RF Attenuator Control for Peak Current in Converged Radios
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Solution Overview
Problem
Converged wireless communication devices experience high current drain due to simultaneous transmissions using different communication protocols, with traditional methods either reducing transmission power uniformly or relying on battery current measurement, which are undesirable.
Innovation Solution
A system with an attenuator and control circuit that selectively adjusts transmission power levels based on the operating conditions of each communication protocol, using an attenuator to reduce peak current during simultaneous transmissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If transmission power is reduced uniformly to limit peak current, then battery current drain is reduced, but communication quality is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by selectively attenuating the RF signal from one transmitter system while allowing the other transmitter system to operate at full power. This is achieved through an attenuator that can be selectively placed in the signal path of either the first or second RF transmitter system based on which protocol is experiencing interference, thereby locally reducing power only where needed to resolve peak current issues while maintaining communication quality overall.
2Power
If transmission power is limited regardless of transmission type, then peak current is controlled, but user preference for certain protocol power levels cannot be satisfied
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics through a control system that dynamically adjusts the attenuation state based on real-time detection of which transmitter system is experiencing interference. The attenuator can be switched between different states (attenuating first transmitter, attenuating second transmitter, or bypassing both) depending on the operational conditions, allowing the system to adaptively manage peak current while preserving user-preferred power levels for each protocol when not experiencing interference.
3Use of energy by moving object
If traditional current measurement methods are used to reduce current drain, then battery usage is optimized, but the measurement process itself causes undesirable current drain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an intermediary approach by introducing an attenuator as a mediator between the transmitter systems and the antenna. Instead of directly measuring and controlling current from the battery, the system uses the attenuator to indirectly control the RF signal power levels, which in turn controls peak current without requiring continuous battery current measurement. This intermediary mechanism eliminates the measurement-induced current drain problem.
Data Source
AI summary
Examples provide a converged communication device including a first radio frequency (RF) transmitter system configured to transmit signals according to a first communication protocol, and a second RF transmitter system configured to transmit signals according to a second communication protocol. An attenuator operable in an active mode and a bypass mode is configured to receive an RF signal generated by a processor of the second RF transmitter system and selectively attenuate the RF signal. In the bypass mode, the attenuator outputs the RF signal to an RF power amplifier (RFPA) of the second transmitter system without attenuation. In the active mode, the attenuator attenuates the RF signal and outputs an attenuated RF signal to the RFPA. An attenuator control circuit controls the attenuator for operation in the active mode or the bypass mode based on state information received from the first RF transmitter system and/or the second RF transmitter system.