Internal circuit for adaptive mode selection of multi-mode RF integrated circuit

• US 6,249,686 B1
• Filed: 12/22/1998
• Issued: 06/19/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: STMicroelectronics International N.V. (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Original Assignee: Philips Electronics North America Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Dvorkin, Vladimir, Wong, Michael G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Lee
• Application Number:
  US09/218,547
• Time in Patent Office: 910 Days
• Field of Search: 455/553, 455/102, 455/103, 455/132, 455/133, 455/232.1, 455/234.1, 455/234.2, 455/245.2, 455/246.2, 455/333, 455/552, 327/564
• US Class Current: 455/552.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/28 the receiver comprising at least one semiconductor device having three or more electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/406 with more than one transmission mode, e.g. analog and digital modes

Abstract

An RF integrated circuit includes an improved control circuit for switching between at least two modes of operation, depending upon a characteristic of a signal received by the integrated circuit, the RF integrated circuit including a first input for receiving a first RF signal, when the integrated circuit is in a first mode; a second input for receiving a second input signal when the integrated circuit is in a second mode; and a detector on the integrated circuit couples to the first and second inputs for detecting the presence of the first and second RF signals, and producing an output signal at a logic port of the detector, depending on the state of the first and second RF signals; and a controller on the integrated circuit connected to the detector for switching the integrated circuit between the first mode and the second mode in response to the output signal without the need for the application of an external control signal to the integrated circuit.

Claims

1. In a radio frequency integrated circuit, an improved control circuit for switching between at least two modes of operation depending upon a characteristic of a signal received by the integrated circuit, comprising:

a first input for receiving a first RF signal when the integrated circuit is in a first mode;

a second input for receiving a second RF signal when the integrated circuit is in a second mode;

a detector on the integrated circuit connected to the first and second inputs for detecting the presence of the first and second RF signals and producing an output signal at a logic port of the detector; and

a controller on the integrated circuit, connected to the detector for switching the integrated circuit between the first mode and the second mode in response to the output signal without the need for application of an external control signal to the integrated circuit.

2. The integrated circuit of claim 1 in which the first and second RF signals comprise first and second local oscillator signals.

3. The integrated circuit of claim 1 comprising a first RF amplifier on the integrated circuit operative in the first mode, and having a first control input for activating the first RF amplifier;

a second RF amplifier on the integrated circuit operative in the second mode and having a second control input for activating the second RF amplifier;

the first and second control inputs connected to the controller so that the first RF amplifier is activated in the first mode, and the second RF amplifier is activated in the second mode.

5. The integrated circuit of claim 1 comprising a first RF mixer on the integrated circuit operative in the first mode, and having a first control input for activating the first RF mixer;

a second RF mixer on the integrated circuit operative in the second mode and having a second control input for activating the second RF mixer;

the first and second control inputs connected to the controller so that the first RF mixer is activated in the first mode, and the second RF mixer is activated in the second mode.

6.The integrated circuit of claim 1 further comprising;

a further detector responsive to one of said first and second RF signals, and having a detector output for generating a detector control signal which is indicative of one of the two modes of operation;

a further controller for configuring at least one function of the integrated circuit solely in response to the output of the further detector.

9. The integrated circuit of claim 1 in which the first mode is a PCS telephone mode, and the second mode is a cellular telephone mode.

10. The integrated circuit of claim 1 further comprising a first RF mixer on the integrated circuit operative in the first mode, and having a first control input for activating the first RE mixer;

a second RE mixer on the integrated circuit operative in the second mode and having a second control input for activating the second RE mixer;

the first and second control inputs being connected to the controller so that the first RE mixer is activated in the first mode, and the second RE mixer is activated in the second mode.

4. The integrated circuit of claim I in which the detector is connected to the first and second inputs by first and second capacitive taps.

6. The integrated circuit of claim 6 in which the at least one function comprises the gain of at least one stage of the RF processor integrated circuit.

7. The integrated circuit of claim 6 further comprising a controllable attenuator in a signal path of the integrated circuit, and in which the further detector is responsive to a received signal level for generating a signal output related to the received signal level, and in which the further controller is connected to the controllable attenuator for changing the attenuation of the attenuator in response to the signal output.

8. The integrated circuit of claim 6 further comprising a low noise amplifier in a signal path of the integrated circuit, and in which the further detector is responsive to a received signal level for generating a signal output related to the received signal level, and in which the further controller is connected to the low noise amplifier for changing the gain of the amplifier in response to the signal output.