Software defined multiple transmit architecture

• US 7,376,116 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2003
• Issued: 05/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Skyworks Solutions Incorporated
• Inventors: Magoon, Rahul, Rozenblit, Dmitriy, Damgaard, Morten, Domino, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham; Chi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mills; Donald L
• Application Number:
  US10/357,125
• Publication Number:
  US 20040151140A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,933 Days
• Field of Search: 370/311, 370/328, 370/342, 370/345, 370/441, 370/442
• US Class Current: 370/342
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0003 Software-defined radio [SDR] systems, i.e. systems wherein components typically implemented in hardware, e.g. filters or modulators/demodulators, are implented using software, e.g. by involving an AD or DA conversion stage such that at least part of the signal processing is performed in the digital domain digital baseband systems H04L25/00; digital modulation/demodulation H04L27/00; CDMA H04B1/707; TDMA H04B7/2643; image transmission H04N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0028 wherein the AD/DA conversion occurs at baseband stage
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0032 with analogue quadrature frequency conversion to and from the baseband quadrature modulators and demodulators per se H03D3/007, H03C3/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/006 using switches for selecting the desired band H04B1/0057 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/406 with more than one transmission mode, e.g. analog and digital modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A software defined transmit architecture includes a plurality of individually selectable components that can be selectively enabled to transmit a data signal that complies with any of a plurality of transmission standards. The software defined transmit architecture comprises components that can be enabled by associated logic to transmit, for example, communications signals that comply with the global system for mobile communications (GSM), enhanced data rates for GSM evolution (EDGE), which employs TDMA, and wide band code division multiple access (WCDMA) transmission standards. A single transmit architecture supports multiple transmission standards, thus minimizing the number of components in a multi-band, multi-mode portable transceiver, while reducing the number of active components.

Claims

1. A method for operating a multiple standard transmitter, comprising:

providing a transmitter including a plurality of digital, multiple band use, software selectable components arranged in a plurality of transmit chains, the plurality of transmit chains including a modulator, a filter, a mixer, and a synchronous oscillator coupled in series, the plurality of digital, multiple band use, software selectable components comprising a plurality of transmit architectures in which at least one component can be used in each of the plurality of transmit architectures, wherein respective output signals from first and second transmit chains that contain only a phase modulated component are used to develop a signal that includes an amplitude modulated component; and

enabling one of the plurality of transmit architectures to transmit a communication signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of transmit architectures is a GSM transmit architecture.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of transmit architectures is a WCDMA transmit architecture.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of transmit architectures is an EDGE/TDMA transmit architecture.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of transmit architectures is enabled based on an input signal.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising supplying the input signal to the multiple standard transmitter from an input device associated with the multiple standard transmitter.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising supplying the input signal to the multiple standard transmitter from a source external to the multiple standard transmitter.

8. A multiple standard transmitter, comprising:

a transmitter including a plurality of digital, multiple band use, software selectable components arranged in a plurality of transmit chains, the plurality of transmit chains including a modulator, a filter, a mixer, and a synchronous oscillator coupled in series, the plurality of digital, multiple band use, software selectable components comprising a plurality of transmit architectures in which at least one component can be used in each of the plurality of transmit architectures, wherein respective output signals from first and second transmit chains that contain only a phase modulated component are used to develop a signal that includes an amplitude modulated component; and

a software code segment configured to enable one of the plurality of transmit architectures to transmit a communication signal.

9. The multiple standard transmitter of claim 8, wherein one of the plurality of transmit architectures is a GSM transmit architecture.

10. The multiple standard transmitter of claim 8, wherein one of the plurality of transmit architectures is a WCDMA transmit architecture.

11. The multiple standard transmitter of claim 8, wherein one of the plurality of transmit architectures is an EDGE/TDMA transmit architecture.

12. The multiple standard transmitter of claim 8, wherein the software code segment enables one of the plurality of transmit architectures based on an input signal.

13. The multiple standard transmitter of claim 12, wherein the input signal is supplied by a user of the multiple standard transmitter.

14. The multiple standard transmitter of claim 12, wherein the input signal is received from a source external to the multiple standard transmitter.

15. A portable transceiver that can transmit data complying with multiple communication standards, comprising:

a modulator configured to receive and modulate a data signal;

an upconverter configured to receive the modulated data signal and provide a radio frequency (RF) signal;

a transmitter including a plurality of digital, multiple band use, software selectable components arranged in a plurality of transmit chains, the plurality of transmit chains including a modulator, a filter, a mixer, and a synchronous oscillator coupled in series, the plurality of digital, multiple band use, software selectable components comprising a plurality of transmit architectures in which at least one component can be used in each of the plurality of transmit architectures, wherein respective output signals from first and second transmit chains that contain only a phase modulated component are used to develop a signal that includes an amplitude modulated component; and

logic configured to enable one of the plurality of transmit architectures to transmit the RF signal.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising logic configured to format the data signal supplied to the modulator into in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) components that correspond to the enabled transmit architecture.

17. A multiple standard transmitter, comprising:

transmitter means including a plurality of digital, multiple band use, software selectable components arranged in a plurality of transmit chains, the plurality of transmit chains including a modulator, a filter, a mixer, and a synchronous oscillator coupled in series, the plurality of digital, multiple band use, software selectable components comprising a plurality of transmit architectures in which at least one component can be used in each of the plurality of transmit architectures, wherein respective output signals from first and second transmit chains that contain only a phase modulated component are used to develop a signal that includes an amplitude modulated component; and

means for enabling one of the plurality of transmit architectures to transmit a communication signal.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising means for formatting a data signal into in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) components.