Quadrature Modulator Architecture for Low-Power Wireless Audio
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless microphones face limitations in power consumption, cost, and size due to complex digital modulation techniques, which affect their battery life and operational efficiency compared to traditional analog systems.
Innovation Solution
A quadrature modulator system that includes a digital-analog transformation circuit, oversampling noise-shaping modulator, and baseband filter, optimized for power consumption, cost, and size, using sigma-delta modulation and discrete components, such as a field-programmable gate array, to reduce noise and power consumption, and support two-dimensional digital modulation schemes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If complex digital modulation techniques are used, then modulation capability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the modulation process into two independent dimensions: amplitude modulation and phase modulation. By treating these as separate channels that can be processed independently, the system achieves complex two-dimensional modulation without requiring a single complex modulator, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining modulation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the modulation problem from a single complex dimension into two orthogonal dimensions (amplitude and phase). This dimensional decomposition allows the system to achieve sophisticated modulation schemes by combining simpler modulations along each dimension, reducing the computational and power complexity of the overall system.
2Adaptability or versatility
If complex digital modulation techniques are used, then modulation capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the complex modulator into separate amplitude modulation and phase modulation subsystems. Each subsystem handles only one dimension of modulation, making them simpler to design and implement. The combination of these independent subsystems achieves the overall complex modulation capability without requiring a single complex device.
Solution Approach 2:
By decomposing the modulation task into two orthogonal dimensions (amplitude and phase), the patent reduces the complexity of each individual modulation channel. This dimensional separation allows each subsystem to be optimized independently, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining the capability for sophisticated two-dimensional modulation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If complex digital modulation techniques are used, then modulation capability is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the modulation function into separate amplitude and phase components, allowing each to be implemented with simpler, less expensive circuitry. This modular approach reduces manufacturing costs compared to implementing a single complex modulator, while still achieving advanced modulation capabilities through the combination of the segmented components.
Solution Approach 2:
By separating modulation into two independent dimensions, the patent enables the use of simpler, more cost-effective components for each dimension. The orthogonal decomposition allows each subsystem to be optimized for cost-effectiveness, reducing overall manufacturing costs while maintaining sophisticated modulation capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A communications system, e.g., a wireless microphone, incorporates a quadrature modulator system to reduce power consumption with respect to traditional approaches and is general in nature to support any two-dimensional digital technique. The quadrature modulator system comprises different subsystems, including a digital-analog transformation circuit, a baseband filter, and a quadrature modulator. The digital-analog transformation circuit converts discrete time samples to a continuous time signal, and further includes an oversampling noise-shaping modulator such as a sigma-delta modulator. The baseband filter then removes out-of-band energy including sampling images and quantization noise. Some of the circuit components may comprise discrete devices that may result in a reduction of power consumption for the quadrature modulator system. Alternatively, some or all of the circuit components may be incorporated in a single electronic device. For example, an in-phase/quadrature-phase (I/Q) converter and oversampling noise-shaping modulator may be implemented within one field-programmable gate array.