RF Analog Receiver Encoding with Orthogonal PN Codes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional receivers for RF signals require high hardware costs and complexity due to multiple receiving paths, leading to increased circuitry complexity and power consumption, especially when supporting multiple spectrum bands.
Innovation Solution
The use of mutually orthogonal PN complex codes for encoding and down-conversion in a single stage, which reduces hardware requirements by sharing resources among receiving paths and eliminates undesired harmonics and images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional receiver architecture is used to support multiple receiving paths, then system capacity and spectrum band access are improved, but hardware cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines analog signal spreading and down-conversion into a single integrated stage, eliminating the need for separate down-conversion circuits for each receiving path. Multiple receiving paths share common hardware resources including ADCs, filters, and processing circuits, thereby reducing overall hardware cost and device complexity while maintaining support for multiple spectrum bands
Solution Approach 2:
The receiver design implements universal hardware resources that can be shared across multiple receiving paths. A single set of down-conversion circuits, ADCs, and processing components serves multiple spectrum bands and receiving paths simultaneously through analog spreading techniques, enabling one hardware configuration to handle multiple functions and frequency bands
2Productivity
If the number of receiving paths is increased to support multiple access, then system capacity is improved, but power consumption and processing speed requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple receiving paths into a unified analog spreading architecture where signals from multiple paths are combined and processed together. This consolidation reduces the total number of independent processing chains, thereby lowering power consumption while maintaining high system capacity through efficient resource utilization
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses analog spreading codes to create virtual copies of signal processing capability without requiring physical duplication of hardware for each receiving path. Multiple logical receiving paths are achieved through code-based separation rather than hardware replication, reducing power consumption while maintaining system capacity
3Measurement precision
If separate down-conversion stages are used for each receiving path, then signal processing accuracy is improved, but hardware cost and receiver complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines analog signal spreading and down-conversion operations into a single integrated stage. This merging eliminates the need for separate down-conversion circuits for each receiving path, reducing receiver complexity and hardware cost while maintaining signal processing accuracy through the mathematical properties of orthogonal spreading codes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces analog spreading codes as an intermediary mechanism that enables signal separation and down-conversion without requiring separate dedicated circuits for each path. The spreading codes act as a virtual mediator that maintains signal integrity and processing accuracy while reducing hardware complexity
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 approach decreases hardware costs and improves device performance by reducing interference and distortion, allowing flexible operation over multiple spectrum bands with shared hardware resources.
Implementation Method 1
Each PN complex code is modulated using complex modulation. A PN encoder on each receiving path may use the PN complex code to encode a respective received analog signal, in order to perform analog spreading and down-conversion on the received analog signal in one step.
Data Source
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AI summary
Apparatus for encoding a plurality of received radio frequency (RF) analog signals. The apparatus includes a plurality of pseudo-noise (PN) encoders for performing analog signal spreading and down-conversion. Each PN encoder is configured to encode a respective received RF analog signal using a respective one of a plurality of mutually orthogonal PN complex codes and to output a respective PN-encoded analog signal. The apparatus also includes a PN complex code source configured to provide the mutually orthogonal PN complex codes to the plurality of PN encoders. The PN complex code source includes a code generator for generating multiple mutually orthogonal PN codes, and a complex modulator for modulating the mutually orthogonal PN codes.