Method and system for antenna and radio front-end topologies for a system-on-a-chip (SOC) device that combines bluetooth and IEEE 802.11 b/g WLAN technologies

• US 20070060055A1
• Filed: 03/23/2006
• Published: 03/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ibrahim, Brima, Desai, Prasanna
• Granted Patent: US 9,059,782 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.200
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/406 with more than one transmission mode, e.g. analog and digital modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/1215 for collaboration of different radio technologies
• 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

Certain embodiments of the invention may be found in a method and system for antenna and radio front-end topologies for a system-on-a-chip (SOC) device that combines Bluetooth and IEEE 802.11 b/g WLAN technologies. A single chip radio device that supports WLAN and Bluetooth technologies receives a WLAN signal in a WLAN processing circuitry of the radio front-end and in a Bluetooth processing circuitry of the radio front-end. Signals generated by the WLAN processing circuitry and the Bluetooth processing circuitry from the received WLAN signal may be combined in a diversity combiner that utilizes selection diversity gain combining or maximal ratio combining (MRC). When a generated signal is below a threshold value, the signal may be dropped from the combining operation. A single antenna usage model may be utilized with the single chip radio device front-end topology to support WLAN and Bluetooth communications.

Claims

1. A method for providing wireless communication, the method comprising processing within a chip, a wireless local area network (WLAN) RF signal received via a Bluetooth processing circuitry integrated within said chip.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving said WLAN RF signal via a WLAN processing circuitry integrated within said chip.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising combining within said chip, said wireless local area network (WLAN) RF signal received via said Bluetooth processing circuitry integrated within said chip and said WLAN RF signal received via said WLAN processing circuitry integrated within said chip.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising combining within said chip, said wireless local area network (WLAN) RF signal received via said Bluetooth processing circuitry integrated within said chip and said WLAN RF signal received via said WLAN processing circuitry integrated within said chip utilizing an maximal ratio combiner (MRC) operation.

5. The method according to claim 3, further comprising combining within said chip, said wireless local area network (WLAN) RF signal received via said Bluetooth processing circuitry integrated said chip and said WLAN RF signal received via said WLAN processing circuitry integrated within said chip utilizing an antenna selection gain diversity operation.

6. The method according to claim 3, further comprising filtering within said chip, said wireless local area network (WLAN) RF signal received via said Bluetooth processing circuitry integrated within said chip before said combining operation.

7. The method according to claim 3, further comprising filtering within said chip, said wireless local area network (WLAN) RF signal received via said WLAN processing circuitry integrated within said chip before said combining operation.

8. A machine-readable storage having stored thereon, a computer program having at least one code section for providing wireless communication, the at least one code section being executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform steps comprising processing within a chip, a wireless local area network (WLAN) RF signal received via a Bluetooth processing circuitry integrated within said chip.

9. The machine-readable storage according to claim 8, further comprising code for receiving said WLAN RF signal via a WLAN processing circuitry integrated within said chip.

10. The machine-readable storage according to claim 9, further comprising code for combining within said chip, said wireless local area network (WLAN) RF signal received via said Bluetooth processing circuitry integrated within said chip and said WLAN RF signal received via said WLAN processing circuitry integrated within said chip.

11. The machine-readable storage according to claim 10, further comprising code for combining within said chip, said wireless local area network (WLAN) RF signal received via said Bluetooth processing circuitry integrated within said chip and said WLAN RF signal received via said WLAN processing circuitry integrated within said chip utilizing an maximal ratio combiner (MRC) operation.

12. The machine-readable storage according to claim 10, further comprising code for combining within said chip, said wireless local area network (WLAN) RF signal received via said Bluetooth processing circuitry integrated said chip and said WLAN RF signal received via said WLAN processing circuitry integrated within said chip utilizing an antenna selection gain diversity operation.

13. The machine-readable storage according to claim 10, further comprising code for filtering within said chip, said wireless local area network (WLAN) RF signal received via said Bluetooth processing circuitry integrated within said chip before said combining operation.

14. The machine-readable storage according to claim 10, further comprising code for filtering within said chip, said wireless local area network (WLAN) RF signal received via said WLAN processing circuitry integrated within said chip before said combining operation.

15. A system for providing wireless communication, the system comprising Bluetooth processing circuitry integrated within a chip that processes a received wireless local area network (WLAN) RF signal.

16. The system according to claim 15, further comprising WLAN processing circuitry integrated within said chip that receives said WLAN RF signal via.

17. The system according to claim 16, further comprising circuitry within said chip that combines said wireless local area network (WLAN) RF signal received via said Bluetooth processing circuitry integrated said chip and said WLAN RF signal received via said WLAN processing circuitry integrated within said chip.

18. The system according to claim 17, further comprising circuitry within said chip that combines said wireless local area network (WLAN) RF signal received via said Bluetooth processing circuitry integrated said chip and said WLAN RF signal received via said WLAN processing circuitry integrated within said chip utilizing an maximal ratio combiner (MRC) operation.

19. The system according to claim 17, further comprising circuitry within said chip that combines said wireless local area network (WLAN) RF signal received via said Bluetooth processing circuitry integrated said chip and said WLAN RF signal received via said WLAN processing circuitry integrated within said chip utilizing an antenna selection gain diversity operation.

20. The system according to claim 17, further comprising circuitry within said chip that filters said wireless local area network (WLAN) RF signal received via said Bluetooth processing circuitry integrated within said chip before said combining operation.

21. The system according to claim 17, further comprising circuitry within said chip that filters said wireless local area network (WLAN) RF signal received via said WLAN processing circuitry integrated within said chip before said combining operation.