METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SIGNAL REPEATER WITH GAIN CONTROL AND SPATIAL ISOLATION

• US 20090088071A1
• Filed: 09/28/2007
• Published: 04/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rofougaran, Ahmadreza (Reza)
• Granted Patent: US 8,244,175 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/13.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15535 Control of relay amplifier gain amplifier gain control in general H03G3/00; gain control reducing self - or loop interference H04B7/15578
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15571 by signal isolation, e.g. isolation by frequency or by antenna pattern, or by polarization

Abstract

A repeater device may be utilized to enable forwarding extreme high frequency (EHF) communication between EHF-enabled wireless devices. The repeater device may utilize spatial isolation to prevent and/or reduce interference between received and transmitted EHF RF signals, wherein reception and/or transmission of EHF RF signals in the repeater device may be performed via narrow beams that may enable minimal interference by transmit EHF RF signals to reception of EHF RF. The repeater device may utilize phased arrays to enable performing beamforming, and signal processing operations, including shift and/or amplitude adjustment, may be performed on signals received and/or transmitted via antenna elements in the phased arrays to enable beamforming during reception and transmission of EHF RF signals. Signal processing operations performed in the repeater device may be modifiable to enable continued spatial isolation between receive and transmit EHF RF signal in the repeater device.

Claims

1. A method for wireless communication, the method comprising:

mitigating, via spatial isolation, signal interference between receive (Rx) and transmit (Tx) signals in a repeater device that extends a range of extremely high frequency (EHF) signals communicated between a plurality of wireless devices, wherein said mitigating comprises utilizing beamforming during said reception and/or transmission of EHF signals in said repeater device.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said extremely high frequency (EHF) signals comprise 60 GHz signals.

3. The method according to claim 1, comprising configuring one or more receive (Rx) phased arrays and/or one or more transmit (Tx) phased arrays to perform said beamforming in said repeater device.

4. The method according to claim 3, comprising utilizing Low-Noise Amplifiers (LNAs) and Phase Shifter (PAs) during processing operations while receiving and/or transmitting signals via individual antenna elements integrated within said one or more receive (Rx) phased arrays and/or said one or more transmit (Tx) phased arrays.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein said Low-Noise Amplifiers (LNAs) and/or Phase Shifter (PAs) are programmable.

6. The method according to claim 1, comprising coordinating said spatial isolation in said repeater device utilizing one or more control connections between said repeater device, and a source wireless device and/or target wireless device to enable spatial isolation in said repeater device.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein said one or more control connections comprise non-extremely high frequency (non-EHF) connections.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said non-EHF connections comprise Bluetooth (BT) connections and/or ultra-wideband (UWB) connections.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein said coordinating comprises enabling said repeater device to negotiate, via said one or more control connections, with said source wireless device and/or said target wireless device to set a phase and/or an amplitude of said receive (Rx) and/or transmit (Tx) signals to enable said spatial isolation in said repeater device.

10. A machine-readable storage having stored thereon, a computer program having at least one code section for wireless communication, the at least one code section being executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform steps comprising:

mitigating, via spatial isolation, signal interference between receive (Rx) and transmit (Tx) signals in a repeater device that extends a range of extremely high frequency (EHF) signals communicated between a plurality of wireless devices, by utilizing beamforming during said reception and/or transmission of EHF signals in said repeater device.

11. The machine-readable storage according to claim 10, wherein said extremely high frequency (EHF) signals comprise 60 GHz signals.

12. The machine-readable storage according to claim 10, wherein said at least one code section comprises code for configuring one or more receive (Rx) phased arrays and one or more transmit (Tx) phased arrays to perform said beamforming in said repeater device.

13. The machine-readable storage according to claim 12, wherein said at least one code section comprises code for utilizing Low-Noise Amplifiers (LNAS) and Phase Shifter (PAs) during processing operations while receiving and/or transmitting signals via individual antenna elements integrated within said one or more receive (Rx) phased arrays and/or said one or more transmit (Tx) phased arrays.

14. The machine-readable storage according to claim 13, wherein said Low-Noise Amplifiers (LNAs) and/or Phase Shifter (PAs) are programmable.

15. The machine-readable storage according to claim 10, wherein said at least one code section comprises code for coordinating said spatial isolation in said repeater device utilizing one or more control connections between said repeater device, and a source wireless device and/or target wireless device to enable spatial isolation in said repeater device.

16. The machine-readable storage according to claim 15, wherein said code for coordinating said spatial isolation comprises code for enabling said repeater device to negotiate, via said one or more control connections, with said source wireless device and/or said target wireless device to set a phase and/or an amplitude of said receive (Rx) and/or transmit (Tx) signals to enable said spatial isolation in said repeater device.

17. A system for wireless communication, the system comprising:

one or more circuits that enable mitigation, via spatial isolation, signal interference between receive (Rx) and transmit (Tx) signals in a repeater device that extends a range of extremely high frequency (EHF) signals communicated between a plurality of wireless devices, wherein said mitigation comprises utilizing beamforming during said reception and/or transmission of EHF signals in said repeater device.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein said extremely high frequency signals comprises 60 GHz signals.

19. The system according to claim 17, wherein said one or more circuits enable configuration of one or more receive (Rx) phased arrays and one or more transmit (Tx) phased arrays to perform said beamforming in said repeater device.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein said one or more circuits enable utilization of Low-Noise Amplifiers (LNAs) and Phase Shifter (PAs) during processing operations while receiving and/or transmitting signals via individual antenna elements integrated within said one or more receive (Rx) phased arrays and/or said one or more transmit (Tx) phased arrays.

21. The system according to claim 20, wherein said Low-Noise Amplifiers (LNAs) and/or Phase Shifter (PAs) are programmable.

22. The system according to claim 17, wherein said one or more circuits enable coordination of said isolation in said repeater device utilizing one or more control connections between said repeater device, and a source wireless device and/or target wireless device to enable spatial isolation in said repeater device.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein said one or more control connections comprise non-extremely high frequency (non-EHF) connections.

24. The system according to claim 23, wherein said non-EHF connections comprise Bluetooth (BT) connections and/or ultra-wideband (UWB) connections.

25. The system according to claim 22, wherein said one or more circuits that enable said coordination of said isolation enables said repeater device to negotiate, via said one or more control connections, with said source wireless device and/or said target wireless device to set a phase and/or an amplitude of said receive (Rx) and/or transmit (Tx) signals to enable said spatial isolation in said repeater device.