RF Receiver Frequency Synthesizer Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
The integration of multiple frequency synthesizers into a single chip is hindered by mutual interference issues such as mutual pulling and spurious coupling and crosstalk in radio frequency receivers, particularly in carrier aggregation scenarios, which complicates the design and increases costs.
Innovation Solution
A radio frequency receiver design that includes a band splitter, processing circuit, multiple frequency synthesizers, and receiving channels, where each receiving channel selectively chooses a frequency division ratio from multiple options to suppress interference, allowing for single-chip integration by performing frequency division on oscillation signals to generate local oscillator signals for frequency mixing and baseband signal generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If multiple frequency synthesizers are integrated into a single chip to reduce cost and area, then device complexity and cost are reduced, but mutual interference (VCO pulling and spurious coupling) between synthesizers increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a frequency offset as an intermediary parameter between the VCO output and the receiving channel. By deliberately adding a frequency offset to the local oscillator signal, the patent creates a frequency separation that acts as a mediator to prevent direct coupling and mutual interference between multiple VCOs on the same chip. This offset ensures that spurious components from one VCO do not fall within the receiving band of another VCO's channel.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the frequency parameter of the local oscillator signal by introducing a configurable frequency offset. This parameter modification allows the system to dynamically adjust the frequency relationship between multiple synthesizers, thereby avoiding fixed frequency conflicts and spurious coupling. The frequency offset can be tuned to optimize performance and eliminate interference for different carrier aggregation scenarios.
2Reliability
If multiple frequency synthesizers are disposed on different chips to reduce mutual interference, then receiving performance is improved, but area and cost increase sharply
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple frequency synthesizers onto a single chip by implementing carrier aggregation functionality within one integrated circuit. Instead of using separate chips for each synthesizer, the patent combines multiple VCOs and their associated processing circuits into a unified design, reducing overall system area and cost while maintaining performance through the frequency offset technique.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful effect of close proximity between VCOs into a beneficial configuration by using frequency offset to create intentional frequency separation. Rather than trying to physically isolate the VCOs (which would increase area), the patent uses frequency domain separation to achieve isolation, turning the challenge of integration into an advantage for compact design.
3Device complexity
If a single frequency synthesizer is used for intra-band continuous carrier aggregation, then device complexity is reduced, but the solution cannot handle intra-band non-continuous or inter-band carrier aggregation scenarios
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the frequency synthesizer system with universal capability to handle multiple carrier aggregation scenarios (intra-band continuous, intra-band non-continuous, and inter-band) using the same basic architecture. The frequency offset mechanism and configurable receiving channels provide multi-functionality, allowing a single chip design to adapt to different CA scenarios without requiring separate synthesizer configurations for each case.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses a radio frequency receiver and a receiving method, where the method includes: performing band splitting on a radio frequency signal of multiple carriers to obtain at least one band signal, and outputting the signal; separately performing filtering and amplification processing on the at least one band signal to obtain at least one processed signal; generating multiple oscillation signals; and selectively receiving a processed signal, of the at least one processed signal, that includes a target carrier; receiving an oscillation signal corresponding to the target carrier; selectively selecting a frequency division ratio from multiple frequency division ratios; using the frequency division ratio to perform frequency division on the received oscillation signal to obtain a local oscillator signal; using the local oscillator signal to perform frequency mixing on the received processed signal that includes the target carrier to obtain a mixed signal.