MODULAR RF FRONT-END FOR ACCESS POINTS AND RADIO HEADS
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a base module and a plurality of front-end modules;
each of the plurality of front-end modules being configured to operate a different one of a plurality of radio frequency services, each front-end module including;
one or more antennas;
front-end circuitry;
a memory configured to store information indicating which one of the plurality of radio frequency services the front-end module is configured to operate; and
a front-end module connector coupled to the front-end circuitry and to the memory;
the base module including;
a modem configured to perform baseband modulation of transmit data to generate baseband modulated transmit data and baseband demodulation of received baseband modulated data to recover receive data;
one or more radio transceivers coupled to the modem and configured to upconvert the baseband modulated transmit data to produce radio frequency (RF) transmit signals for transmission and to downconvert RF received signals to obtain the received baseband modulated data, the one or more radio transceivers having a universal frequency band coverage spanning frequency bands of operation of the plurality of front-end modules;
a base module connector configured to mate with the front-end module connector of any one of the plurality of front-end modules, the base module connector configured to supply the RF transmit signals to, and to receive the RF received signals from, a particular front-end module of the plurality of front-end modules that is connected to the base module connector, the base module connector further configured to supply power and control signals from the base module to said particular front-end module; and
a processor configured to communicate via the base module connector with said particular front-end module that is connected to the base module connector, wherein upon connection of said particular front-end module to the base module connector, the processor is configured to read the information from the memory of said particular front-end module to determine a radio service that the particular front-end module is configured to operate and to supply the control signals to configure and control the front-end circuitry to operate the radio service.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A wireless communication device is built from a base module and a plurality of front-end modules. Each of the plurality of front-end modules is configured to operate a different one of a plurality of radio frequency services and having a front-end module connector configured to removeably mate with a base module connector of the base module. A particular front-end module is connected to the base module. Upon connection of said particular front-end module to the base module connector, the base module reads information from a memory of said particular front-end module to determine the radio service that the particular front-end module is configured to operate and to supply the control signals to configure and control front-end circuitry of the front-end module to operate the radio service.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a base module and a plurality of front-end modules; each of the plurality of front-end modules being configured to operate a different one of a plurality of radio frequency services, each front-end module including; one or more antennas; front-end circuitry; a memory configured to store information indicating which one of the plurality of radio frequency services the front-end module is configured to operate; and a front-end module connector coupled to the front-end circuitry and to the memory; the base module including; a modem configured to perform baseband modulation of transmit data to generate baseband modulated transmit data and baseband demodulation of received baseband modulated data to recover receive data; one or more radio transceivers coupled to the modem and configured to upconvert the baseband modulated transmit data to produce radio frequency (RF) transmit signals for transmission and to downconvert RF received signals to obtain the received baseband modulated data, the one or more radio transceivers having a universal frequency band coverage spanning frequency bands of operation of the plurality of front-end modules; a base module connector configured to mate with the front-end module connector of any one of the plurality of front-end modules, the base module connector configured to supply the RF transmit signals to, and to receive the RF received signals from, a particular front-end module of the plurality of front-end modules that is connected to the base module connector, the base module connector further configured to supply power and control signals from the base module to said particular front-end module; and a processor configured to communicate via the base module connector with said particular front-end module that is connected to the base module connector, wherein upon connection of said particular front-end module to the base module connector, the processor is configured to read the information from the memory of said particular front-end module to determine a radio service that the particular front-end module is configured to operate and to supply the control signals to configure and control the front-end circuitry to operate the radio service. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for configuring a communication device, the method comprising:
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providing a base module and a plurality of front-end modules, each of the plurality of front-end modules being configured to operate a different one of a plurality of radio services and having a front-end module connector configured to removeably mate with a base module connector of the base module; connecting a particular front-end module to the base module; and upon connection of said particular front-end module to the base module connector, the base module reading information from a memory of said particular front-end module to determine a radio service that the particular front-end module is configured to operate and to supply control signals to configure and control front-end circuitry of the particular front-end module to operate the radio service. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus comprising:
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front-end circuitry; a memory configured to store information indicating which one of a plurality of radio services the front-end circuitry is configured to operate; and a connector coupled to the front-end circuitry and to the memory, wherein the front-end circuitry is responsive to, and controlled by control signals received from a base module that removeably connects to the connector, the control signals being generated by the base module based on the information read by the base module from the memory when the base module is connected to the connector, wherein the front-end circuitry includes one or more receive amplifiers, one or more transmit amplifiers and one or more bias control circuits that set bias of and control an operation of the one or more receive amplifiers and the one or more transmit amplifiers, and wherein the control signals supplied by the base module are coupled to the one or more bias control circuits. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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17. (canceled)
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20. An apparatus comprising:
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front-end circuitry; a memory configured to store information indicating which one of a plurality of radio services the front-end circuitry is configured to operate; and a connector coupled to the front-end circuitry and to the memory, wherein the front-end circuitry is responsive to, and controlled by control signals received from a base module that removeably connects to the connector, the control signals being generated by the base module based on the information read by the base module from the memory when the base module is connected to the connector, and wherein the front-end circuitry is configured to operate in conjunction with one or more radio transceivers in the base module that have a universal frequency band coverage spanning frequency bands in which the plurality of radio services operate. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification