Transceiver Calibration via Digital Extraction and Two-Level Frequency Conversion

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing transceiver calibration solutions for 5G mmW base stations have complex links and occupy a large area, making them unsuitable for compact designs due to the need for complicated Power Amplifier (PA) calibration structures and large Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs).

Innovation Solution

The proposed transceiver incorporates a power division module and shared attenuation and phase shift modules to simulate beam forming without the need for a feedback channel, using a passive phase shifter structure for phase adjustment and a two-level frequency conversion system to reduce filter complexity and size, allowing for phase calibration between multiple paths without additional hardware.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional Power Amplifier calibration structure is used, then calibration function is achieved, but device complexity and PCB area increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecalibration functionVSAvoidcalibration link complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the calibration function from the traditional PA calibration structure and relocates it to the digital signal processing domain. By using digital down-conversion and complex number arithmetic in the baseband processor, the calibration is performed digitally rather than through complex analog PA calibration links, thereby simplifying the hardware calibration structure while maintaining calibration functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/analog calibration system with a digital signal processing system. Instead of using analog feedback channels and physical PA calibration circuits, the system uses digital down-conversion, complex number multiplication, and baseband processing to achieve calibration, substituting physical calibration mechanisms with computational methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If traditional Power Amplifier calibration structure is used, then calibration function is achieved, but PCB area becomes too large

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecalibration functionVSAvoidPCB area
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the bulky analog calibration hardware from the PCB by extracting the calibration function to the digital domain. The calibration is performed through software algorithms in the baseband processor, eliminating the need for large analog calibration circuits and feedback channels that would occupy significant PCB area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent substitutes physical calibration hardware with digital signal processing operations. By implementing calibration through digital down-conversion and complex number arithmetic in the baseband processor, the system eliminates the need for large analog calibration components, thereby dramatically reducing PCB area while preserving calibration functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Speed

If multiple-order filter cascading is used, then frequency conversion is achieved, but device complexity and size increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefrequency conversion capabilityVSAvoidfilter structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the frequency conversion process into two distinct stages: a first frequency conversion unit that converts RF to an intermediate frequency, and a second frequency conversion unit that converts the intermediate frequency to baseband. This segmentation allows each stage to use simpler, lower-order filters rather than requiring a single complex multi-order filter cascade, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining frequency conversion capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3771112B1Method and apparatus for calibrating transceiver, receiving channel, and transmitting channel
Publication Date: 2023.11.01 ZTE CORP
  • EP3771112B1 patent drawingFigure 1a
  • EP3771112B1 patent drawingFigure 1b~3
  • EP3771112B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6

AI summary

Provided are a transceiver, a method and apparatus for calibrating a receiving channel and a transmitting channel, a signal transceiving system, a storage medium and an electronic apparatus. The transceiver includes: a power division module and at least two paths of signal transceiving and processing devices, wherein each path of signal transceiving and processing device includes a transceiving shared attenuation module, a transceiving shared phase shift module and a transceiving front-end processing module; the transceiving shared attenuation module is connected to the power division module, a transceiving shared attenuation signal being configured to attenuate a received or to-be-transmitted signal; the transceiving shared phase shift module is connected to the transceiving shared attenuation module, and is configured to adjust a phase of the received or to-be-transmitted signal; and one end of the transceiving front-end processing module is connected to the transceiving shared phase shift module, and the other end of the transceiving front-end processing module is configured to be connected to an antenna for receiving or transmitting a signal. By means of the solutions in the embodiments of the disclosure, the problem in the related art that the channel calibration portion has complicated links and occupies a large area is solved.