OFDM Diversity Reception with Synchronized Demodulator Timing

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Solution Overview

Problem

In DVB-T2 reception devices, the timing to output a signal from a demodulation unit varies before and after the acquisition of transmission parameters, making it difficult to realize diversity by simply combining outputs from multiple demodulation units.

Innovation Solution

A reception device comprising a first and second demodulation unit, a signal combining unit, and a transmission parameter processing unit that extracts and supplies transmission parameters to both demodulation units, allowing for the combination of multiplexed signals and enabling diversity in signal reception.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple demodulation units are used for diversity reception, then reception performance is improved, but the timing variation of output signals prevents effective combining

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereception performanceVSAvoidtiming variation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The transmission parameter processing unit extracts and distributes transmission parameters to multiple demodulation units before they process the multiplexed signals. This preliminary provision of timing synchronization information enables the demodulation units to align their output timing, allowing effective signal combining while maintaining diversity reception benefits

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The transmission parameter processing unit acts as an intermediary between the signal combining unit and the demodulation units. It receives timing synchronization information, processes transmission parameters, and distributes them to demodulation units, thereby coordinating their operations and enabling timely signal combining

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If transmission parameters are extracted from combined signals, then processing efficiency is improved, but the parameters must be synchronized across multiple demodulation units

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing efficiencyVSAvoidparameter synchronization
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The transmission parameter processing unit receives timing synchronization information from the signal combining unit and uses this feedback to adjust and standardize the transmission parameters it distributes to demodulation units. This feedback mechanism ensures that all demodulation units operate with synchronized parameters, maintaining system stability while enabling efficient processing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3214776B1Receiving device and method
Publication Date: 2024.06.05 SONY GROUP CORP
  • EP3214776B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3214776B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3214776B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a reception device and a method that realize diversity in reception of signals including transmission parameters in specific positions timewise. The reception device includes: demodulation units that are of two systems and have the same structures; a signal combining unit that combines multiplexed signals from the demodulation units of the two systems; and a transmission parameter processing unit that extracts transmission parameters from the signal combined by the signal combining unit, and supplies the extracted transmission parameters to the respective demodulation units of the two systems. The present disclosure can be applied to reception devices that receive OFDM signals, for example.