Method and System for Using a Multi-RF Input Receiver For Diversity Selection

• US 20080139154A1
• Filed: 12/30/2006
• Published: 06/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Afsahi, Ali, Behzad, Arya, Gonikberg, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 7,856,215 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/277.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0811 during preamble or gap period

Abstract

Aspects of a method and system for signal processing are disclosed and may include receiving a plurality of wireless signals via a plurality of M receive antennas. Each of M phase shifters coupled to each of the M receive antennas may be set to operate in a bypass mode or with an arbitrary phase setting. Corresponding signal strengths of M signals generated when each of the M phase-shifters is coupled to each of the M receive antennas may be measured, while at least a portion of the M receive antennas are turned off. Selecting one of the M generated signals for processing without the use of an antenna switch, based on the measured signal strength. A signal strength of each of the generated M amplified signals may be measured while turning off at least one of the plurality of M receive antennas and without the use of the phase-shifters.

Claims

1. A method for processing signals in a receiver, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of wireless signals via a plurality of M receive antennas;

setting each of M phase shifters coupled to each of said M receive antennas to operate in a bypass mode or with an arbitrary phase setting;

measuring corresponding signal strengths of M signals generated when each of said M phase-shifters is coupled to each of said M receive antennas, while at least a portion of said M receive antennas are turned off; and

selecting based on said measured signal strength, one of said M generated signals for processing without the use of an antenna switch.

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising amplifying each of said plurality of received wireless signals prior to said measuring.

3. The method according to claim 1, comprising generating at least one of:

an in-phase (I) component and a quadrature (Q) component for each of said M generated signals.

4. The method according to claim 3, comprising filtering each of said generated at least one of:

said in-phase (I) component and said quadrature (Q) component for each of said M generated signals to obtain M filtered signals.

5. The method according to claim 4, comprising analog-to-digital converting each of said M filtered signals to generate M digital signals.

6. The method according to claim 4, comprising measuring a signal strength of each of said M filtered signals.

7. The method according to claim 6, comprising selecting based on said measured signal strength of each of said M filtered signals, one of said M filtered signals for processing without the use of an antenna switch.

8. A system for processing signals in a receiver, the system comprising:

one or more receiver processing circuits that enables receiving of a plurality of wireless signals via a plurality of M receive antennas;

said one or more receiver processing circuits enables setting of each of M phase shifters coupled to each of said M receive antennas to operate in a bypass mode or with an arbitrary phase setting;

said one or more receiver processing circuits enables measuring of corresponding signal strengths of M signals generated when each of said M phase-shifters is coupled to each of said M receive antennas, while at least a portion of said M receive antennas are turned off; and

said one or more receiver processing circuits enables selecting based on said measured signal strength, of one of said M generated signals for processing without the use of an antenna switch.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein said one or more receiver processing circuits enables amplification of each of said plurality of received wireless signals prior to said measuring.

10. The system according to claim 8, wherein said one or more receiver processing circuits enables generation of at least one of:

an in-phase (I) component and a quadrature (Q) component for each of said M generated signals.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein said one or more receiver processing circuits enables filtering of each of said generated at least one of:

said in-phase (I) component and said quadrature (Q) component for each of said M generated signals to obtain M filtered signals.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more receiver processing circuits enables analog-to-digital converting of each of said M filtered signals to generate M digital signals.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more receiver processing circuits enables measuring of a signal strength of each of said M filtered signals.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein said one or more receiver processing circuits enables selecting based on said measured signal strength of each of said M filtered signals, one of said M filtered signals for processing without the use of an antenna switch.

15. A method for processing signals in a receiver, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of wireless signals via a plurality of M receive antennas;

amplifying each of said plurality of wireless signals received via said plurality of M receive antennas to generate M amplified signals;

measuring a signal strength of each of said generated M amplified signals while turning off at least a portion of said plurality of M receive antennas; and

selecting based on said measured signal strength of each of said generated M amplified signals, one of said M amplified signals for processing without the use of an antenna switch.

16. The method according to claim 15, comprising generating at least one of:

an in-phase (I) component and a quadrature (Q) component for each of said M amplified signals.

17. The method according to claim 16, comprising filtering each of said generated at least one of:

said in-phase (I) component and said quadrature (Q) component for each of said M amplified signals to obtain M filtered signals.

18. The method according to claim 17, comprising analog-to-digital converting each of said M filtered signals to generate M digital signals.

19. The method according to claim 17, comprising measuring a signal strength of each of said M filtered signals.

20. The method according to claim 19, comprising selecting based on said measured signal strength of each of said M filtered signals, one of said M filtered signals for processing without the use of an antenna switch.

21. A system for processing signals in a receiver, the system comprising:

one or more receiver processing circuits that enables receiving of a plurality of wireless signals via a plurality of M receive antennas;

said one or more receiver processing circuits enables amplifying of each of said plurality of wireless signals received via said plurality of M receive antennas to generate M amplified signals;

said one or more receiver processing circuits enables measuring of a signal strength of each of said generated M amplified signals, while turning off at least a portion of said plurality of M receive antennas; and

said one or more receiver processing circuits enables selecting based on said measured signal strength of each of said generated M amplified signals, one of said M amplified signals for processing without the use of an antenna switch.

22. The system according to claim 21, wherein said one or more receiver processing circuits enables generation of at least one of:

an in-phase (I) component and a quadrature (Q) component for each of said M amplified signals.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein said one or more receiver processing circuits enables filtering of each of said generated at least one of:

said in-phase (I) component and said quadrature (Q) component for each of said M amplified signals to obtain M filtered signals.

24. The system according to claim 23, wherein said one or more receiver processing circuits enables analog-to-digital conversion of each of said M filtered signals to generate M digital signals.

25. The system according to claim 23, wherein said one or more receiver processing circuits enables measuring of a signal strength of each of said M filtered signals.

26. The system according to claim 25, wherein said one or more receiver processing circuits enables selecting based on said measured signal strength of each of said M filtered signals, one of said M filtered signals for processing without the use of an antenna switch.

27. A method for processing signals in a receiver, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of wireless signals via a plurality of M receive antennas;

amplifying each of said plurality of wireless signals received via said plurality of M receive antennas to generate M amplified signals;

making at least two measurements of a signal strength while turning off at least a portion of said plurality of M receive antennas; and

selecting based on said at least two measurements of said signal strength, at least one of said M amplified signals for processing without the use of an antenna switch.

28. A system for processing signals in a receiver, the system comprising:

one or more receiver processing circuits that enable receiving of a plurality of wireless signals via a plurality of M receive antennas;

said one or more receiver processing circuits enable amplifying of each of said plurality of wireless signals received via said plurality of M receive antennas to generate M amplified signals;

said one or more receiver processing circuits enables making at least two measurements of said signal strength while turning off at least a portion of said plurality of M receive antennas; and

said one or more receiver processing circuits enables selecting based on said measured signal strength at least one of said M amplified signals for processing without the use of an antenna switch.