Radio Frequency Receiver with Parallel Sub-Band Signal Observation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing radio frequency receivers struggle with uninterrupted observation of signals that are farther apart than the digital intermediate frequency bandwidth, leading to incomplete capture of signal properties or inability to detect pulsed or burst-like signals.
Innovation Solution
A radio frequency receiver design that splits incoming signals into multiple frequency bands, digitizes them simultaneously or quasi-simultaneously using multiple analog-to-digital converters, and downconverts these signals using corresponding digital downconverters, allowing for simultaneous or quasi-simultaneous observation and processing of all or most sub-bands within the operating frequency range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If scanning or searching operations are used to observe signals farther apart than the digital intermediate frequency bandwidth, then the receiver can observe signals across the entire frequency range, but the observation becomes interrupted and incomplete
Solution Approach 1:
The receiver divides the frequency range into multiple sub-bands using a splitter, with each sub-band processed by a dedicated analog-to-digital converter. This segmentation allows simultaneous observation of multiple frequency ranges without interruption, resolving the contradiction between wide frequency coverage and continuous observation.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple analog-to-digital converters process different frequency sub-bands simultaneously, merging their outputs into a unified signal processing stream. This combination enables uninterrupted observation across the entire frequency range while maintaining observation continuity.
2Device complexity
If a single analog-to-digital converter is used to digitize signals across the entire frequency range, then the device complexity is reduced, but the observation of all frequency bands simultaneously is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The frequency range is segmented into multiple sub-bands, each handled by a dedicated analog-to-digital converter. This segmentation enables simultaneous processing of multiple frequency bands, increasing signal processing throughput while keeping each converter's complexity manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of increasing the frequency range of a single converter, the system adds multiple converters operating in parallel across different frequency dimensions. This dimensional approach enables simultaneous observation of all frequency bands without requiring a single overly complex converter.
3Adaptability or versatility
If scanning operations are used to observe signals sequentially, then the receiver can cover the entire frequency range, but the capture of signal properties becomes insufficient or pulsed
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple analog-to-digital converters operate continuously and simultaneously on different frequency sub-bands, ensuring uninterrupted observation of signal properties. This continuous action eliminates the pulsed or interrupted capture characteristic of sequential scanning.
Solution Approach 2:
The simultaneous outputs from multiple converters are merged into a unified processing stream, allowing continuous and comprehensive capture of signal properties across all frequency bands without the interruptions inherent in sequential scanning.
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure relates to a radio frequency receiver for performing uninterrupted observation of all signals within an operating frequency range. The receiver includes an antenna(s), a splitter(s) to receive an analog input signal from the antenna(s) and to split the analog input signal into at least two analog signals corresponding to at least two frequency bands within an operating frequency range of the receiver, and a signal conversion block operably coupled to the splitter(s), to receive the at least two analog signals simultaneously or quasi-simultaneously. The signal conversion block includes analog-to-digital converters configured to digitize the respective at least two analog signals, thereby generating at least two digitized signals. The signal conversion block includes digital down converters respectively coupled to the analog-to-digital converters, to operate on at least one of the at least two frequency bands and further to down convert the respective at least two digitized signals.