Cellular phone with integrated FM radio and remote low noise amplifier

• US 20070224957A1
• Filed: 03/19/2007
• Published: 09/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marvell Asia Pte Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Original Assignee: Marvell International Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Inventors: Gopi, Paramesh
• Granted Patent: US 8,457,577 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/151.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3805 with built-in auxiliary receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/40 Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/3866 carried on the head
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality

Abstract

A cellular phone comprises a first wireless transceiver that receives baseband (BB) signals, which are based on frequency modulated (FM) signals that have been tuned and down-converted from a radio frequency (RF) to the BB by a remote device. An FM processing module receives the BB signals and generates processed FM signals based on the BB signals.

Claims

1. A cellular phone, comprising:

a first wireless transceiver that receives baseband (BB) signals, which are based on frequency modulated (FM) signals that have been tuned and down-converted from a radio frequency (RF) to said BB by a remote device; and

an FM processing module that receives said BB signals and that generates processed FM signals based on said BB signals.

2. The cellular phone of claim 1 further comprising a cellular phone processing module that performs cellular phone signal processing, wherein at least one of said first wireless transceiver and said FM processing module is integrated with said cellular phone processing module in an integrated circuit.

3. The cellular phone of claim 1 wherein said first wireless transceiver transmits said processed FM signals to said remote device.

4. The cellular phone of claim 1 further comprising a user interface that generates FM station selection data, wherein said first wireless transceiver transmits said FM station selection data to said remote device.

5. A system comprising the cellular phone of claim 1 and further comprising said remote device, wherein said remote device further generates an audio signal based on said processed FM signals.

6. A system comprising the cellular phone of claim 1 and further comprising said remote device, wherein said remote device further comprises:

an antenna; and

a tuner that communicates with said antenna and that tunes an RF frequency.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said remote device further comprises an amplifier that amplifies RF signals at said tuned RF frequency.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said remote device further comprises an intermediate frequency (IF) mixer that mixes said RF signals to IF signals.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said remote device further comprises a BB mixer that mixes said IF signals to BB signals.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said remote device further comprises a second wireless transceiver that transmits said BB signals to said cellular phone.

11. The cellular phone of claim 1 wherein said first wireless transceiver and said FM processing module is implemented as an integrated circuit.

12. A communication method comprising:

receiving baseband (BB) signals, which are based on frequency modulated (FM) signals that have been tuned and down-converted from a radio frequency (RF) to said BB by a remote device via a first wireless transceiver;

receiving said BB signals via an FM processing module; and

generating processed FM signals based on said BB signals via said FM processing module.

13. The communication method of claim 12 further comprising transmitting said processed FM signals to said remote device.

14. The communication method of claim 12 further comprising:

generating FM station selection data; and

transmitting said FM station selection data to said remote device.

15. The communication method of claim 12 further comprising generating an audio signal based on said processed FM signals.

16. The communication method of claim 12 further comprising:

communicating with an antenna via a tuner; and

tunings an RF frequency.

17. The communication method of claim 16 further comprising amplifying RF signals at said tuned RF frequency.

18. The communication method of claim 17 further comprising mixing said RF signals to generate IF signals.

19. The communication method of claim 18 further comprising mixing said IF signals to generate BB signals.

20. The communication method of claim 19 further comprising transmitting said BB signals to a cellular phone.

21. A cellular phone, comprising:

first wireless transceiver means for receiving baseband (BB) signals, which are based on frequency modulated (FM) signals that have been tuned and down-converted from a radio frequency (RF) to said BB by remote device; and

FM processing means for receiving said BB signals and for generating processed FM signals based on said BB signals.

22. The cellular phone of claim 21 further comprising cellular phone processing means for performing cellular phone signal processing, wherein at least one of said first wireless transceiver means and said FM processing means is integrated with said cellular phone processing means in an integrated circuit.

23. The cellular phone of claim 21 wherein said first wireless transceiver means transmits said processed FM signals to said remote device.

24. The cellular phone of claim 21 further comprising user interface means for generating FM station selection data, wherein said first wireless transceiver means transmits said FM station selection data to said remote device.

25. A system comprising the cellular phone of claim 21 and further comprising said remote device, wherein said remote device further generates an audio signal based on said processed FM signals.

26. A system comprising the cellular phone of claim 21 and further comprising said remote device, wherein said remote means further comprises:

an antenna; and

tuner means for communicating with said antenna means and for tuning an RF frequency.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein said remote device further comprises amplifier means for amplifying RF signals at said tuned RF frequency.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein said remote device further comprises intermediate frequency (IF) mixer means for mixing said RF signals to generate IF signals.

29. The system of claim 28 wherein said remote device further comprises a BB mixer means for mixing said IF signals to generate BB signals.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein said remote device further comprises a second wireless transceiver means for transmitting said BB signals to said cellular phone.

31. The cellular phone of claim 21 wherein said first wireless transceiver means and said FM processing means is implemented as an integrated circuit.