Multi-Channel Wireless Audio Receiver Signal Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless audio receivers face challenges in harsh RF environments due to multipath fading and asymmetrical noise, leading to suboptimal audio output and the need for complex setups with external antenna combiners and switches, especially when using more than two antennas.
Innovation Solution
A multi-channel wireless audio receiver system that flexibly routes and processes RF signals across multiple antennas, scaling signals based on SNR to maximize combined signal quality, allowing for daisy chaining and redundant channel allocation, and supporting high-order modulation schemes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional two antenna diversity is used, then the system is simple, but the coverage and performance are insufficient in large venues with multiple zones
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the reception system into multiple independent antenna channels (more than two antennas), each processing RF signals separately through its own RF analog processing module. This segmentation allows each antenna to cover different zones or directions, improving overall coverage while maintaining manageable complexity through modular processing paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extends the system from two-dimensional (two antennas) to three-dimensional spatial coverage by adding more antenna elements in different physical locations and orientations. This dimensional expansion enables coverage of multiple zones in large venues, with each antenna providing coverage in specific spatial directions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If more than two antennas are used to improve coverage, then coverage and performance improve, but the system requires external antenna combiners and switches increasing complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of multiple antenna reception paths into a unified processing architecture where all RF signals from multiple antennas are routed through integrated RF analog processing modules within a single receiver unit. This consolidation eliminates the need for external antenna combiners and switches, as the internal architecture naturally handles multiple input channels.
Solution Approach 2:
The RF analog processing modules are designed with universal functionality to handle RF signals from any antenna input. The same processing path can process signals from different antennas depending on configuration, allowing the system to adapt to various antenna arrangements without requiring dedicated processing hardware for each antenna.
3Reliability
If RF signals are received in harsh environments with multipath fading, then signal degradation occurs, but the system needs complex processing to maintain audio quality
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements signal quality assessment and adaptive processing where the receiver evaluates the quality of received RF signals from multiple antennas and dynamically adjusts processing parameters. This feedback mechanism allows the system to automatically optimize audio output quality based on real-time signal conditions without requiring complex manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs signal processing techniques that adjust parameters such as gain, filtering, and combining weights based on the received signal characteristics. By dynamically changing these processing parameters according to signal quality metrics, the system maintains audio quality in harsh environments with multipath fading and interference.
Data Source
AI summary
A flexible multi-channel diversity wireless audio receiver system for routing, processing, and combining multiple radio frequency (RF) signals containing audio signals received on respective antennas is provided. The wireless audio receiver system provides flexible routing of multiple RF signals in different selectable modes, and low latency uninterrupted reception of signals in harsh RF environments by combining multiple RF signals to maximize signal-to-noise ratio. The audio output may be generated in an uninterrupted fashion and mitigate multipath fading, interference, and asymmetrical noise issues. Received RF signals may also be cascaded by the wireless audio receiver system to allow daisy chaining.