RF Circuit Feedback Receiver for Wideband Power Calibration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional RF circuits are designed for low and narrow band frequencies and are not suitable for transmitting and receiving high frequency wideband signals, lacking couplers which complicates power control and calibration.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device with an RF circuit that includes a mixer, balun, and a feedback receiver (FBRX) to suppress image signals and effectively transmit and receive high frequency wideband signals, utilizing a power divider and coupler to facilitate power control and calibration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional RF circuit design is used, then the circuit is suitable for low frequency narrow band signals, but it cannot effectively transmit and receive high frequency wideband signals

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefrequency band adaptabilityVSAvoidsignal transmission reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The RF circuit is divided into separate transmit path and receive path with dedicated components for each path. The transmit path includes transmit mixer, transmit amplifier, and transmit filter, while the receive path includes receive mixer, receive amplifier, and receive filter. This segmentation allows each path to be optimized for its specific function and frequency range, enabling the circuit to handle high frequency wideband signals effectively.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The circuit employs dynamic component selection through switches that can connect different filter banks depending on the operating frequency band. Multiple filter banks are designed with different frequency characteristics, and the switch dynamically selects the appropriate filter bank based on whether the signal is in low band or high band, allowing the circuit to adapt to different frequency ranges while maintaining signal integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Device complexity

If coupler is not included in the RF circuit, then the circuit structure is simpler, but power control and calibration become difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecircuit structure complexityVSAvoidpower control and calibration ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

A coupler is introduced as an intermediary component in the transmit path that taps off a portion of the transmitted signal and feeds it to the receive path. This allows the receive path to monitor and measure the transmit signal characteristics without requiring separate test equipment, enabling easy power control and calibration while maintaining a relatively simple overall circuit structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The coupler enables feedback by routing a portion of the transmit signal to the receive path, where it can be measured and used to adjust transmit power levels. This feedback mechanism allows for automatic power control and calibration, making the circuit easier to operate and maintain while only adding a single coupler component to the otherwise simple structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Device complexity

If image signals are not suppressed, then the circuit operation is simpler, but communication performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal processing complexityVSAvoidcommunication performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The image signals, which are normally harmful interference, are converted into useful information by routing them through the receive path to the processor. The processor can identify and analyze these image signals to determine transmit signal characteristics, turning what was previously a performance-degrading factor into a useful measurement resource that actually improves communication reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentEP3648360B1Electronic device including wireless communication system, for processing transmission signal or reception signal
Publication Date: 2026.04.01 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3648360B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3648360B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3648360B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An electronic device is disclosed. The electronic device may include an antenna for transmitting and receiving a signal in an RF frequency band, and an RF circuit for processing the signal in the RF frequency band. The RF circuit may include an Rx path for transferring a first signal received through the antenna, a Tx path for transferring a second signal output from an amplifier to the antenna, and a coupler for transferring at least a part of the second signal obtained in the Tx path to the Rx path. In addition, various embodiments understood from the specification are possible.