Universal RF Blocks for Carrier Aggregation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Designing transceivers that can support multiple carrier aggregation schemes across various frequency bands is challenging due to the need for bespoke hardware, leading to high costs and complexity, especially for universal user equipment that must function across different countries' frequency bands.

Innovation Solution

The solution involves grouping E-UTRA frequency bands into a limited number of frequency ranges, allowing RF blocks, such as RF amplifiers, to be adaptable across these groups, reducing the number of different amplifiers needed and enabling efficient support for various carrier aggregation schemes with a compact and flexible transceiver architecture.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If transceiver hardware is designed specifically for implementing a specific carrier aggregation scheme, then the transceiver can support that specific scheme, but it cannot support other carrier aggregation schemes and requires modification for each new scheme

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecarrier aggregation scheme supportVSAvoidcarrier aggregation scheme adaptability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The transceiver is designed with universal RF blocks that can handle multiple carrier aggregation schemes (contiguous, non-contiguous intra-band, and inter-band) through a single unified architecture. The RF blocks are configured to operate across different frequency bands and aggregation types without requiring hardware modification, enabling one transceiver to serve multiple carrier aggregation implementations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple separate transceivers are used for each frequency band to support carrier aggregation, then all required bands can be supported, but the component count increases and the front end architecture becomes expensive and unwieldy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefrequency band coverageVSAvoidtransceiver architecture complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple frequency band handling capabilities are merged into a single transceiver unit. The unified front end architecture combines RF blocks that can process multiple bands and carrier aggregation schemes simultaneously, reducing the need for separate transceivers for each band while maintaining full band support capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The RF blocks are designed as universal components capable of operating across different frequency bands and supporting various carrier aggregation configurations, eliminating the need for band-specific transceiver duplicates

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If RF circuit blocks and amplifiers are provided for each possible band to support carrier aggregation, then all carrier aggregation schemes can be implemented, but the component count and total footprint increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecarrier aggregation scheme supportVSAvoidtransceiver footprint

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The RF circuit blocks and amplifiers are designed as universal components that can operate across multiple frequency bands and support various carrier aggregation schemes. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate RF blocks for each band, significantly reducing the total component count and transceiver footprint while maintaining full carrier aggregation capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS8903409B2Transceiver arrangement

Publication Date: 2014.12.02 SEQUANS COMMUNICATIONS

AI summary

An arrangement for a transmitter and/or receiver which is adapted to allow carrier aggregation in a wireless communication system, comprising a plurality of radio frequency (RF) blocks, each of which is inherently adapted to operate substantially across (in the region of) one of the particular groups of frequency ranges. The number of groups may be 5 or less.