Virtual Antenna Switching for RF Front-End Cost Reduction

Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems face challenges in achieving low cost and power efficiency due to the presence of antenna switches in the RF front-end of user equipment (UE), which increase costs and introduce insertion loss.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of antenna switch diversity at the modem, wireless transmitter/receiver, and power amplifiers within the UE, allowing for the removal of the antenna switch from the RF front-end, enabling efficient switching between transmit chains without the need for hardware switches.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If antenna switches are used in the RF front-end of UE, then antenna switching functionality is achieved, but device cost and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveantenna switching functionalityVSAvoiddevice cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the antenna switching functionality from the RF front-end hardware and relocates it to the baseband processing domain. Specifically, the virtual antenna switch is implemented in the digital signal processing path, allowing multiple physical antennas to be selectively activated through software control rather than hardware switching components. This extraction eliminates the need for physical antenna switches while maintaining the essential antenna switching capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/physical antenna switch with a virtual/software-based switching mechanism. Instead of using physical switches that connect different antennas to the transmitter through hardware paths, the system uses digital signal processing to simulate the switching effect. The baseband processor dynamically selects which antenna signals to process and transmit, effectively substituting a mechanical switching system with a software-controlled digital system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If antenna switches are used in the RF front-end of UE, then antenna switching functionality is achieved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveantenna switching functionalityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the antenna switching functionality from the RF front-end hardware and relocates it to the baseband processing domain. Specifically, the virtual antenna switch is implemented in the digital signal processing path, allowing multiple physical antennas to be selectively activated through software control rather than hardware switching components. This extraction eliminates the need for physical antenna switches while maintaining the essential antenna switching capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/physical antenna switch with a virtual/software-based switching mechanism. Instead of using physical switches that connect different antennas to the transmitter through hardware paths, the system uses digital signal processing to simulate the switching effect. The baseband processor dynamically selects which antenna signals to process and transmit, effectively substituting a mechanical switching system with a software-controlled digital system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If hardware antenna switches are used, then antenna switching is achieved, but insertion loss and thermal issues occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveantenna switching capabilityVSAvoidinsertion loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical/physical antenna switch with a virtual/software-based switching mechanism. Instead of using physical switches that connect different antennas to the transmitter through hardware paths, the system uses digital signal processing to simulate the switching effect. The baseband processor dynamically selects which antenna signals to process and transmit, effectively substituting a mechanical switching system with a software-controlled digital system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent moves the antenna switching operation from the RF hardware dimension to the baseband digital signal processing dimension. By implementing the switch logic in the digital domain rather than the analog RF domain, the system avoids the physical losses associated with RF switches. The switching decision is made in the digital baseband layer, and the corresponding antenna signals are selected and processed digitally, eliminating insertion loss entirely.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS11374633B2Low cost power efficient antenna switch diversity and cyclic delay diversity transceiver

Publication Date: 2022.06.28 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. A user equipment (UE) may determine to operate in an antenna switch diversity mode to transmit an uplink signal according to an antenna switching pattern, the antenna switching pattern comprising switching between a first transmit chain coupled to a first antenna and a second transmit chain coupled to a second antenna. The UE may transmit at least a first portion of the uplink signal using the first transmit chain coupled to the first antenna, the first transmit chain coupled to the first antenna. The UE may transmit at least a second portion of the uplink signal using the second transmit chain coupled to the second antenna, the second transmit chain coupled to the second antenna.