Radio communication apparatus having a battery saving function

• US 5,606,739 A
• Filed: 04/17/1992
• Issued: 02/25/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Mobile Communications Limited (Fujitsu Limited)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Goto, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban, Edward F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LE, THANH C
• Application Number:
  US07/870,662
• Time in Patent Office: 1,775 Days
• Field of Search: 455/38.3, 455/38.4, 455/127, 455/343, 455/260, 455/265, 340/825.44, 340/311.1
• US Class Current: 455/343.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0283 with sequential power up or power down of successive circuit blocks, e.g. switching on the local oscillator before RF or mixer stages
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/022 Selective call receivers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A radio communication apparatus intermittently powered in synchronism with an intermittent reception control signal transmitted from a base station is disclosed. The apparatus includes a synthesizer, wherein power supplied to the synthesizer is initiated prior to the power supply to circuits other than the synthesizer.

Claims

1. A radio communication apparatus intermittently powered in synchronism with radio frequency signals transmitted from a base station, comprising:

a receiver for receiving radio frequency signals intermittently transmitted from a base station, said receiver comprising a local oscillator for generating oscillation signals having a first frequency and a signal processor for processing the received radio frequency signals and the oscillation signals to produce processed signals, wherein said local oscillator comprises a synthesizer including a phase locked loop and an oscillator circuit coupled to said phase locked loop;

power supply means for supplying power to said receiver;

controlling means for controlling said power supply means to supply power to said local oscillator at a first predetermined time before the radio frequency signals are received and to supply power to said signal processor at a second predetermined time after the first predetermined time, wherein said controlling means controls said power supply means to supply power to said phase locked loop at said first predetermined time and to further supply power to said oscillator circuit at a third predetermined time after said first predetermined time;

a demodulator coupled to said signal processor for demodulating the processed signals to produce demodulated signals;

a memory device for storing an identification code;

comparing means, coupled to said demodulator and said memory device, for comparing an identification code included in the demodulated signals and the identification code stored in said memory device; and

an indicator responsive to said comparing means for indicating if the identification code in the demodulated signals matches the identification code stored in said memory device.

2. The radio communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein said oscillator circuit comprises a voltage controlled oscillator, a crystal oscillator, and a multiplier.

3. A radio communication apparatus intermittently powered in synchronism with radio frequency signals transmitted from a base station, comprising:

a receiver for receiving radio frequency signals intermittently transmitted from a base station, said receiver comprising a local oscillator for generating oscillation signals having a first frequency and a signal processor for processing the received radio frequency signals and the oscillation signals to produce processed signals, wherein said local oscillator comprises a phase locked loop and an oscillator circuit coupled to said phase locked loop;

power supply means for supplying power to said receiver, wherein said power supply means comprises a battery and a power source circuit for supplying power from said battery to said receiver;

controlling means for controlling said power supply means to supply power to said receiver, wherein said controlling means comprises;

(a) a switch connected between said power source circuit and said signal processor; and

(b) a controller, coupled to said power source circuit and said switch, for controlling said power source circuit to supply power to said phase locked loop at a first predetermined time before the radio frequency signals are received, for closing said switch to supply power to said signal processor at a second predetermined time after the first predetermined time, and for controlling said power source circuit to supply power to said oscillator circuit at a third predetermined time after said first predetermined time;

a demodulator coupled to said signal processor for demodulating the processed signals to produce demodulated signals;

a memory device for storing an identification code;

comparing means, coupled to said demodulator and said memory device, for comparing an identification code included in the demodulated signals and the identification code stored in said memory device; and

an indicator, responsive to said comparing means, for indicating if the identification code in the demodulated signals matches the identification code stored in said memory device.

4. The radio communication apparatus of claim 3, wherein said second predetermined time is approximately 33 msec. after the first predetermined time, and said third predetermined time is approximately 3 msec. after said first predetermined time.

5. The radio communication apparatus of claim 3, wherein said oscillator circuit comprises a voltage controlled oscillator, a crystal oscillator, and a multiplier.

6. The radio frequency apparatus of claim 3, wherein said receiver further comprises a radio frequency amplifier, coupled to said switch, for amplifying the radio frequency signals and for providing a amplified radio frequency signals to said signal processor, wherein said controller controls said switch to connect said power source circuit to said radio frequency amplifier at said second predetermined time.

7. The radio communication apparatus of claim 6, wherein said signal processor comprises:

a first bandpass filter coupled to said radio frequency amplifier for filtering the amplified radio frequency signals;

a first mixer, coupled to said first bandpass filter and said local oscillator, for mixing the filtered radio frequency signals from said first bandpass filter with the oscillation signals from said local oscillator to produce first intermediate frequency signals;

a second bandpass filter coupled to said first mixer for filtering the first intermediate frequency signals;

a further local oscillator for outputting oscillation signals having a second frequency; and

a second mixer, coupled to said second bandpass filter and said further local oscillator, for mixing the filtered first intermediate frequency signals from said second bandpass filter and the oscillation signals having a second frequency to produce the processed signals.

8. The radio communication apparatus of claim 3, wherein said memory device comprises a read only memory.

9. The radio communication apparatus of claim 3, wherein said indicator comprises a LCD driver and an LCD coupled to said LCD driver.

10. The radio communication apparatus of claim 3, wherein said indicator comprises an amplifier and a speaker coupled to said amplifier.

11. A radio communication apparatus intermittently powered in synchronism with radio frequency signals transmitted from a base station, comprising:

a receiver for receiving radio frequency signals intermittently transmitted from a base station, said receiver comprising a radio frequency amplifier for amplifying the receiver radio frequency signal, a local oscillator for generating oscillation signals having a first frequency, and a signal processor for processing the amplified radio frequency signals and the oscillation signals to produce processed signals, said signal processor comprising;

(a) a first bandpass filter, coupled to said radio frequency amplifier, for filtering the amplified radio frequency signals;

(b) a first mixer, coupled to said first bandpass filter and to said local oscillator, for mixing the filtered signals and said oscillation signals having a first frequency to produce first baseband signals;

(c) a phase shifter coupled to said local oscillator for shifting the phase of said oscillation signals having a first frequency by a predetermined angle;

(d) a second mixer, coupled to said first bandpass filter and to said phase shifter, for mixing the filtered signals and the phase shifted oscillation signals to produce second baseband signals;

(e) a second bandpass filter, coupled to said first and second mixer, for filtering the first and second baseband signals; and

(f) a limited coupled to said second bandpass filter for limiting the first and second filtered baseband signals to produce the processed signals;

a power supply for supplying power to said receiver, said power supply comprising a battery and a power source circuit coupled for supplying power from said battery to said receiver;

controlling means for controlling said power supply to supply power to said local oscillator at a first predetermined time before the radio frequency signals are received and to supply power to said signal processor at a second predetermined time after the first predetermined time;

a demodulator coupled to said signal processor for demodulating the processed signals;

a memory device for storing an identification code;

comparing means, coupled to said demodulator and said memory device, for comparing an identification code included in said demodulated signal and the identification code stored in said memory device; and

an indicator responsive to said comparing means for indicating if the identification code in the demodulated signal matches the identification code stored in said memory device.

12. The radio communication apparatus of claim 11, wherein said demodulator comprises a detector for detecting the processed signals.

13. The radio communication apparatus of claim 11, wherein said second bandpass filter a bandpass filter integrated circuit.

14. The radio communication apparatus of claim 11, wherein said limiter comprises a limiter integrated circuit.

15. The radio communication apparatus of claim 11, wherein said limiter comprises:

a first amplitude limiting amplifier for limiting the amplitude of the first filtered baseband signals; and

a second amplitude limiting amplifier for limiting the amplitude of the second filtered baseband signals.

16. The radio communication apparatus of claim 11, wherein said local oscillator comprises:

a reference oscillator for outputting a reference oscillation signal;

a phase locked loop comprising a reference divider responsive to said controlling means for dividing the frequency of the reference oscillation signal by a first dividing rate to produce a divided reference signal, a comparison divider responsive to said controlling means for dividing an input signal by a second dividing rate to produce a divided comparison signal, and a phase comparator coupled to said reference divider and said comparison divider for outputting an information signal when the divided comparison signal does not substantially equal the divided reference signal;

a low pass filter coupled to said phase comparator for filtering the information signal;

a voltage controlled oscillator, coupled to said low pass filter, for outputting the oscillation signals to said comparison divider as the input signal, the frequency of the oscillation signals being controlled on the basis of the filtered information signal;

a multiplier, coupled to said voltage controlled oscillator, for multiplying the oscillation signals and supplying the multiply signals to said first mixer and to said phase shifter,

wherein said controlling means further controls the dividing rates of said reference comparator and said comparison divider.

17. The radio communication apparatus of claim 16, wherein said phase locked loop comprises a phase locked loop integrated circuit.

18. A radio communication apparatus intermittently powered in synchronism with radio frequency Signals transmitted from a base station, comprising;

a receiver for receiving radio frequency signals intermittently transmitted from a base station, said receiver comprising;

(a) a radio frequency amplifier for amplifying the received radio frequency signals;

(b) a local oscillator having a phase locked loop integrated circuit and an oscillator circuit coupled to said phase locked loop integrated circuit for outputting oscillation signals having a first frequency; and

(c) a signal processor for processing the amplified radio frequency signals and the oscillation signals having the first frequency to produce processed signals, said signal processor including a receiver integrated circuit coupled to said oscillator circuit;

a power supply for supplying power to said receiver, said power supply comprising a battery and a power source circuit coupled for supplying power from said battery to said receiver;

controlling means for controlling said power supply to supply power to said local oscillator at a first predetermined time before the radio frequency signals are received and to supply power to said signal processor at a second predetermined time after the first predetermined time;

a demodulator coupled to said signal processor for demodulating the processed signals;

a memory device for storing an identification code;

comparing means, coupled to said demodulator and said memory device, for comparing an identification code included in said demodulated signal and the identification code stored in said memory device; and

an indicator responsive to said comparing means for indicating if the identification code in the baseband signal matches the identification code stored in said memory device.

19. The radio communication apparatus of claim 18, wherein said oscillator circuit comprises:

a voltage controlled oscillator coupled to said phase locked loop integrated circuit;

a reference oscillator couple to said phase locked loop integrated circuit; and

a multiplier coupled to said voltage controlled oscillator and to said receiver integrated circuit.

20. The radio communication apparatus of claim 18, wherein said signal processor further comprises a phase shifter for phase shifting the oscillation signals having a first frequency by a predetermined angle and said receiver integrated circuit comprises:

a first mixer, coupled to said radio frequency amplifier and to said oscillator circuit, for mixing said amplified signals and said oscillation signals to produce first mixed signals;

a second mixer, coupled to said radio frequency amplifier and to said phase shifter, for mixing said amplified signals and said phase shifted oscillation signals to produce second mixed signals;

a filter integrated circuit for filtering said first and second mixed signals and outputting filtered signals; and

a limiter integrated circuit for limiting said filtered signals and outputting limited signals to said demodulator as processed signals.

21. The radio communication apparatus of claim 18, wherein said battery outputs a first predetermined voltage and said power source circuit comprises:

a DC/DC converter, responsive to said controlling means, for converting the first predetermined voltage supplied from said battery to a second predetermined voltage;

a regulator, responsive to said controlling means, for converting and regulating the first predetermined voltage supplied from said battery to a third predetermined voltage and for converting and regulating the second predetermined voltage supplied from said DC/DC converter to a fourth predetermined voltage, the third predetermined voltage being supplied to power said oscillator circuit and said radio frequency amplifier, and said fourth predetermined voltage being supplied to power said receiver integrated circuit;

voltage converting means for converting the second predetermined voltage supplied from said DC/DC converter to a fifth predetermined voltage; and

a switch, responsive to said controlling means, for selectively supplying said fifth predetermined voltage from said voltage converting means to power said phase locked loop integrated circuit.

22. The radio communication apparatus of claim 21, wherein said controlling means comprises:

enabling means for enabling said DC/DC converter at a third predetermined time before said first predetermined time;

means for controlling said switch to supply said fifth predetermined voltage to said phase locked loop integrated circuit at said first predetermined time; and

means for controlling said regulator to supply the third voltage to said oscillator circuit and to said radio frequency amplifier at said first predetermined time and to supply the fourth predetermined voltage to said receiver integrated circuit at said second predetermined time.

23. The radio communication apparatus of claim 21, wherein said power source circuit further comprises a further switch, responsive to said controlling means, located between said regulator and said radio frequency amplifier for selectively supplying the third predetermined voltage to said radio frequency amplifier.

24. The radio communication apparatus of claim 23, wherein said controlling means comprises:

enabling means for enabling said DC/DC converter at a third predetermined time before said first predetermined time;

means for controlling said switch to supply said fifth predetermined voltage to said phase locked loop integrated circuit at said first predetermined time;

means for controlling said regulator to supply the third predetermined voltage to said oscillator circuit at said first predetermined time and to supply the fourth predetermined voltage to said receiver integrated circuit at said second predetermined time; and

means for controlling said further switch to supply said third predetermined voltage from said regulator to said radio frequency amplifier at a fourth predetermined time after said first predetermined time.

25. The radio communication apparatus of claim 21, wherein said regulator comprises a regulator switch, responsive to said controlling means, for selectively supplying the third predetermined voltage to said radio frequency amplifier.

26. The radio communication apparatus of claim 25, wherein said controlling means comprises:

enabling means for enabling;

said DC/DC converter at a third predetermined time before said first predetermined time;

means for controlling said switch to supply said fifth predetermined voltage to said phase locked loop integrated circuit at said first predetermined time;

means for controlling said regulator to supply the third predetermined voltage to said oscillator circuit and to supply the fourth predetermined voltage to said receiver integrated circuit; and

means for controlling said regulator switch to supply said third predetermined voltage to said radio frequency amplifier.

27. The radio communication apparatus of claim 18, wherein said battery outputs a first predetermined voltage and said power source circuit comprises:

a DC/DC converter, responsive to said controlling means, for converting the first predetermined voltage supplied from said battery to a second predetermined voltage;

a regulator, responsive to said controlling means, for converting and regulating the first predetermined voltage supplied from said battery and the second predetermined voltage supplied from said DC/DC converter to a third predetermined voltage, a fourth predetermined voltage, and a fifth predetermined voltage, the third predetermined voltage being supplied to power said oscillator circuit and said radio frequency amplifier, the fourth predetermined voltage being supplied to power said receiver integrated circuit, and the fifth predetermined voltage being supplied to power said phase locked loop integrated circuit.

28. The radio communication apparatus of claim 27, wherein said controlling means comprises:

enabling means for enabling said DC/DC converter at a third predetermined time before said first predetermined time;

means for controlling said regulator to supply said fifth predetermined voltage to said phase locked loop integrated circuit at said first predetermined time;

means for controlling said regulator to supply the third predetermined voltage to said oscillator circuit at a fourth predetermined time after said first predetermined time;

means for controlling said regulator to supply the fourth predetermined voltage to said receiver integrated circuit at said second predetermined time; and

means for controlling said regulator to supply said third predetermined voltage to said radio frequency amplifier at a fifth predetermined time after said first predetermined time.

29. A radio communication apparatus intermittently powered in synchronism with radio frequency signals transmitted from a base station, comprising:

a synthesizer circuit for generating oscillation signals;

a receiver circuit, coupled to said synthesizer circuit, for receiving radio frequency signals transmitted from a base station and for converting the received radio frequency signals into baseband signals using the oscillation signals;

a memory device for storing an identification code;

a controller for comparing an identification code in the baseband signals to the identification code stored in said memory device and for generating power control signals;

an indicator, coupled to said controller, for providing an indication to a user if the identification code in the baseband signals matches the identification code stored in said memory device;

a battery; and

power source circuitry, responsive to the power control signals, for supplying power from said battery to a first portion of said synthesizer circuit at a first predetermined time, to a second portion of said synthesizer circuit at a second predetermined time after the first predetermined time, and to said receiver circuit at a third predetermined time after the second predetermined time.

30. The radio communication apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the first portion of said synthesizer circuit comprises a phase locked loop.

31. The radio communication apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the second portion of said synthesizer circuit comprises an oscillator circuit.

32. The radio communication apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said oscillator circuit comprises a voltage controlled oscillator, a crystal oscillator, and a multiplier.

33. The radio communication apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said power source circuitry comprises:

a power source circuit having a first output terminal coupled to the first portion of said synthesizer circuit and a second output terminal coupled to the second portion of said synthesizer circuit, wherein said power source circuit outputs power from said first terminal at the first predetermined time in response to a first power control signal from said controller and outputs power from said second terminal at the second predetermined time in response to a second power control signal from said controller; and

a switch, responsive to a third power control signal from said controller, for coupling the second terminal of said power source circuit to said receiver circuit at the third predetermined time.

34. The radio communication apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the first portion of said synthesizer circuit comprises a phase locked loop and the second portion of said synthesizer circuit comprises a voltage controlled oscillator, a crystal oscillator, and a multiplier.

35. A radio communication apparatus intermittently powered in synchronism with radio frequency signals transmitted from a base station, comprising:

a synthesizer circuit for generating oscillation signals;

a receiver circuit, coupled to said synthesizer circuit, for receiving radio frequency signals transmitted from a base station and for converting the received radio frequency signals into baseband signals using the oscillation signals;

a memory device for storing an identification code;

a controller for comparing an identification code in the baseband signals to the identification code stored in said memory device and for generating a plurality of power control signals;

an indicator, coupled to said controller, for providing an indication to a user if the identification code in the baseband signals matches the identification code stored in said memory device;

a battery; and

a power source circuit for supplying power from said battery to said synthesizer circuit at a first predetermined time and to said receiver circuit at a second predetermined time, wherein said power source circuit includes (1) a DC/DC converter, coupled to said battery, for converting a battery voltage to a converter output voltage responsive to a first power control signal from said controller, and (2) a regulator integrated circuit for converting the battery voltage to a first regulator voltage responsive to a second power control signal from said controller and for converting the converter output voltage to a second regulator voltage responsive to a third power control signal from said controller, the first regulator voltage being supplied to a portion of said synthesizer circuit at the first predetermined time and the second regulator voltage being supplied to said receiver circuit at the second predetermined time.

36. The radio communication apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said controller receives the battery voltage and the converter output voltage.

37. The radio communication apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said synthesizer circuit comprises a first circuit portion including a phase locked loop and a second circuit portion, and wherein said first regulator voltage is supplied to said second circuit portion at said first predetermined time thereby enabling said second circuit portion to become operative before said receiver circuit receives the radio frequency signals.

38. The radio communication apparatus according to claim 37, wherein said power source circuit further comprises a secondary voltage converter for converting the converter output voltage to a secondary voltage and a switching circuit for coupling the secondary voltage to said phase locked loop at the first predetermined time in response to a fourth power control signal from said controller, thereby enabling said phase locked loop to lock before said receiver receives the radio frequency signals.

39. The radio communication apparatus according to claim 38, wherein said switching circuit comprises a bipolar switching transistor having a base coupled to receive the fourth power control signal, an emitter coupled to said secondary voltage converter, and a collector coupled to said phase locked loop.

40. The radio communication apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said secondary voltage converter comprises:

a first capacitor having a first terminal receiving said converter voltage and a second terminal coupled to ground;

a resistor having a first terminal coupled to the first terminal of said first capacitor and a second terminal coupled to the emitter of said switching transistor; and

a second capacitor having a first terminal coupled to the second terminal of said resistor and a second terminal coupled to ground.

41. The radio communication apparatus according to claim 38, wherein said receiver circuit comprises a radio frequency amplifier and a receiver integrated circuit.

42. The radio communication apparatus according to claim 41, wherein the first regulator voltage is supplied to said radio frequency amplifier and said second regulator voltage is supplied to said receiver integrated circuit.

43. The radio communication apparatus according to claim 42, wherein said power source circuit further comprises a further switching circuit, responsive to a fifth power control signal from said controller, for coupling the first regulator voltage to said radio frequency amplifier at a third predetermined time after said first predetermined time.

44. The radio communication apparatus according to claim 42, wherein said regulator integrated circuit further comprises a switching circuit, responsive to a fifth power control signal from said controller, for coupling the first regulator voltage to said radio frequency amplifier at a third predetermined time after the first predetermined time.

45. The radio communication apparatus according to claim 37, wherein said receiver circuit comprises a radio frequency amplifier and a receiver integrated circuit, the second regulator voltage being supplied to said receiver integrated circuit at the second predetermined time.

46. The radio communication apparatus according to claim 45, wherein said regulator .integrated circuit converts the battery voltage to a third regulator voltage responsive to a third power control signal from said controller and converts the converter voltage to a fourth regulator voltage responsive to a fourth power control signal from said controller, the third regulator voltage being supplied to said radio frequency amplifier at a third predetermined time and the fourth regulator voltage being supplied to said phase locked loop at the first predetermined time.