RF Transceiver Signal Decoupling for Coupling Interference Cancellation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing RF transceiver systems face challenges with parasitic interference due to coupling effects when transmitting and receiving radiofrequency signals simultaneously, leading to dynamic range reduction, signal masking, and instability, particularly when using a single antenna or two distinct antennas for transmission and reception.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the calculation of correcting filter coefficients to reconstruct an equivalent coupled signal, allowing for the isolation of the received signal from the coupled signal, using a known signal to characterize coupling effects and applying it to the transmit path to filter the useful signal, thereby eliminating coupling artifacts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If transmission and reception take place simultaneously in RF transceiver systems, then transmission efficiency and system productivity are improved, but parasitic interference from coupling effects increases, leading to signal masking and dynamic range reduction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransmission efficiencyVSAvoidparasitic interference from coupling effects

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent characterizes the coupling effects between transmit and receive paths and uses this previously harmful interference to generate a corrected received signal. By modeling the coupling coefficient and applying it in signal processing, the harmful coupled signal is transformed into useful information that enables accurate reception despite simultaneous transmission.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a coupling coefficient characterization as an intermediary element that mediates between the transmit and receive paths. This coefficient serves as a bridge to understand and compensate for the coupling effects, allowing the system to separate the desired received signal from the parasitic coupled signal through digital processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If time slicing is used to separate transmission and reception, then parasitic interference from coupling effects is reduced, but transmission rate decreases and system productivity is lowered

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveparasitic interference from coupling effectsVSAvoidtransmission rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables continuous simultaneous transmission and reception operations by compensating for coupling effects through signal processing. Instead of interrupting transmission for reception (time slicing), the system maintains continuous operation on both paths concurrently, achieving uninterrupted useful action while managing interference through digital signal correction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Measurement precision

If time slicing is implemented to clear coupling artifacts, then signal masking is prevented, but the stationarity of the system is compromised and noise increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal detection accuracyVSAvoidsystem stationarity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses feedback through coupling coefficient characterization to continuously monitor and correct for coupling effects. By measuring the coupling between paths and feeding this information back into the signal processing chain, the system maintains stable operation and signal integrity without the disruptions caused by time slicing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Device complexity

If a single antenna is used for both transmission and reception, then device complexity is reduced, but coupling effects increase leading to signal masking and dynamic range loss

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveantenna configurationVSAvoidcoupling effects

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces physical separation of antennas (mechanical solution) with digital signal processing to address coupling effects. Instead of using separate transmit and receive antennas to physically reduce coupling, the system uses a single antenna and compensates for the resulting coupling through mathematical modeling and signal correction in the digital domain.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS11881620B2Method for decoupling signals in transceiver systems

Publication Date: 2024.01.23 THALES SA

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for characterizing the effects of coupling of a radiofrequency transceiver apparatus comprising at least one transmit path and at least one receive path, and to an apparatus implementing the method. The method comprises the calculation of coefficients of a correcting filter, with the steps of: transmitting a known signal over a transmit path, receiving a signal over a receive path, calculating the coefficients of the correcting filter on the basis of the known signal and of the signal received over said receive path. The method further comprises a step, carried out during the transmission of a useful signal over the transmit path, of filtering the signal transmitted over the transmit path by means of said correcting filter in order to determine the transmitted signal received by coupling effect over the receive path.