Integrated RF Receiver With IPD Inductors for Low-Cost Filtering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing radio frequency (RF) receivers, particularly television receivers, face challenges in achieving high quality and low cost due to the need for discrete components like inductors and varactors, which are expensive and bulky, while silicon-based integrated circuit tuners do not perform well and require external discrete components, limiting the cost reduction benefits of integrated circuit technology.
Innovation Solution
A radio frequency receiver architecture that combines a tracking bandpass filter with an integrated passive device (IPD) die and a main integrated circuit die into a multi-chip module (MCM), using inductors fabricated on the IPD die to avoid expensive silicon manufacturing and integrate high-quality filtering with low-cost components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If discrete components (inductors, varactors, capacitors) are used to build high quality television receivers, then receiver performance is improved, but cost and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple discrete components (inductors, varactors, capacitors) into a single integrated circuit chip. The receiver architecture integrates the tuner, mixer, amplifier, and filter functions onto one chip, eliminating the need for separate discrete components while maintaining high receiver performance and reducing cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated circuit chip performs multiple functions simultaneously - it acts as a tuner, mixer, amplifier, and filter all in one device. This multi-functional integration replaces what would traditionally require multiple separate discrete components, reducing both cost and complexity while maintaining performance.
2Ease of manufacture
If silicon-based integrated circuit technology is used to reduce cost, then manufacturing cost decreases, but receiver performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses advanced silicon-based integrated circuit manufacturing processes with updated design techniques and circuit architectures that optimize performance parameters. By changing the design parameters and utilizing modern fabrication capabilities, the integrated circuit achieves both low cost and high performance, overcoming the limitations of older silicon-based tuners.
3Reliability
If external discrete components are added to integrated circuit receivers to maintain performance, then receiver performance is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves full integration by combining all necessary components (inductors, varactors, capacitors, amplifiers, mixers) onto a single integrated circuit chip. This complete integration eliminates the need for external discrete components while maintaining high receiver performance, thereby reducing overall cost.
Data Source
AI summary
A receiver includes an input section, a plurality of RF sections, an output circuit, and a controller. The input section receives and amplifies a radio frequency (RF) input signal to provide an amplified RF signal, and has a gain input. The plurality of RF sections each have an input for receiving the amplified RF signal, and an output for providing an intermediate frequency signal. The output circuit provides an intermediate frequency output signal in response to an output of at least one of the plurality of RF sections. The controller has an output coupled to the gain input of the input section.