PLL Compensation Filter for Transmitter Bandwidth Expansion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Phase locked loops (PLLs) in wireless signal transmitting devices, such as VSATs, limit bandwidth, leading to degraded signal fidelity and poorer performance compared to receiving devices.

Innovation Solution

A compensation filter is implemented in the signal path of the transmitting device, programmed with coefficients and parameters to expand the PLL bandwidth, using a digital FIR Gaussian filter to pre-distort signals and maintain original signal integrity through the antenna connector.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a phase locked loop is used in a transmitting device, then signal stability and frequency control are improved, but bandwidth is reduced leading to degraded signal fidelity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal stabilityVSAvoidsignal fidelity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The compensation filter performs preliminary action by pre-distorting the signal before it enters the PLL. The filter applies inverse characteristics of the PLL's bandwidth limitation, so that when the signal passes through the PLL, the pre-applied compensation restores the original signal characteristics, effectively expanding the usable bandwidth while maintaining signal fidelity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the parameters of the transmitting device by introducing a compensation filter with programmable coefficients. These coefficients are configured to match the specific PLL characteristics, allowing the system to adaptively compensate for bandwidth limitations and improve signal fidelity without sacrificing the stability provided by the PLL

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the phase locked loop bandwidth is reduced for stability, then frequency control is improved, but the transmitting device performance deteriorates compared to receiving device

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefrequency controlVSAvoidtransmitting device performance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The compensation filter applies preliminary distortion to the modulating signal that is the mathematical inverse of the PLL's bandwidth-limiting effect. This pre-compensation ensures that after the signal passes through the PLL, the overall response matches the desired frequency response, thereby maintaining transmitting device performance comparable to receiving devices

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs feedback by measuring the actual PLL frequency response and using this information to configure the compensation filter coefficients. This closed-loop approach ensures that the compensation is precisely tailored to the specific PLL implementation, optimizing both frequency control and transmitting performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2632042B1Apparatus and method for phase locked loop bandwidth expansion
Publication Date: 2019.05.29 HUGHES NETWORK SYST
  • EP2632042B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2632042B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2632042B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An apparatus for PLL bandwidth expansion including a compensation filter and a phase locked loop, where the compensation filter is programmed with a compensation function derived based on programmable coefficients and parameters of a transmitting device, a frequency response of the phase locked loop, and a wanted frequency response.