Multi-channel RF Receiver Signal Splitting for Dynamic Range

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Solution Overview

Problem

Radio-frequency receivers, particularly in radar systems and communication appliances, face limitations in dynamic range due to electronic components, leading to compromised signal quality and complexity in automatic gain control, and existing solutions either require additional channels or reduce signal strength.

Innovation Solution

A multichannel radio-frequency receiver design that splits the signal into multiple channels with dedicated lower-frequency processing paths and evaluation circuits for phase and amplitude detection, allowing optimal component utilization and minimizing noise and distortion, with optional signal limiters to prevent overvoltage and cascade signal dividers for scalable dynamic range.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If automatic gain control is used to increase dynamic range, then the dynamic range is improved, but the signal quality deteriorates and the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedynamic rangeVSAvoidsignal quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The receiver is divided into multiple parallel channels, each handling a specific portion of the dynamic range. The signal is split into multiple channels after RF conversion, with each channel having dedicated processing for its signal portion, eliminating the need for AGC and maintaining signal quality while achieving extended dynamic range.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If automatic gain control is used to increase dynamic range, then the dynamic range is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedynamic rangeVSAvoidcomplexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If a signal is split into three channels with multiplexer for different signal strengths, then the dynamic range is improved, but the signal strength is reduced and the multiplexer corrupts the signal

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedynamic rangeVSAvoidsignal strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The signal is divided into multiple channels with dedicated processing paths for each channel, eliminating the need for multiplexing. Each channel maintains its own signal strength and processing chain, preventing signal corruption while achieving extended dynamic range coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The multiplexer and its associated signal corruption are removed from the architecture. Instead, each channel has dedicated processing paths that handle signals independently, extracting the problematic switching function while maintaining dynamic range capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Adaptability or versatility

If components upstream of the signal divider are designed for the entire dynamic range, then the dynamic range is improved, but the components are subject to compromise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedynamic rangeVSAvoidcomponent performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The signal is divided into multiple channels with dedicated processing paths for each channel, allowing each component to be optimized for its specific signal range rather than being compromised to handle the entire dynamic range.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each channel is designed with components optimized for its specific signal strength range. The signal division allows local optimization of component characteristics for each channel's requirements, improving overall component performance and reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS8824986B2Multi-channel radiofrequency receiver

Publication Date: 2014.09.02 LEONARDO GERMANY GMBH

AI summary

The invention relates to a multichannel radio-frequency receiver (1) for electromagnetic waves, having a radio-frequency analogue section (2) which has an input (3) for an electrical signal of a receiving device (4), and having an lower-frequency section (8, 9) which is connected downstream from the radio-frequency analogue section (2) and has a plurality of parallel channels (6b, 6c; 7b, 7c) for respectively different signal strengths and an evaluation circuit, in which a signal divider (5) is provided in the radio-frequency analogue section (2) in order to split the signal in accordance with a predeterminable division ratio into signal elements which can be supplied to radio-frequency analogue channels (6a, 7a), downstream from which the channels (6b, 6c; 7b, 7c) of the lower-frequency section (8, 9) are respectively connected, and the channels (6b, 6c; 7b, 7c) of the lower-frequency section (8, 9) each have an evaluation circuit for detection of the phase and amplitude of the respective signal element.