintaining multi-channel capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically configures the receiver architecture by selectively activating only the narrowband signal paths corresponding to desired channels, rather than continuously operating all paths at full bandwidth. This dynamic adaptation allows the receiver to process multiple channels concurrently when needed while consuming less power when fewer channels are active
2Measurement precision
If high resolution, high speed ADCs are used to maintain signal quality across wide bandwidth, then signal processing accuracy is improved, but device area and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The ADC function is segmented into multiple low-resolution, low-speed ADCs, each dedicated to a specific narrowband signal path. Each ADC only needs to process a limited bandwidth at reduced sampling rates, allowing the use of smaller, lower-power ADC components while maintaining overall signal processing accuracy through the combined output of multiple paths
Solution Approach 2:
Each narrowband signal path is optimized with locally appropriate processing parameters, including ADC resolution and sampling rate matched to the specific bandwidth and signal characteristics of that channel. This local optimization allows lower specification ADCs to be used in each path compared to a single high-specification ADC handling the entire wideband signal
3Productivity
If wideband amplification is used to cover all channel frequencies, then all channels can be amplified simultaneously, but signal loading increases and linearity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The amplification function is segmented into multiple narrowband amplifiers, each tuned to a specific channel frequency range. Each amplifier processes only its designated narrowband portion of the signal, reducing the signal loading on each amplifier and improving linearity compared to a single wideband amplifier that must handle the entire frequency spectrum simultaneously
Data Source
AI summary
A system of multiple concurrent receivers is described to process multiple narrow bandwidth wireless signals with arbitrary bandwidth and center frequency separation. These multiple receivers may provide a downconverted signal at the baseband frequency to process signal bandwidth using the lowest power consumption while using fully modular signal processing blocks operating at the low frequency. The concurrent receivers may operate from a single high frequency amplifier and may be derived from a low impedance point to reduce loading and improve scalability. The center frequency and bandwidth of each of the channels as well as phases of each of the channels may be independently reconfigured to achieve scalability, and on-chip test and calibration capability.