Universal platform for software defined radio

• US 6,823,181 B1
• Filed: 07/23/2002
• Issued: 11/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Limited (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Limited (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Van Rooyen, Pieter, Morelos-Zaragoza, Robert Henry, Michael, Lachlan Bruce, Kohno, Ryuji, Swarts, Francis, Sanada, Yukitoshi, Abe, Masayoshi, Sasho, Noboru, Haruyama, Shinichiro, Brankovic, Veselin, Amir-Alikhani, Hamid
• Primary Examiner(s): MOORE, JAMES K
• Application Number:
  US10/070,283
• Time in Patent Office: 854 Days
• Field of Search: 455/149, 455/313, 455/318, 455/323, 455/324, 455/333, 455/334, 327/65, 327/76.11, 327/600, 327/647
• US Class Current: 455/324
• CPC Class Codes: H03D 1/2245 using two quadrature channels H03D1/2209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/30 for homodyne or synchrodyne receivers demodulator circuits H03D1/22
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2273 associated with quadrature demodulation, e.g. Costas loop
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2332 using a non-coherent carrier

Abstract

The universal platform for the SDR of the present invention employs the direct conversion approach with the n-port MMIC followed by reconfigurable reprogrammable devices such as DSP'"'"'s or FPGA'"'"'s. The universal platform is based on the linear operation of the devices. Thus, the DC offset problem may be solved. It is also possible to support very wide bandwidths compared with conventional I/Q receivers. Therefore, the present universal platform is suitable for multimode and multiband communications.

Claims

1. A universal platform for software defined radio, comprising:

an n (n being an integer of 3 or more)-port receiver including

a first input terminal receiving a received signal,

a second input terminal receiving a local signal,

a plurality of power detectors for receiving a plurality of input power signals and generating a plurality of power-detected output signals,

a directional coupler coupled to the first input terminal and a first power detector of said plurality of power detectors, said directional coupler operating to directionally couple said received signal to said first power detector, said directional coupler generating a first output signal

at least first and second dividers said first divider coupled to said directional coupler and a second power detector of said plurality of power detectors and operating to divide the first output signal said first divider generating a second output signal, said second divider coupled to said second input terminal and a third power detector of said plurality of power detectors, and operating to divide the local signal, said second divider generating a third output signal, and

a phase shifter coupled to said at least first and second dividers, said phase shifter operating to shift the phase of said second output signal or the phase of said third output signal; and

a converter for converting the power-detected output signals of said plurality of power detectors to a plurality of signal components included in the received signal or the local signal.

2. A universal platform for software defined radio as set forth in claim 1, wherein the power detector comprises:

a first field effect transistor receiving one of said plurality of input power signals at its gate,

a second field effect transistor with a source connected to a source of the first field effect transistor,

a first gate bias supplying circuit for supplying a gate bias voltage to the gate of the first field effect transistor,

a second gate bias supplying circuit for supplying a gate bias voltage to a gate of the second field effect transistor,

a current source connected to the sources of the first field effect transistor and the second field effect transistor,

a drain bias supplying circuit for supplying a drain bias voltage to the drains of the first field effect transistor and the second field effect transistor,

a first capacitor connected between the drain of the first field effect transistor and a reference potential, and

a second capacitor connected between the drain of the second field effect transistor and the reference potential, and

the voltage difference between a first drain voltage at the drain of the first field effect transistor and a second drain voltage at the drain of the second field effect transistor is processed as a detection output.

3. A universal platform for software defined radio as set forth in claim 2, wherein

the first field effect transistor and the second field effect transistor have substantially equivalent characteristics,

the drain bias supplying circuit includes a first drain bias use resistance element connected between the drain of the first field effect transistor and a voltage source and a second drain bias use resistance element connected between the drain of the second field effect transistor and a voltage source,

a resistance of the first drain bias use resistance element and a resistance of the second drain bias use resistance element are set to substantially equivalent values, and

a capacitance of the first capacitor and a capacitance of the second capacitor are set to substantially equivalent values.

4. A universal platform for software defined radio as set forth in claim 2, wherein

when a gate width of the first field effect transistor is W_ga and a gate width of the second field effect transistor is W_gb, the ratio W_ga/W_gb is set to N,

the drain bias supplying circuit includes a first drain bias use resistance element connected between the drain of the first field effect transistor and a voltage source and a second drain bias use resistance element connected between the drain of the second field effect transistor and a voltage source,

a resistance Ra of the first drain bias use resistance element and a resistance of the second drain bias use resistance Rb element are set so as to satisfy the condition Ra/Rb=1/N, and

a capacitance of the first capacitor and a capacitance of the second capacitor are set to substantially equivalent values.

5. A universal platform for software defined radio as set forth in claim 1, wherein the power detector comprises;

a first field effect transistor receiving the input signal at its gate and with a source connected to a reference potential;

a second field effect transistor with a source connected to the reference potential;

a first gate bias supplying circuit for supplying a gate bias voltage to the gate of the first field effect transistor;

a second gate bias supplying circuit for supplying a gate bias voltage to a gate of the second field effect transistor;

a drain bias supplying circuit for supplying a drain bias voltage to the drains of the first field effect transistor and the second field effect transistor;

a first capacitor connected between the drain of the first field effect transistor and a reference potential; and

a second capacitor connected between the drain of the second field effect transistor and the reference potential, wherein the voltage difference between a first drain voltage at the drain of the first field effect transistor and a second drain voltage at the drain of the second field effect transistor is processed as a detection output.

6. A universal platform for software defined radio as set forth in claim 2, wherein the first field effect transistor and the second field effect transistor have substantially equivalent characteristics.

7. A universal platform for software defined radio as set forth in claim 2, wherein the drain bias supplying circuit includes a first drain bias use resistance element connected between the drain of the first field effect transistor and a voltage source and a second drain bias use resistance element connected between the drain of the second field effect transistor and a voltage source.

8. A universal platform for software defined radio as set forth in claim 2, wherein a resistance of the first drain bias use resistance element and a resistance of the second drain bias use resistance element are set to substantially equivalent values.

9. A universal platform for software defined radio as set forth in claim 2, wherein a capacitance of the first capacitor and a capacitance of the second capacitor are set to substantially equivalent values.

10. A universal platform for software defined radio as set forth in claim 2, wherein when a gate width of the first field effect transistor is W_ga and a gate width of the second field effect transistor is W_gb, the ratio W_ga/W_gb is set to N.

11. A universal platform for software defined radio as set forth in claim 2, wherein the drain bias supplying circuit includes a first drain bias use resistance element connected between the drain of the first field effect transistor and a voltage source and a second drain bias use resistance element connected between the drain of the second field effect transistor and a voltage source.

12. A universal platform for software defined radio as set forth in claim 2, wherein a resistance Ra of the first drain bias use resistance element and a resistance of the second drain bias use resistance Rb element are set so as to satisfy the condition Ra/Rb=1/N.

13. A universal platform for software defined radio as set forth in claim 2, wherein a capacitance of the first capacitor and a capacitance of the second capacitor are set to substantially equivalent values.

14. A universal platform for software defined radio, comprising:

an n (n being an integer of 3 or more)-port receiver including;

a first input terminal receiving a received signal,

a second input terminal receiving a local signal,

a plurality of power detectors for receiving a plurality of input power signals and generating a plurality of analog power-detected output signals

a directional coupler coupled to the first input terminal and a first power detector of said plurality of power detectors said directional coupler operating to directionally couple said received signal to said first power detector, said directional coupler generating a first output signal,

at least first and second dividers, said first divider coupled to said directional coupler and a second power detector of said plurality of power detectors, and operating to divide the first output signal, said first divider generating a second output signal, said second divider coupled to said second input terminal and a third power detector of said plurality of power detectors, and operating to divide the local signal, said second divider generating a third output signal, and

a phase shifter coupled to said at least first and second dividers, said phase shifter operating to shift the phase of said second output signal or the phase of said third output signal;

at least one analog-to-digital (A/D) converter for converting the output analog power-detected output signal from a corresponding power detector to a digital signal; and

a digital signal processing part for converting the power-detected output signal of the power detector through the A/D converter to a plurality of signal components included in the received signal or the local signal.

15. A universal platform for software defined radio as set forth in claim 14, wherein the digital signal processing part compensates for the non-linearity of the power detector.

16. A universal platform for software defined radio as set forth in claim 14, wherein:

the power detector comprises;

a first field effect transistor receiving one of said plurality of input power signals at its gate,

a second field effect transistor with a source connected to a source of the first field effect transistor,

a first gate bias supplying circuit for supplying a gate bias voltage to the gate of the first field effect transistor,

a second gate bias supplying circuit for supplying a gate bias voltage to a gate of the second field effect transistor,

a current source connected to the sources of the first field effect transistor and the second field effect transistor,

a drain bias supplying circuit for supplying a drain bias voltage to the drains of the first field effect transistor and the second field effect transistor,

a first capacitor connected between the drain of the first field effect transistor and a reference potential, and

a second capacitor connected between the drain of the second field effect transistor and the reference potential, and

the voltage difference between a first drain voltage at the drain of the first field effect transistor and a second drain voltage at the drain of the second field effect transistor is processed as a detection output.

17. A universal platform for software defined radio as set forth in claim 16, wherein:

the first field effect transistor and the second field effect transistor have substantially equivalent characteristics,

the drain bias supplying circuit includes a first drain bias use resistance element connected between the drain of the first field effect transistor and a voltage source and a second drain bias use resistance element connected between the drain of the second field effect transistor and a voltage source,

a resistance of the first drain bias use resistance element and a resistance of the second drain bias use resistance element are set to substantially equivalent values, and

a capacitance of the first capacitor and a capacitance of the second capacitor are set to substantially equivalent values.

18. A universal platform for software defined radio as set forth in claim 16, wherein:

when a gate width of the first field effect transistor is W_ga and a gate width of the second field effect transistor is W_gb, the ratio W_ga/W_gb is set to N,

the drain bias supplying circuit includes a first drain bias use resistance element connected between the drain of the first field effect transistor and a voltage source and a second drain bias use resistance element connected between the drain of the second field effect transistor and a voltage source,

a resistance Ra of the first drain bias use resistance element and a resistance of the second drain bias use resistance Rb element are set so as to satisfy the condition Ra/Rb=1/N, and

a capacitance of the first capacitor and a capacitance of the second capacitor are set to substantially equivalent values.

19. A universal platform for software defined radio as set forth in claim 16, wherein the first field effect transistor and the second field effect transistor have substantially equivalent characteristics.

20. A universal platform for software defined radio as set forth in claim 16, wherein the drain bias supplying circuit includes a first drain bias use resistance element connected between the drain of the first field effect transistor and a voltage source and a second drain bias use resistance element connected between the drain of the second field effect transistor and a voltage source.

21. A universal platform for software defined radio as set forth in claim 16, wherein a resistance of the first drain bias use resistance element and a resistance of the second drain bias use resistance element are set to substantially equivalent values.

22. A universal platform for software defined radio as set forth in claim 16, wherein a capacitance of the first capacitor and a capacitance of the second capacitor are set to substantially equivalent values.

23. A universal platform for software defined radio as set forth in claim 16, wherein when a gate width of the first field effect transistor is W_ga and a gate width of the second field effect transistor is W_gb, the ratio W_ga/W_gb is set to N.

24. A universal platform for software defined radio as set forth in claim 16, wherein the drain bias supplying circuit includes a first drain bias use resistance element connected between the drain of the first field effect transistor and a voltage source and a second drain bias use resistance element connected between the drain of the second field effect transistor and a voltage source.

25. A universal platform for software defined radio as set forth in claim 16, wherein a resistance Ra of the first drain bias use resistance element and a resistance of the second drain bias use resistance Rb element are set so as to satisfy the condition Ra/Rb=1/N.

26. A universal platform for software defined radio as set forth in claim 16, wherein a capacitance of the first capacitor and a capacitance of the second capacitor are set to substantially equivalent values.

27. A universal platform for software defined radio as set forth in claim 14, wherein the power detector comprises:

a first field effect transistor receiving the input signal at its gate and with a source connected to a reference potential;

a second field effect transistor with a source connected to the reference potential;

a first gate bias supplying circuit for supplying a gate bias voltage to the gate of the first field effect transistor;

a second gate bias supplying circuit for supplying a gate bias voltage to a gate of the second field effect transistor;

a drain bias supplying circuit for supplying a drain bias voltage to the drains of the first field effect transistor and the second field effect transistor;

a first capacitor connected between the drain of the first field effect transistor and a reference potential; and

a second capacitor connected between the drain of the second field effect transistor and the reference potential, wherein the voltage difference between a first drain voltage at the drain of the first field effect transistor and a second drain voltage at the drain of the second field effect transistor is processed as a detection output.