Configurable Transceiver

• US 20090238249A1
• Filed: 03/19/2008
• Published: 09/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
• Inventors: Simon, Martin, van Waasen, Stefan
• Granted Patent: US 8,279,913 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/219
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0691 using subgroups of transmit antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0693 switching off a diversity branch, e.g. to save power
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0877 switching off a diversity branch, e.g. to save power
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A system is disclosed for operating a plurality of receiver paths and/or a plurality of transmitter paths in a single mode or multiple mode configuration.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a plurality of receiving antenna paths connected to a first digital signal processor, at least a portion of the plurality of receiving antenna paths configurable to operate in a single or multiple mode operation;

a plurality of transmitting antenna paths connected to a second digital signal processor, at least a portion of the plurality of transmitting antenna paths configurable to operate in a single or multiple mode operation; and

processing circuitry configured to receive data from the first digital signal processor and to send data to the second digital signal processor.

2. A device according to claim 1, further comprising control logic to select between single or multiple mode operation for at least a portion of the plurality of receiving antenna paths and at least a portion of the plurality of transmitting antenna paths.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein whether to configure the paths for single or multiple mode operation is controlled by control logic based on availability of a given mode.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein whether to operate in a single or multiple mode operation is controlled at least in part by a user.

5. A system for transmitting and receiving wireless signals, the system comprising:

a first receiver path;

a second receiver path;

a first transmitter path;

a second transmitter path; and

control logic to configure the first receiver path to operate in a first mode, the second receiver path to operate in a second mode, the first transmitter path to operate in a third mode and the second transmitter path to operate in a fourth mode, the control logic operable to switch either the receiver paths or the transmitter paths, or both the receiver paths and the transmitter paths between a multiple mode operation and a single mode operation.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth modes have a mode type, the mode type selected from the group consisting of a Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) mode, a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) mode, a Third Generation Partnership Project Long Term Evolution (3GPP LTE) mode, a Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax) mode, a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) mode, and a Bluetooth (BT) mode.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein during the single mode operation, the first mode is of the same type as the second mode and the first and second receiver paths are operated at different channels.

8. A system according to claim 6, wherein during the single mode operation, the third mode is of the same mode type as the fourth mode and the first and second transmitter paths are operated at different channels.

9. A system according to claim 6, wherein during the multiple mode operation, the first mode is of a different type than the second mode.

10. A system according to claim 6, wherein during the multiple mode operation, the third mode is of a different type than the fourth mode.

11. A system according to claim 5, wherein the first and second receiver paths and the first and second transmitter paths each comprise multiple components, the control logic being coupled to one or more of the components.

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein the first and second receiver paths each comprise a low noise amplifier component, a mixer component, a filter component, an analog to digital converter component, and a demodulator component, the control logic being coupled to at least one of these components to configure that component for a particular mode.

13. A system according to claim 11, wherein the first and second transmitter path each comprise a digital to analog converter component, a modulator component, and a power amplifier component, the control logic being coupled to at least one of these components to configure that component for a particular mode.

14. A system, comprising:

a first receiver path;

a second receiver path;

a first transmitter path;

a second transmitter path; and

control logic to select between;

operating the first receiver path as a first channel of a first communication mode and the second receiver path as a second channel of the first communication mode, or

operating the first receiver path in the first communication mode and the second receiver path in a second communication mode, the second communication mode being different from the first communication mode.

15. A system according to claim 14, wherein the first and second communication modes are each selected from the group consisting of a Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) mode, a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) mode, a Third Generation Partnership Project Long Term Evolution (3GPP LTE) mode, a Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax) mode, a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) mode, and a Bluetooth (BT) mode.

16. A system, comprising:

a first receiver path;

a second receiver path;

a first transmitter path;

a second transmitter path; and

control logic to select between;

operating both the first transmitter path and the second transmitter path in a first communication mode, or

operating the first transmitter path in a first communication mode and the second transmitter path in a second communication mode, the second communication mode being different from the first communication mode.

17. A system according to claim 16, wherein the first and second communication modes are each selected from the group consisting of a Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) mode, a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) mode, a Third Generation Partnership Project Long Term Evolution (3GPP LTE) mode, a Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax) mode, a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) mode, and a Bluetooth (BT) mode.

18. A system according to claim 16, wherein the first mode is a Bluetooth mode and the second mode is a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) mode.

19. A method comprising:

determining one or more communication modes to be utilized within a wireless communication environment;

configuring a transceiver system such that if only one communication mode is to be utilized, the system is operable in a single mode multiple input, multiple output, or multiple input and multiple output configuration, and if more than one communication mode is to be utilized, the transceiver system is operable in a multiple mode configuration; and

transmitting or receiving one or more wireless signals within the wireless communication environment.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein if more than one mode is to be utilized, configuring the transceiver system to operate in a multiple mode configuration with at least one of the modes being operated using multiple spatial channels with the same frequency.

21. A method according to claim 19, wherein if only one communication mode is to be utilized, the system is operated in a single mode configuration using multiple spatial channels with the same frequency.