Wireless Calibration System External Delay Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for calibrating circuit delay in wireless communication systems, particularly for radio features like 802.11 standards, face challenges in achieving nanosecond resolution due to variations in analog circuits outside the chipset, leading to inefficiencies in memory usage and offline calibration time, and inability to compensate for delays outside the chipset.
Innovation Solution
A wireless communication calibration system and method that includes a radio chipset, an external analog circuit set, and a calibration path or switch set to measure and calculate delays externally, allowing for precise calculation of circuit delays by generating and processing signals through external analog circuits and calibration paths, and optionally using a switch set to bypass varying analog circuits for accurate timing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional calibration methods using look-up tables are used, then timing accuracy can be improved, but memory resources are consumed and offline calibration time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the calibration measurement process from the chipset and performs it externally using a calibration system that measures delay through the antenna port. This eliminates the need for large look-up tables stored in memory, as the actual physical measurement is performed outside the device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary calibration system comprising a signal generator, calibration path, and measurement device that mediates between the transmitter and receiver to measure delay. This intermediary system provides precise timing measurements without requiring memory resources within the radio chipset.
2Measurement precision
If conventional calibration methods using look-up tables are used, then timing accuracy can be improved, but offline calibration time is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The calibration system enables the radio device to perform self-calibration by measuring its own delay characteristics through the antenna port. The device can automatically determine the delay value without requiring external offline calibration processes, reducing calibration time while maintaining accuracy.
3Measurement precision
If a calibration loop inside the chipset is used, then internal delay can be calibrated, but delay outside the chipset cannot be compensated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the calibration dimension from internal chipset-only measurement to external measurement through the antenna port. By measuring delay in the dimension that includes external analog circuits, filters, and antenna connections, the system gains the ability to compensate for previously unmeasurable delays while maintaining internal calibration capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless communication calibration system has a radio chipset, an analog circuit set, and a calibration path. The radio chipset has a transmitter and a receiver. The analog circuit set is external to the radio chipset and coupled to the transmitter, and receives an output signal of the transmitter and generates a transmission signal according to the output signal. The calibration path is external to the radio chipset and coupled to the analog circuit set, and guides an input signal to the receiver, wherein the input signal is derived from the transmission signal, and a first delay is calculated after the input signal is received by the receiver.