Wideband RF Front End Self-Cancellation for Dynamic Range
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cellular radio architectures are inflexible and costly due to their static nature, requiring redesigns for each new waveform and frequency band, which is particularly challenging for automotive applications where standards and technologies evolve rapidly, and existing solutions struggle to achieve the necessary dynamic range and self-interference cancellation for wideband operations.
Innovation Solution
A programmable bandpass sampling radio frequency front-end with delta-sigma modulators and a dual self-cancellation circuit that provides digital and analog cancellation of the transmit signal, enabling flexible operation across multiple frequency bands and waveforms, and incorporating envelope tracking for improved linearity and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a static, channelized RF front-end architecture is used, then the receiver can achieve stable performance for specific frequency bands, but it becomes inflexible and costly when new waveform and frequency band standards are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a reconfigurable RF front-end architecture where the receiver can dynamically adapt its filtering and signal processing characteristics through software control. The bandpass filter bank and down-conversion stages are programmable, allowing the system to reconfigure for different frequency bands and waveforms without hardware changes, thus achieving both stability and adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal receiver platform that can handle multiple cellular standards (2G, 3G, 4G and beyond) and frequency bands through a single hardware design. The software-defined radio architecture with reconfigurable filters and programmable baseband processing enables one system to perform multiple functions across evolving standards
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple disparate radio front-end chips are integrated for different modes and bands, then each specific standard can be supported, but the device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple radio front-end functions into a single integrated receiver module. Instead of using separate chips for different frequency bands and modes, the invention combines GSM, GPRS, and future standards support into one unified hardware platform with software-configurable processing paths, reducing component count and system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The universal receiver architecture uses a common signal path with reconfigurable filtering and down-conversion that can be programmed to support multiple standards and bands, eliminating the need for multiple specialized front-end chips and reducing overall device complexity
3Measurement precision
If narrow-band filters and duplexers are used for specific bands, then the receiver achieves good selectivity, but the system cannot easily adapt to changing frequency allocations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces fixed narrow-band filters with a bank of reconfigurable bandpass filters that can be programmatically adjusted to different frequency ranges. This dynamic filtering approach maintains the selectivity needed for receiver performance while allowing the system to adapt to different frequency allocations and bands through software control
Solution Approach 2:
The filter characteristics (center frequency, bandwidth, Q-factor) are made variable through electronic tuning rather than fixed hardware values. This allows the same physical filter to achieve different selectivity characteristics by changing its parameters, enabling adaptation to different bands while maintaining performance
Data Source
AI summary
A cellular radio architecture that includes a programmable bandpass sampling radio frequency front-end and an optimized digital baseband. The architecture includes a receiver module having a plurality of signal channels for different frequency bands, where each signal channel in the receiver module includes a receiver delta-sigma modulator that converts analog receive signals to a representative digital signal. The architecture also includes a transmitter module having a transmitter delta-sigma modulator for converting digital data bits to analog transmit signals, where the transmitter module includes a power amplifier and a switch for directing the transmit signals to one of the signal paths. The architecture also includes a dual self-cancellation circuit providing digital and analog cancellation of the transmit signal in the receiver module.