ARCHITECTURE FOR COEXISTENCE OF MULTIPLE BAND RADIOS

• US 20120009886A1
• Filed: 04/13/2011
• Published: 01/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsemi Corporation (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Microsemi Corporation (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: POULIN, Grant Darcy
• Granted Patent: US 8,670,726 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/78
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/005 adapting radio receivers, transmitters andtransceivers for operation on two or more bands, i.e. frequency ranges
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0064 with separate antennas for the more than one band H04B1/0053 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/525 with means for reducing leakage of transmitter signal into the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0825 with main and with auxiliary or diversity antennas
• 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 front end module for use with a first and a second radio frequency transceiver, constituted of: a control circuitry; a first antenna connection port; a second antenna connection port; a filter arranged to substantially attenuate the carrier frequency bandwidth of the second radio frequency transceiver; and a plurality of electronically controlled switches, wherein the control circuitry is arranged to: in the event that the first and second radio frequency transceivers are simultaneously operative, set the plurality of electronically controlled switches to connect the first radio frequency transceiver to one of the first and second antenna connection ports via the filter; and in the event that the first and second radio frequency transceivers are not simultaneously operative, set the plurality of electronically controlled switches to bypass the filter and connect the first radio frequency transceiver to one of the first and second antenna connection ports.

Claims

1. A front end module for use with a first and a second radio frequency transceiver operative at different carrier frequencies, the front end module comprising:

a control circuitry in communication with each of the first transceiver and the second transceiver;

a first antenna connection port;

a second antenna connection port;

a first filter arranged to pass the frequency components in the carrier frequency bandwidth of the first radio frequency transceiver and substantially attenuate frequency components in the carrier frequency bandwidth of the second radio frequency transceiver; and

a plurality of electronically controlled switches, each responsive to said control circuitry,

wherein said control circuitry is arranged to;

in the event that the first and second radio frequency transceivers are simultaneously operative, set said plurality of electronically controlled switches to connect the first radio frequency transceiver to one of said first antenna connection port and said second antenna connection port via said first filter; and

in the event that said first and second radio frequency transceivers are not simultaneously operative, set said plurality of electronically controlled switches to bypass said first filter and connect the first radio frequency transceiver to one of said first antenna connection port and said second antenna connection port.

2. The front end module of claim 1, further comprising:

a first input port arranged to receive a transmit signal from the first radio frequency transceiver; and

a first power amplifier,

wherein said control circuitry arrangement to connect the first radio frequency transceiver to one of said first antenna connection port and said second antenna connection port via said first filter in the event that the first and second radio frequency transceivers are simultaneously operative comprises;

when the first radio frequency transceiver is in a transmit mode, set said plurality of electronically controlled switches to connect said first input port to said first antenna connection port via a serial combination of said first power amplifier and said first filter.

3. The front end module of claim 2, further comprising:

a second power amplifier,

wherein said control circuitry arrangement to connect the first radio frequency transceiver to one of said first antenna connection port and said second antenna connection port so as to bypass said first filter in the event that the first and second radio frequency transceivers are not simultaneously operative comprises;

connect said first input port to said second antenna connection port via said second power amplifier.

4. The front end module of claim 3, further comprising:

a first output port arranged to output a first receive signal to the first radio frequency transceiver;

a second output port arranged to output a second receive signal to the first radio frequency transceiver;

a first receive amplifier; and

a second receive amplifier,

wherein said control circuitry arrangement to connect the first radio frequency transceiver to one of said first antenna connection port and said second antenna connection port via said first filter in the event that the first and second radio frequency transceivers are simultaneously operative further comprises;

when the first radio frequency transceiver is in a receive mode, set said plurality of electronically controlled switches to;

connect said first antenna connection port to said first output port via a serial combination of said first filter and said first receive amplifier; and

connect said second antenna connection port to said second output port via said second receive amplifier.

5. The front end module of claim 4, further comprising:

a second filter arranged to pass the frequency components in the carrier frequency bandwidth of the first radio frequency transceiver and substantially attenuate frequency components in the carrier frequency bandwidth of the second radio frequency transceiver, said second filter arranged between the output of said second receive amplifier and said second input port.

6. The front end module of claim 5, further comprising:

a second input port arranged to receive a transmit signal from the second radio frequency transceiver;

a third output port arranged to output a receive signal to the second radio frequency transceiver;

a third antenna connection port;

a third power amplifier;

a third receive amplifier; and

a third filter arranged to pass frequency components in the carrier frequency bandwidth of the second radio transceiver and substantially attenuate frequency components in the carrier frequency bandwidth of the first radio transceiver,

wherein said control circuitry is further arranged, when the second transceiver is in a transmit mode, to set said plurality of electronically controlled switches to connect said second input port to said third antenna connection port via a serial combination of said third power amplifier and said third filter, and

when the second transceiver is in a receive mode, to set said plurality of electronically controlled switches to connect said third antenna connection port to said third output port via a serial combination of said third receive amplifier and said third filter.

7. The front end module of claim 2,

wherein said connection of the first radio frequency transceiver to one of said first antenna connection port and said second antenna connection port so as to bypass said first filter in the event that the first and second radio frequency transceivers are not simultaneously operative comprises:

when the first transceiver is in the transmit mode, connect said first input port to said first antenna connection port via said first power amplifier without a serial connection of said first filter.

8. The front end module of claim 7, further comprising:

a first output port arranged to output a first receive signal to the first radio frequency transceiver; and

a first receive amplifier,

wherein said control circuitry arrangement to connect the first radio frequency transceiver to one of said first antenna connection port and said second antenna connection port via said first filter in the event that the first and second radio frequency transceivers are simultaneously operative further comprises;

when the first radio frequency transceiver is in a receive mode, set said plurality of electronically controlled switches to connect said first antenna connection port to said first output port via a serial combination of said first filter and first receive amplifier.

9. The front end module of claim 8, further comprising:

a second output port arranged to output a second receive signal to the first radio frequency transceiver; and

a second receive amplifier connected between said second antenna connection port and said second output port and arranged to amplify signals received at said second antenna connection port for said output of said second receive signal to the first radio frequency transceiver.

10. The front end module of claim 9, further comprising a second filter arranged to pass the frequency components in the carrier frequency bandwidth of the first radio frequency transceiver and substantially attenuate frequency components in the carrier frequency bandwidth of the second radio frequency transceiver, said second filter arranged between the output of said second receive amplifier and said second output port.

11. The front end module of claim 10, further comprising:

a second input port arranged to receive a transmit signal from the second radio frequency transceiver;

a third output port arranged to output a receive signal to the second radio frequency transceiver;

a third antenna connection port;

a third power amplifier;

a third receive amplifier; and

a third filter arranged to pass frequency components in the carrier frequency bandwidth of the second radio transceiver and substantially attenuate frequency components in the carrier frequency bandwidth of the first radio transceiver,

wherein said control circuitry is further arranged, when the second transceiver is in a transmit mode, to set said plurality of electronically controlled switches to connect the second input port to said third antenna connection port via a serial combination of said third power amplifier and said third filter, and

when the second transceiver is in a receive mode, to set said plurality of electronically controlled switches to connect said third antenna connection port to said third output port via a serial combination of said third receive amplifier and said third filter.

12. The front end module of claim 1, wherein said first filter is a bandpass filter.

13. The front end module of claim 1, wherein said first filter is one of a surface acoustic wave filter and a bulk acoustic wave filter.

21. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

providing one of a surface acoustic wave filter and a bulk acoustic wave filter, wherein said filtering is in cooperation with said provided filter.

14. A method for controlled filtering of a first radio frequency transceiver useable simultaneously with a second radio frequency transceiver, the method comprising:

when the first radio frequency transceiver is in a transmit mode;

receiving a transmit signal from the first radio frequency transceiver,

in the event that the first and second radio frequency transceivers are simultaneously operative;

filtering said received transmit signal by passing frequency components of said amplified transmit signal which are in the carrier frequency bandwidth of the first radio frequency transmitter and substantially attenuating frequency components of said received transmit signal which are in the carrier frequency bandwidth of the second radio frequency transmitter; and

transmitting said filtered transmit signal, and

in the event that the first and second radio frequency transceivers are not simultaneously operative;

transmitting said received transmit signal.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

providing a first power amplifier, and

in the event that the first and second radio frequency transceivers are simultaneously operative and the first radio frequency transceiver is in a transmit mode;

prior to said filtering, amplifying said received transmit signal in cooperation with said provided first power amplifier,

wherein said transmitting comprises passing said filtered transmit signal to said provided first antenna connection port.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

providing a second power amplifier;

in the event that the first and second radio frequency transceivers are not simultaneously operative and the first radio frequency transceiver is in a transmit mode;

prior to said transmitting, amplifying said received transmit signal in cooperation with said provided second power amplifier,

wherein said transmitting comprises passing said amplified transmit signal to said provided second antenna connection port.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

providing a first antenna connection port;

providing a second antenna connection port, and

when the first radio frequency transceiver is in a receive mode;

receiving a first receive signal at said provided first antenna connection port;

receiving a second receive signal at said provided second antenna connection port;

filtering said received first receive signal by passing frequency components of said received first receive signal which are in the carrier frequency bandwidth of the first radio frequency transceiver and substantially attenuating other frequency components of said received first receive signal;

amplifying said filtered first receive signal;

passing said amplified first receive signal to the first radio frequency transceiver;

amplifying said second receive signal; and

passing said amplified second receive signal to the first radio frequency transceiver.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

providing a third antenna connection port, and

when the second transceiver is in a transmit mode;

receiving a transmit signal from the second radio frequency transceiver;

amplifying said received transmit signal;

filtering said amplified transmit signal by passing frequency components of said amplified transmit signal which are in the carrier frequency bandwidth of the second radio frequency transmitter and substantially attenuating frequency components of said amplified transmit signal which are in the carrier frequency bandwidth of the first radio frequency transmitter; and

passing said filtered transmit signal to said provided third antenna connection port, and

when the second transceiver is in a receive mode;

receiving a third receive signal from said provided third antenna connection port;

filtering said third receive signal by passing frequency components of said third receive signal which are in the carrier frequency bandwidth of the second radio frequency transmitter and substantially attenuating other frequency components of said third receive signal;

amplifying said filtered third receive signal; and

passing said amplified third receive signal to the second radio frequency transceiver.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

in the event that the first and second radio frequency transceivers are not simultaneously operative and the first radio frequency transceiver is in a transmit mode;

prior to said transmitting, amplifying said received transmit signal in cooperation with said provided first power amplifier,

wherein said transmitting comprises passing said amplified transmit signal to said provided first antenna connection port.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

providing a third antenna connection port;

when the second transceiver is in a transmit mode;

receiving a transmit signal from the second radio frequency transceiver;

amplifying said received transmit signal;

filtering said amplified transmit signal by passing frequency components of said amplified transmit signal which are in the carrier frequency bandwidth of the second radio frequency transmitter and substantially attenuating frequency components of said amplified transmit signal which are in the carrier frequency bandwidth of the first radio frequency transmitter; and

passing said filtered transmit signal to said provided third antenna connection port,

when the second transceiver is in a receive mode;

receiving a third receive signal from said provided third antenna connection port;

filtering said third receive signal by passing frequency components of said third receive signal which are in the carrier frequency bandwidth of the second radio frequency transmitter and substantially attenuating other frequency components of said third receive signal;

amplifying said filtered third receive signal; and

passing said amplified third receive signal to the second radio frequency transceiver.