JP2011130094A - Radio receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To significantly and stably reduce power consumption without considerably complicating configuration, in a radio receiver which detects a receiving wave using heterodyne detection or homodyne detection. <P>SOLUTION: The radio receiver includes: a detection means 12 which detects a receiving wave using heterodyne detection or homodyne detection; and a power control means 13 which compares a level of the receiving wave input to the detection means, with a predetermined threshold and, when the level is lower than the threshold, controls supply of driving power to only the detection means 12 or the detection means 12 and subsequent stages. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a radio receiver that detects a received wave based on a heterodyne detection system or a homodyne detection system.

  At the receiving end of a wireless device where the transmitting end does not steadily transmit and the time at which transmission is performed by the transmitting end cannot be predicted as in a commercial wireless communication device, the longest received wave can arrive An intermittent reception method that monitors received waves at a frequency less than the interval is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a wireless receiver to which the intermittent reception method is applied.
The feeding point of the antenna 21 is connected to the input of the high frequency amplifier 22, and the output of the high frequency amplifier 22 is connected to the input of the signal processing unit 25 via the first frequency converter 23 and the second frequency converter 24. . The first and second control outputs of the signal processing unit 25 are connected to control inputs of the first frequency converter 23 and the second frequency converter 24, respectively. At the output of the signal processing unit 25, a symbol string or a transmission information string indicated by the received wave arriving at the antenna 21 is obtained. DC power is supplied to the power supply control unit 26 by a power supply circuit (not shown), and the output of the power supply control unit 26 is the high frequency amplifier 22, the first frequency converter 23, the second frequency converter 24, and the signal processing unit. Connected to 25 power terminals.

  In the radio receiver having such a configuration, the power supply control unit 26 intermittently has a high frequency amplifier 22 and a first frequency converter 23 at a period (frequency) equal to or shorter than the longest interval at which a received wave can arrive at the antenna 21. The DC power described above is supplied to the second frequency converter 24 and the signal processing unit 25.

  The respective units are linked as follows during a period in which such DC power is supplied by the power supply control unit 26.

  The high-frequency amplifier 22 captures and amplifies a received wave that has arrived at (possibly arrived at) the antenna 22 within the band occupied by the received wave. The first frequency converter 23 generates a first intermediate frequency signal by frequency-converting the received wave supplied through the high-frequency amplifier 22 in this manner under the control of the signal processing unit 25. The second frequency converter 24 generates a second intermediate frequency signal by frequency-converting the first intermediate frequency signal under the signal processing unit 25.

  The signal processing unit 25 converts the second intermediate frequency signal into a digital signal, generates a symbol string by performing demodulation and signal determination in the digital domain, and further performs transmission path decoding (error correction processing). ) To generate a sequence of transmission information.

  As described above, in the radio receiver shown in FIG. 2, driving power is supplied to the high-frequency amplifier 22, the first frequency converter 23, the second frequency converter 24, and the signal processing unit 25 during a period in which no received wave arrives at the antenna 21. Since the time rate for supplying the power is kept low, overall power consumption can be reduced.

  As prior arts related to the present invention, there are Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 listed below.

(1) “A receiver (1) having a receiver (10) for receiving a data signal (S1) such as call voice and control data is provided, and the receiver outputs a local oscillation signal (S10). A local oscillation circuit (100) for supplying a local oscillation power supply circuit (101) for supplying operating power to the local oscillation circuit, and the local oscillation signal and an incoming radio wave signal received by the receiver. A reception circuit (102) for generating and detecting an intermediate frequency and outputting a reception signal (S11); a reception power supply circuit (103) for supplying operating power to the reception circuit; and the local oscillation circuit A local oscillation level monitoring circuit (104) for detecting the signal level of the local oscillation signal generated in response to the local oscillation signal, and a reception operation control signal (S12) for receiving intermittently receiving the reception signal from the reception circuit. Oscillation power supply , A stable oscillation state signal (S13) indicating the stable oscillation state of the local oscillation circuit when the local oscillation signal is detected by the local oscillation level monitoring circuit, and the reception operation control By providing an AND circuit (106) for controlling the reception power supply circuit under the AND condition of both signals when the signals are input, "the power consumption in the receiver is reduced and the power consumption is reduced and intermittent Intermittent data receiving apparatus characterized in that "receiving operation is performed stably and normally" ... Patent Document 1

(2) “Receiving circuit 20 that receives an RF band received signal, converts it to an IF signal and outputs it, demodulates the TMCC signal from the IF signal, outputs TMCC information contained in the TMCC signal, A TMCC demodulation circuit 21 that outputs a timing signal and a frame timing signal, an error correction circuit 22 that receives TMCC information of at least one frame period output from the TMCC demodulation circuit 21 and corrects an error in the TMCC information, and the error correction TMCC information extraction circuit 23 that inputs subsequent TMCC information, extracts and outputs predetermined information included in the TMCC information, inputs the symbol timing signal and the frame timing signal, and performs an inter-frame intermittent reception operation And a control circuit 24 for controlling power supply to all or a part of the receiving circuit. TMCC signal receiver characterized in that "low power consumption of the receiving circuit and shortening of time required for reception and determination of TMCC information are compatible."

JP 2009-111818 A JP 2009-152999 A

  By the way, in the above-described conventional example, the driving power of the high-frequency amplifier 22, the first frequency converter 23, the second frequency converter 24, and the signal processing unit 25 is supplied even during a period when the received wave does not arrive at the antenna 21. obtain. Therefore, when it is difficult to predict the period in which such a received wave arrives, power consumption has not been sufficiently reduced.

  However, such unnecessary power consumption, particularly in a small terminal device driven by a battery, prevents a reduction in size (volume) and weight, and shortens a waiting period without being charged. It was a big factor.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a radio receiver that can reduce power consumption significantly and stably compared to the conventional example without greatly complicating the configuration.

In the first aspect of the invention, the detection means detects the received wave based on the heterodyne detection method or the homodyne detection method. The power control means compares the level of the received wave inputted to the detection means with a predetermined threshold value, and when the level falls below the threshold value, the power control means drives the detection power or the detection means and the driving power for the subsequent stage. Regulate the supply of
In other words, during the period in which the level of the received wave is below the threshold, the detection means and the subsequent stage are not supplied with drive power, and thus power is not consumed unnecessarily.

In the second aspect of the invention, the detection means detects the received wave based on a heterodyne detection method in which frequency conversion is performed a plurality of N times on the received wave. The power control means compares the level of the intermediate frequency signal obtained by n (1 ≦ n ≦ (N−1)) frequency conversion applied to the received wave by the detection means with a predetermined threshold value, Is less than the threshold, the supply of drive power to the part of the detection means that does not participate in the n times of frequency conversion, or the part and the subsequent stage of the part is regulated.
That is, during the period when the level of the received wave is lower than the threshold value, the portion of the detection means that is not involved in the frequency conversion of the n circuit, or such portion and its subsequent stage, is not supplied with driving power, and thus consumes power unnecessarily. There is nothing to do.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the wireless receiver according to the first or second aspect, the intermittent control means intermittently supplies drive power to the power control means.
That is, the power control means operates intermittently, thereby restricting the supply of drive power based on the comparison result in addition to the comparison between the level and the threshold value described above.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the wireless receiver according to the third aspect, the intermittent control unit intermittently supplies drive power to the power control unit at a frequency higher than the frequency at which the received wave can arrive. Do it.
That is, the frequency at which the power control means operates intermittently is set higher than the frequency at which the received wave can arrive.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the wireless receiver according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the power control means is means for processing a signal obtained by detection performed by the detection means. The supply of the drive power is regulated under
That is, it is possible to reduce power consumption in a form that is flexibly adapted to the state and behavior of a system or apparatus that performs desired processing on the output of the wireless receiver according to the present invention.

  According to the present invention, even in a device or system in which the period of arrival of a received wave cannot be predicted, power consumption is reduced, and a response to the received wave is accurately and stably realized.

Further, according to the present invention, with respect to the reduction in power consumption, a pawl is set at a limit that allows a delay in response to a received wave.
Furthermore, the present invention can be applied to various systems and apparatuses.

  Therefore, in the apparatus and system to which the present invention is applied, the running cost is reduced while the desired performance is ensured, and the reliability is improved overall.

It is a figure which shows one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the radio | wireless receiver to which the intermittent reception system was applied.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.
In the figure, components having the same functions and configurations as those shown in FIG. 2 are given the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted here.

The difference in configuration between this embodiment and the conventional example shown in FIG. 2 is as follows.
(1) A signal processing unit 11 is provided instead of the signal processing unit 25.
(2) A detection circuit 12 is provided which is connected to the output of the first frequency converter 23 and whose output is connected to the corresponding input of the signal processing unit 11.

(3) A power supply control unit 13 is provided instead of the power supply control unit 26.
(4) DC power is directly supplied to the high-frequency amplifier 22, the first frequency converter 23, the signal processing unit 11, and the detection circuit 12 by a power supply circuit (not shown) together with the power supply control unit 13.
(5) The corresponding output port of the signal processing unit 11 is connected to the control input of the power supply control unit 13.
(6) The output of the power control unit 13 is not connected to the power terminals of the high frequency amplifier 22 and the first frequency converter 23, but is connected to the power terminal of the second frequency converter 24.

The operation of this embodiment will be described below.
The high-frequency amplifier 22, the first frequency converter 23, the detection circuit 12, and the signal processing unit 11 are supplied with DC power by the power supply circuit described above together with the power supply control unit 13, and are constantly linked as follows. Operate.

  The high-frequency amplifier 22 amplifies a received wave given (possibly) through a feeding point of the antenna 22 as in the conventional example. The first frequency converter 23 generates a first intermediate frequency signal by frequency-converting the received wave supplied through the high-frequency amplifier 22 in the same manner as in the conventional example.

  The detection circuit 12 obtains the level of the first intermediate frequency signal. The signal processing unit 11 identifies a period in which a received wave has arrived at the antenna 21 (hereinafter referred to as “received wave arrival period”) as a period in which the level exceeds the predetermined threshold th.

During the reception wave arrival period, the signal processing unit 11 performs the following processing.
(1) Among the hardware resources and software signals provided inside, the operation of resources (hereinafter referred to as “specific resources”) used for demodulation and signal determination processing described later is permitted.
(2) The aforementioned DC power is supplied to the second frequency converter 24 via the power supply control unit 13.

  The second frequency converter 24 generates a second intermediate frequency signal by frequency-converting the first intermediate frequency signal.

  The signal processing unit 11 converts the second intermediate frequency signal into a digital signal, generates a symbol string by performing demodulation and signal determination, for example, in the digital domain, and further performs transmission path decoding (error A sequence of transmission information is generated by performing correction processing.

That is, the supply of driving power to the second frequency converter 24 and the specific resource described above included in the signal processing unit 11 is limited to the reception wave arrival period.
Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the power consumption can be reduced with high accuracy and stability without a significant change in configuration compared to the conventional example.

In the present embodiment, the DC power to be supplied to the second frequency converter 24 is interrupted by the power supply control unit 13 that operates under the signal processing unit 11.
However, such intermittent DC power may be autonomously performed by the power supply control unit 13 only in the received wave arrival period identified by the detection circuit 12, for example.

In the present embodiment, the detection circuit 12 obtains the level of the first intermediate frequency signal by detecting the first intermediate frequency signal obtained by frequency-converting the received wave described above. ing.
However, such a level may be obtained based on any of the following values, for example.

(1) Conversion value of current consumption (power consumption) of the high-frequency amplifier 22
(2) The level of the received wave output by the high frequency amplifier 22
(3) The converted value of the current consumption (power consumption) of the desired stage other than the final stage among the multiple stages of amplifiers constituting the high frequency amplifier 22

(4) The level of the received wave output from a desired stage other than the final stage among the multiple stages of amplifiers constituting the high frequency amplifier 22
(5) Conversion value of current consumption (power consumption) of the frequency converter that performs frequency conversion (may be performed multiple times) for heterodyne detection
(6) Level of intermediate frequency signal output by frequency converter that performs frequency conversion (may be performed multiple times) for heterodyne detection

  Further, in the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to a double superheterodyne radio receiver.

  However, the present invention is not limited to such a double superheterodyne method. For example, a single superheterodyne method or a homodyne detection (direct conversion) type radio receiver and a received wave is frequency-converted over three times. The present invention can be similarly applied to any of the wireless receivers.

  In the present embodiment, the driving power for the specific resource and the second frequency converter 24 is supplied only during the reception wave arrival period described above.

  However, the hardware whose drive power supply should be regulated outside the reception wave arrival period is not limited to the specific resource and the second frequency converter 24 described above, and operates outside the reception wave arrival period. Any hardware may be used as long as power is consumed unnecessarily or causes undesired events to occur.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, among the resources provided in the signal processing unit 11, the resource for realizing the above-described intermittent DC power via the power supply control unit 13 and the power supply control unit 13 include drive power. Is constantly supplied.
However, such resources, or the resources and the power supply control unit 13, may be supplied with driving power at a frequency (period) shorter than an interval at which a received wave can arrive.

In the present embodiment, the level of the first intermediate frequency signal (received wave) is constantly monitored by the detection circuit 12 to which drive power is constantly supplied.
However, the detection circuit 12 for obtaining such a level can receive the received wave at the antenna 21 if, for example, a delay in response to the received wave that arrived at the antenna 21 intermittently or periodically is allowed. The driving power may be intermittently supplied at a frequency higher than the frequency.

Furthermore, the above-described threshold th does not necessarily have to be a constant value. For example, as described below, there are various types of responses that can be reliably or with a desired accuracy in response to a received wave that has arrived at the antenna 21. It may be appropriately updated to a new value.
(1) When the present invention is applied to a mobile communication system, a value that conforms to a zone configuration, a frequency allocation, and a channel configuration and realizes predetermined channel control and handover with a desired accuracy.

(2) A value that conforms (matches) with the operating status and process of the device or system to which the present invention is applied.
(3) Value adapted (adjusted) to the environment in which the device or system to which the present invention is applied operates

  Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various configurations of the embodiments are possible within the scope of the present invention, and any improvements may be made to all or some of the components.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11, 25 Signal processing part 12 Detection circuit 13, 26 Power supply control part 21 Antenna 22 High frequency amplifier 23 1st frequency converter 24 2nd frequency converter

Claims (5)

Detection means for detecting a received wave based on a heterodyne detection method or a homodyne detection method;
The level of the received wave input to the detection means is compared with a predetermined threshold value, and when the level falls below the threshold value, the supply of drive power to the detection means or the detection means and the subsequent stage is regulated. And a power control means. Detecting means for detecting the received wave based on a heterodyne detection method in which frequency conversion is performed for a plurality of N times with respect to the received wave;
The level of the intermediate frequency signal obtained by n (1 ≦ n ≦ (N−1)) frequency conversions applied to the received wave by the detection means is compared with a predetermined threshold value, and the level falls below the threshold value. A radio receiver comprising: a power control unit that regulates supply of driving power to the part of the detection unit that does not participate in the frequency conversion of the n times, or the part and the subsequent stage of the part. The radio receiver according to claim 1 or 2,
A wireless receiver comprising intermittent control means for intermittently supplying drive power to the power control means. The radio receiver according to claim 3,
The intermittent control means includes
A radio receiver characterized by intermittently supplying drive power to the power control means at a frequency higher than the frequency at which the received wave can arrive. The radio receiver according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The power control means includes
A wireless receiver, characterized in that the supply of the driving power is regulated under a means for processing a signal obtained by detection performed by the detection means.