Shared Amplifier Transceiver Architecture for Lower Power RF Paths

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current transceivers face challenges in reducing power consumption, hardware complexity, and manufacturing costs, particularly in mobile devices and base stations with multiple transmit and receive channels, as they require separate amplifiers for transmit and receive signals, leading to increased power usage and size.

Innovation Solution

A transceiver design that shares a single amplifier between the transmit and receive signal paths, using control circuitry to couple the amplifier appropriately during different operating modes, and adjusts supply voltage to optimize power efficiency, thereby reducing the number of amplifiers needed and minimizing power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate amplifiers are used for transmit and receive signals, then signal amplification performance is improved, but power consumption and hardware complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal amplification performanceVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines separate transmit and receive amplifiers into a single shared amplifier. The amplifier is coupled to the transmit signal path via a transmit switch and to the receive signal path via a receive switch, allowing one amplifier to perform both transmit and receive amplification functions, thereby reducing power consumption and hardware complexity while maintaining signal amplification performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The amplifier is designed as a universal component that can function in both transmit and receive modes. By using control circuitry to switch the amplifier between transmit and receive signal paths based on operating mode, the single amplifier achieves multi-functionality, eliminating the need for separate dedicated amplifiers for each function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If separate amplifiers are used for transmit and receive signals, then signal amplification performance is improved, but hardware complexity and device size increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal amplification performanceVSAvoidhardware complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges separate transmit and receive amplifiers into a single shared amplifier unit. This consolidation reduces the number of discrete components, simplifies the overall hardware architecture, and decreases device size while maintaining the necessary signal amplification capabilities through time-division or mode-based switching

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single amplifier is designed as a universal component capable of serving both transmit and receive functions. Control circuitry manages the amplifier's operation in different modes, enabling one component to replace what would traditionally require two separate components, thereby reducing hardware complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If separate amplifiers are used for transmit and receive signals, then signal amplification performance is improved, but manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal amplification performanceVSAvoidmanufacturing costs

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the functionality of separate transmit and receive amplifiers into a single amplifier, reducing the total component count. This simplification directly lowers manufacturing costs by reducing parts inventory, assembly steps, and testing requirements while maintaining adequate signal amplification performance through shared resource utilization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Use of energy by moving object

If a single amplifier is shared between transmit and receive paths, then power consumption and hardware complexity are reduced, but signal amplification performance may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidsignal amplification performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic switching of the amplifier between transmit and receive modes using control circuitry. The amplifier's operating parameters (such as gain, bandwidth, and bias conditions) can be dynamically adjusted based on the current mode, ensuring optimal signal amplification performance in each mode while maintaining the power efficiency benefits of sharing a single amplifier

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS10819383B2Transceivers and methods for operating transceivers

Publication Date: 2020.10.27 ALCATEL LUCENT SA

AI summary

A transceiver includes a transmit signal path, a receive signal path, an amplifier, and control circuitry. The control circuitry is configured to couple the amplifier in the transmit signal path to amplify a transmit signal during a transmit operating mode of the transceiver. Furthermore, the control circuitry is configured to couple the amplifier in the receive signal path to amplify a receive signal during a receive operating mode of the transceiver.