Multi-Antenna Transceiver Frequency Control for Low-Interference Multi-Band RF
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Solution Overview
Problem
Multi-antenna transceiver systems face issues such as on-chip interference, intermodulation distortion, high power consumption, and large physical size due to multiple transceiver chains required for multi-band operation, especially in high-frequency bands like mmWave.
Innovation Solution
A multi-antenna transceiver system with transceiver chips having a chip-associated frequency generator for dynamic conversion frequency setting, controlled by a central controller, allowing flexible configuration of conversion frequencies and sampling rates, reducing the need for multiple transceiver chains.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple transceiver chains are provided on each transceiver chip for multi-band operation, then multi-band operation capability is improved, but on-chip interference and intermodulation distortion increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the multi-band operation functionality across multiple transceiver chips, where each chip handles a single frequency band with a single transceiver chain. This segmentation eliminates on-chip interference between multiple chains while maintaining overall multi-band capability through coordinated operation of multiple chips.
Solution Approach 2:
A frequency generator acts as an intermediary component that provides conversion frequencies to multiple transceiver chips. This external frequency generation approach removes the need for multiple frequency generators on a single chip, reducing on-chip complexity and interference while enabling multi-band operation through the intermediary frequency conversion process.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple transceiver chains are provided on each transceiver chip for multi-band operation, then multi-band operation capability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the multi-band transceiver functionality into multiple separate chips, each with a single transceiver chain. This allows individual chips to consume less power while the system as a whole achieves multi-band operation, as each chip can be optimized for its specific frequency band with lower power requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple transceiver chips are designed with identical universal architectures, each capable of operating in a specific frequency band. This universality allows the system to achieve multi-band operation by deploying multiple instances of the same low-power chip design, rather than requiring high-power multi-chain chips.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple transceiver chains are provided on each transceiver chip for multi-band operation, then multi-band operation capability is improved, but physical size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the multi-band transceiver functionality into multiple separate chips, each with a single transceiver chain. This segmentation reduces the physical size of individual chips while maintaining overall multi-band capability, as each chip only needs to accommodate the circuitry for a single frequency band rather than multiple chains.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a single-chip multi-chain architecture to a multi-chip architecture, effectively moving the solution into a different dimensional arrangement. By distributing transceiver chains across multiple chips in a modular configuration, the physical size constraint is overcome while maintaining multi-band operation capability.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple transceiver chains are provided on each transceiver chip for multi-band operation, then multi-band operation capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the complex multi-band transceiver functionality into multiple simpler chips, each handling a single frequency band. This segmentation reduces the complexity of individual chips while maintaining overall system capability, as each chip only needs to support a single transceiver chain and frequency band.
Solution Approach 2:
The system resolves complexity by transitioning from a single-chip multi-chain architecture to a multi-chip architecture. This dimensional change allows the complex multi-band functionality to be distributed across multiple simpler components, reducing individual chip complexity while maintaining system-level capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-antenna transceiver system is disclosed. The system comprises a group of transceiver chips, wherein each transceiver chip has a respective chip-associated (e.g., on-chip) frequency generator configured to provide a respective conversion frequency, and wherein each transceiver chip is configured to use the respective conversion frequency for on-chip frequency conversion of a transceiver signal. The system also comprises a controller adapted to cause configuration of the respective chip-associated frequency generator of at least one of the transceiver chips, wherein the configuration comprises dynamically setting the respective conversion frequency. In some embodiments, the controller comprises a single piece of circuitry separate from the transceiver chips. The single piece of circuitry is adapted to cause configuration of the respective chip-associated frequency generator of two or more of the transceiver chips.