RF Transmitter Multiplexing Interconnect Paths for Beamforming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional RF transmitters performing beamforming require multiple interconnect signal paths, which are costly and space-consuming, especially in mobile devices where transceiver circuitry is centrally located and front-end circuitry is distributed.
Innovation Solution
Generating frequency-shifted RF beamforming signals and multiplexing them to transmit over a single interconnect signal path, with the front-end circuitry demultiplexing and restoring the signals to their original frequency for transmission from different antennas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple interconnect signal paths are used to transmit RF beamforming signals from transceiver circuitry to front-end circuitry, then beamforming capability is maintained, but the number of signal paths increases leading to increased cost and space consumption
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple RF beamforming signals that originally required separate interconnect signal paths are merged into a single multiplexed signal path. The transceiver circuitry multiplexes multiple frequency-shifted RF beamforming signals onto one interconnect signal path, reducing the number of physical connections needed between transceiver and front-end circuitry while maintaining the ability to deliver multiple independent beamforming signals.
Solution Approach 2:
The signals are frequency-shifted to different frequencies before multiplexing, allowing them to be transmitted over a single path without interference. By changing the frequency parameter of each beamforming signal, the system can distinguish and separate the signals at the receiving end, enabling single-path transmission of multiple signals.
2Reliability
If multiple interconnect signal paths are used between centrally located transceiver circuitry and distributed front-end circuitry, then signal transmission is reliable, but space and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple separate signal paths connecting the centrally located transceiver to distributed front-end circuitry are merged into a single multiplexed path. This consolidation reduces the total cable length and connector requirements, significantly reducing space consumption in mobile devices while maintaining reliable signal transmission through frequency-division multiplexing.
3Reliability
If separate interconnect signal paths are used for each RF beamforming signal, then signal integrity is maintained, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges multiple signal paths into one, reducing the bill of materials for cables, connectors, and PCB traces. This single multiplexed path approach lowers manufacturing costs while the frequency-shifted multiplexing technique ensures signal integrity is maintained through proper signal separation at the receiving end.
Data Source
AI summary
A radio frequency (RF) transmitter includes transceiver circuitry coupled to front end circuitry via an interconnect signal path. The transceiver circuitry is configured to generate a number of frequency-shifted RF beamforming signals such that each one of the frequency-shifted RF beamforming signals has a different frequency, and multiplex the frequency-shifted RF beamforming signals to provide a multiplexed interconnect signal. The front-end circuitry is configured to receive the multiplexed interconnect signal from the transceiver circuitry via the interconnect signal path, demultiplex the multiplexed interconnect signal to isolate each of the frequency-shifted RF beamforming signals, shift a frequency of each one of the frequency-shifted RF beamforming signals to provide a number of RF beamforming signals, and transmit each of the RF beamforming signals from a different antenna.