DYNAMIC RF FRONT END

• US 20080238688A1
• Filed: 03/14/2008
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NXP USA, Inc. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rofougaran, Maryam, Rofougaran, Ahmadreza (Reza), Shameli, Amin
• Granted Patent: US 8,838,047 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.7
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/22 Capacitive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/263 Multiple coils at either side
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation

Abstract

A dynamic radio frequency (RF) front end includes an antenna array, a power amplifier structure, and a low noise amplifier structure. The power amplifier structure generates a plurality of outbound RF signals from an outbound RF signal and provides the plurality of outbound RF signals to the antenna array. Each of the plurality of outbound RF signals has a different transmit phase rotation. The low noise amplifier structure receives a plurality of inbound RF signals from the antenna array and outputs one of the plurality of inbound RF signals based on a favorable phase relationship with respect to the outbound RF signal. Each of the plurality of inbound RF signals has a different receive phase rotation.

Claims

1. A dynamic radio frequency (RF) front end comprises:

a power amplifier structure coupled to generate a plurality of outbound RF signals from an outbound RF signal, wherein each of the plurality of outbound RF signals has a different transmit phase rotation, and wherein the power amplifier structure provides the plurality of outbound RF signals to an antenna array for transmission; and

a low noise amplifier structure coupled to receive a plurality of inbound RF signals from the antenna array, wherein each of the plurality of inbound RF signals has a different receive phase rotation, wherein the low noise amplifier structure outputs one of the plurality of inbound RF signals based on a favorable phase relationship with respect to the outbound RF signal.

2. The dynamic RF front of claim 1, wherein the low noise amplifier structure comprises:

a first low noise amplifier (LNA) coupled to a first antenna of the antenna array to amplify a first inbound RF signal of the plurality of inbound RF signals to produce a first amplified inbound RF signal, wherein the first amplified inbound RF signal has a first phase value;

a second LNA coupled to a second antenna of the antenna array to amplify a second inbound RF signal of the plurality of inbound RF signals to produce a second amplified inbound RF signal, wherein the second amplified inbound RF signal has a second phase value;

a receive phase selection module operable to output the first or the second amplified inbound RF signal based on the favorable phase relationship with respect to the outbound RF signal to produce a selected inbound RF signal; and

a third LNA coupled to amplify the selected inbound RF signal to produce the one of the plurality of inbound RF signals.

3. The dynamic RF front of claim 2, wherein the low noise amplifier structure comprises:

the first LNA is further coupled to a third antenna of the antenna array to amplify a third inbound RF signal of the plurality of inbound RF signals to produce a third amplified inbound RF signal, wherein the third amplified inbound RF signal has a third phase value;

the second LNA is further coupled to a fourth antenna of the antenna array to amplify a fourth inbound RF signal of the plurality of inbound RF signals to produce a fourth amplified inbound RF signal, wherein the fourth amplified inbound RF signal has a fourth phase value; and

the receive phase selection module is further operable to output the first, the second, the third or the fourth amplified inbound RF signal based on the favorable phase relationship with respect to the outbound RF signal to produce the selected inbound RF signal.

4. The dynamic RF front of claim 3, wherein the low noise amplifier structure comprises:

a third LNA coupled to a fifth antenna and a seventh antenna of the antenna array to amplify fifth and seventh inbound RF signals of the plurality of inbound RF signals to produce fifth and seventh amplified inbound RF signals, wherein the fifth amplified inbound RF signal has a fifth phase value and the seventh amplified inbound RF signal has a seventh phase value;

a fourth LNA coupled to a sixth antenna and an eighth antenna of the antenna array to amplify sixth and eighth inbound RF signals of the plurality of inbound RF signals to produce sixth and eighth amplified inbound RF signals, wherein the sixth amplified inbound RF signal has a sixth phase value and the eighth amplified inbound RF signal has an eighth phase value; and

the receive phase selection module is further operable to output the first, the second, the third, the fourth, the fifth, the sixth, the seventh, or the eighth amplified inbound RF signal based on the favorable phase relationship with respect to the outbound RF signal to produce the selected inbound RF signal.

5. The dynamic RF front of claim 2 further comprises:

a control module coupled to generate a plurality of control signals and to provide the plurality of control signals to the receive phase selection module, wherein, in a first mode;

the receive phase selection module outputs the first amplified inbound RF signal in response to a first control signal of the plurality of controls signals;

the control module determines a phase relationship between the first amplified inbound RF signal and the outbound RF signal;

the receive phase selection module outputs the second amplified inbound RF signal in response to a second control signal of the plurality of controls signals;

the control module determines a phase relationship between the second amplified inbound RF signal and the outbound RF signal;

the control module compares the phase relationship between the second amplified inbound RF signal and the outbound RF signal and the phase relationship between the first amplified inbound RF signal and the outbound RF signal;

the control module provides, in accordance with the first mode, the second control signal to the receive phase selection module when the phase relationship between the second amplified inbound RF signal and the outbound RF signal compares favorably to the phase relationship between the first amplified inbound RF signal and the outbound RF signal and provides the first control signal when the comparison is not favorable.

6. The dynamic RF front of claim 1, wherein the power amplifier structure comprises:

a first power amplifier (PA) module coupled to amplify the outbound RF signal to produce first and second outbound RF signals having an orthogonal relationship;

a second PA module coupled to amplify the first outbound RF signal to produce a first one of the plurality of outbound RF signals; and

a third PA coupled to amplify the second outbound RF signal to produce a second one of the plurality of outbound RF signals.

7. The dynamic RF front of claim 1, wherein the power amplifier structure comprises:

a first power amplifier (PA) module coupled to amplify the outbound RF signal to produce first and second outbound RF signals having an orthogonal relationship;

a second PA module coupled to amplify the first outbound RF signal to produce a first one and a third of the plurality of outbound RF signals; and

a third PA module coupled to amplify the second outbound RF signal to produce a second one and a fourth one of the plurality of outbound RF signals.

8. The dynamic RF front of claim 1, wherein the power amplifier structure comprises:

a first power amplifier (PA) module coupled to amplify the outbound RF signal to produce first and second outbound RF signals having an orthogonal relationship;

a transmit phase selection module operable to output the first outbound RF signal or an inversion of the first outbound RF signal and to output the second outbound RF signal or an inversion of the second outbound RF signal based on a desired phase relationship with respect to the one of the plurality of inbound RF signals to produce first and second selected outbound RF signals;

a second PA module coupled to amplify the first selected outbound RF signal to produce a first one of the plurality of outbound RF signals; and

a third PA module coupled to amplify the second selected outbound RF signal to produce a second one of the plurality of outbound RF signals.

9. The dynamic RF front of claim 8 further comprises:

the second PA module is further coupled to amplify the first selected outbound RF signal to produce a third one of the plurality of outbound RF signals; and

the third PA module is further coupled to amplify the second selected outbound RF signal to produce a fourth one of the plurality of outbound RF signals.

19. The dynamic RF front of claim 1, wherein the power amplifier structure comprises:

a first power amplifier (PA) module coupled to amplify the outbound RF signal to produce first and second outbound RF signals having an orthogonal relationship;

a transmit phase selection module operable to output the first outbound RF signal or an inversion of the first outbound RF signal and to output the second outbound RF signal or an inversion of the second outbound RF signal in accordance with the desired polarization relationship to produce first and second selected outbound RF signals;

a second PA module coupled to amplify the first selected outbound RF signal to produce a first one of the plurality of outbound RF signals; and

a third PA module coupled to amplify the second selected outbound RF signal to produce a second one of the plurality of outbound RF signals.

20. The dynamic RF front of claim 19 further comprises:

the second PA module is further coupled to amplify the first selected outbound RF signal to produce a third one of the plurality of outbound RF signals; and

the third PA module is further coupled to amplify the second selected outbound RF signal to produce a fourth one of the plurality of outbound RF signals.

10. A programmable polarization diversity radio frequency (RF) front-end comprises:

an antenna array that includes a plurality of antennas;

a first low noise amplifier module coupled to receive first and third inbound radio frequency (RF) signals first and third antennas of the antenna array and to produce therefrom a first inbound RF signal;

a second low noise amplifier module coupled to receive second and fourth inbound RF signals from second and fourth antennas of the antenna array to produce a second inbound RF signal, wherein the first inbound RF signal is orthogonal to the second inbound RF signal;

an inbound phase shift module coupled to output the first inbound RF signal, an inversion of the first inbound RF signal, the second inbound RF signal, or an inversion of the second inbound RF signal in response to a receive selection signal to produce a selected inbound RF signal;

a third low noise amplifier module coupled to amplify the selected inbound RF signal to produce a phase shifted amplified inbound RF signal;

a first power amplifier module coupled to amplify an outbound RF signal to produce first and second outbound RF signals;

an outbound phase shift module coupled to output the first outbound RF signal or an inversion of the first outbound RF signal and to output the second outbound RF signal or an inversion of the second outbound RF signal based on a transmit selection signal to produce first and second selected outbound RF signals;

a second power amplifier module coupled to amplify the first selected outbound RF signal to produce first and third amplified outbound RF signals that are provided to the first and third antennas, respectively; and

a third power amplifier module coupled to amplify the second selected outbound RF signal to produce second and fourth amplified outbound RF signals that are provided to the and fourth antennas, respectively.

11. The programmable polarization diversity RF front-end of claim 10 further comprises:

a control module coupled to generate the receive selection signal such that the first, second, third, and fourth inbound RF signals have a phase shift of zero degrees, ninety degrees, one hundred eighty degrees, and two hundred and seventy degrees, respectively; and

the control module generates the transmit selection signal such that the first, second, third, and fourth outbound RF signals have a phase shift of zero degrees, two hundred and seventy degrees, one hundred eighty degrees, and ninety degrees, respectively such that the phase shifted amplified inbound RF signal has a different circular polarization than the outbound RF signal.

12. The programmable polarization diversity RF front-end of claim 10 further comprises:

a control module coupled to generate the receive selection signal such that the first, second, third, and fourth inbound RF signals have a phase shift of zero degrees, two hundred and seventy degrees, one hundred eighty degrees, and ninety degrees, respectively; and

the control module generates the transmit selection signal such that the first, second, third, and fourth outbound RF signals have a phase shift of zero degrees, ninety degrees, one hundred eighty degrees, and two hundred and seventy degrees, respectively such that the phase shifted amplified inbound RF signal has a different circular polarization than the outbound RF signal.

13. The programmable polarization diversity RF front-end of claim 10 further comprises:

a control module coupled to generate the receive selection signal such that the first, second, third, and fourth inbound RF signals have a phase shift of one hundred eighty degrees, ninety degrees, zero degrees, and two hundred and seventy degrees, respectively; and

the control module generates the transmit selection signal such that the first, second, third, and fourth outbound RF signals have a phase shift of zero degrees, two hundred and seventy degrees, one hundred eighty degrees, and ninety degrees, respectively such that the phase shifted amplified inbound RF signal has a different circular polarization than the outbound RF signal.

14. The programmable polarization diversity RF front-end of claim 10 further comprises:

a control module coupled to generate the receive selection signal such that the first, second, third, and fourth inbound RF signals have a phase shift of zero degrees, two hundred and seventy degrees, one hundred eighty degrees, and ninety degrees, respectively; and

the control module generates the transmit selection signal such that the first, second, third, and fourth outbound RF signals have a phase shift of one hundred eighty degrees, ninety degrees, zero degrees, and two hundred and seventy degrees, respectively such that the phase shifted amplified inbound RF signal has a different circular polarization than the outbound RF signal.

15. A dynamic radio frequency (RF) front end comprises:

a power amplifier structure coupled to generate a plurality of outbound RF signals from an outbound RF signal in accordance with a desired polarization relationship between the plurality of outbound RF signals and a plurality of inbound RF signals, wherein each of the plurality of outbound RF signals has a different transmit phase rotation, and wherein the power amplifier structure provides the plurality of outbound RF signals to an antenna array for transmission; and

a low noise amplifier structure coupled to receive the plurality of inbound RF signals from the antenna array, wherein each of the plurality of inbound RF signals has a different receive phase rotation, wherein the low noise amplifier structure outputs one of the plurality of inbound RF signals in accordance with the desired polarization relationship.

16. The dynamic RF front of claim 15, wherein the low noise amplifier structure comprises:

a first low noise amplifier (LNA) coupled to first antenna of the antenna array to amplify a first inbound RF signal of the plurality of inbound RF signals to produce a first amplified inbound RF signal, wherein the first amplified inbound RF signal has a first phase value;

a second LNA coupled to a second antenna of the antenna array to amplify a second inbound RF signal of the plurality of inbound RF signals to produce a second amplified inbound RF signal, wherein the second amplified inbound RF signal has a second phase value;

a receive phase selection module operable to output the first or the second amplified inbound RF signal in accordance with the desired polarization relationship; and

a third LNA coupled to amplify the selected inbound RF signal to produce the one of the plurality of inbound RF signals.

17. The dynamic RF front of claim 16, wherein the low noise amplifier structure comprises:

the first LNA is further coupled to a third antenna of the antenna array to amplify a third inbound RF signal of the plurality of inbound RF signals to produce a third amplified inbound RF signal, wherein the third amplified inbound RF signal has a third phase value;

the second LNA is further coupled to a fourth antenna of the antenna array to amplify a fourth inbound RF signal of the plurality of inbound RF signals to produce a fourth amplified inbound RF signal, wherein the fourth amplified inbound RF signal has a fourth phase value; and

the receive phase selection module is further operable to output the first, the second, the third or the fourth amplified inbound RF signal in accordance with the desired polarization relationship to produce the selected inbound RF signal.

18. The dynamic RF front of claim 16 further comprises:

a control module coupled to generate a control signal based on the desired polarization relationship, wherein the control module provides the control signal to the receive phase selection module and wherein the control module establishes the desired polarization relationship such that the plurality of outbound RF signals has a first circular polarization and the plurality of inbound RF signals has a second circular polarization.