UWB Receiver Cascade Amplifier Gain Control

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional UWB receivers face challenges in dynamically adjusting amplifier gain and ADC reference levels for short pulse widths, and in handling multipath reflections, which complicates signal analysis.

Innovation Solution

A cascade structure of RF amplifiers and baseband blocks, coupled with a processor, processes UWB signals without requiring dynamic gain adjustments, allowing for digital reconstruction and identification of UWB signals, and a server determines the location of UWB transmitters using triangulation techniques.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional UWB receivers use dynamic gain adjustment of amplifier or reference levels of ADC during short pulse width, then the receiver can handle incoming UWB signals over a wide range of dynamic range, but the device complexity and difficulty of operation increase due to the need for dynamic adjustments during nanosecond pulse widths

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedynamic range handling capabilityVSAvoidcomplexity of dynamic gain adjustment mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-adjusting the gain of RF amplifiers before the UWB signal arrives. The system estimates the signal strength and configures appropriate gain values in advance, allowing the receiver to handle signals across a wide dynamic range without requiring complex dynamic adjustments during the nanosecond pulse width.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamics by allowing the RF amplifier gain to be adjusted based on estimated signal strength. The system dynamically selects from a set of predefined gain values (e.g., 0 dB, 10 dB, 20 dB, 30 dB) based on the expected signal level, providing adaptability without requiring continuous dynamic adjustment during the pulse.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If conventional UWB receivers attempt to handle multipath reflections in the digital domain, then the receiver can process reflected signals, but the analysis complexity increases significantly due to superposition of reflected signals onto the original incoming UWB signal

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemultipath reflection handling capabilityVSAvoidcomplexity of signal analysis

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by estimating the signal strength before the UWB signal arrives and configuring the appropriate gain value in advance. This pre-configuration simplifies subsequent signal processing by ensuring the signal is properly scaled before any analysis occurs, reducing the complexity of handling multipath reflections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the gain parameter of RF amplifiers based on estimated signal strength. By adjusting this key parameter before signal arrival, the system optimizes the signal level for subsequent processing, making multipath reflection analysis more manageable without requiring complex digital domain processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If UWB receivers use fixed gain amplifiers without dynamic adjustment, then the device complexity is reduced, but the receiver cannot handle incoming UWB signals over a wide range of dynamic range

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of amplifier gain controlVSAvoiddynamic range handling capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamics by allowing the RF amplifier gain to be adjusted based on estimated signal strength. The system dynamically selects from a set of predefined gain values (e.g., 0 dB, 10 dB, 20 dB, 30 dB) based on the expected signal level, providing adaptability without requiring continuous dynamic adjustment during the pulse.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-adjusting the gain of RF amplifiers before the UWB signal arrives. The system estimates the signal strength and configures appropriate gain values in advance, allowing the receiver to handle signals across a wide dynamic range without requiring complex dynamic adjustments during the nanosecond pulse width.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3222015B1Devices for detecting ultra-wide band signals

Publication Date: 2020.01.08 MURATA MFG CO LTD

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AI summary

Embodiments of the present invention include systems for determining locations of UWB transmitters. The system (100) includes multiple UWB receivers (104) for receiving a UWB signal (120) emitted by a UWB transmitter (106). Each receiver (104) includes: RF amplifiers (306) arranged in a cascade structure, the RF amplifiers (306) receive and amplify the UWB signal; multiple baseband blocks (308), each of the baseband blocks is coupled to the corresponding RF amplifier (306) and taps an output signal from the corresponding RF amplifier; and a processor (320) coupled to the multiple baseband blocks (308), the processor processes output signals from the multiple baseband blocks (308) to identify the UWB signal (120). The system (100) also includes a server (110) coupled to the multiple receivers (104), the server (110) receives the identified UWB signals from the multiple receivers (104) and determines the location of the UWB transmitter (106) using the identified UWB signals.