TW201349737A - Radio frequency signal processing device and method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A RF signal processing device includes at least one saturation amplifier, at least one phase detector and at least one phase-change counting unit. The RF signal processing method includes: saturating and amplifying a RF signal to obtain a saturated and amplified signal; detecting the saturated and amplified signal to obtain a phase of the saturated and amplified signal; searching at least one or a plurality of phase-changing points and counting the phase of the saturated and amplified signal from each one of the phase-changing points to another to obtain a phase-change counting value; calculating the phase-change counting value to obtain the phase of the RF signal.

Description

Radio frequency signal processing device and method thereof

The present invention relates to an RF signal processing apparatus and method thereof, and more particularly to an RF signal direct digital conversion processing apparatus and method thereof.

Conventional RF signal processing method and device thereof, for example, US Patent No. 7,120,413, Television tuner and method of processing a received RF signal, which discloses a television tuning The device includes: a first mixer for mixing a received RF signal with a first oscillation signal to generate an intermediate frequency signal; and a second mixer for mixing the intermediate frequency signal with a second oscillation signal Waves to generate an in-phase fundamental frequency output signal; a third mixer is used to mix the intermediate frequency signal with a third oscillation signal to generate an orthogonal fundamental frequency output signal; a phase locked loop is coupled to the The first and second mixers generate the first and second oscillation signals according to a selected one of the received RF signals.

Another conventional RF signal processing method and apparatus thereof, for example, US Patent No. 7,202,916, Television tuner and method of processing a received RF signal, discloses an invention patent, which discloses a The television tuner includes: a first mixer having an input coupled to a receive RF signal for generating an intermediate frequency signal; a notch filter having an input coupled to the intermediate frequency signal for filtering the a signal of a first frequency range in the intermediate frequency signal, the first frequency range having a first center frequency; a band pass filter having an input coupled to the intermediate frequency signal for transmitting a second frequency in the intermediate frequency signal a range of signals, the second frequency range having a second center frequency; and a second mixer having an input coupled to the filtered intermediate frequency signal for generating a first output signal. Wherein the second mixer is from the output of the notch filter or the band pass filter The filtered intermediate frequency signal is received.

Another conventional RF signal processing method and apparatus thereof, for example, U.S. Patent No. 7,262,815, a harmonic mixer based television tuner and a method for receiving a radio frequency signal (Harmonic mixer based television tuner and method of processing a Received RF signal] 发明 invention patent, which discloses a tuner comprising: a first local [local] oscillator providing a first reference signal and a second reference signal; a first mixer having a coupled RF a signal, the first reference signal, and an input end of the second reference signal; a band pass filter coupled to an output of the first harmonic mixer; a second local oscillator providing a third reference signal, a fourth reference signal, a fifth reference signal, and a sixth reference signal, wherein the phase differences are 0 degrees, 45 degrees, 90 degrees, and 135 degrees, respectively; a second harmonic mixer has a third reference signal coupled to the third reference signal, The fifth reference signal and the input end of the output of the band pass filter; and a third harmonic mixer having a fourth reference signal, a sixth reference signal, and the band pass filter Input output.

Although the methods of receiving RF signals have been provided in the aforementioned U.S. Patent Nos. 7,120,413, 7,202,916 and 7,262,815, there is a need to further provide an improved conventional RF signal receiving processing method. The above-mentioned patents are only for the purpose of the technical background of the present invention and the state of the art is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

In view of the above, the present invention provides an RF signal processing apparatus and method thereof, which utilizes a digital architecture to simplify the conventional RF signal receiving processing method to avoid the use of high energy consuming circuits to enhance the conventional RF signal processing technology. .

The main object of the present invention is to provide an RF signal processing apparatus and method thereof, which use a saturation amplifier, a phase detector and a phase change counting unit to receive and process an RF signal to output the phase of the RF signal, thereby having Simplify the power of the circuit architecture.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an RF signal processing apparatus and a method thereof, which use a saturation amplifier, a phase detector, and a phase change counting unit to receive and process an RF signal to output the phase of the RF signal, and then use the same. An amplifier and an amplitude detector receive and process the RF signal to output the amplitude of the RF signal, thereby simplifying the circuit structure.

In order to achieve the above object, the RF signal processing apparatus of the present invention comprises: at least one saturation amplifier that saturates an RF signal to generate a saturated amplification signal; at least one phase detector connected to the saturation amplifier, The saturated amplification signal uses the phase detector to perform phase detection to obtain a phase of the saturated amplified signal, and to detect at least one or several phase change points on the phase of the saturated amplified signal; and at least one phase change a counting unit connected to the phase detector, using the phase change counting unit to perform counting or measuring from the phase change point to obtain a phase change count value; wherein the phase change count value is used to calculate The phase of the RF signal.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the saturation amplifier is selected from a differential current mode amplifier, or the phase detector is selected from a D-type flip-flop, or the phase change counting unit is selected from an asynchronous phase change counting unit. .

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the RF signal processing device further includes an amplifier and an amplitude detector, and the amplifier is used to amplify the RF signal, and the amplitude detector is used to perform baseband amplitude detection on the amplified signal. To output the amplitude of the RF signal.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the RF signal processing device is coupled to a low noise amplifier and a filter, and the low noise amplifier and filter are used to process the RF Signal.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the RF signal processing device is coupled to a decoder for processing the phase change count value, or for processing a code representing the RF signal, or further processing the phase or amplitude of the symbol. .

In addition, the RF signal processing method of the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes the steps of: saturating an RF signal to generate a saturated amplification signal; performing phase detection on the saturated amplification signal to obtain a phase of the saturated amplified signal; Detecting at least one or several phase change points on the phase of the saturated amplified signal, and counting or measuring from the phase change point to obtain a phase change count value; and calculating the phase change count value by using the phase change count value To output the phase of the RF signal.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, when the saturation amplification is performed, the RF signal is saturated and amplified into a saturated amplified square wave signal.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the phase change of the saturated amplified square wave signal is detected during phase detection.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, counting is performed from each of the phase change points as the count is performed.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention further includes the steps of: amplifying the RF signal to obtain an amplified signal; and performing the fundamental frequency amplitude detection on the amplified signal to output the amplitude of the amplified signal.

In order to fully understand the present invention, the preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below and are not intended to limit the invention.

The radio frequency signal processing apparatus and method thereof according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention are applicable to various communication systems, such as a wireless broadband communication system, but are not limited thereto. The scope of application of the present invention. The RF signal processing apparatus and method thereof according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention utilize a digital architecture to simplify the conventional RF signal receiving processing method to avoid the use of high energy consuming circuits.

1 is a block diagram showing an RF signal processing apparatus in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1 , the RF signal processing apparatus 1 of the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a saturation amplifier 11 , a phase detector 12 , and a phase change count measurement unit. [hereinafter referred to as counting unit or counter, phase-change counting unit/counter] 13. As shown in the upper part of FIG. 1, the saturation amplifier 11, the phase detector 12 and the phase change counting unit 13 are electrically connected in series to form an RF signal processing architecture for sequentially processing the RF signals.

FIG. 2 is a schematic flow chart of a method for processing an RF signal according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, which corresponds to the RF signal processing apparatus of FIG. 1. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the method of the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes the step S1: saturating an RF signal by the saturation amplifier 11 to generate a saturated amplification signal.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an RF signal processing apparatus and a method thereof using a saturation amplifier according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Please refer to FIG. 3 . For example, when the RF signal is a high frequency signal, a differential current mode amplifier or a different amplifier can be used to amplify the signal to a saturation level. For example, all or part of the transistor circuit in the logic gate is used to saturate the signal to a logic voltage level of 0 and 1.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 again, the method of the preferred embodiment of the present invention further includes the step S2: after the saturation amplifier 11 outputs the saturated amplified signal to the phase detector 12, the phase detector 12 is used. The saturated amplified signal performs phase detection to obtain the phase of the saturated amplified signal.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a radio frequency signal processing apparatus and a method thereof using a phase detector according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Please refer to Figure 4, for example, The phase detector 12 is selected from a D-type flip-flop or other similar phase detector.

Referring to the first and second embodiments, the method of the preferred embodiment of the present invention further includes the step S3: after detecting the phase by the phase detector 12, detecting at least one of the phases of the saturated amplified signal Or a plurality of phase change points or edge points of the code exchange, and use the phase change counting unit 13 to count or measure from the phase change point to measure the distance between two adjacent phase change points, Obtain a phase change count value.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a radio frequency signal processing apparatus and a method thereof using a phase change counting unit according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 5, for example, the phase change counting unit 13 is selected from an asynchronous phase change counting unit or other similar phase change counting unit.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 again, the method of the preferred embodiment of the present invention further includes the step S4: calculating, by the computing unit, the phase change count value to output the phase of the RF signal. The RF signal is set to a baseband symbol, and the corresponding original symbol of the RF signal is calculated at each of the phase change positions. For example, the phase change count value can be made into a QPSK code table.

For example, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, when QPSK is taken as an example, the baseband frequencies of the two subcarriers are 10 MHz and 20 MHz, respectively, and the symbols are e ^jπ/4 and e ^j3π/4 , and the OFDM of the fundamental frequency is used. The actual signal is,

The signal carrying y ( t ) to the center frequency f _{c is} the RF signal, which is received by the receiving end and then processed by the method of the present invention. First, saturation amplification is performed via the saturation amplifier 11. When the sampling threshold is set to th (for example, th=0), the zero point is taken to perform phase detection. If the sampling point is a zero crossing, the equation (1) is

After the equation (3) is adjusted,

After adding the left side of equation (4), the instantaneous phase is obtained as follows (that is, the difference between the time from the start of the code to the time threshold t ) 60 M πt + π = π , 3 π , 5 π , L (5)

Since there are only two subcarriers, only the phase change point in the lowest subcarrier period is selected, and the rest exceeds the minimum subcarrier period, and the equation is

Therefore, the equation can be solved by equation (7).

The decoding processing action of equation (8) can be replaced by a look-up table method. As shown in FIG. 9, the original symbol in the symbol period can be back-checked by the phase detection and phase change count values.

Referring to FIG. 1 again, for example, one end of the RF signal processing apparatus 1 of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is configured to connect a low noise amplifier (LNA) 21 and a filter. Filter 22 or other components. At the receiving end of the RF signal processing device 1, the low noise amplifier 21 and the filter 22 are used to perform low noise amplification processing and filtering to process the RF signal.

Referring to FIG. 1 again, the RF signal processing apparatus 1 of the preferred embodiment of the present invention further includes an amplifier 14 and an amplitude detector 15. As shown in the lower half of FIG. 1, the amplifier 14 and the amplitude detector 15 are electrically connected in series to receive and process the RF signal.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing another flow of the RF signal processing method according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Figures 1 and 6, the method of the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes the step S5 of amplifying the RF signal by the amplifier 14 to obtain an amplified signal. The amplifier 14 amplifies the weak amplitude of the RF signal so that the amplitude detector 15 can correctly determine the weak amplitude.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing an RF signal processing apparatus and a method thereof using a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Figure 7, for example, the amplifier 14 is selected from an operational amplifier or other similar weak amplitude amplifier.

Referring to the first and sixth embodiments, the method of the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes the step S6: performing the baseband amplitude detection on the amplified signal of the amplifier 14 by using the amplitude detector 15 for output. The amplitude of the amplified signal. That is, the RF signal processing apparatus 1 of the preferred embodiment of the present invention can output a combination of phase, amplitude, or phase and amplitude of the amplified signal.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an RF signal processing apparatus and a method thereof using an amplitude detector according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 8, for example, the amplitude detector 15 is selected from an amplitude detecting circuit. In the amplitude detecting circuit, when the input current Iin is greater than the current I, the conduction of the element Ms is regarded as charging of the capacitor, thereby conducting the crystal M1. At this time, the current passing through the transistor M1 and the transistor M2 are regarded as current mirrors, and therefore the output current Iout is equal to Iin+I. When the input current Iin falls below the level, Ms turns off and locks the transistors M1, M2, while the output current Iout maintains the output for a period of time.

Referring to FIG. 1 again, for example, finally, the other end of the RF signal processing apparatus 1 of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is connected to the output end. Decoder [23]. The decoder 23 is used at the output of the RF signal processing device to process the phase or amplitude of the RF signal.

For example, FIG. 9 discloses an analog waveform diagram of a radio frequency signal processing method in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 10 is a diagram showing another analog waveform of the RF signal processing method in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Please refer to Figure 10, the flag count value is 107, because the zero point of the edge of the code exchange (as indicated by the two frame lines) causes the phase detection circuit to not judge the nearby code change. However, since RF/BB=128 (RF=2.56GHz Baseband(BB)=20MHz), the count value of each symbol is added to 128, so the forced cutting is performed after every 128 counts, and the code exchange is obtained. The edge points make the judgment correct.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a physical circuit test waveform of a radio frequency signal processing method according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 11 shows the center frequency = 250KHz, the single subcarrier is 7.8KHz RF signal to digital signal measurement waveform; Alpha = 0.5; the filter is Root-raised-cosine filter. Please refer to Figure 11, the dotted line shows that the phase change or the code change can be discerned.

The foregoing preferred embodiments are merely illustrative of the invention and the technical features thereof, and the techniques of the embodiments can be carried out with various substantial equivalent modifications and/or alternatives; therefore, the scope of the invention is subject to the appended claims. The scope defined by the scope shall prevail.

1‧‧‧RF signal processing device

11‧‧‧Saturation amplifier

12‧‧‧ phase detector

13‧‧‧ phase change counting unit

14‧‧ ‧Amplifier

15‧‧‧Amplitude detector

21‧‧‧Low noise amplifier

22‧‧‧ Filter

23‧‧‧Decoder

1 is a block diagram of a radio frequency signal processing apparatus in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic flow chart of a method for processing an RF signal according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a radio frequency signal processing apparatus and method thereof according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention using a saturation amplifier.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a radio frequency signal processing apparatus and method thereof according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention using a phase detector.

Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a radio frequency signal processing apparatus and method thereof according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention using a phase change counting unit.

Figure 6 is a flow chart showing another flow of the RF signal processing method in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of an RF signal processing apparatus and method thereof according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention using an amplifier.

Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of an RF signal processing apparatus and method thereof according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention using an amplitude detector.

Figure 9 is a diagram showing an analog waveform of a radio frequency signal processing method in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 10 is another analog waveform diagram of the RF signal processing method of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

11 is a waveform diagram of a physical circuit test of a radio frequency signal processing method according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

1‧‧‧RF signal processing device

11‧‧‧Saturation amplifier

12‧‧‧ phase detector

13‧‧‧ phase change counting unit

14‧‧ ‧Amplifier

15‧‧‧Amplitude detector

21‧‧‧Low noise amplifier

22‧‧‧ Filter

23‧‧‧Decoder

Claims (10)

An RF signal processing apparatus includes: at least one saturation amplifier that saturates an RF signal to generate a saturated amplification signal; at least one phase detector connected to the saturation amplifier to utilize the saturation amplification signal The phase detector performs phase detection to obtain a phase of the saturated amplified signal, and detects at least one or a plurality of phase change points on a phase of the saturated amplified signal; and at least one phase change counting unit connected The phase detector uses the phase change counting unit to perform counting or measurement from the phase change point to obtain a phase change count value, wherein the phase change count value is used to calculate the phase of the RF signal. The RF signal processing device of claim 1, wherein the saturation amplifier is selected from a differential current mode amplifier, or the phase detector is selected from a D-type flip-flop or the phase change counting unit. It is selected from a non-synchronized phase change counting unit. The RF signal processing device according to Item 1 of the patent application scope further includes an amplifier and an amplitude detector, wherein the RF signal is amplified by the amplifier, and the amplified signal is used for the fundamental frequency by using the amplitude detector. Amplitude detection to output the amplitude of the RF signal. The RF signal processing device of claim 1, wherein the RF signal processing device is coupled to a low noise amplifier and a filter, and the low noise amplifier and filter are configured to process the RF signal. The RF signal processing device of claim 1, wherein the RF signal processing device is coupled to a decoder for processing the phase change count value, or for processing a code representing the RF signal, or The phase or amplitude of the symbol is further processed. An RF signal processing method includes: saturating an RF signal to generate a saturated amplification signal; Performing phase detection on the saturated amplified signal to obtain a phase of the saturated amplified signal; detecting at least one or several phase change points on the phase of the saturated amplified signal, and counting from the phase change point or Measuring to obtain a phase change count value; and calculating the phase change count value to output the phase of the RF signal. According to the RF signal processing method described in claim 6, wherein the saturation of the RF signal is performed to saturate the RF signal into a saturated amplified square wave signal. According to the radio frequency signal processing method of claim 6, wherein the phase change of the saturated amplified square wave signal is detected during phase detection. The radio frequency signal processing method according to claim 6, wherein counting is performed from each of the phase change points when counting is performed. According to the RF signal processing method described in claim 6 of the patent application, the method further includes the steps of: amplifying the RF signal to obtain an amplified signal; and performing the fundamental frequency amplitude detection on the amplified signal to output the amplitude of the amplified signal .