RF Receiver ADC Saturation Prevention via Dynamic Gain Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing radio-frequency signal receivers face challenges with high-power interference signals, leading to excessive time for detection, complex resource requirements, unnecessary transmission of erroneous bits, and potential saturation of analog-to-digital converters, especially when dealing with weak GPS signals.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device with a controller and selector system that measures digital signal power and generates a selection signal to transmit either the original or a replacement signal based on interference thresholds, reducing amplifier gain during interference and minimizing erroneous bit transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If amplifier gain is reduced to prevent ADC saturation from high-power interference signals, then ADC saturation is prevented, but the power of the useful radio-frequency signal is excessively reduced making information detection incorrect
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamic gain control by continuously monitoring the power of digital signal samples and adjusting the amplifier gain in real-time. When interference is detected (power exceeds threshold), gain is reduced; when interference subsides (power below threshold for multiple samples), gain is restored. This dynamic adjustment prevents ADC saturation during interference while maintaining optimal signal levels during normal operation, resolving the contradiction between saturation prevention and information preservation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback control by measuring the power of digital samples from the ADC and using this measurement to control the amplifier gain. The controller monitors signal power continuously and adjusts gain based on feedback from the actual signal conditions. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures that gain is reduced only when necessary to prevent saturation, while preserving useful signal information by restoring gain when interference is absent.
2Use of energy by moving object
If base-band module detects high-power interference signal and switches off radio-frequency module blocks, then power consumption is reduced, but detection time becomes excessively long requiring periodic checks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary detection of interference signals at the radio-frequency stage using the ADC and controller, before the base-band module processes the signal. By detecting interference early in the signal chain and immediately controlling amplifier gain, the system avoids the delayed periodic detection required by base-band-only approaches. This preliminary action enables rapid response to interference while maintaining power efficiency through selective gain control rather than complete module shutdown.
3Productivity
If base-band module processes erroneous samples during high-power interference, then continuous operation is maintained, but excessive time interval with erroneous processing occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary control mechanism between the radio-frequency amplifier and the base-band module. The controller acts as an intermediary that monitors signal quality at the ADC output and controls amplifier gain to prevent erroneous samples from being generated in the first place. This intermediary control maintains continuous operation by dynamically adjusting gain to keep signals within the ADC's linear range, thereby preventing the generation of erroneous samples that would require base-band reprocessing.
4Measurement precision
If additional information is transmitted from radio-frequency module to base-band module for interference detection, then detection accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The radio-frequency module performs self-service interference detection by using the ADC to directly measure the power of digital samples and the controller to analyze this data. The system detects interference autonomously using existing components without requiring additional communication interfaces or data transmission to the base-band module. This self-service approach maintains detection accuracy by using direct power measurement while avoiding the complexity of additional communication infrastructure.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device includes an analog-to-digital converter adapted to receive a radio-frequency signal and adapted to provide therefrom a digital signal, wherein the radio-frequency signal may include an interference signal. The electronic device has a controller adapted to perform a digital measure on the digital signal and adapted to generate therefrom a selection signal having a first value indicating a non-interference condition in the radio-frequency signal and having a second value indicating an interference-condition in the radio-frequency signal. A selector is adapted to transmit the digital signal in case the selection signal has the first value and to transmit a signal replacing the digital signal in case the selection signal has the second value.