Diversity Receiver Shared-LO Layout for Lower-Power Downconversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional diversity receivers consume substantial power when distributing the primary oscillator signal to secondary receivers over long transmission paths, which increases power consumption and reduces efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A diversity receiver design that shares a primary local oscillator (LO) signal between the primary and secondary receivers, minimizing the transmission path and enabling power savings by using a supplemental downconverter to down-convert signals, thereby reducing unnecessary module activation and optimizing signal processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the primary oscillator signal is transmitted over a long transmission path to the secondary receiver, then the secondary receiver can down-convert signals, but power consumption increases substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the downconversion function by implementing a supplemental downconverter at the primary receiver that processes the oscillator signal locally, rather than transmitting the full oscillator signal over a long path to the secondary receiver. This segmentation allows the secondary receiver to use a reduced-power oscillator while still achieving the required downconversion through the supplemental converter at the primary end.
Solution Approach 2:
The supplemental downconverter acts as an intermediary that receives the primary oscillator signal, performs local downconversion, and generates a secondary oscillator signal that is then transmitted to the secondary receiver. This intermediary approach allows the long transmission path to carry a lower-power signal while maintaining the necessary signal processing capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple local oscillators are used in primary and secondary receivers, then each receiver can operate independently, but device complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the oscillator function by having the primary receiver's frequency synthesizer generate the oscillator signal that is then distributed to both the primary and secondary receivers. This consolidation reduces the total number of oscillators from two independent sources to one shared source, thereby reducing device complexity and power consumption while maintaining operational versatility through the supplemental downconverter.
Solution Approach 2:
The primary receiver's frequency synthesizer and oscillator are designed to serve multiple functions: generating the local oscillator signal for the primary receiver's own downconversion, and simultaneously providing the oscillator signal to the secondary receiver (either directly or through the supplemental downconverter). This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate oscillators in each receiver.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the primary LO signal is distributed over a long transmission path, then the secondary receiver can use the same oscillator signal, but noise performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The supplemental downconverter creates a local copy of the downconversion process by receiving the primary oscillator signal and generating a secondary oscillator signal through local mixing and frequency conversion. This copying approach allows the secondary receiver to use a regenerated oscillator signal rather than a directly transmitted one, thereby reducing noise accumulation over the long transmission path while maintaining the shared oscillator operation.
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 configuration achieves significant power savings and improved noise performance by reducing the signal path of the primary LO signal, while enabling efficient operation in diversity mode without increasing power consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a mixer heterodyning an output of the amplified signal with a local oscillation signal from a local oscillator and outputting a heterodyned signal
Data Source
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AI summary
A multi-mode receiver is disclosed that is reconfigurable to share a local oscillator signal in diversity mode to save power consumption. In an exemplary embodiment, an apparatus includes a primary receiver having a primary mixer configured to down-convert a primary signal and a secondary mixer configured to down-convert a secondary signal in carrier aggregation mode. The apparatus also includes a supplemental mixer that uses a shared primary local oscillator (LO) signal generated by a shared primary frequency synthesizer in diversity mode to reduce power consumption. The apparatus further includes a controller configured to disable the secondary mixer and to enable the supplemental mixer to down-convert the secondary signal when operating in the diversity mode.