Dual band transmitter for a cellular phone comprising a PLL

• US 6,150,890 A
• Filed: 09/30/1998
• Issued: 11/21/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Conexant Systems Incorporated (Synaptics Incorporated)
• Inventors: Damgaard, Morten, Li, Leo L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Grimm, Siegfried H.
• Application Number:
  US09/163,798
• Time in Patent Office: 783 Days
• Field of Search: 331/14, 331/16, 331/17, 331/25, 331/60, 331/74, 331/76, 331/77
• US Class Current: 331/14
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 5/242 used exclusively for band selection
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 5/244 using electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H03L 2207/10 Indirect frequency synthesis using a frequency multiplier in the phase-locked loop or in the reference signal path
• CPC Class Codes: H03L 7/093 using special filtering or amplification characteristics in the loop H03L7/087 - H03L7/091 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03L 7/183 a time difference being used for locking the loop, the counter counting between fixed numbers or the frequency divider dividing by a fixed number H03L7/1806 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03L 7/185 using a mixer in the loop H03L7/187 - H03L7/195 take precedence
• 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 1/406 with more than one transmission mode, e.g. analog and digital modes

Abstract

Disclosed is a dual band wireless phone, such as a cellular phone for a mobile communications system, with a dual band transmitter that includes a phase-locked loop (PLL). The dual band transmitter includes first and second power amplifiers and the PLL. The first power amplifier has a first input for a first signal at a first radio frequency band, and a first output for an amplified first signal. The second power amplifier has a second input for a second signal at a second radio frequency band and a second output for an amplified second signal. The outputs of the power amplifiers are connectable to an antenna. The PLL generates two output frequency ranges and includes a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) which has a first output connected to the first power amplifier and generates a first signal. A frequency multiplier has an input connected to the first output of the VCO and a second output connected to the second power amplifier. The frequency multiplier receives the first signal and generates the second signal.

Claims

1. A cellular phone for a mobile communications system, said phone being operable in a first radio frequency band and a second radio frequency band and comprising a dual band transmitter and an antenna, said dual band transmitter comprising a phase-locked loop (PLL) which can generate two or more output frequency ranges, the PLL comprising:

a first frequency divider configured to divide a frequency signal by a value N;

a phase detector responsive to an output of the first divider;

a loop filter responsive to an output of the phase detector;

a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) responsive to an output of the loop filter;

a frequency multiplier responsive to an output of the VCO;

a band-switch having a first input responsive to the output of the VCO, a second input responsive to an output of the frequency multiplier, and a third input responsive to a control signal to select for output from said band-switch one of the first and second inputs;

a mixer having two inputs, one mixer input responsive to the output of the band-switch and a second mixer input responsive to a radio frequency signal;

a second frequency divider configured to divide an input frequency by a value M, the second divider responsive to an output of the mixer, and an output of the second frequency divider providing an input to the phase detector.

2. The phone of claim 1, wherein the phase detector has a selectable gain and the phase detector gain is selectable by the control signal.

3. The phone of claim 2, further comprising a control signal line connected to the band-switch and the phase detector.

4. The phone of claim 3, wherein the loop filter has a selectable gain which is selected by the control signal on the control signal line.

5. The phone of claim 4, wherein the phase detector has a selectable gain, and wherein the loop filter gain and the phase detector gain are selected by the control signal on the control signal line.

6. The phone of claim 5, wherein a bandpass filter is connected between the mixer and the second divider.

7. The phone of claim 6, wherein the frequency multiplier is a frequency doubler and the selectable gain of the loop filter or the phase detector has two settings, one corresponding to the band-switch input responsive to the output of the VCO and a second setting corresponding to the band-switch input responsive to the output of the frequency doubler.

8. The phone of claim 7, wherein the VCO outputs a frequency range of 855-915 MHz.

9. The phone of claim 1, wherein the N and M divider values are adjustable.

10. A cellular phone for a mobile communication system, said phone being operable in a first radio frequency band and a second radio frequency band, comprising a dual band transmitter and an antenna, said dual band transmitter comprising a phase-locked loop (PLL) which can generate two or more output frequency ranges a first power amplifier receiving a first signal and a second power amplifier receiving a second signal, the PLL comprising:

a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) having a first output connected to said first power amplifier, said VCO generating said first signal; and

a frequency multiplier having an input connected to said first output of the VCO and a second output connected to said second power amplifier, said frequency multiplier receiving said first signal and generating said second signal.

11. The phone of claim 10, further comprising:

a first frequency divider configured to divide a frequency by a value N and having an output connected to a phase detector;

a mixer having two inputs, one mixer input connected to the output of the VCO and a second mixer input connected to local oscillator signal;

a second frequency divider for dividing a frequency by a value M connected to an output of the mixer, an output of the second frequency divider being connected to the phase detector;

a selector coupled to the VCO and the frequency multiplier for selecting an output frequency; and

a control signal line connected to the selector and the first divider wherein the control signal line adjusts the value of N such that the ratio N/M equals a multiplier value associated with the selected output frequency.

12. In a cellular phone for a mobile communications system, a method for generating at least two output frequency ranges from a phase locked loop (PLL) having a phase detector, a loop filter, and a single voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO), the method comprising the steps of:

multiplying an output of the VCO by a predetermined value to produce a multiplied output;

selecting a desired output frequency;

selectably feeding back to the phase detector one of the output of the VCO and the multiplied output, based upon the selected desired output frequency, wherein when the output of the VCO is selected, the output of the VCO is fed back, and when the multiplied output is selected, the multiplied output is fed back; and

setting a gain of at least one of the phase detector or the loop filter according to the selected output frequency.

13. A dual band transmitter for a wireless phone, comprising:

a first power amplifier, said first power amplifier having a first input for a first signal in a first radio frequency band, and having a first output for an amplified first signal, said first output being connectable to an antenna;

a second power amplifier, said second power amplifier having a second input for a second signal in a second radio frequency band and a second output for an amplified second signal, said second output being connectable to said antenna; and

a phase locked loop (PLL) configured to generate two or more output frequency ranges, and connected to the first and second power amplifiers, the PLL comprising;

a first frequency divider configured to divide a frequency signal by a value N;

a phase detector responsive to an output of the first divider;

a loop filter responsive to an output of the phase detector;

a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) responsive to an output of the loop filter and providing said first signal;

a frequency multiplier responsive to an output to the VCO and providing said second signal;

a band-switch having a first input responsive to the output of the VCO, a second input responsive to an output of the frequency multiplier, and a third input responsive to a control signal to select for output from said band-switch one of the first and second inputs;

a mixer having two inputs, one mixer input responsive to the output of the band-switch and a second mixer input responsive to a radio frequency signal;

a second frequency divider configured to divide an input frequency by a value M, the second divider responsive to an output of the mixer, and an output of the second frequency divider providing an input to the phase detector.

14. The dual band transmitter of claim 13, wherein the phase detector has a selectable gain and the phase detector gain is selectable by the control signal.

15. The dual band transmitter of claim 13, wherein further comprising a control signal line connected to the band-switch and the phase detector.

16. The dual band transmitter of claim 15, wherein the loop filter has a selectable gain which is selected by the control signal on the control signal line.

17. The dual band transmitter of claim 16, wherein the phase detector has a selectable gain, and wherein the loop filter gain and the phase detector gain are selected by the control signal on the control signal line.

18. The dual band transmitter of claim 17, wherein a bandpass filter is connected between the mixer and the second divider.

19. The dual band transmitter of claim 17, wherein the frequency multiplier is a frequency doubler and the selectable gain of the loop filter or the phase detector has two settings, one corresponding to the band-switch input responsive to the output of the VCO and a second setting corresponding to the band-switch input responsive to the output of the frequency doubler.

20. The dual band transmitter of claim 19, wherein the VCO outputs a frequency range of 855-915 MHz.

21. The dual band transmitter of claim 13, wherein the N and M divider values are adjustable.

22. The dual band transmitter of claim 15, wherein the frequency doubler comprises a combination of a mixing element and a filter, said mixing element receiving the output of the VCO and generating a signal which comprises a doubler frequency which is twice the frequency of the output of the VCO, and said filter having a characteristic to pass said doubler frequency and to block undesired frequencies.

23. A dual band transmitter for a wireless phone, comprising:

a first power amplifier, said first power amplifier having a first input for a first signal in a first radio frequency band, and a first output for an amplified first signal, said first output being connectable to an antenna;

a second power amplifier, said second power amplifier having a second input for a second signal in a second radio frequency band and a second output for an amplified second signal, said second output being connectable to said antenna; and

a phase locked loop (PLL) configured to generate two or more output frequency ranges, and connected to the first and second power amplifiers, the PLL comprising;

a first frequency divider configured to divide a frequency signal by a value N;

a phase detector responsive to an output of the first divider;

a loop filter responsive to an output of the phase detector;

a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) responsive to an output of the loop filter and providing said first signal;

at least one frequency multiplier responsive to an output to the VCO and providing said second signal;

a mixer having two inputs, one mixer input responsive to the output of the VCO and a second mixer input responsive to a local oscillator signal;

a second frequency divider configured to divide an input frequency by a value M and connected to an output of the mixer, and an output of the second frequency divider providing an input to the phase detector; and

a selector connected to the output of the at least one frequency multiplier, the selector configured to select an output frequency.

24. The dual band transmitter of claim 23, further comprising a control signal line connected to the selector and the first frequency divider.

25. The dual band transmitter of claim 24, wherein the control signal line is configured to adjust the value of N such that the ratio N/M equals a multiplier value associated with the selected output frequency.

26. The dual band transmitter of claim 25, wherein the control signal line is connected to the second frequency divider, the phase detector and the loop filter;

and wherein at least one of the value of M, the gain of the phase detector and the gain of the loop filter are adjustable.

27. The dual band transmitter of claim 23, wherein a bandpass filter is connected between the mixer and the second frequency divider.

28. The dual band transmitter of claim 24, wherein one frequency multiplier is connected to the output of the VCO, and the selector selects between the output of the VCO and the output of the frequency multiplier.

29. The dual band transmitter of claim 28, wherein the frequency multiplier is a frequency doubler, and the VCO outputs a frequency range of 855-915 MHz.

30. A cellular phone for a mobile communications system, said phone being operable in a first radio frequency band and a second radio frequency band, comprising a dual band transmitter and an antenna, said dual band transmitter comprising a phase-locked loop (PLL) which can generate two or more output frequency ranges, the PLL comprising:

a first frequency divider configured to divide a frequency signal by a value N;

a phase detector responsive to an output of the first frequency divider;

a loop filter responsive to an output of the phase detector;

a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) responsive to an output of the loop filter;

at least one frequency multiplier responsive to an output of the VCO;

a mixer having two inputs, one mixer input responsive to the output of the VCO and a second mixer input responsive to a local oscillator signal;

a second frequency divider configured to divide an input frequency by a value M and connected to an output of the mixer, an output of the second divider providing an input to the phase detector; and

a selector connected to the output of the at least one frequency multiplier, the selector configured to select an output frequency.

31. The phone of claim 30, further comprising a control signal line connected to the selector and the first frequency divider.

32. The phone of claim 31, wherein the control signal line is configured to adjust the value of N such that the ratio N/M equals a multiplier value associated with the selected output frequency.

33. The phone of claim 32, wherein the control signal line is connected to the second frequency divider, the phase detector and the loop filter;

and wherein at least one of the value of M, the gain of the phase detector and the gain of the loop filter is adjustable.

34. The phone of claim 31, wherein a bandpass filter is connected between the mixer and the second frequency divider.

35. The phone of claim 34, wherein one frequency multiplier is connected to the output of the VCO, and the selector selects between the output of the VCO and the output of the frequency multiplier.

36. The phone of claim 35, wherein the frequency multiplier is a frequency doubler, and the VCO outputs a frequency range of 855-915 MHz.

37. In a cellular phone for a mobile communications system, a method for generating at least two output frequency ranges from a phase locked loop (PLL) having a single voltage controlled oscillator (VCO), an adjustable first frequency divider which divides by a value N, a second frequency divider which divides by a value M, a phase detector, and a loop filter, the method comprises the steps of:

multiplying an output of the VCO by a predetermined value to produce a multiplied output frequency;

selecting a desired output frequency of one of the VCO output and the multiplied output frequency; and

adjusting the values of the first frequency divider such that a ratio N/M equals the value of the predetermined value when the multiplied output is selected, and adjusting the ratio N/M equal to the value "1" when the VCO output is selected.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the step of adjusting further comprises adjusting one of the value of M, a gain of the phase detector and a gain of the loop filter.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the step of multiplying further comprises multiplying the output of the VCO by a plurality of predetermined values, the step of selecting further comprises selecting one of the VCO output and the plurality of multiplied output frequencies, and the step of adjusting further comprises adjusting the ratio N/M equal the predetermined value corresponding to the selected output frequency.

40. A dual band transmitter for a wireless phone, comprising:

a first power amplifier, said first power amplifier having a first input for a first signal in a first radio frequency band, and a first output for an amplified first signal, said first output being connectable to an antenna;

a second power amplifier, said second power amplifier having a second input for a second signal in a second radio frequency band and a second output for an amplified second signal, said second output being connectable to said antenna; and

a phase locked loop (PLL) which can generate two or more output frequency ranges, the PLL comprising;

a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) having a first output connected to said first power amplifier, said VCO generating said first signal;

a frequency multiplier having an input connected to said first output of the VCO and a second output connected to said second power amplifier, said frequency multiplier receiving said first signal and generating said second signal.

41. The dual band transmitter of claim 40, further comprising:

a first frequency divider configured to divide a frequency signal by a value N;

a mixer having two inputs, one mixer input responsive to the output of the VCO and a second mixer input responsive to a local oscillator signal;

a second frequency divider configured to divide a frequency by a value M and connected to an output of the mixer, an output of the second frequency divider being connected to an input of a phase detector;

a selector coupled to the VCO and the frequency multiplier for selecting an output frequency and input it to the mixer; and

a control signal line connected to the selector and the first frequency divider, wherein the control signal line adjusts the value of N such that the ratio N/M equals a multiplier value associated with the selected output frequency.

42. The dual band transmitter of claim 41, wherein the control signal line is connected to the second frequency divider, the phase detector and the loop filter;

and one of the value of M, the gain of the phase detector and the gain of the loop filter are adjustable.

43. The dual band transmitter of claim 42, further comprising a bandpass filter connected between the mixer and the second divider.

44. The dual band transmitter of claim 42, wherein only one frequency multiplier is connected to the output of the VCO, and the selector selects between the output of the VCO and the output of the frequency multiplier.

45. The dual band transmitter of claim 44, wherein the frequency multiplier is a frequency doubler, and the VCO outputs a frequency range of 855-915 MHz.

46. The dual band transmitter of claim 45, wherein the frequency doubler comprises a combination of a mixing element and a filter, said mixing element receiving the output of the VCO and generating a signal which comprises a doubler frequency which is twice the frequency of the output of the VCO, and said filter having a characteristic to pass said doubler frequency and to block undesired frequencies.

47. In a cellular phone for a mobile communications system, a method for generating at least two output frequency ranges from a phase locked loop (PLL) having a phase detector, a loop filter, and a single voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO), the method comprising the steps of:

multiplying an output of the VCO by a plurality of predetermined values to produce a plurality of multiplied outputs;

selecting a desired output frequency;

selectably feeding back to the phase detector one of the outputs of the VCO and one of the plurality of multiplied outputs, based upon the selected desired output frequency, wherein when the output of the VCO is selected, the output of the VCO is fed back, and when the multiplied output is selected, the multiplied output is fed back; and

setting a gain of at least one of the phase detector or the loop filter according to the selected output frequency.

48. In a dual band transmitter for a wireless phone, a method for generating two output frequency ranges from a phase locked loop (PLL) having a single voltage controlled oscillator (VCO), the method comprising the steps of:

multiplying an output of the VCO by a predetermined value to produce a multiplied output frequency;

selecting a desired output frequency of one of the VCO output and the multiplied output frequency; and

adjusting a value of a first divider that divides a frequency signal by the value N and inputs it to a phase detector and a value M of a second divider that divides a signal responsive to the multiplied output by the value M and inputs it to the phase detector such that a ratio N/M equals a predetermined value when the multiplied output is selected, and adjusting the ratio N/M equal to the value "1" when the VCO output is selected.

49. In a dual band transmitter for a wireless phone, a method for generating two output frequency ranges from a phase locked loop (PLL) having a single voltage controlled oscillator (VCO), the method comprising the steps of:

multiplying an output of the VCO by a predetermined value to produce a multiplied output frequency;

selecting a desired output frequency of one of the VCO output and the multiplied output frequency; and

adjusting a value of a first divider that divides a frequency signal by the value N and inputs it to a phase detector and a value M of a second divider that divides a signal responsive to the multiplied output by the value M and inputs it to the phase detector such that a ratio N/M equals a predetermined value when the multiplied output is selected, adjusting the ratio N/M equal to the value "1" when the VCO output is selected, and adjusting the value of M, a gain of the phase detector and/or a gain of a loop filter receiving a signal from the phase detector.

50. In a dual band transmitter for a wireless phone, a method for generating two output frequency ranges from a phase locked loop (PLL) having a single voltage controlled oscillator (VCO), the method comprising the steps of:

multiplying an output of the VCO by a plurality of predetermined values to produce a plurality of multiplied output frequencies;

selecting a desired output frequency of one of the VCO output and one of the plurality of multiplied output frequencies; and

adjusting a value of a first divider that divides a frequency signal by the value N and inputs it to a phase detector and a value M of a second divider that divides a signal responsive to the multiplied output by the value M and inputs it to the phase detector such that a ratio N/M equals a predetermined value corresponding to the selected output frequency when the multiplied output is selected, and adjusting the ratio N/M equal to the value "1" when the VCO output is selected.