Two-Port Mixer Receiver Using External Carrier for Low-Power Reception

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional wireless receivers, such as homodyne and superheterodyne receivers, consume significant power, which is a limitation in low-power applications like sensors and mobile devices, and they often require complex duty-cycling to reduce power consumption, leading to increased message latency and decreased communication reliability.

Innovation Solution

A low-power wireless receiver topology that uses a two-port mixer to mix a carrier signal with a wireless communication signal, generating an intermediate frequency signal, which is then demodulated to extract data, and utilizes an externally generated signal as a local oscillator to reduce power consumption, allowing for continuous operation or higher duty cycles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If conventional homodyne or superheterodyne receivers are used, then sensitivity and selectivity are maintained, but power consumption is significant

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidcommunication reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the local oscillator function from the receiver by using an externally generated signal, eliminating the need for an internal LO source. This removes a major power consumption component while maintaining the mixing function necessary for signal reception and demodulation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The external carrier signal serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the local oscillator for frequency translation, provides the reference signal for coherent demodulation, and can potentially serve as the power source for the receiver circuitry. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components and reduces overall power consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Use of energy by moving object

If duty-cycling is used to reduce power consumption, then power consumption decreases, but message latency increases and communication reliability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidmessage latency

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables continuous receiver operation by eliminating the power consumption bottleneck through the two-port mixer architecture with external LO. The receiver can remain continuously active without requiring duty-cycling, ensuring immediate response to incoming messages and maintaining constant communication readiness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Use of energy by moving object

If conventional receivers with internal local oscillators are used, then continuous operation is possible, but power consumption is high

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidbattery life

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The internal local oscillator is extracted and replaced by an external signal source, eliminating a major power consumption component. This extends battery life by removing the need for high-power internal oscillation circuits while maintaining continuous reception capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The receiver system uses the externally provided carrier signal to serve multiple functions (LO, reference, potentially power), making the receiver self-sufficient in terms of signal generation without requiring additional power-consuming internal components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 significantly reduces power consumption while maintaining sensitivity and selectivity, enabling continuous operation or higher duty cycles compared to conventional receivers, suitable for battery-powered devices like smart watches and implantable electronics.

Implementation Method 1

a two-port mixer coupled to the antenna and configured to mix the carrier signal and the wireless communication signal to provide an intermediate frequency signal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFrequency mixing: Heterodyne

Data Source

PatentUS11171678B2Two-port mixers and systems, receivers, and methods using same

Publication Date: 2021.11.09 UNIV OF WASHINGTON

AI summary

Examples of receivers and receiver techniques are described herein. An example system may include a carrier source that may provide a wireless carrier signal and a wireless communication device, separate from the carrier source. The wireless communication device may provide a wireless communication signal containing data. A receiver may include an antenna positioned to receive the wireless carrier signal and the wireless communication signal, a two-port mixer coupled to the antenna and configured to mix the wireless carrier signal and the wireless communication signal to provide an intermediate frequency signal, and a demodulator configured to extract, at least in part, the data from the intermediate frequency signal.