Wireless Receiver Interference Detection via Dynamic Frequency Tuning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless receivers, particularly those for wideband systems like UWB, face interference issues due to both in-band and out-of-band interference components, which existing methods struggle to detect and mitigate effectively, leading to reduced signal quality and increased noise ratios.
Innovation Solution
The method involves receiving a signal, downconverting it to analog baseband signals, band-pass filtering, and converting to digital baseband signals to identify interfering signals in multiple frequency ranges, allowing for comparison and tuning of a band-reject filter to suppress out-of-band interference, thereby improving signal reception without broadening the receiver circuitry's bandwidth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If the receiver circuitry bandwidth is broadened to detect out-of-band interference, then the detection capability improves, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the receiver circuitry frequency-tunable through a variable frequency oscillator. The same hardware dynamically adapts its operating frequency to match different bands (e.g., 3.1-10.6 GHz UWB band, 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi band), allowing out-of-band interference detection without permanently broadening the bandwidth. This resolves the contradiction by providing detection capability through dynamic adaptation rather than static hardware expansion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements universality by designing a single receiver circuitry that can perform multiple functions across different frequency bands. The same hardware structure serves both as a UWB receiver and a Wi-Fi receiver by adjusting the oscillator frequency, eliminating the need for separate dedicated circuits for each band. This multi-functionality reduces device complexity while maintaining comprehensive detection capability.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If the receiver circuitry bandwidth is broadened to detect out-of-band interference, then the detection capability improves, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses dynamic frequency tuning to activate only the necessary portion of the receiver circuitry for the current operating band. By keeping the oscillator and front-end amplifiers tuned to the specific band of interest rather than maintaining a permanently broad bandwidth, the system reduces power consumption while still being capable of detecting out-of-band interference when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the frequency spectrum into distinct bands (UWB band, Wi-Fi band, etc.) and tunes the receiver to process only the relevant segment at any given time. This segmentation allows the system to maintain detection capability for out-of-band interference in the current band while avoiding the continuous power consumption associated with monitoring all frequency ranges simultaneously.
3Measurement precision
If spectral analysis is performed to estimate in-band narrowband interferences, then the interference estimation improves, but the processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by conducting spectral analysis during designated idle periods or training sequences in the communication protocol. The interference estimation is performed in advance before the main data transmission begins, allowing the system to prepare filter settings ahead of time. This preliminary processing reduces the impact on real-time communication performance while maintaining accurate interference estimation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic spectral analysis at regular intervals during the communication process. Rather than continuously performing expensive spectral analysis, the system performs it periodically at key moments (e.g., at the beginning of each frame, during training sequences), achieving sufficient interference estimation accuracy while minimizing processing time overhead during critical data transmission periods.
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 effectively mitigates out-of-band interference, reduces incorrect filtering, and enhances the signal-to-noise ratio by accurately identifying and suppressing interfering signals, thus improving the quality of the received UWB signal.
Implementation Method 1
downconverting said first signal to a first analog baseband signal using a first oscillator frequency
Implementation Method 2
band pass filtering said first analog baseband signal to obtain a filtered first analog baseband signal
Implementation Method 3
converting said filtered first analog baseband signal to a first digital baseband signal
Implementation Method 4
filtering the first analog baseband signal using the band reject filter at the determined frequency
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless receiver (110) for UWB or other format, receives a useful signal in a particular band of frequencies in site spite of interference components inside and outside the particular band of frequencies. An interference detector (130, 535, 555) detects the in band interference component in a first range of frequencies to include the particular band of frequencies. The same receiver circuitry (120, 300, 310, 505) is adapted to receive a second range of frequencies to include frequencies adjacent to the particular band, to detect the out of band interference component. The position of a second interfering signal in the second range is used to detect artifacts caused by spectral folding so that the required frequency of a band reject filter can be found.