Single-Transistor UWB Transceiver for Cost Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ultra-wideband (UWB) systems are costly due to separate transmitter and receiver units and suffer from high signal loss and sampling rates, particularly when using antenna switching for signal transmission and reception.
Innovation Solution
A single-unit ultra-wideband transceiver with a single transistor that controls both transmit and receive modes via voltage, utilizing a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) for signal generation and kilohertz sampling rates by charging and discharging a capacitor quickly and slowly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate transmitter and receiver units are used in conventional UWB systems, then signal transmission and reception can be performed, but the implementation cost becomes very high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the transmitter and receiver into a single integrated unit that shares common components including the antenna, transistor, and circuitry. This merging eliminates the need for separate transmitter and receiver units, reducing implementation cost while maintaining full signal transmission and reception capabilities through time-division multiplexing of the shared components.
Solution Approach 2:
The single transistor and antenna in the patent serve dual functions as both transmitter and receiver components. By designing the circuit to operate in transmit mode during first time intervals and receive mode during second time intervals, the same hardware infrastructure performs multiple functions, eliminating the need for dedicated transmitter and receiver units and thereby reducing cost.
2Device complexity
If antenna switching is used for signal transmission and reception, then a single antenna can be utilized, but high signal loss occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic time-division operation where the single antenna and transistor alternate between transmit mode during first time intervals and receive mode during second time intervals. This periodic switching eliminates the need for complex antenna switching mechanisms while minimizing signal loss by ensuring the antenna is optimally configured for each mode during its designated time period, rather than requiring physical switching between multiple antennas.
3Reliability
If conventional sampling methods are used in UWB receivers, then signal reception can be performed, but very high sampling rates (GHz) are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional high-speed electronic sampling mechanisms with a capacitor-based integration and detection approach. The capacitor accumulates charge from received UWB signals during receive time intervals, and the accumulated charge is subsequently detected and converted to digital form. This substitution eliminates the need for GHz-rate sampling electronics, reducing the sampling rate requirement to much lower frequencies while maintaining accurate signal reception and processing capabilities.
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 approach reduces implementation costs, minimizes signal loss, and achieves low sampling rates, enabling efficient transmission and reception of ultra-wideband signals with a single antenna, while allowing for discrete signal processing based on scan distance.
Implementation Method 1
a transfer unit including a single transistor, wherein the single transistor transfers a signal from a first node to an antenna connected to a collector of the single transistor
Implementation Method 2
sampling signal components accumulated in a capacitor by an A/D converter
Data Source
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AI summary
An ultra-wideband transceiver includes: one antenna for transmitting a first ultra-wideband signal at time 1 and receiving a second ultra-wideband signal at time 2; a transfer unit that transfers the first ultra-wideband signal from a first node to the antenna or transfers the second ultra-wideband signal received by the antenna to the first node, based on characteristics of an input signal; and a first buffer that generates a first pulse signal for the first ultra-wideband signal and outputs the same to the first node at time 1.