Shared Antenna Architecture Dynamic Gain Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile computing devices with multiple radios face performance degradation due to mutual interference and require multiple antennas, which increase costs, consume resources, and result in suboptimal operational throughput and range, especially in devices with smaller form factors.
Innovation Solution
A shared antenna structure that allows multiple radios to dynamically adjust power amplifier gain values based on application demands and path losses, using a combination of combiners and switches to reduce insertion loss and enhance coexistence, enabling simultaneous or mutually-exclusive use of a single antenna.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple antennas are used for multiple radios, then each radio can operate independently without interference, but device cost, space consumption, and resource usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple radio frequency paths into a single antenna through the use of a power combiner device. Multiple radios share the same antenna resource by combining their transmit signals in the RF front end, reducing the total number of antennas required while enabling simultaneous operation of multiple radios
Solution Approach 2:
The single antenna serves multiple functions by supporting multiple radios simultaneously. The power combiner enables the antenna to handle signals from different radio modules (e.g., WiFi, Bluetooth, cellular) that operate at different frequencies, making the antenna a universal interface for multiple communication standards
2Device complexity
If a single power amplifier gain table is used for shared antenna architecture, then device complexity is reduced, but operational throughput and range deteriorate due to inability to compensate for different path losses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements different power amplifier gain tables for different radio modules sharing the same antenna. Each radio module has its own optimized gain table that accounts for its specific path loss characteristics through the RF front end, allowing each radio to operate at optimal performance levels despite sharing common hardware resources
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically selects and applies different power amplifier gain values from different gain tables based on which radio module is currently active. This parameter adjustment compensates for the different insertion losses and path losses that each radio module experiences when sharing the common antenna and RF front end
3Reliability
If multiple antennas are used to avoid mutual interference between radios, then radio performance is maintained, but device form factor and portability are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple radio frequency paths into a single physical antenna through a power combiner device in the RF front end. This consolidation allows multiple radios (WiFi, Bluetooth, cellular) to share the same antenna resource, significantly reducing the space required for antenna elements while maintaining the ability to operate multiple radios simultaneously
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques to control shared antenna architectures for multiple co-located radio modules are disclosed. The shared antenna architecture may include a combiner and at least one bypass switch for enabling simultaneous operations or mutually-exclusive operations of multiple transceivers. Dynamic gain control is employed to accommodate different front-end losses associated with a variety of signal paths that are achievable using the switch and combiner. Such dynamic gain control can include selecting from multiple sets of amplifier gain values that are tailored to meet the needs of the particular applications that are active at a particular time. Gain values can be chosen based upon received gain information including characteristics including a desired path loss, an application demand, a radio module type, a path configuration, and a mode of operation. By providing dynamic selection of gain values based on application demands, range and throughput of the transceivers can be attained. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.