Single Receiver Chain for Multi-Band Wireless Demodulation

Solution Overview

Problem

The use of carrier aggregation in wireless networks requires multiple dedicated receiver chains and antennas for contiguous frequency bands, leading to increased cost, PCB area, and power consumption in computing devices.

Innovation Solution

A computing device uses a single receiver chain to process multiple frequency bands simultaneously by demodulating and decoding a frequency block that encompasses multiple bands, reducing the need for separate receiver chains and antennas.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple dedicated receiver chains are used to process multiple frequency bands simultaneously, then communication capability across multiple frequency bands is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication capabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple frequency band processing functions into a single receiver chain. The receiver chain is configured to receive a frequency block that encompasses multiple frequency bands (e.g., FDD band 7 and TDD band 38), demodulate the combined frequency block to baseband, and then decode separate signals for each frequency band from the demodulated baseband signal. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate receiver chains for each frequency band, directly reducing device complexity while maintaining multi-band communication capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The receiver chain is designed as a universal component that can process multiple frequency bands simultaneously. By configuring the single receiver chain to handle a frequency block encompassing multiple bands through unified demodulation and subsequent separate decoding, the system achieves multi-functionality without requiring dedicated hardware for each function, thereby resolving the contradiction between versatility and complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple dedicated receiver chains are used to process multiple frequency bands simultaneously, then communication capability across multiple frequency bands is improved, but cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication capabilityVSAvoidcost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple frequency band processing functions into a single receiver chain. The receiver chain is configured to receive a frequency block that encompasses multiple frequency bands (e.g., FDD band 7 and TDD band 38), demodulate the combined frequency block to baseband, and then decode separate signals for each frequency band from the demodulated baseband signal. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate receiver chains for each frequency band, directly reducing device complexity while maintaining multi-band communication capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The receiver chain is designed as a universal component that can process multiple frequency bands simultaneously. By configuring the single receiver chain to handle a frequency block encompassing multiple bands through unified demodulation and subsequent separate decoding, the system achieves multi-functionality without requiring dedicated hardware for each function, thereby resolving the contradiction between versatility and complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple dedicated receiver chains are used to process multiple frequency bands simultaneously, then communication capability across multiple frequency bands is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication capabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple frequency band processing functions into a single receiver chain. The receiver chain is configured to receive a frequency block that encompasses multiple frequency bands (e.g., FDD band 7 and TDD band 38), demodulate the combined frequency block to baseband, and then decode separate signals for each frequency band from the demodulated baseband signal. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate receiver chains for each frequency band, directly reducing device complexity while maintaining multi-band communication capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The receiver chain is designed as a universal component that can process multiple frequency bands simultaneously. By configuring the single receiver chain to handle a frequency block encompassing multiple bands through unified demodulation and subsequent separate decoding, the system achieves multi-functionality without requiring dedicated hardware for each function, thereby resolving the contradiction between versatility and complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20240413961A1Coherent frequency bands receive operation

Publication Date: 2024.12.12 GOOGLE LLC

AI summary

An example method includes selecting, by a computing device, a plurality of frequency bands for communicating with at least one node of a wireless network, each of the plurality of frequency bands corresponding to a respective communication channel; receiving, by the computing device, a frequency block that encompasses the selected plurality of frequency bands; demodulating, by the computing device and to a baseband domain, the frequency block; and decoding, by the computing device and based on the demodulated frequency block, a respective signal for each of the plurality' of frequency bands.