Transmitter and receiver architecture for multi-mode wireless device

• US 20060084469A1
• Filed: 03/10/2005
• Published: 04/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spreadtrum Communications USA
• Original Assignee: Quorum Systems, Inc. (Spreadtrum Communications USA)
• Inventors: Christensen, Lon, Malone, Lawrence Jarrett
• Granted Patent: US 7,519,390 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/552.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0053 with common antenna for more than one band
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0071 using a common intermediate frequency for more than one band H04B1/0075 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0082 with a common local oscillator for more than one band
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/52 Hybrid arrangements, i.e. arrangements for transition from single-path two-direction transmission to single-direction transmission on each of two paths or vice versa
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A multi-mode wireless device having a transceiver including a multi-mode transmitter and a multi-mode receiver. The transmitter can include a multi-mode transmit baseband portion configured to support all of the transmit modes. Similarly, the receiver can include a multi-mode baseband portion that is configured to support all of the receive modes. The transmitter can also include a frequency conversion stage that can convert the output from the transmit baseband portion to the desired transmit frequency. Multiple power amplifiers in parallel, each configured to support one or more of the operating modes, can selectively amplify the transmit signals. The receiver can include multiple low noise amplifiers (LNAs) in parallel, each configured to selectively amplify the received signals of one or more of the operating modes. The output of the LNAs can be coupled to a frequency conversion stage that downconverts the received signals and provides them to the baseband portion.

Claims

1. A multi-mode wireless communication device capable of concurrent wireless communications with a plurality of wireless communication systems, the device comprising:

a multi-mode transceiver having a single transmit signal path and a single receive signal path; and

a multi-mode baseband portion configured to configure an operating mode of the multi-mode transceiver in a time multiplex manner to each of the plurality of wireless communication systems to permit the concurrent wireless communications with the plurality of wireless communication systems.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the multi-mode transceiver comprises:

a configurable multi-mode transceiver integrated circuit having a multi-mode direct conversion transmitter and a multimode direct conversion receiver; and

a local oscillator coupled to the multi-mode transmitter and the multimode receiver, and programmable over all transmit and receive frequency bands corresponding to the plurality of wireless communication systems.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the multi-mode transceiver comprises:

a local oscillator (LO) having a programmable frequency that can be tuned to frequencies spanning at least transmit and receive operating bands corresponding to the plurality of wireless communication systems;

a transmitter configured to receive a baseband transmit signal from the multi-mode baseband portion and frequency convert the baseband transmit signal, using the LO, to an RF transmit frequency in any one of the transmit operating bands of the plurality of wireless communication systems; and

a receiver configured to receive RF signals from any one of the receive operating bands and frequency convert the RF signals, using the LO, to a baseband receive signal.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the transmitter comprises a plurality of power amplifiers in parallel, each power amplifier configured to amplify signals in at least one distinct transmit band of the plurality of wireless communication systems, and wherein each of the plurality of power amplifiers can be selectably deactivated based on the operating mode of the multi-mode transceiver.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein the transmitter comprises:

a frequency upconverter coupled to the multi-mode baseband portion and configured to frequency convert a transmit baseband signal to the RF transmit signal based on the programmable frequency of the LO; and

a plurality of power amplifiers in parallel with inputs coupled to the frequency upconverter, each power amplifier configured to amplify signals in at least one transmit band of one of the plurality of wireless communication systems.

6. The device of claim 3, wherein the transmitter comprises:

a transmit baseband strip having a filter with a programmable filter bandwidth configured to filter the baseband transmit signal from the multi-mode baseband portion;

a frequency upconverter coupled to the transmit baseband strip and configured to frequency convert the transmit signal to the RF transmit signal; and

a plurality of power amplifiers in parallel with inputs coupled to the frequency upconverter, each power amplifier configured to amplify signals in at least one distinct transmit band of one of the plurality of wireless communication systems.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the transmit baseband strip, the frequency upconverter, and the plurality of power amplifiers are implemented on a single integrated circuit.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein the bandwidth of the filter is based in part on the operating mode of the multi-mode transceiver.

9. The device of claim 6, further comprising a programmable amplifier module in the transmit baseband strip having a gain based in part on the operating mode of the multi-mode transceiver.

10. The device of claim 3, wherein the receiver comprises:

a plurality of Low Noise Amplifiers (LNAs) in parallel, each configured to amplify signals in at least one distinct receive band of the plurality of wireless communication systems, and wherein each of the plurality of LNAs can be selectably deactivated based on the operating mode of the multi-mode transceiver.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the receiver further comprises a frequency downconverter coupled to the plurality of LNAs and the LO, and configured to frequency convert the RF signals from any one of the receive operating bands to a baseband receive signal.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the multi-mode baseband portion configures the operating mode of the multi-mode transceiver in part, by configuring a mutually exclusive transmit or receive mode of the multi-mode transceiver, and a local oscillator frequency.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the multi-mode baseband portion configures the operating mode of the multi-mode transceiver based in part on a predetermined time multiplex sequence.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the multi-mode baseband portion configures the operating mode of the multi-mode transceiver based in part on a list of active communication systems.

15. A multi-mode wireless communication device capable of concurrent wireless communications with a plurality of wireless communication systems, the device comprising:

a multi-mode transceiver integrated circuit including a transmitter having a plurality of power amplifiers in parallel, each power amplifier configured to amplify signals in at least one distinct transmit band of one of the plurality of wireless communication systems, and a receiver having a plurality of Low Noise Amplifiers (LNAs) in parallel, each LNA configured to amplify signals in at least one distinct receive band of the plurality of wireless communication systems; and

a multi-mode baseband portion configured to configure an operating mode of the multi-mode transceiver in a time multiplex manner to each of the plurality of wireless communication systems to permit the concurrent wireless communications with the plurality of wireless communication systems.

16. A method of configuring a multi-mode wireless communication device, the method comprising:

selecting a communication system from a plurality of supported wireless communication systems;

determining an operating mode for the selected wireless communication system;

configuring a multi-mode transceiver based in part on the operating mode; and

operating in the operating mode for a predetermined period of time.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising determining active communication links within the plurality of supported wireless communication systems, and wherein selecting the communication system comprises selecting a communication system corresponding to one of the active communication links.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein determining the operating mode comprises determining a transmit or a receive operating mode.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein configuring the multi-mode transceiver comprises selectively deactivating at least one Low Noise Amplifier (LNA) from a plurality of LNAs in parallel, each LNA configured to amplify signals in at least one distinct receive band of the plurality of supported wireless communication systems.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein configuring the multi-mode transceiver comprises selectively deactivating at least one of a plurality of power amplifiers in parallel, each power amplifier configured to amplify signals in at least one distinct transmit band of the plurality of supported wireless communication systems.

21. A method of configuring a multi-mode wireless communication device, the method comprising time multiplexing an operating mode of a multi-mode wireless transceiver, wherein time multiplexing the operating mode comprises:

configuring the multi-mode wireless transceiver for one of a plurality of operating modes;

selectively deactivating at least one Low Noise Amplifier (LNA) from a plurality of LNAs in parallel within the multi-mode wireless transceiver, each LNA configured to amplify signals in at least one distinct receive band of a plurality of wireless communication systems; and

selectively deactivating at least one of a plurality of power amplifiers in parallel within the multi-mode wireless transceiver, each power amplifier configured to amplify signals in at least one distinct transmit band of the plurality of wireless communication systems.