Segmented Receiver Architecture for Wideband RF Signal Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Satellite communication systems face challenges in processing high bandwidth radio frequency signals due to noise and linearity specifications, particularly in receiver architectures with 500 MHz to 1 GHz bandwidth, which is difficult to scale and requires aggressive noise figure and linearity specifications, making it hard to implement analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) across the entire bandwidth.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a segmented receiver architecture with independent frequency synthesizers for each receiver segment, allowing each segment to be separately tuned to any RF channel within the bandwidth, processing orthogonally polarized signals and using active switching to power down low noise amplifiers, thereby reducing power consumption and avoiding the need for ADCs across the entire bandwidth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a single receiver processes the entire bandwidth, then the bandwidth coverage is complete, but the noise and linearity specifications become unmanageably aggressive
Solution Approach 1:
The receiver is divided into multiple independent receiver segments, each processing a portion of the total bandwidth. Each segment has its own local oscillator and can be independently tuned, allowing the system to cover wide bandwidth while maintaining manageable noise and linearity specifications in each segment.
2Measurement precision
If ADCs are implemented across the entire bandwidth, then complete signal digitization is achieved, but the device complexity and power consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of implementing ADCs across the entire bandwidth, the system uses segmented receiver architecture where each segment processes a portion of the bandwidth. This eliminates the need for wide-bandwidth ADCs and reduces overall system complexity while maintaining complete signal processing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the ADC requirement from the RF front-end by using direct conversion architecture in each receiver segment, converting RF signals directly to baseband where lower-speed ADCs can be used, thereby reducing complexity.
3Reliability
If all low noise amplifiers remain powered on, then signal reception capability is maximized, but power consumption increases by up to three times
Solution Approach 1:
The receiver segments are designed to be dynamically activated or deactivated based on signal conditions. When a signal is detected in a particular bandwidth portion, only the corresponding receiver segment remains powered on, while other segments can be powered down, significantly reducing power consumption while maintaining reception capability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables efficient processing of wide bandwidths, reduces power consumption by up to three times compared to traditional designs, and allows for scalable architectures to accommodate increased system bandwidth capacity, while meeting aggressive noise and linearity specifications without the need for ADCs across the entire bandwidth.
Implementation Method 1
a first mixer. The second receiver segment includes a second input node configured to receive a second radio frequency signal, a third branch circuit coupled to the second input node, a fourth branch circuit coupled to the second input node, and a second mixer
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of this disclosure relate to a segmented receiver for a wireless communication system. The segmented receiver includes a first receiver segment and a second receiver segment configured to receive respective radio frequency signals. The radio frequency signals can be orthogonally polarized. Branch circuits in each receiver segment can provide a radio frequency signal to different mixers. The different mixers can be included in different receiver segments and receive local oscillator signals from independent local oscillators. Each receiver segment can process a different bandwidth of the radio frequency signal. Two different bandwidths of the radio frequency signal can be processed concurrently by different receiver segments.