Patent Abstract:
A system may comprise a plurality of signal processing paths, a bin-wise combiner, an inverse transformation block, and a DAC. Each signal processing path may comprise a transformation block that is operable to transform a first time-domain digital signal to an associated frequency-domain signal having a plurality of subband signals. The bin-wise combiner may be operable to combine corresponding subband signals of the plurality of signal processing paths. The inverse transformation block may be operable to transform output of the bin-wise combiner to an second time-domain signal. The DAC may be operable to converts the second time-domain signal to a corresponding analog signal.

Full Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/966,905 filed Dec. 13, 2010. U.S. application Ser. No. 12/966,905 claims benefit under 35 USC 119(e) of U.S. provisional application No. 61/285,945, filed Dec. 11, 2009. U.S. application Ser. No. 12/966,905 is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/247,908 filed Oct. 8, 2008, now patented as U.S. Pat. No. 8,010,070. U.S. application Ser. No. 12/247,908 claims benefit under 35 USC 119(e) of U.S. provisional application No. 6061/978,645, filed Oct. 9, 2007. 
    
    
     Each of the above applications is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Aspects of the present application relate to electronic communications. More specifically, to Low-Complexity Diversity Reception. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Conventional antenna diversity systems typically use one receiver path for each antenna present in the system. A receiver  100  with a three-antenna diversity receiver path is shown in  FIG. 1 . Receiver  100  is shown as including receiver paths  120 ,  140  and  160 . Each receiver path is shown as including a low-noise amplifier, a frequency conversion module, one or more filters, a variable gain amplifier, collectively forming an analog front end and a baseband processor. For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , receiver path (alternatively referred to as channel)  120  is shown as including an analog front-end  125  and a baseband processor  120 . Analog front end is shown as including a low-noise amplifier  102 , a frequency conversion module  104 , such as a mixer, one or more filters  106 ,  108 , and a variable gain amplifier  110 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the three-antenna diversity receiver  100  is shown as including three receivers that are coupled to their associated baseband processors. In each receiver path, e.g., receiver path  120 , the signal enters an RF analog front end, e.g.,  125 , where the signal is amplified, filtered and downconverted prior to being digitized as a baseband signal. The output signals CS i , where i is an integer varying from 1 to 3 of the baseband processors  165 ,  175 , and  185  are combined by combiner  190  in such a way as to optimize signal quality using any one of a number of conventional algorithms, such as simple switched diversity algorithm; or optimal combining algorithm according to which the signals from each diversity channel are cophased and summed; or interference cancellation algorithm in accordance with which the signals are combined in such a way as to reduce cochannel interference (CCI). As is known, CCI degrades quality of the desired signal. A full diversity receiver such as that shown in  FIG. 1  enables the component signals to be individually equalized. That is, a frequency-dependent phase and amplitude can be applied across the frequency components of each diversity signal before such signals are combined by combiner  190 . However, such diversity systems require full receiver and baseband signal paths for each antenna disposed in the system. 
     A technique for low-complexity antenna diversity is described in an article entitled “Low-Complexity Antenna Diversity Receivers for Mobile Wireless Applications,” by Zhang, C. N., Ling, C. C., International Journal on Wireless Personal Communications, pp. 65-8. The authors show the viability of combining diversity antenna signals using front-end analog circuits to achieve significant diversity gain in comparison to conventional diversity techniques that require duplicate signal paths and modems. The technique described in the article provides hardware savings by eliminating one of the modems. Furthermore, since each antenna is receiving the same desired channel, the need for duplicate local oscillator is eliminated. Likewise, channel selection filters, amplifiers and data conversion hardware, can be shared. 
     Patent application Ser. No. 11/874,854, filed Oct. 18, 2007, and patent application No. 60/862,193, filed Oct. 19, 2006, both entitled “Low Complexity Antenna Diversity”, and the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, disclose a diversity combining receiver which combines the diversity signals prior to baseband and demodulator processing, as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     The signals from the various channels are combined using either maximum ratio combining (MRC) technique or simple cophasing technique. In a conventional MRC technique, which accounts for both the phase and the signal-to-noise ratio for each channel, the entire signal is treated as a single band. In a conventional single-band MRC, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the signal received by each antenna is delivered to an associated analog front end AF i  component, where i is an index of the diversity channel. One advantage of the single-band MRC technique is that it achieves significant diversity gain while requiring relatively low complexity. However, when the wireless channel through which the received signals pass has frequency-selective fading (which can be described by well-known channel models such as the 6-path Typical Urban 6 (TU-6)), the conventional single-band MRC technique may not provide as large a diversity gain as a conventional diversity receiver. For example, a two-branch diversity system using single-band MRC may only provide, for example, 2.5 dB of diversity gain compared with a conventional diversity receiver which may provide, for example, 8 dB of diversity gains. A conventional diversity receiver uses two full receivers and has double the cost, power and size of a single-band MRC. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A wireless diversity receiver, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention includes, in part, a plurality of signal processing paths, a bin-wise combiner, and an inverse transformation module. Each signal processing path includes, in part, a mixer adapted to downconvert a frequency of an RF signal received by that path, an analog-to-digital converter adapted to convert the downconverted signal from an analog signal to a digital signal, and a transformation block adapted to transform the digital signal represented in time domain to an associated frequency domain signal having a plurality of subband signals. The bin-wise combiner is configured to combine the corresponding subband signals of the plurality of paths. The inverse transformation block is configured to transform the output of the bin-wise combiner to an associated time-domain signal. 
     In some embodiments, each signal path further includes, in part, an amplifier adapted to amplify the RF signal received by that path. In one embodiment, the amplifier is a low-noise amplifier. In one embodiment, the transformation block in each path is a Fourier transformation block. In one embodiment, the wireless diversity receiver further includes a filter responsive to the inverse transformation block, and a variable gain stage responsive to the filter. 
     In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a method of processing signals in a wireless receiver having a plurality of signal processing paths, includes, in part, downconverting an RF signal received in each path, converting each downconverted analog RF signal to an associated digital signal, transforming each digital signal represented in time domain to an associated frequency domain signal having a plurality of subband signals, combining a plurality of the subband signals of each of the paths, and performing an inverse transformation to transform the combined subband signals to an associated time-domain signal. 
     In one embodiment, the method further includes, in part, amplifying the RF signal received in each path. In one embodiment, the amplification in each path is performed by a low-noise amplifier. In one embodiment, the method further includes, in part, transforming each digital signal represented in time domain to an associated frequency domain signal using a Fourier transform module. The method may further include filtering the time domain signal that is generated by performing the inverse transformation, and varying the gain of an amplification stage that amplifies the filtered signal. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a diversity receiver, as known in the prior art. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a low-complexity diversity receiver. 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram of a low-complexity diversity receiver, in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4A  shows a radio modem embodying a low-complexity diversity receiver, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, and used in a first configuration. 
         FIG. 4B  shows a radio modem embodying a low-complexity diversity receiver, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, and used in a second configuration. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A low-complexity diversity receiver, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, is simple, low-cost method and has an enhanced performance in channels with relatively narrow coherence bandwidths. The performance of a low-complexity diversity receiver, in accordance with the present invention, is comparable to the performance of conventional diversity receivers that use a complete and full receive paths for each branch of the diversity. 
     In accordance with the one embodiment of the present invention, the receiver band is amplified, frequency downconverted, converted to a digital signal, and then divided into several subbands using, for example, a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) module disposed in each of the complex diversity paths. In one embodiment, cophasing may be used to account for differences in the phases of various subbands. In another embodiment, maximum ratio combining (MRC) may be used to account for differences in both phases and signal-to-noise (SNR) ratios of the subbands. The subbands are scaled by their respective SNR to enable the application of MRC of the individual subbands. The resulting complex signal is delivered to an Inverse Fast Fourier Transform (IFFT) module to generate an output signal in time-domain. 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram of a three-antenna diversity receiver  300 , in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Although receiver  300  is shown as including three paths (channels), namely paths  340 ,  345  and  350 , it is understood that a diversity receiver, in accordance with the present invention, may have any number of paths. Path  340  is shown as including an amplifier  302   1 , a frequency conversion module  304   1 , and an analog-to-digital converter  306   1 . Path  345  is shown as including an amplifier  302   2 , a frequency conversion module  304   2 , and an analog-to-digital converter  306   2 . Path  350  is shown as including an amplifier  302   3 , a frequency conversion module  304   3 , and an analog-to-digital converter  306   3 . 
     Each amplifier  302   i , where i is an index ranging from 1 to 3, is configured to receive and amplify an input signal received from an associated antenna  330   i . In one embodiment, each amplifier  302   i  may be a Low Noise Amplifier (LNA). In another embodiment, each amplifier  302   i  may be a variable gain amplifier. Amplifier  302 ; may be configured as a single-stage or multi-stage amplifier. 
     Each amplifier  302   i  may amplify an RF signal (e.g., a terrestrial television signal such as a DVB-T or ISDB-T signal). The output signal of amplifier  302   i  is shown as being applied to an associated frequency conversion module  304   i . Frequency conversion modules  12  and  22  are shown as being mixers in exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 2 . Each mixer  304   i  is configured to frequency down-convert the received signal using the oscillating signal generated by local oscillator  348 . The signal whose frequency is down converted by mixer  304   i  is converted to a digital signal by analog-to-digital (ADC) converter  306   i . FFT module  308   i  transforms the time-domain digitized signal into a frequency domain using 2 m  points, as described further below. 
     Assume that the bandwidth of the signals AS i  supplied by ADC  306   i  is BW. For a particular wireless channel, the frequency selectivity has a coherence bandwidth CBW, which is the frequency bandwidth across which the channel can be approximated as a flat channel. CBW is inversely proportional to the delay spread of the channel. The delay spread can, in turn, be extracted from the channel&#39;s impulse response. Parameter K which is defined by rounding the ratio (BW/CBW) provides a guideline for the number of points the FFT  3080   i  may require, by choosing the smallest m such that 2 m &gt;=K. 
     The bin (or subband) output signals FSi of the associated FFT modules  308   i  may be combined after cophasing or combined using MRC, hence referred to herein to as subband MRC. The SNR of each subband may be estimated using any one of a number of conventional techniques to implement MRC. For example, relative subband amplitude combined with gain information available in the analog front end may be used to provide subband-wise signal strength information. The resulting signal CS 1  is transformed back to time domain by IFFT module  312 . The output of IFFT module  310  is filtered by lowpass filters  314 ,  316 , and amplified by variable gain stage  316 . The output of variable gain stage  316  is applied to modem  318  and/or to a digital to analog converter (DAC)  319 . 
     The DAC  319  may convert the output of gain stage  316  to an analog signal such that the signal can be input to an analog receiver. In this manner, the DAC  319  may enable backward compatibility with legacy set-top-boxes and/or other devices capable of accepting an analog signal (e.g., a DVB-T or ISDB-T signal). 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , bin-wise combiner  310  combines the output signals of FFT modules  308   1 ,  308   2  and  308   3  to generate signal CS. The combined signal CS is, in turn, applied to IFFT  310  which generates signal DS by transforming signal CS from frequency domain to time domain. The parameter m, which is the number of points used in FFT modules  308   i , may be selected independently from the type of signal modulation being received. For example, an OFDM system may have 4096 subbands and, during demodulation, requires a 4096-point FFT. In accordance with the present invention, a significantly smaller FFT module is used to perform the diversity processing, thus greatly reducing complexity and power consumption. The present invention may be equally applied to non-OFDM signals (e.g. single-carrier or CDMA signals) with relatively the same degree of effectiveness. 
     The diversity scheme can, as with the single-band MRC diversity technique, be used without special control signals from or modifications in a modem. As such, embodiments of the present invention may be implemented with a stand-alone front end, or, for example with a radio modem which can be augmented for diversity with the addition of a radio. Some exemplary embodiments are shown in  FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b.    
     In an example implementation, the receiver  300  may be implemented on a single integrated circuit (e.g., a single silicon die). In such an implementation, the receiver  300  may be coupled to the antennas via three bond pads, the output of the modem may be coupled to external devices (e.g., to a PCB and/or other ICs) via a bond pad, and the output of the DAC  319  may be coupled to external devices ((e.g., to a PCB and/or other ICs) via a bond pad. 
       FIG. 4(   a ) shows a radio modem RM 1  adapted to embody a low-complexity diversity receiver, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Input terminal I 2 , shown as not being used, may be an analog or a digital input which can take analog or digital In-phase (I) and Quadrature (Q) complex baseband inputs similar to signals received or generated by ADC  306   i  shown in  FIG. 3 . In the dual diversity configuration shown in  FIG. 4(   b ), radio R 1  provides a complex analog or digital I/Q output signal DS 2  that is applied to input terminal I 2  of RM 1 . 
     One advantage of a diversity receiver that embodies the present invention is that it allows a single integrated circuit with a relatively small additional complexity to be used both for single-antenna systems and, with the addition of a radio R 1 , for multiple-diversity antenna systems without commensurate increase in the system complexity. Radio R 1  may be used both for single-antenna applications and diversity applications. Parameter M which defines the number of FFT points may be selected in accordance with the value of coherence bandwidth CBW of the wireless channel. 
     In some embodiments, transformation techniques other than FFT may be used. For examples, in some embodiments, a Hadamard transformation may be used. In some embodiments, a flexible implementation may use a filterbank such as QMF. 
     The present invention provides a number of advantages. A diversity receiver, in accordance with the present invention, provides performance benefits approaching that of a conventional diversity receiver but without increased complexity. The performance of a system embodying the present invention may be traded off in a scalable fashion with its complexity. Furthermore, a diversity receiver in accordance with the present invention, may be used to achieve diversity for any standards, including standards that are not based on OFDM. 
     The above embodiments of the present invention are illustrative and not limiting. Various alternatives and equivalents are possible. The invention is not limited by the number of subbands disposed in the diversity receiver. The invention is not limited by the type of integrated circuit in which the present disclosure may be disposed. Nor is the disclosure limited to any specific type of process technology, e.g., CMOS, Bipolar, or BICMOS that may be used to manufacture the present disclosure. Other additions, subtractions or modifications are obvious in view of the present disclosure and are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7