Single-Oscillator Multi-Tuner Reception With Overlapping Sub-Bands
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Solution Overview
Problem
The integration of multiple wireless features in consumer products, such as mobile phones and car radios, faces challenges due to coexistence issues like crosstalk between tuners, excessive power dissipation, and large chip area, which hinder effective multi-tuner integration and increase costs.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing a single oscillator electronically connected to a divider and an analog-to-digital converter with a wider bandwidth than the input channel, allowing for overlapping sub-bands that cover the entire reception band, reducing oscillator coupling and enabling concurrent operation of multiple tuners with a single tuning system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple separate integrated circuits are used to implement wireless features, then coexistence issues like crosstalk are avoided, but cost and footprint increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple tuner functions onto a single integrated circuit by using a single oscillator that can be frequency-divided to generate multiple LO frequencies simultaneously. This merging approach reduces the number of separate ICs while the patent specifically addresses crosstalk through careful frequency planning and division ratios that prevent mutual coupling between tuner sections.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the frequency output of a single oscillator through multiple divider circuits, where each divider generates LO frequencies for different tuner sections. This segmentation allows multiple tuners to operate concurrently from one oscillator source while maintaining frequency separation to avoid crosstalk interference between sections.
2Device complexity
If multiple tuners are integrated on the same IC, then cost and footprint are reduced, but oscillator coupling causes interference and distortion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning specific division ratios to different tuner sections based on their frequency requirements. Each tuner section receives a customized LO frequency from the single oscillator through dedicated divider circuits, allowing frequency separation that prevents coupling interference while maintaining integration benefits.
3Reliability
If conventional separate oscillator systems are used for multiple tuners, then each tuner operates independently, but power consumption and chip area increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements universality by using a single oscillator to serve multiple tuner functions simultaneously. The oscillator is frequency-divided to provide LO signals for different tuners, allowing independent operation of each tuner while sharing the common oscillator resource, thereby reducing overall power consumption and chip area compared to separate oscillator systems.
4Use of energy by moving object
If a single oscillator is shared among multiple tuners, then power consumption and chip area are reduced, but frequency allocation and divider coordination become complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic frequency allocation where the single oscillator's output is distributed to multiple dividers that can be independently programmed with different division ratios. This dynamic configuration allows flexible frequency allocation to different tuner sections based on their specific requirements, managing the complexity through programmable rather than fixed frequency assignment.
Data Source
AI summary
The method is for using a multi-tune transceiver. A single oscillator (VCO/DCO) is provided that is electronically connected to a divider. An input channel is provided that is in communication with the divider and an analog-to-digital converter. The input channel has a first bandwidth and the converter has a second bandwidth that is broader than the first bandwidth. The single oscillator (VCO/DCO) operates at a frequency higher than frequencies inside the reception band such as the FM band. The divider divides the frequency of the single oscillator that is used as input when producing overlapping sub-bands that cover the entire reception band.