RF Receiver Front-End Gain Retention in Low-Power Mode

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wireless device transceivers face high power consumption, particularly in the receiver front-end, which is a challenge due to the trade-off between power consumption and gain, as reducing equivalent transconductance decreases gain and increases noise contributions.

Innovation Solution

A power mode selection unit dynamically adjusts the equivalent transconductance of the RF front-end amplifier and enables a negative resistance unit to maintain gain during low-power mode, reducing power consumption without sacrificing performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If the equivalent transconductance of the RF front-end amplifier is lowered to reduce power consumption, then power consumption is reduced, but the gain of the amplifier deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidamplifier gain

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

A negative resistance unit is introduced as an intermediary element connected to the output of the RF front-end amplifier. This negative resistance unit compensates for the gain loss caused by lowering the transconductance, thereby maintaining the overall amplifier gain while enabling reduced power consumption operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention dynamically adjusts the equivalent transconductance of the RF front-end amplifier based on operating conditions. By changing the transconductance parameter according to dynamic range requirements, the system achieves optimal power consumption while maintaining necessary gain performance through the compensating negative resistance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Use of energy by moving object

If the dynamic range requirement is reduced to enable low power mode, then power consumption is reduced, but the receiver performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidreceiver performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically switches between normal mode and low power mode based on real-time dynamic range requirements. The power mode selection unit continuously monitors operating conditions and adjusts the amplifier's transconductance accordingly, ensuring that receiver performance is maintained when needed while enabling power savings when dynamic range requirements are reduced

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS8526907B2Power consumption reduction technique for integrated wireless radio receiver front-ends

Publication Date: 2013.09.03 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

AI summary

The method and apparatus disclosed herein reduces the power consumption of a wireless transceiver by reducing the power consumption associated with the corresponding wireless receiver. Generally, a power mode selection unit enables or disables a low power mode based on a dynamic range requirement for the receiver. More particularly, when the dynamic range requirement is less than or equal to a threshold, the power mode selection unit lowers the transconductance of an RF front-end amplifier in the receiver and enables a negative resistance at an output of the RF front-end amplifier. When enabled, the negative resistance compensates for the gain lost by lowering the transconductance of the RF front-end amplifier, which enables the front-end gain associated with the low-power mode to be maintained relative front-end gain associated with the normal mode.