Multi-frequency Band Receiver with Variable Gain Amplifier Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current multi-frequency band receivers for GNSS signals are either too large, expensive, and power-hungry for mass market applications, or they suffer from interference and inefficiencies in processing multiple frequency bands simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
A multi-frequency band receiver design with a first and second reception path, a combiner, a code division baseband stage, and an amplifier controller, allowing for variable gain control to optimize the reception quality of baseband signals based on operating states, thereby improving performance and reducing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If discrete high-end front ends are used for multi-band reception, then measurement precision and reliability are improved, but device complexity, size, and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple frequency band processing paths into a single integrated receiver architecture. The superposition unit combines signals from different frequency bands (e.g., E1 and E5) through a common baseband processing path, eliminating the need for separate discrete front ends for each band. This reduces device complexity while maintaining multi-band reception capabilities and measurement precision.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate single-frequency front ends are used for each GNSS signal, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal baseband processing path that handles multiple frequency bands simultaneously. The same baseband processing units (FFT, code correlation, carrier tracking) process signals from different frequency bands through the superposition unit, eliminating the need for separate processing chains for each band. This reduces power consumption while maintaining adaptability to receive multiple GNSS signals across different frequency bands.
3Device complexity
If subsampling architecture is used for wideband signals, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision and reliability deteriorate due to interference and aliasing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the signal processing into distinct frequency band paths (e.g., E1 path and E5 path) before superposition. Each path has its own band-specific filtering and downconversion, but they share a common baseband processing unit. This segmentation approach avoids the aliasing and interference problems of subsampling architecture while maintaining reduced device complexity compared to fully discrete solutions.
4Device complexity
If fixed gain amplification is used in reception paths, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to inability to adapt to different operating states
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces variable gain amplifiers with dynamic control in the reception paths. The gain factors can be adjusted based on operating states and signal conditions to optimize the reception quality of baseband signals. This dynamic adjustment capability improves measurement precision without significantly increasing device complexity, as the control logic can be integrated into the existing receiver architecture.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a multi-frequency band receiver comprising a first receiving path, a second receiving path, a combiner, a code multiplex base band stage and an amplifier controller. The first receiving path receives and processes a first code multiplex signal and the second receiving path receives and processes a second code multiplex signal. For this purpose the first receiving path or the second receiving path has an amplifier having a variable amplification factor. The combiner superimposes the first processed code multiplex signal and the second processed code multiplex signal. The code multiplex base band stage processes the superimposed code multiplex signal in order to obtain and use a first base band received signal and a second base band received signal. The first base band received signal represents data of the first code multiplex signal and the second base band received signal represents data of the second code multiplex signal. Furthermore the amplifier controller controls the amplification factor of the amplifier having a variable amplification factor, so that the first base band received signal or the second base band received signal has a minimum reception quality which can be variably predetermined and is dependent on the operating state.