Multi-Band Remote Unit With Shared Digital Processing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing multi-band remote units in wireless communications systems require multiple digital processing circuits for each frequency band, leading to increased cost and power consumption, and potential heat dissipation issues as the number of supported frequency bands increases.

Innovation Solution

A multi-band remote unit design that separates digital processing circuits from RF front-end circuits, allowing the digital processing circuit to be shared among multiple RF front-end circuits, reducing the overall number of digital processing circuits needed and potentially implemented in a digital front-end IC or PCB, thereby reducing cost and power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple digital processing circuits are used for each frequency band, then the multi-band remote unit can support multiple frequency bands, but the cost and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of frequency bands supportedVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a single digital processing circuit that can be dynamically configured to handle multiple frequency bands through software control. The digital processing circuit is shared across multiple RF front-end circuits, allowing one circuit to perform the functions of what would traditionally require multiple dedicated circuits. This universal approach enables the system to support multiple frequency bands while reducing power consumption and cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs dynamic configuration where the digital processing circuit can be programmatically adjusted to operate at different frequency bands as needed. Rather than being statically dedicated to a single band, the circuit dynamically adapts its parameters and operations based on which frequency band is currently active, enabling multi-band support with a single circuit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple digital processing circuits are used for each frequency band, then the multi-band remote unit can support multiple frequency bands, but the cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of frequency bands supportedVSAvoidcost
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a single digital processing circuit that can be dynamically configured to handle multiple frequency bands through software control. The digital processing circuit is shared across multiple RF front-end circuits, allowing one circuit to perform the functions of what would traditionally require multiple dedicated circuits. This universal approach enables the system to support multiple frequency bands while reducing power consumption and cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the functionality of multiple separate digital processing circuits into a single shared circuit. By combining these functions and using time-division or frequency-division multiplexing techniques, the system achieves multi-band capability with reduced component count, lowering both manufacturing cost and complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple digital processing circuits are used for each frequency band, then the multi-band remote unit can support multiple frequency bands, but heat dissipation issues occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of frequency bands supportedVSAvoidheat dissipation
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a single digital processing circuit that can be dynamically configured to handle multiple frequency bands through software control. The digital processing circuit is shared across multiple RF front-end circuits, allowing one circuit to perform the functions of what would traditionally require multiple dedicated circuits. This universal approach enables the system to support multiple frequency bands while reducing power consumption and cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the digital processing function from being duplicated across multiple circuits and consolidates it into a single shared resource. By taking out the redundant processing circuits and replacing them with a shared circuit that is activated only when needed for each band, the system reduces the continuous heat generation that would occur with multiple always-on circuits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Adaptability or versatility

If multiple digital processing circuits are used for each frequency band, then the multi-band remote unit can support multiple frequency bands, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of frequency bands supportedVSAvoidnumber of digital processing circuits
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a single digital processing circuit that can be dynamically configured to handle multiple frequency bands through software control. The digital processing circuit is shared across multiple RF front-end circuits, allowing one circuit to perform the functions of what would traditionally require multiple dedicated circuits. This universal approach enables the system to support multiple frequency bands while reducing power consumption and cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the operation of the single digital processing circuit into different time or frequency slots corresponding to different frequency bands. By dividing the operational timeline or frequency resources, the single circuit can sequentially or selectively handle multiple bands without requiring parallel hardware instances, thus reducing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11483722B2Multi-band remote unit in a wireless communications system (WCS)
Publication Date: 2022.10.25 ANI ACQUISITION SUB LLC
  • US11483722B2 patent drawing
  • US11483722B2 patent drawing
  • US11483722B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A multi-band remote unit is disclosed. The multi-hand remote unit includes a number of radio frequency (RF) front-end circuits configured to generate a number of downlink RF communications signals associated with a number of frequency bands based on a number of downlink digital communications signals, respectively. The multi-band remote unit also includes a digital interface circuit and a digital processing circuit. The digital interface circuit is configured to receive an encapsulated downlink digital communications signal and generate the downlink digital communications signals associated with the frequency bands based on the encapsulated downlink digital communications signal. The digital processing circuit is configured to digitally process the downlink digital communications signals before providing the downlink digital communications signals to the RF front-end circuits. As such, it may be possible to share the digital processing circuit among RF front-end circuits, thus helping to reduce cost and/or power consumption of the multi-band remote unit.