SEGMENTED RECEIVER FOR WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS

• US 20200136663A1
• Filed: 10/26/2018
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
• Inventors: Shanan, Hyman, Aghtar, Saeed
• Granted Patent: US 10,797,738 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0057 using diplexing or multiplexing filters for selecting the desired band
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/10 Means associated with receiver for limiting or suppressing noise or interference
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/185 Space-based or airborne stations; Stations for satellite systemsH04B7/204 takes precedence

Abstract

Aspects of this disclosure relate to a segmented receiver for a wireless communication system. The segmented receiver includes a first receiver segment and a second receiver segment configured to receive respective radio frequency signals. The radio frequency signals can be orthogonally polarized. Branch circuits in each receiver segment can provide a radio frequency signal to different mixers. The different mixers can be included in different receiver segments and receive local oscillator signals from independent local oscillators. Each receiver segment can process a different bandwidth of the radio frequency signal. Two different bandwidths of the radio frequency signal can be processed concurrently by different receiver segments.

Claims

1. A segmented receiver for a wireless communications system, the segmented receiver comprising:

a first receiver segment comprising a first input node configured to receive a radio frequency signal, a first branch circuit coupled to the first input node, a second branch circuit coupled to the first input node, and a first mixer; and

a second receiver segment comprising a second input node configured to receive a second radio frequency signal, a third branch circuit coupled to the second input node, a fourth branch circuit coupled to the second input node, and a second mixer;

wherein an output of the first branch circuit and an output of the third branch circuit are coupled to an input of the first mixer, and wherein an output of the second branch circuit and an output of the fourth branch circuit are coupled to an input of the second mixer.

2. The segmented receiver of claim 1, wherein the first branch circuit comprises a first low noise amplifier, and the second branch circuit comprises a second low noise amplifier.

3. The segmented receiver of claim 2, wherein the third branch circuit comprises a third low noise amplifier, and the fourth branch circuit comprises a fourth low noise amplifier.

4. The segmented receiver of claim 3, wherein the segmented receiver is configured to perform active switching to power down the first low noise amplifier such that the first low noise amplifier is powered down while the third low noise amplifier is powered on.

5. The segmented receiver of claim 2, wherein the first branch circuit further comprises an adjustable voltage-to-current converter coupled between the first low noise amplifier and the first mixer.

6. The segmented receiver of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency signal and the second radio frequency signal are orthogonally polarized signals.

7. The segmented receiver of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency signal has a frequency in a range from 17.3 gigahertz to 21.2 gigahertz.

8. The segmented receiver of claim 1, wherein the segmented receiver is configured to concurrently process a first bandwidth of the radio frequency signal using the first mixer and a second bandwidth of the radio frequency signal using the second mixer.

9. The segmented receiver of claim 8, wherein the first bandwidth and the second bandwidth each span at least 300 megahertz.

10. The segmented receiver of claim 1, wherein the first receiver segment comprises a first local oscillator in communication with the first mixer, the second receiver segment comprises a second local oscillator in communication with the second mixer, and the first local oscillator is independent of the second local oscillator.

11. The segmented receiver of claim 1, wherein the first receiver segment comprises an input low noise amplifier having an input coupled to the first input node and an output split to the first branch circuit and the second branch circuit.

12. A method of processing a received radio frequency signal in a segmented receiver, the method comprising:

receiving the radio frequency signal at an input node of a first receiver segment;

processing the radio frequency signal in a first branch circuit and a second branch circuit of the first receiver segment;

down converting the radio frequency signal using a first mixer of first receiver segment, wherein the first mixer has an input coupled to an output of the first branch circuit; and

down converting the radio frequency signal using a second mixer of a second receiver segment, wherein the second mixer has an input coupled to an output of the second branch circuit.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

processing a first bandwidth of the radio frequency signal using circuitry coupled to an output of the first mixer; and

processing a second bandwidth of the radio frequency signal using circuitry coupled to an output of the second mixer, wherein the first bandwidth and the second bandwidth are spaced apart in a frequency domain.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising providing a first local oscillator signal to the first mixer and second local oscillator signal to the second mixer, wherein the first local oscillator signal is independent of the second local oscillator signal.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

powering down circuitry of the first branch circuit and the second branch circuit of the first receiver segment; and

while the circuitry of the first branch circuit and the second branch circuit of the first receiver segment are powered down, processing a second radio frequency signal in a third branch circuit of the second receiver segment, wherein the first mixer has an input coupled to an output of the third branch circuit.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising providing a second radio frequency signal to a second input node of the second receiver segment, wherein the radio frequency signal and the second radio frequency signal are orthogonally polarized.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the radio frequency signal has a frequency in a range from 17.3 gigahertz to 21.2 gigahertz.

18. A radio frequency system with a segmented receiver for a wireless communications system, the radio frequency system comprising:

a polarizer configured to provide a first radio frequency signal at a first polarizer node and a second radio frequency signal at a second polarizer node, wherein the first radio frequency signal and the second radio frequency signal are orthogonally polarized;

a first receiver segment comprising a first input node electrically connected to the first polarizer node, a first low noise amplifier coupled to the first input node, a second low noise amplifier coupled to the first input node, and a first mixer; and

a second receiver segment comprising a second input node electrically connected to the second polarizer node, a third low noise amplifier coupled to the second input node, a fourth low noise amplifier coupled to the second input node, and a second mixer;

wherein an output of the first low noise amplifier and an output of the third low noise amplifier are coupled to an input of the first mixer; and

wherein an output of the second low noise amplifier and an output of the fourth low noise amplifier are coupled to an input of the second mixer.

19. The radio frequency system of claim 18, further comprising a diplexer coupled between the first polarizer node and the first input node and also coupled between the second polarizer node and the second input node.

20. The radio frequency system of claim 18, wherein the first receiver segment comprises a local oscillator electrically connected to the first mixer, and wherein the local oscillator is configured to perform phase shifting.