Sliding IF Filter Architecture for mmWave Carrier Aggregation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in providing consistent and high-quality signals in millimeter wave (mmW) communications, especially due to the complexity of carrier aggregation (CA) and interference from adjacent channels.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a wireless communication apparatus with a high band and low band mmW carrier aggregation receive port, coupled with tunable high pass and low pass filters, and an intermediate frequency (IF) received signal multiplexer, which dynamically adjusts filter settings to suppress in-band blocking signals and merge high band and low band IF signals into a single IF CA signal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If carrier aggregation is implemented to improve spectral efficiency, then communication performance is enhanced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges high band and low band IF signals into a single merged IF CA signal using an IF multiplexer. This combining approach allows carrier aggregation functionality to be achieved while reducing the number of separate signal paths and processing stages, thereby improving spectral efficiency without proportionally increasing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The IF multiplexer serves multiple functions: it combines high band and low band IF signals, enables carrier aggregation operation, and provides a unified output path. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve enhanced spectral efficiency through carrier aggregation while using a single component to handle multiple tasks, thus limiting the increase in overall system complexity.
2Reliability
If traditional filtering approaches are used to suppress adjacent channel interference, then signal quality is maintained, but space and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines high band and low band IF signals into a single merged signal path using an IF multiplexer. This merging eliminates the need for separate filtering and processing paths for each band, thereby suppressing adjacent channel interference while reducing the overall space required for filter components and associated circuitry.
3Reliability
If separate processing paths are used for high band and low band signals, then signal integrity is maintained, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges high band and low band IF signals into a single merged IF CA signal using an IF multiplexer. This consolidation allows the system to maintain signal integrity for both bands while using a single shared processing path downstream, thereby reducing the total power consumption compared to maintaining completely separate processing paths for each band.
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 solution enhances signal integrity, reduces space and power usage, and improves spectral efficiency by effectively suppressing in-band noise and optimizing the use of IF frequency space, thereby improving communication system performance.
Implementation Method 1
downconverting the first wireless data signal to a high band intermediate frequency (IF) signal using a high band mixer
Implementation Method 2
filtering the high band IF signal using a tunable high pass filter
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the disclosure relate to wireless communication apparatuses, methods, and other aspects of sliding intermediate frequency filters for carrier aggregation communications. One aspect a high band mixer including a radio frequency (RF) receive signal input, a local oscillator (LO) input, and an IF signal output, a tunable high pass filter including an input and an output, an intermediate frequency (IF) received signal multiplexer including a merged IF CA signal output, a first input, and a second input, an LO input, and an IF signal output, where the RF receive signal input is coupled to the low band mmW CA receive port, and a tunable low pass filter including an input and an output, where the input is coupled to the IF signal output of the low band mixer, and where the output is coupled to the second input of the IF received signal multiplexer.