ENABLING MULTIPLE TRANSCEIVERS OPERATED ACCORDING TO TIME-DIVISION MULTIPLE ACCESS TECHNIQUES TO TRANSMIT AND RECEIVE USING A SINGLE ANTENNA

• US 20130034088A1
• Filed: 08/04/2011
• Published: 02/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Joshi, Alok Prakash, Rajendran, Gireesh, Sivadas, Apu
• Granted Patent: US 9,083,075 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/337
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/246 specially adapted for base stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2643 using time-division multiple access [TDMA] H04B7/2615, H04B7/2618 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0446 Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames

Abstract

A device includes multiple transceivers, a coupling block and an antenna. The transceivers operate according to time-division multiple access (TDMA) techniques. The coupling block is designed to enable the multiple transceivers to transmit or receive corresponding signals using the antenna. The multiple transceivers include a first transmitter and a second transmitter. The first transmitter is connected to the antenna via a first coupling network. The second transmitter is connected to the antenna via a series connection of a second coupling network and at least a portion of the first coupling network. Other transmitters are connected to the antenna via a series arrangement of at least a portion of the first coupling network and corresponding coupling networks.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

an antenna;

a first transmitter to generate a first transmit signal on a first output node, the first output node being coupled to the antenna via a first coupling network; and

a second transmitter to generate a second transmit signal on a second output node, wherein the second output node is coupled to the antenna via a series connection of a second coupling network and at least a portion of the first coupling network,

wherein the first transmitter and the second transmitter operate according to time-division multiple access (TDMA) techniques.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first transmitter is comprised in a first transceiver, and the second transmitter is comprised in a second transceiver, the first transceiver further comprising a first receiver, and the second transceiver further comprising a second receiver,

wherein the first receiver is coupled to the first output node and receives a first receive signal from the antenna via the first network, and

wherein the second receiver is coupled to the second output node and receives a second receive signal from the antenna via the series connection of the second coupling network and the at least a portion of the first network,

wherein the first transmitter, the second transmitter, the first transceiver and the second transceiver operate according to TDMA techniques.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the first coupling network comprises:

a transformer, wherein a primary winding of the transformer is coupled to the first output node;

a first capacitor, wherein a first terminal of the first capacitor is coupled to the antenna and a first terminal of a secondary winding of the transformer;

a first switch, wherein the first switch is coupled between a second terminal of the first capacitor and a constant reference potential; and

a second switch, wherein the second switch is coupled between a second terminal of the secondary winding of the transformer and the constant reference potential.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the second coupling network comprises:

a third switch coupled between the second output node and the constant reference potential;

a first inductor, wherein a first terminal of the first inductor is coupled to the second output node;

a second capacitor, wherein a first terminal of the second capacitor is coupled to a second terminal of the first inductor;

a fourth switch coupled between a second terminal of the second capacitor and the constant reference potential; and

a second inductor, wherein a first terminal of the second inductor is coupled to the first terminal of the second capacitor, a second terminal of the second inductor being coupled to the second terminal of the secondary winding of the transformer.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein in transmission time slots of the first transmitter, each of the first switch and the second switch is closed, and wherein in receive time slots of the first receiver, the first switch is open and the second switch is closed,

wherein, in transmission time slots of the second transmitter as well as receive time slots of the second receiver, the first switch is closed, the second switch is open, the third switch is open and the fourth switch is closed.

6. The device of claim 5, further comprising:

a third transmitter to generate a third transmit signal on a third output node, the third output node being coupled to the antenna via a series connection of the third coupling network, a portion of the second coupling network and at the least a portion of the first coupling network.

wherein the first transmitter, the second transmitter and the third transmitter operate according to TDMA techniques.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the third coupling network comprises:

a fifth switch coupled between the third output node and the constant reference potential;

a third inductor, wherein a first terminal of the third inductor is coupled to the third output node;

a third capacitor, wherein a first terminal of the third capacitor is coupled to a second terminal of the third inductor;

a sixth switch coupled between a second terminal of the third capacitor and the constant reference potential; and

a fourth inductor, wherein a first terminal of the fourth inductor is coupled to the first terminal of the third capacitor, a second terminal of the fourth inductor being coupled to the second terminal of the second capacitor.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein a series circuit formed by a capacitance of the second capacitor and an inductance of the second inductor exhibits series resonance in a frequency band occupied by the third transmit signal, and

wherein a parallel circuit formed by a capacitance of the third capacitor and an inductance of the first inductor exhibits shunt resonance in a frequency band occupied by the third transmit signal.

9. The device of claim 8, further comprising a plurality of transmitters, each transmitter in the plurality of transmitters to generate a corresponding transmit signal on a corresponding output node coupled to the antenna via a series connection of a corresponding coupling network and portions of one or more other coupling networks including the at least a portion of the first coupling network,

wherein the corresponding coupling network is implemented identical to the third coupling network

wherein the first transmitter, the second transmitter and the transmitters in the plurality of transmitters operate according to TDMA techniques.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of transmitters is contained in a corresponding transceiver, the corresponding transceiver also containing a receiver.

11. The device of claim 8, further comprising a processor operable to generate data to be transmitted in the form of the first transmit signal, the second transmit signal, the third transmit signal and the corresponding transmit signal,

the processor also operable to generate control signals for closing and opening of the first switch, the second switch, the third switch, the fourth switch, the fifth switch and the sixth switch.

12. A circuit for connecting multiple transmitters to an antenna, the circuit comprising a plurality of coupling networks including a first coupling network and a second coupling network, wherein the first coupling network comprises:

a transformer, wherein a primary winding of the transformer is coupled to receive an output of a first transmitter;

a first capacitor, wherein a first terminal of the first capacitor is coupled to the antenna and a first terminal of a secondary winding of the transformer;

a first switch, wherein the first switch is coupled between a second terminal of the first capacitor and a constant reference potential; and

a second switch, wherein the second switch is coupled between a second terminal of the secondary winding of the transformer and the constant reference potential,

wherein the second coupling network comprises;

a third switch coupled between a first output node of a second transmitter and the constant reference potential;

a first inductor, wherein a first terminal of the first inductor is coupled to the first output node;

a second capacitor, wherein a first terminal of the second capacitor is coupled to a second terminal of the first inductor;

a fourth switch coupled between a second terminal of the second capacitor and the constant reference potential; and

a second inductor, wherein a first terminal of the second inductor is coupled to the first terminal of the second capacitor, a second terminal of the second inductor being coupled to the second terminal of the secondary winding of the transformer.

13. The circuit of claim 12, wherein in transmission time slots of the first transmitter, each of the first switch and the second switch is closed,

wherein, in transmission time slots of the second transmitter, the first switch is closed, the second switch is open, the third switch is open and the fourth switch is closed.

14. The circuit of claim 12, wherein the second terminal of the first capacitor is coupled to an input of a first receiver, wherein in receive time slots of the first receiver, the first switch is open and the second switch is closed,

wherein the first output node is coupled to an input of a second receiver, the first switch is closed, the second switch is open, the third switch is open and the fourth switch is closed.

15. The circuit of claim 14, further comprising a third coupling network comprising:

a fifth switch coupled between a second output node of a third transmitter and the constant reference potential;

a third inductor, wherein a first terminal of the third inductor is coupled to the second output node;

a third capacitor, wherein a first terminal of the third capacitor is coupled to a second terminal of the third inductor;

a sixth switch coupled between a second terminal of the third capacitor and the constant reference potential; and

a fourth inductor, wherein a first terminal of the fourth inductor is coupled to the first terminal of the third capacitor, a second terminal of the fourth inductor being coupled to the second terminal of the second capacitor,

wherein in transmission time slots of the third transmitter, each of the fifth switch and the second switch is open, and each of the first switch, the third switch, the fourth switch and the sixth switch is closed.

16. The circuit of claim 15, wherein a series circuit formed by a capacitance of the second capacitor and an inductance of the second inductor exhibits series resonance in a frequency band occupied by transmission of the third transmitter, and

wherein a parallel circuit formed by a capacitance of the third capacitor and an inductance of the first inductor exhibits shunt resonance in a frequency band occupied by transmissions of the third transmitter.

17. The circuit of claim 16, further comprising a plurality coupling networks identical to the third coupling network.

18. The circuit of claim 16, wherein the first transmitter, the second transmitter and the third transmitter operate according to time-division multiple access (TDMA) techniques.

19. A circuit comprising:

an antenna;

a first transceiver comprising a first transmitter and a first receiver, a first node coupled to each of an output of the first transmitter and an input of the first receiver;

a second transceiver comprising a second transmitter and a second receiver, a second node coupled to an output of the second transmitter via a transformer, the second node coupled to an input of the second receiver via a first capacitor;

a first switch and a second switch; and

a coupling network comprising a second capacitor, a third capacitor, a fourth capacitor and an inductor,

wherein the antenna is coupled to the second node, wherein the first node is coupled to the antenna via a series arrangement of the fourth capacitor and the inductor,

wherein the fifth capacitor is coupled between the first node and a constant reference potential, and the third capacitor is coupled between the second node and the constant reference potential,

wherein, in transmission time slots of the second transmitter, each of the first switch and the second switch is closed,

wherein, in receive time slots of the second receiver, the first switch is closed and the second switch is open, and

wherein, in transmission time slots of the first transmitter as well as in receive time slots of the first receiver, the first switch is open.

20. The circuit of claim 19, wherein the first transmitter, the first receiver, the second transmitter and the second receiver operate according to time-division multiple access (TDMA) techniques.

21. A circuit comprising:

an antenna;

a first transceiver comprising a first transmitter and a first receiver, a first node coupled to each of an output of the first transmitter and an input of the first receiver;

a second transceiver comprising a second transmitter and a second receiver, a second node coupled to an output of the second transmitter via a transformer, the second node also connected to an input of the second receiver;

a switch coupled between the first node and a constant reference potential; and

a coupling network comprising a first capacitor, a second capacitor, a third capacitor, a first inductor and a second inductor,

wherein the antenna is coupled to the second node via the first inductor, wherein the first capacitor is coupled between the second node and the constant reference potential, wherein the second capacitor is coupled between an input of the antenna and the constant reference potential, wherein the second inductor is coupled between the first node and the input of the antenna, wherein the third capacitor is coupled between the first node and the constant reference potential,

wherein, in transmission time slots of the first transmitter as well as in receive time slots of the first receiver, the first switch is open, and

wherein, in transmission time slots of the second transmitter as well as in receive time slots of the second receiver, the first switch is closed.

22. The circuit of claim 21, wherein the first transmitter, the first receiver, the second transmitter and the second receiver operate according to time-division multiple access (TDMA) techniques.