Switched Extractor Antenna Utilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic devices face challenges in efficiently handling multiple wireless communication types due to limited antenna and internal communication path resources, leading to constrained concurrent band usage and potential signal quality issues.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a switched extractor, which includes an extractor with multiple filters, a bypass line, and switching circuitry, allows for selective establishment of either a bypass signal path or a concurrent signal path between antennas and transceiver units, enhancing antenna utilization and MIMO configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple antennas are used to handle different wireless communication types, then the device can support more communication bands, but the device size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a switched extractor that enables a single antenna to serve multiple communication bands and transceiver units by dynamically switching between different signal paths. The extractor can route signals from one antenna to multiple transceiver units operating on different bands, making the antenna universal rather than dedicated to a single function, thus reducing the total number of antennas needed while maintaining multi-band support
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic switching circuitry that can reconfigure signal paths in real-time based on communication requirements. The switched extractor can dynamically establish bypass paths for single-band operations or concurrent paths for multi-band operations, allowing the system to adapt its architecture flexibly rather than being fixed, thereby optimizing resource utilization across different communication scenarios
2Productivity
If a switched extractor with multiple filters is used to separate concurrent signals, then multiple bands can be handled simultaneously, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the signal processing function into separate filter sections within the extractor, where each filter handles a specific frequency band. This segmentation allows concurrent signal separation for multiple bands while maintaining modular architecture, making the complex extraction function manageable and implementable through standardized filter components rather than requiring a completely custom complex system
Solution Approach 2:
The switched extractor acts as an intermediary component between the antenna and the transceiver units, providing signal separation and routing functions. By placing the extractor in this intermediate position, the patent avoids the need for complex filtering and separation circuits at each transceiver unit, thereby reducing overall system complexity while still achieving multi-band concurrent handling
3Reliability
If bypass signal paths are established for individual bands, then signal quality is maintained, but the MIMO configuration level is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic switching that can adaptively select between bypass paths and concurrent paths based on real-time signal quality conditions. When signal quality is sufficient, the system uses bypass paths to maintain simplicity and reliability. When higher MIMO configurations are needed, the system switches to concurrent paths to enable multiple simultaneous bands, thus dynamically balancing signal quality maintenance with MIMO capability enhancement
Data Source
AI summary
In an example, an apparatus includes first and second antennas and a switched extractor coupled to the first antenna. The switched extractor includes an extractor configured to extract an extraction frequency band, a bypass line, and switching circuitry. The switching circuitry is configured to selectively establish a bypass signal path including the bypass line or a concurrent signal path including the extractor. The apparatus also includes first and second transceiver units (TRXUs) and a processor. The first TRXU is coupled to the first antenna via the switched extractor. The second TRXU is coupled to the first antenna via the switched extractor and coupled to the second antenna. The processor is configured to cause the switching circuitry to selectively connect the first TRXU to the first antenna via the bypass or the concurrent signal path based on the extraction frequency band and an operational frequency band associated with the first TRXU.