Wideband Receiver Digital Frontend Channel Grouping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wideband receiver systems face challenges in efficiently receiving multiple non-contiguous radio frequency channels without requiring expensive digital processing, high-speed data conversion, and large dynamic range in the demodulator.
Innovation Solution
A wideband receiver system that uses a complex mixer module to down-shift multiple RF channels into an in-phase and quadrature signal in the baseband or low intermediate frequency (IF) band, followed by a wideband analog-to-digital converter and a digital frontend module with complex mixers to filter and decimate the desired channels, allowing them to be grouped into a contiguous frequency band for processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a wideband tuner receives multiple non-contiguous channels across a broad frequency spectrum, then the receiver can concurrently receive multiple desired channels, but the dynamic range requirement and processing complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the broad frequency spectrum into multiple sub-bands, each handled by a separate tuner. This segmentation allows each tuner to process a narrower frequency range with lower dynamic range requirements, while the system as a whole maintains the capability to receive multiple non-contiguous channels across the entire spectrum.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the frequency domain problem into a time-multiplexed processing approach. By using multiple tuners that can be selectively activated based on which frequency bands are needed, the system handles non-contiguous channels without requiring all tuners to operate simultaneously at full dynamic range.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the tuner covers a broad frequency spectrum to receive multiple channels, then more channels can be received, but the bandwidth covered by the tuner must be reduced or the dynamic range limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the broad frequency spectrum into multiple sub-bands, with each tuner responsible for a specific sub-band. This allows the system to cover a total bandwidth greater than any single tuner's capability, while each individual tuner operates within its optimized bandwidth range.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a multi-functional receiver system where multiple tuners can handle different frequency sub-bands. The system can selectively activate only the tuners needed for the current set of desired channels, making the overall system adaptable to various channel configurations without requiring all tuners to cover the entire spectrum simultaneously.
3Productivity
If all channels in a broad spectrum are down-converted to intermediate frequency, then concurrent reception is enabled, but expensive digital processing and high-speed data conversion are required in the demodulator
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and processes each desired channel individually from its respective sub-band using separate tuners. By processing channels in their original frequency locations rather than bringing them all to a common intermediate frequency, the system avoids the need for expensive wideband digital processing and high-speed data conversion in the demodulator.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses individual tuners as intermediary devices for each sub-band, converting each sub-band to a manageable intermediate frequency range before demodulation. This approach allows standard demodulators to process each channel independently without requiring expensive wideband processing capabilities.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables the concurrent reception and processing of multiple desired RF channels in a contiguous frequency band, reducing the need for expensive digital processing and high dynamic range in the demodulator, while optimizing channel placement to avoid interference.
Implementation Method 1
a complex mixer module that down-converts the multiple RF channels and transforms them to an in-phase signal and a quadrature signal in the baseband or low intermediate frequency (IF) band
Data Source
AI summary
A wideband receiver system comprises a wideband analog-to-digital converter (ADC) module and a digital frontend (DFE) module. The wideband ADC is configured to concurrently digitize a band of frequencies comprising a plurality of desired channels and a plurality of undesired channels. The DFE module is coupled to the digital in-phase and quadrature signals. The DFE module is configured to select the plurality of desired channels from the digitized band of frequencies, and generate an intermediate frequency (IF) signal comprising the selected plurality of desired channels and having a bandwidth that is less than a bandwidth of the band of frequencies, where the generation comprises frequency shifting of the selected plurality of desired channels. The IF signal may be a digital signal and the DFE is configured to output the IF signal via a serial or parallel interface.