Millimeter-wave radio architecture for multi-channel concurrent operation
First Claim
1. A radio configured for single channel, multi-channel, single-input-single-output (SISO), multiple-input-multiple output (MIMO), and beamforming communications at millimeter wave (mm-wave) frequencies, the radio comprising:
- an interface coupled to receive baseband information from a processor;
a zero intermediate frequency (ZIF) transceiver comprising an input and an output, the input being coupled to the interface to receive the baseband information and the output to generate a wireless local area network (WLAN) signal in a WLAN frequency spectrum;
a millimeter-wave (mm-wave) transceiver comprising an input and an output, the input being coupled to the output of the ZIF transceiver and the output being coupled to a phased-array antenna, wherein the ZIF transceiver and the mm-wave transceiver are coupled in series between the interface and the phased-array antenna; and
frequency-spectrum converter circuity coupled in series between the output of the ZIF transceiver and the input of the mm-wave transceiver, the frequency-spectrum converter circuity to;
receive the WLAN signal from the output of the ZIF transceiver;
convert the WLAN signal to an intermediate frequency (IF) signal; and
output the IF signal to the input of the mm-wave transceiver, wherein the mm-wave transceiver is to receive at the input the IF signal and output a mm-wave signal based on the IF signal, wherein the mm-wave signal, when applied to the phased-array antenna, causes the phased-array antenna to radiate electromagnetic energy in a mm-wave frequency spectrum, wherein the IF signal has a frequency that is greater than frequencies in the WLAN frequency spectrum and less than frequencies in the mm-wave frequency spectrum.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Technology for radios that support single channel, multi-channel, SISO, MIMO, and beamforming communications at millimeter wave frequencies using WLAN transceivers or other IF transceivers. One radio includes a first transceiver configured to generate a first RF signal in a first frequency range; a second transceiver configured to generate a third RF signal in a mm-wave frequency range, the second transceiver is configured to couple to a multi-element antenna for beamforming operations; and conversion circuitry coupled to an output of the first transceiver and an input of the second transceiver. The conversion circuitry is configured to receive the first RF signal from the first transceiver and convert the first RF signal in the first frequency range to a second RF signal in the mm-wave frequency range; and receive the third RF signal from the second transceiver and convert the third RF signal to a fourth RF signal in the first frequency range.
52 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A radio configured for single channel, multi-channel, single-input-single-output (SISO), multiple-input-multiple output (MIMO), and beamforming communications at millimeter wave (mm-wave) frequencies, the radio comprising:
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an interface coupled to receive baseband information from a processor; a zero intermediate frequency (ZIF) transceiver comprising an input and an output, the input being coupled to the interface to receive the baseband information and the output to generate a wireless local area network (WLAN) signal in a WLAN frequency spectrum; a millimeter-wave (mm-wave) transceiver comprising an input and an output, the input being coupled to the output of the ZIF transceiver and the output being coupled to a phased-array antenna, wherein the ZIF transceiver and the mm-wave transceiver are coupled in series between the interface and the phased-array antenna; and frequency-spectrum converter circuity coupled in series between the output of the ZIF transceiver and the input of the mm-wave transceiver, the frequency-spectrum converter circuity to; receive the WLAN signal from the output of the ZIF transceiver; convert the WLAN signal to an intermediate frequency (IF) signal; and output the IF signal to the input of the mm-wave transceiver, wherein the mm-wave transceiver is to receive at the input the IF signal and output a mm-wave signal based on the IF signal, wherein the mm-wave signal, when applied to the phased-array antenna, causes the phased-array antenna to radiate electromagnetic energy in a mm-wave frequency spectrum, wherein the IF signal has a frequency that is greater than frequencies in the WLAN frequency spectrum and less than frequencies in the mm-wave frequency spectrum. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An electronic device comprising:
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a first transceiver configured to generate RF signals in a first frequency range based on baseband information received from a processing device; a second transceiver configured to generate RF signals in a millimeter-wave (mm-wave) frequency range, the second transceiver is coupled to a multi-element antenna; and conversion circuitry coupled between the first transceiver and the second transceiver, wherein the first transceiver, the conversion circuitry, and the second transceiver are coupled in series between the processing device and the multi-element antenna, the conversion circuitry is configured to; receive a first RF signal in the first frequency range from an output of the first transceiver; convert the first RF signal to a second RF signal in the mm-wave frequency range; output the second RF signal to an input of the second transceiver; receive a third RF signal in the mm-wave frequency range from an output of the second transceiver; convert the third RF signal to a fourth RF signal in the first frequency range; and output the fourth RF signal to an input of the first transceiver. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A wireless communication device comprising:
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a processing device; a first multi-element antenna; a first radio coupled to the processing device, the first radio comprising; a first transceiver comprising a first port; a second transceiver comprising a second port, wherein the first transceiver is configured to generate a first radio frequency (RF) signal in a first frequency range based on baseband information from the processing device, and wherein the second transceiver is configured to receive a third RF signal in a millimeter-wave (mm-wave) frequency range via the first multi-element antenna; and conversion circuitry coupled between the first port of the first transceiver and the second port of the second transceiver, wherein the first transceiver, the conversion circuitry, and the second transceiver are coupled in series between the processing device and the first multi-element antenna, wherein the conversion circuitry is configured to; convert the first RF signal to a second RF signal in the mm-wave frequency range as an input to the second port of the second transceiver; and convert the third RF signal to a fourth RF signal in the first frequency range as an input to the first port of the first transceiver. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification