METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR RECEIVING SIGNALS VIA MULTI-PORT DISTRIBUTED ANTENNA

• US 20100225413A1
• Filed: 03/03/2009
• Published: 09/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rofougaran, Maryam, Rofougaran, Ahmadreza
• Granted Patent: US 8,219,048 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 333/101
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 5/12 Coupling devices having more than two ports H01P5/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/40 Radiating elements coated with or embedded in protective material
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/08 the units being spaced along or adjacent to a rectilinear path waveguide fed H01Q21/0037
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/29 Combinations of different interacting antenna units for giving a desired directional characteristic H01Q25/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 23/00 Antennas with active circuits or circuit elements integrated within them or attached to them
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0209 in terminal devices terminal devices per se H04W88/02
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Methods and systems for receiving signals via a multi-port distributed antenna are disclosed and may include selectively enabling one or more low noise amplifiers (LNAs) coupled to the antenna. The selective enabling may be based on a desired gain level applied to a signal received from the antenna. The LNAs may be coupled to ports on the antenna based on an input impedance of the LNAs and an impedance of the ports. Each of the LNAs may be configured for optimum linearity in different gain ranges, which may be proportional to the input impedance of the LNAs. The antenna may be integrated on a chip with the LNAs, or may be located external to the chip. The antenna may include a microstrip antenna. The LNAs may include variable gain and may be enabled utilizing a processor. Linearity on demand may be enabled via the selective enabling of the LNAs.

Claims

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

in a wireless device, selectively enabling one or more low noise amplifiers coupled to a multi-port distributed antenna wherein;

said selective enabling of said one or more low noise amplifiers coupled to said multi-port distributed antenna is based on a desired gain level applied to a signal received from said multi-port distributed antenna; and

said low noise amplifiers are coupled to one or more ports on said multi-port distributed antenna based on an input impedance of said low noise amplifiers and a characteristic impedance of said ports on said multi-port distributed antenna.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein each of said one or more low noise amplifiers is configured to provide optimum linearity in different gain ranges.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said gain ranges are proportional to said input impedance of said low noise amplifiers.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said multi-port distributed antenna is integrated on a chip with said one or more low noise amplifiers.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein said multi-port distributed antenna is located external to said chip.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said multi-port distributed antenna comprises a microstrip antenna.

7. The method according to claim 1, comprising receiving RF signals via said one or more selectively enabled low noise amplifiers and said multi-port distributed antenna.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said low noise amplifiers comprise variable gain.

9. The method according to claim 1, comprising enabling said low noise amplifiers utilizing a processor.

10. The method according to claim 1, comprising enabling linearity on demand via said selectively enabling of said one or more low noise amplifiers.

11. A system for enabling communication, the system comprising:

one or more circuits for use in a wireless device, said one or more circuits comprising a plurality of low noise amplifiers, and said plurality of low noise amplifiers are coupled to a single distributed antenna via a plurality of antenna ports, wherein;

said one or more circuits are operable to selectively enable said one or more low noise amplifiers coupled to a multi-port distributed antenna; and

said low noise amplifiers are coupled to one or more ports on said multi-port distributed antenna based on an input impedance of said low noise amplifiers and a characteristic impedance of said ports on said multi-port distributed antenna.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein each of said one or more low noise amplifiers is configured to provide optimum linearity in different gain ranges.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein said gain ranges are proportional to said input impedance of said low noise amplifiers.

14. The system according to claim 11, wherein said multi-port distributed antenna is integrated on a chip with said one or more low noise amplifiers.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein said multi-port distributed antenna is located external to said chip.

16. The system according to claim 11, wherein said multi-port distributed antenna comprises a microstrip antenna.

17. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to receive RF signals via said one or more selectively enabled low noise amplifiers and said multi-port distributed antenna.

18. The system according to claim 11, wherein said low noise amplifiers comprise variable gain.

19. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits comprise a processor and said processor is operable to enable said low noise amplifiers.

20. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to enable linearity on demand via said selectively enabling of said one or more low noise amplifiers.