Dual antenna communications device

• US 20070232248A1
• Filed: 03/31/2006
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Skyworks Solutions Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Vancorenland, Peter, Kammula, Abhishek, Rafi, Aslamali, Kasha, Dan, Tuttle, George
• Granted Patent: US 8,229,377 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/121
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/04 Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/21 for calibration; for correcting measurements

Abstract

A communications device is provided. The communications device includes first output stage circuitry configured to generate a first radio frequency (RF) output signal in response to receiving an RF input signal, a first antenna port configured to couple to a first antenna and configured receive the first RF output signal from the first output stage circuitry, second output stage circuitry configured to generate a second RF output signal in response to receiving the first RF output signal, and a second antenna port configured to couple to a second antenna and configured to receive the second RF output signal from the second output stage circuitry. The first output stage circuitry, the first antenna port, the second output stage circuitry, and the second antenna port are at least partially integrated on the same integrated circuit.

Claims

1. A communications device comprising:

first output stage circuitry configured to generate a first radio frequency (RF) output signal in response to receiving an RF input signal;

a first antenna port configured to couple to a first antenna and configured receive the first RF output signal from the first output stage circuitry;

second output stage circuitry configured to generate a second RF output signal in response to receiving the first RF output signal; and

a second antenna port configured to couple to a second antenna and configured to receive the second RF output signal from the second output stage circuitry;

wherein the first output stage circuitry, the first antenna port, the second output stage circuitry, and the second antenna port are at least partially integrated on the same integrated circuit.

2. The communications device of claim 1 wherein the first output stage circuitry comprises a transconductance amplifier.

3. The communications device of claim 1 wherein the first output stage circuitry is configured to present a first impedance to the first antenna, and wherein the second output stage circuitry is configured to present a second impedance to the second antenna that differs from the first impedance.

4. The communications device of claim 1 wherein the first output stage circuitry comprises a first amplifier with a first impedance, and wherein the second output stage circuitry comprises a second amplifier with a second impedance that differs from the first impedance.

5. The communications device of claim 1 further comprising:

the first antenna coupled to the first port for transmitting the first RF output signal and having a high impedance.

6. The communications device of claim 1 further comprising:

the second antenna coupled to the second port for transmitting the second RF output signal and having a low impedance.

7. The communications device of claim 1 further comprising:

tuning circuitry configured to adjust a first impedance on the first antenna port;

wherein the tuning circuitry, the first output stage circuitry, the first antenna port, the second output stage circuitry, and the second antenna port are at least partially integrated on the same integrated circuit.

8. The communications device of claim 7 wherein the tuning circuitry is configured to adjust the first impedance in response to a control signal.

9. The communications device of claim 7 wherein the tuning circuitry is configured to adjust the first impedance by adjusting a capacitance on the first antenna port.

10. The communications device of claim 7 wherein the tuning circuitry is configured to adjust the first impedance by adjusting a resistance on the first antenna port.

11. The communications device of claim 7 wherein the tuning circuitry is configured to adjust a second impedance on the second antenna port.

12. A method performed by an integrated communications device, the method comprising:

generating a first output signal in first output stage circuitry having a first impedance in response to an input signal;

providing the first output signal to a first antenna port that is configured to connect to a first antenna;

generating a second output signal in second output stage circuitry having a second impedance that differs from the first impedance in response to the first output signal; and

providing the second output signal to a second antenna port that is configured to connect to a second antenna.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

adjusting tuning circuitry on the first antenna port.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

adjusting a capacitance on the first antenna port.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

adjusting a resistance on the first antenna port.

16. A communications device comprising:

a transmitter configured to generate a first signal in response to receiving a second signal;

a receiver;

a first antenna port coupled to the transmitter and the receiver and configured receive the first signal from the transmitter;

first output stage circuitry configured to generate a third signal in response to receiving the first signal from the transmitter; and

a second antenna port coupled to the transmitter and the receiver and configured to receive the third signal from the first amplifier;

wherein the transmitter, the receiver, the first antenna port, the first output stage circuitry, and the second antenna port are at least partially integrated on the same integrated circuit.

17. The communications device of claim 16 wherein the receiver is configured to receive a receive a fourth signal from the first antenna port.

18. The communications device of claim 16 further comprising:

a switch coupled between the receiver and the first antenna port.

19. The communications device of claim 16 wherein the transmitter includes a second output stage circuitry that is configured to present a first impedance to the first antenna port, and wherein the first output stage circuitry is configured to present a second impedance to the second antenna port that differs from the first impedance.

20. The communications device of claim 16 further comprising:

tuning circuitry configured to adjust an impedance on the first antenna port;

wherein the tuning circuitry, the transmitter, the receiver, the first antenna port, the first output stage circuitry, and the second antenna port are at least partially integrated on the same integrated circuit.

21. The communications device of claim 20 wherein the tuning circuitry is configured to adjust the impedance by adjusting a capacitance on the first antenna port.

22. The communications device of claim 20 wherein the tuning circuitry is configured to adjust the impedance by adjusting a resistance on the first antenna port.

23. A communications system comprising:

a communications device including;

first output stage circuitry configured to generate a first radio frequency (RF) output signal in response to receiving an RF input signal;

a first antenna port configured receive the first RF output signal from the first output stage circuitry;

second output stage circuitry configured to generate a second RF output signal in response to receiving the first RF output signal; and

a second antenna port configured to receive the second RF output signal from the second output stage circuitry;

wherein the first output stage circuitry, the first antenna port, the second output stage circuitry, and the second antenna port are at least partially integrated on the same integrated circuit;

an antenna coupled to the first antenna port and configured to transmit the first RF output signal; and

an input/output system configured to communicate with the communications device.

24. The communications system of claim 23 wherein the first output stage circuitry is configured to present a first impedance to the first antenna port, and wherein the second output stage circuitry is configured to present a second impedance to the second antenna port that differs from the first impedance.

25. The communications system of claim 23 wherein the first output stage circuitry comprises a first amplifier with a first impedance, and wherein the second output stage circuitry comprises a second amplifier with a second impedance that differs from the first impedance.

26. The communications system of claim 23 wherein the communications device further includes tuning circuitry configured to adjust an impedance on the first antenna port.