Polyphase Filter Interphase Coupling for Noncontiguous Carriers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless interface devices struggle to efficiently process noncontiguous carrier aggregation due to increased power usage and component requirements, leading to larger and more costly devices, especially when handling wider channel bandwidths at higher frequencies.
Innovation Solution
A polyphase transconductance-capacitor filter is used to process nonadjacent carriers by cross-coupling signal components through interphase coupling, reducing the need for additional transconductance units and components like low-noise amplifiers and local oscillators, thereby saving power and reducing device size and cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple communication chains are used to process noncontiguous carriers, then processing capability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple communication chains into a single shared communication chain that processes noncontiguous carriers through time-division multiplexing. The polyphase filter selectively couples filter units to different carriers based on timing signals, allowing one communication chain to handle multiple carriers that would traditionally require separate chains, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining processing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic switching within the communication chain using polyphase filter units that can be selectively coupled to different carriers. The filter units are dynamically activated or deactivated based on which carrier needs processing at any given time, allowing the system to adapt its resource allocation and reduce power consumption when fewer carriers are active.
2Reliability
If additional transconductance units are added to process noncontiguous carriers, then filtering performance is improved, but device area increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes each transconductance-capacitor filter unit universal by designing it to process multiple different carriers through selective coupling. Instead of having dedicated filter units for each carrier, a single set of filter units can be dynamically assigned to different carriers based on timing signals, eliminating the need for additional filter units and reducing device area while maintaining filtering performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The polyphase filter structure enables filter units to serve multiple carriers selflessly by being selectively coupled to different carriers as needed. The same physical filter units provide service to different carriers at different times, eliminating the need for redundant filter units and reducing the overall device area required for processing noncontiguous carriers.
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate communication chains are used for noncontiguous carriers, then carrier processing independence is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the carrier processing function into separate polyphase filter units that can be independently controlled and selectively coupled to different carriers. This segmentation allows independent processing of different carriers while sharing common communication chain resources, achieving carrier processing independence without the full complexity of separate communication chains.
Data Source
AI summary
An example apparatus includes a polyphase transconductance-capacitor filter. The polyphase filter includes a DC bias voltage node, a plus in-phase filter unit, a minus in-phase filter unit, a plus quadrature-phase filter unit, and a minus quadrature-phase filter unit. Each filter unit respectively includes an input node, an output node, and a control node. The polyphase filter also includes a plus in-phase switch and a minus in-phase switch. The plus in-phase switch is coupled to the control node of the plus in-phase filter unit, the DC bias voltage node, and the input node of one or both of the plus quadrature-phase filter unit and the minus quadrature-phase filter unit. The minus in-phase switch is coupled to the control node of the minus in-phase filter unit, the DC bias voltage node, and the input node of one or both of the plus quadrature-phase filter unit and the minus quadrature-phase filter unit.