RF Front-End Cancellation Paths for Full-Duplex Radios

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Solution Overview

Problem

Full duplex radio communication systems experience significant self-interference due to the system's own transmission interfering with its own reception, leading to diminished data throughput and reduced signal-to-noise ratio (SNR).

Innovation Solution

Implementing a transceiver with a main transmitter and canceller transmitter to generate RF transmit and cancellation signals, amplified by power amplifiers, and splitting these signals into multiple paths for cancellation, combined with the received signal in both the RF and digital domains to cancel self-interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If full duplex radio technology is used to double spectral efficiency, then spectral efficiency is improved, but self-interference from the system's own transmission interferes with reception, reducing data throughput

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespectral efficiencyVSAvoidself-interference
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary anti-action by generating a cancellation signal that is the inverse of the expected self-interference signal before it reaches the receiver. The canceller transmitter creates an RF cancellation signal that, when combined with the received signal, pre-neutralizes the self-interference from the main transmitter, allowing the receiver to detect the desired signal without degradation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary cancellation signal path that mediates between the harmful self-interference and the desired received signal. The canceller transmitter and canceller receiver create an intermediate cancellation path that generates and processes the cancellation signal, which then combines with the received signal to eliminate the harmful self-interference component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Duration of action of moving object

If the same frequency is used for continuous transmitting and receiving, then continuous communication capability is improved, but the transmit signal interferes with the receive signal, reducing signal-to-noise ratio

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuous communication capabilityVSAvoidsignal-to-noise ratio
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies preliminary anti-action by continuously generating cancellation signals that preemptively counteract the self-interference. The canceller transmitter continuously produces RF cancellation signals that are combined with the received signal before processing, ensuring that the transmit signal does not degrade the signal-to-noise ratio of the received signal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent maintains continuity of useful action by enabling simultaneous continuous transmission and reception on the same frequency. The cancellation mechanism operates continuously alongside the main transmit and receive paths, allowing the system to maintain uninterrupted full-duplex communication without sacrificing signal quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Productivity

If self-interference cancellation is implemented to maintain data throughput, then data throughput is improved, but the system complexity increases with additional transmitters, receivers, and signal processing paths

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata throughputVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the radio system into distinct functional segments: a main transmitter-receiver path and a separate canceller transmitter-receiver path. This segmentation allows the self-interference cancellation function to be implemented as a modular addition rather than requiring complete system redesign, managing complexity through functional separation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The canceller transmitter and canceller receiver serve multiple functions: they generate cancellation signals, process received signals, and combine outputs to eliminate self-interference. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional dedicated components, managing system complexity by having the cancellation path perform multiple roles in the overall interference mitigation process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4618429A1Apparatus and methods for self-jamming cancellation in full duplex radios
Publication Date: 2025.09.17 ANALOG DEVICES INT UNLTD CO
  • EP4618429A1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4618429A1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP4618429A1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

Apparatus and methods for self-jamming cancellation in full duplex radios are disclosed herein. In certain embodiments, an RF front-end system includes a main power amplifier that amplifies an RF transmit signal from a main transmitter of a transceiver and a canceller power amplifier that amplifies an RF cancellation signal from a canceller transmitter of the transceiver. The RF front-end system operates to split the amplified RF cancellation signal into two or more cancellation signals including a first cancellation signal that is combined with an RF receive signal and a second cancellation signal that is combined with a sensed transmit signal from an output of the main power amplifier. The RF receive signal and the first cancellation signal are combined and provided to a main receiver of the transceiver, while the sensed transmit signal and the second cancellation signal are combined and provided to a canceller receiver of the transceiver.