GPS receiver in mobile communications devices

• US 7,471,936 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2006
• Issued: 12/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Wireless Corporation (Kyocera Corporation)
• Inventors: Forrester, Tim
• Primary Examiner(s): Bhattacharya; Sam
• Application Number:
  US11/386,574
• Publication Number:
  US 20060160507A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,015 Days
• Field of Search: 455/552.1, 455/552.3, 455/90.1, 455/90.2, 455/422.1, 455/426.1, 455/86, 455/76, 455/313, 455/315, 455/317
• US Class Current: 455/147
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3805 with built-in auxiliary receivers

Abstract

GPS functionality is added to a wireless communication device in an efficient and cost effective manner. Disclosed is a wireless communications device that has a common mixer constructed to be used for a GPS signal and another signal, a common IF filter constructed to be used for a GPS signal and another signal, in addition to other cost effective embodiments.

Claims

1. A receiver portion for selectively converting a GPS signal and a second RF signal to an intermediate frequency (IF) signal in a wireless handset, comprising:

a GPS antenna configured to receive the GPS signal;

a second RF signal antenna configured to receive the second RF signal;

a control signal generator configured to generate a control signal;

a band select switch connected to the control signal generator, to the GPS antenna, and to the second RF antenna, the band select switch configured to select one of the GPS signal and the second RF signal responsive to the control signal to determine a selected signal;

a local oscillator (LO) connected to the control signal generator, the LO configured to generate an LO signal having a LO oscillating frequency responsive to the control signal, the LO oscillating frequency lower than a GPS frequency of the GPS signal when a frequency of the second RF signal is higher than the GPS frequency, the LO oscillating frequency higher than the GPS frequency when the frequency of the second RF signal is lower than the GPS frequency; and

a mixer connected to the band select switch and to the local oscillator, the mixer configured to mix the selected signal and the LO signal to generate the IF signal.

2. The receiver portion of claim 1 where the second RF signal is higher than the GPS signal and the LO signal comprises two signals, one higher than the RF signal that in combination with the RF signal comprises IF, and one lower than the GPS signal that in combination with the GPS signal comprises IF.

3. The receiver portion of claim 2 where the LO signal comprises a signal substantially in the range of 1391-1392 MHz.

4. The receiver portion of claim 2 where the second RF signal is a PCS signal.

5. The receiver portion of claim 4 where the PCS signal is a CDMA signal.

6. The receiver portion of claim 4 where the LO output comprises a signal substantially in the range of 2143-2144 MHz.

7. The receiver portion of claim 1 where the IF frequency is substantially in the range of 183-184 MHz.

8. The receiver portion of claim 1 where the second RF signal is lower than the GPS signal and the LO signal comprises two signals, one lower than the RF signal that in combination with the RF signal comprises IF, and one higher than the GPS signal that in combination with the RF signal comprises IF.

9. A receiver portion for selectively converting a GPS signal and a second RF signal to an intermediate frequency (IF) signal in a wireless handset, comprising:

a GPS antenna assembly configured to receive the GPS signal;

a second RF signal antenna assembly configured to receive the second RF signal;

a control signal generator configured to generate a control signal;

a diplexer configured to receive input from the GPS antenna and the second RF antenna;

a local oscillator (LO) configured for at least one pair of signals from a first pair (1P) of signals or a second pair (2P) of signals, where the 1P signals are operable when the second RF signal is a higher frequency than the GPS signal, and the 2P signals operable when the second RF signal is a lower frequency than the GPS signal, and where the 1P signals further comprise an RF-associated (1P-RF) signal that is of higher frequency than the second RF signal and a GPS-associated (1P-GPS) signal that is lower than the frequency of the GPS signal, and the 2P signals further comprise an RF-associated (2P-RF) signal that is of lower frequency than the second RF signal and a GPS-associated (2P-GPS) signal that is of higher frequency than the GPS signal, the LO responsive to the control signal to send an RF-associated signal or a GPS-associated signal;

a mixer configured to receive signals from the LO and the diplexer; and

an IF filter configured to receive input from the mixer and transmit IF signals.

10. The receiver portion of claim 9 where the second RF frequency is higher than the GPS frequency, and the LO output is one of the 1P signals in accordance with the control signal.

11. The receiver portion of claim 10 where said 1P-GPS signal is substantially in the range of 1391-1392 MHz.

12. The receiver portion of claim 10 where the second RF signal is a PCS signal.

13. The receiver portion of claim 12 where the PCS signal further comprises CDMA signals.

14. The receiver portion of claim 12 where the 1P-RF signal is substantially in the range of 2143-2144 MHz.

15. The receiver portion of claim 9 where the IF frequency is substantially in the range of 183-184 MHz.

16. The receiver portion of claim 9 where the second RF frequency is lower than the GPS frequency, and the LO output is one of the 2P signals in accordance with the GPS control signal.

17. A method of using a mixer and a filter for processing both a GPS signal and a second RF signal, the mixer configured to receive the GPS signal and the second RF signal comprising:

coupling the GPS signal and the second RF signal to the mixer;

generating a control signal;

configuring a local oscillator (LO) for one of a first pair (1P) of signals and a second pair (2P)of signals, where the 1P signals are configured for use when the second RF signal is a higher frequency than the GPS signal, and the 2P signals are configured for use when the second RF signal is a lower frequency than the GPS signal, and where the 1P signals further comprise an RF-associated signal of higher frequency than the second RF signal such that IF frequencies result when combined, and a GPS-associated signal lower than the frequency of the GPS signal such that IF frequencies result when combined, and the 2P signals further comprise an RF-associated signal of lower frequency than the second RF signal such that IF frequencies result when combined, and a GPS-associated signal that is of higher frequency than the GPS signal such that IF frequencies result when combined, the LO configuration having a selected pair, where the LO is responsive to the control signal to send the RF-associated signal or the GPS-associated signal from the selected pair;

sending from the LO either the GPS-associated signal or the RF-associated signal from the selected pair;

receiving, at the mixer, the signal sent by the LO;

mixing both the GPS signal and the second RF signal with the signal sent by the LO; and

selecting by use of an IF filter the first or the second mixed signal.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the second RF signal comprises a PCS signal and the selected pair is 1P.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the PCS signal comprises a CDMA signal.

20. The method of claim 17 where the second RF signal is lower than the GPS signal, and the selected pair is 2P.