Adaptive radio transceiver

• US 7,555,263 B1
• Filed: 08/08/2000
• Issued: 06/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Colleran, William T., Pan, Meng-An, Rofougaran, Maryam, Rael, Jacob, Wu, Stephen, Ibrahim, Brima, Chien, Ed, Darabi, Hooman, Khorram, Shahla, Rofougaran, Ahmadreza, Moloudi, Shervin
• Primary Examiner(s): Ly; Nghi H
• Application Number:
  US09/634,552
• Time in Patent Office: 3,248 Days
• Field of Search: 455/73, 455/84, 455/86, 455/307, 455/302, 455/553, 455/418, 455/425, 455/260, 455/333, 455/41.2, 455/20, 455/326, 455/323, 375/220, 375/344, 375/222, 375/130, 370/276, 370/295, 330/300, 330/311, 327/113, 327/359
• US Class Current: 455/20
• CPC Class Codes: H03B 21/01 by beating unmodulated signals of different frequencies
• CPC Class Codes: H03B 27/00 Generation of oscillations providing a plurality of outputs of the same frequency but differing in phase, other than merely two anti-phase outputs
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 11/1291 Current or voltage controlled filters
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 2011/0494 Complex filters
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 21/0001 Analogue adaptive filters
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 21/0012 Digital adaptive filters
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 2200/10 Tuning of a resonator by means of digitally controlled capacitor bank
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/30 for homodyne or synchrodyne receivers demodulator circuits H03D1/22
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/40 Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/104 of other parameters, e.g. DC offset, delay or propagation times
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/14 of the whole transmission and reception path, e.g. self-test loop-back
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/19 Self-testing arrangements

Abstract

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention described and shown in the specification and drawings is a transceiver with a receiver, a transmitter, a local oscillator (LO) generator, a controller, and a self-testing unit. All of these components can be packaged for integration into a single IC including components such as filters and inductors. The controller for adaptive programming and calibration of the receiver, transmitter and LO generator. The self-testing unit generates is used to determine the gain, frequency characteristics, selectivity, noise floor, and distortion behavior of the receiver, transmitter and LO generator. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.

Claims

1. A method of wireless communications using a transceiver having a receiver and transmitter, comprising:

programming at least one of the receiver and the transmitter to process communication protocol for a local area network or a personal area network;

receiving a first signal at the receiver from a wireless source; and

transmitting a second signal from the transmitter into space,

wherein the programming comprises programming a demodulator with a demodulation, wherein the receiver comprises a low intermediate frequency (IF) heterodyne architecture, wherein the transmitter, the receiver and a local oscillator (LO) are integrated on a single integrated circuit chip, wherein the LO comprises a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO), a frequency divider and a mixer, wherein an output of the VCO is operatively coupled to an input of the frequency divider and to an input of the mixer, wherein an output of frequency divider is operatively coupled to the input of the mixer, and wherein the output of the mixer is operatively coupled to a downconverter of the receiver that downconverts the received first signal and to an upconverter of the transmitter, wherein the second signal has been upconverted by the upconverter of the transmitter.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the second signal has been filtered by a filter, and wherein the programming comprises programming a frequency band of the filter.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the second signal has been amplified by an amplifier, and wherein the programming comprises programming a gain of the amplifier.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the second signal has been filtered by a filter and amplified by an amplifier, and wherein the programming comprises programming a frequency band of the filter and programming a gain of the amplifier.

5. The method of claim 4 comprising, after programming the frequency band of the filter and programming the gain of the amplifier, reprogramming at least one of the frequency band of the filter and the gain of the amplifier.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the received first signal is filtered by a filter, and wherein the programming comprises programming a frequency band of the filter.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the received first signal is amplified by an amplifier, and wherein the programming comprises programming a gain of the amplifier.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the received first signal is amplified by a multiple stage amplifier and is demodulated by the demodulator, and wherein at least one stage of the multiple stage amplifier is programmable.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the received first signal is amplified by an amplifier, wherein the amplified first signal is filtered by a filter, wherein the filtered first signal is demodulated by the demodulator, and wherein the programming comprises programming a gain of the amplifier and a frequency band of the filter.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising reprogramming at least one of the gain of the amplifier, the frequency band of the filter and the demodulation for the demodulator after the filtered first signal is demodulated.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the second signal has been filtered by a second filter and amplified by a second amplifier, and wherein the programming comprises programming a frequency band of the second filter and programming a gain of the second amplifier.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising reprogramming at least one of the gain of the amplifier, the frequency band of the filter, and the demodulation for the demodulator after the demodulating the filtered first signal, and reprogramming at least one of the frequency band of the second filter, and the gain of the second amplifier after the second signal has been filtered and amplified.

13. The method of claim 1 comprising amplifying the received first signal using a low noise amplifier that has a single-ended input and a differential output.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the downconversion comprises mixing the received first signal with a clock.

15. The method of claim 14 comprising generating the clock by mixing a second clock with a third clock.

16. The method of claim 15 comprising generating the third clock by dividing a frequency of the second clock by an integer N.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the clock comprises a frequency f_LO equal to f_VCO(N+1)/N, wherein f_VCO equals a frequency of the second clock.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein N=2.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein the second signal has been filtered by a programmable low pass filter before being transmitted.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein the upconversion comprises mixing the second signal with a clock.

21. The method of claim 20 comprising generating the clock by mixing a second clock with a third clock.

22. The method of claim 21 comprising generating the third clock by dividing a frequency of the second clock by an integer N.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the clock comprises a frequency f_LO equal to f_VCO(N+1)/N, wherein f_VCO equals a frequency of the second clock.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein N=2.

25. The method of claim 1 wherein the transmitter and receiver each have a component, the method further comprising calibrating one of the transmitter and receiver components.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein one of the components comprises a resistor.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein one of the components comprises a capacitor.

28. The method of claim 25 wherein the calibration comprises calibrating the receiver component before the first signal is received, the method further comprising recalibrating the receiver component after the first signal is received.

29. The method of claim 25 wherein the calibration comprises calibrating the transmitter component before the second signal is transmitted, the method further comprising recalibrating the transmitter component after the second signal is transmitted.

30. The method of claim 25 further comprising coupling test data to said one of the transmitter and receiver with the calibrated component, and monitoring an output thereof.

31. The method of claim 30 further comprising recalibrating said one of the transmitter and receiver with the calibrated component, coupling the test data thereto, and monitoring the output thereof.

129. The method of claim 1 wherein the communication protocol is associated with at least one of HomeRF, IEEE 802.11 and/or Bluetooth.

130. The method of claim 1 wherein the programming comprises selecting a modulation scheme.

131. The method of claim 1 wherein the programming comprises selecting a data rate.

132. The method of claim 1 further comprising programming one of the receiver and the transmitter to compensate for noise or interference.

133. The method of claim 1 further comprising programming one of the receiver and the transmitter to control at least one parameter of the transceiver to compensate for a process variation or a temperature variation.

32. A method of wireless communications using a transceiver having a receiver, a transmitter and a local oscillator (LO), comprising:

programming at least one of the receiver and the transmitter to process a communication protocol for a local area network or a personal area network;

programming a frequency of a clock in the LO;

receiving a first signal at the receiver from a wireless source;

downconverting the received first signal with the LO using the clock;

upconverting a second signal with the LO using the clock; and

transmitting the upconverted second signal from the transmitter into space,

wherein the programming of one of the receiver and the transmitter comprises programming a demodulator with a demodulation, wherein the receiver comprises a low intermediate frequency (IF) heterodyne architecture wherein the transmitter, the receiver and the LO are integrated on a single integrated circuit chip, wherein the LO comprises a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO), a frequency divider and a mixer, wherein an output of the VCO is operatively coupled to an input of the frequency divider and to an input of the mixer, wherein an output of frequency divider is operatively coupled to the input of the mixer, and wherein the output of the mixer is operatively coupled to a downconverter of the receiver that downconverts the received first signal and to an upconverter of the transmitter that upconverts the second signal.

33. The method of claim 32 further comprising amplifying the received first signal with an amplifier, and programming gain of the amplifier.

34. The method of claim 32 wherein the received first signal is downconverted to an intermediate frequency signal.

35. The method of claim 34 further comprising filtering the intermediate frequency signal with a filter, and programming a frequency band of the filter.

36. The method of claim 34 further comprising downconverting the intermediate frequency signal to a baseband signal.

37. The method of claim 36 further comprising demodulating the baseband signal with a demodulator.

38. The method of claim 32 wherein the programming of the clock frequency comprising mixing a second clock with a third clock.

39. The method of claim 38 further comprising generating the third clock by dividing a frequency of the second clock by an integer N.

40. The method of claim 39 wherein the clock frequency f_LO is equal to f_VCO(N+1)/N, wherein f_VCO equals a frequency of the second clock.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein N=2.

42. The method of claim 32 further comprising amplifying the upconverted first signal with an amplifier before transmitting the upconverted first signal into space, and programming gain of the amplifier.

43. The method of claim 32 further comprising filtering the first signal with a filter, and programming a frequency band of the filter.

44. The method of claim 32 wherein the transmitter and receiver each have a component, the method further comprising calibrating one of the transmitter and receiver components.

45. The method of claim 44 wherein one of the components comprises a resistor.

46. The method of claim 44 wherein one of the components comprises a capacitor.

47. The method of claim 44 wherein the calibration comprises calibrating the receiver component before the first signal is received, the method further comprising recalibrating the receiver component after the first signal is received.

48. The method of claim 44 wherein the calibration comprises calibrating the transmitter component before the second signal is transmitted, the method further comprising recalibrating the transmitter component after the second signal is transmitted.

49. The method of claim 44 further comprising coupling test data to said one of the transmitter and receiver with the calibrated component, and monitoring an output thereof.

50. The method of claim 49 further comprising recalibrating said one of the transmitter and receiver with the calibrated component, recoupling the test data thereto, and remonitoring the output thereof.

51. An adaptive transceiver, comprising:

a receiver having programmable component;

a transmitter operatively coupled to the receiver and having a programmable component; and

a controller to program at least one of the receiver and transmitter components to process communication protocol for a local area network or a personal area network,

wherein the controller programs a demodulator with a demodulation, wherein the receiver comprises a low intermediate frequency (IF) heterodyne architecture, wherein the transmitter, the receiver and a local oscillator (LO) are integrated on a single integrated circuit chip, wherein the LO comprises a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO), a frequency divider and a mixer, wherein an output of the VCO is operatively coupled to an input of the frequency divider and to an input of the mixer, wherein an output of frequency divider is operatively coupled to the input of the mixer, and wherein the output of the mixer is operatively coupled to a downconverter of the receiver that downconverts the received first signal and to an upconverter of the transmitter that upconverts the second signal.

52. The adaptive transceiver of claim 51 wherein the receiver component comprises a filter having a programmable frequency band.

53. The adaptive transceiver of claim 51 wherein the receiver component comprises an amplifier having a programmable gain.

54. The adaptive transceiver of claim 51 wherein the receiver component comprises the demodulator with programmable demodulation.

55. The adaptive transceiver of claim 51 wherein the receiver component comprises an amplifier having a programmable gain, and the receiver further comprises a filter coupled to the amplifier and having a programmable frequency band, and the demodulator coupled to the filter and having programmable demodulation.

56. The adaptive transceiver of claim 51 wherein the transmitter component comprises a filter having a programmable frequency band.

57. The adaptive transceiver of claim 51 wherein the transmitter component comprises an amplifier having a programmable gain.

58. The adaptive transceiver of claim 51 wherein the transmitter component comprises a filter having a programmable frequency band, and an amplifier coupled to the filter and having a programmable gain.

59. The adaptive transceiver of claim 58 wherein the receiver component comprises a second amplifier having a programmable gain, and the receiver further comprises a second filter coupled to the second amplifier and having a programmable frequency band, and the demodulator coupled to the second filter and having programmable demodulation.

60. The adaptive transceiver of claim 51 wherein the receiver comprises a multiple stage amplifier in which each stage of the amplifier is programmable.

61. The adaptive transceiver of claim 51 wherein the LO comprises a clock generator which outputs a clock to the receiver and the transmitter.

62. The adaptive transceiver of claim 61 wherein the upconverter comprises a second mixer that mixes the clock with a baseband signal.

63. The adaptive transceiver of claim 62 wherein the transmitter comprises an amplifier coupled to the second mixer, the amplifier being the programmable transmitter component.

64. The adaptive transceiver of claim 62 wherein the transmitter comprises a filter coupled to the second mixer, the filter being the programmable transmitter component.

65. The adaptive transceiver of claim 61 wherein the transmitter component comprises a filter with a programmable frequency band to filter a baseband signal, wherein the upconverter comprises a second mixer coupled to the filter that mixes the clock with the filtered baseband signal, and wherein the transmitter comprises an amplifier coupled to the second mixer and having a programmable gain.

66. The adaptive transceiver of claim 61 wherein the downconverter comprises a second mixer that mixes the clock with a received signal from a wireless source.

67. The adaptive transceiver of claim 66 wherein the receiver comprises an amplifier coupled to the second mixer, the amplifier being the programmable receiver component.

68. The adaptive transceiver of claim 66 wherein the receiver comprises a filter coupled to the second mixer, the filter being the programmable receiver component.

69. The adaptive transceiver of claim 66 wherein the receiver comprises the demodulator coupled to the second mixer, the demodulator being the programmable receiver component.

70. The adaptive transceiver of claim 61 wherein the receiver component comprises an amplifier having a programmable gain that amplifies a received signal from an external wireless source, wherein the downconverter comprises a second mixer coupled to the amplifier that mixes the amplified received signal with the clock, wherein the receiver comprises a filter coupled to the second mixer and having a programmable frequency band, wherein the receiver comprises a third mixer coupled to the filter, and wherein the receiver comprises the demodulator coupled to the filter and having programmable demodulation.

71. The adaptive transceiver of claim 70 wherein the transmitter component comprises a second filter with a programmable frequency band that filters a baseband signal, wherein the upconverter comprises a fourth mixer coupled to the second filter that mixes the clock with the filtered baseband signal, and wherein the transmitter comprises a second amplifier coupled to the fourth mixer and having a programmable gain.

72. The adaptive transceiver of claim 61 wherein the LO comprises a second clock generator which outputs a second clock to the receiver.

73. The adaptive transceiver of claim 72 wherein the frequency divider having a control input coupled to the controller to program a frequency of the second clock.

74. The adaptive transceiver of claim 61 wherein VCO has a frequency different than a frequency of the clock.

75. The adaptive transceiver of claim 74 wherein the local oscillator comprises a crystal oscillator coupled to a second frequency divider that is coupled to a third frequency divider that is coupled to a programmable phase lock loop.

76. The adaptive transceiver of claim 75 wherein the second frequency divider divides a frequency of a signal by L and the third frequency divider divides a frequency of a signal by n, where L and n are integers.

77. The adaptive transceiver of claim 75 wherein the programmable phase lock loop is coupled to the VCO.

78. The adaptive transceiver of claim 51 wherein the transmitter and receiver each have a second component, and the controller is configured to calibrate one of the second components of the transmitter and receiver.

79. The adaptive transceiver of claim 78 wherein one of the second components comprises a resistor.

80. The adaptive transceiver of claim 78 wherein one of the second components comprises a capacitor.

81. The adaptive transceiver of claim 78 wherein the controller is configured to calibrate the second component of the transmitter.

82. The adaptive transceiver of claim 78 wherein the controller is configured to calibrate the second component of the receiver.

83. The adaptive transceiver of claim 78 wherein the controller is configured to calibrate the second components of both the receiver and transmitter.

84. The adaptive transceiver of claim 78 further comprising a self testing unit coupled to the receiver and transmitter, the self testing unit being configured to coupled test data to one of the receiver and transmitter, and monitor an output thereof.

85. An adaptive transceiver, comprising:

a receiver that receives a first signal from an external wireless source; and

a transmitter that transmits a second signal into space,

wherein at least one of the receiver and the transmitter is programmed to process a local area network communication protocol or a personal area network communication protocol, wherein the receiver comprises a demodulator that demodulates the received first signal, wherein the demodulator is programmable with different types of demodulation, wherein the receiver comprises a low intermediate frequency (IF) heterodyne architecture, wherein the transmitter, the receiver and a local oscillator (LO) are integrated on a single integrated circuit chip, wherein the LO comprises a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO), a frequency divider and a mixer, wherein an output of the VCO is operatively coupled to an input of the frequency divider and to an input of the mixer, wherein an output of frequency divider is operatively coupled to the input of the mixer, and wherein the output of the mixer is operatively coupled to a downconverter of the receiver that downconverts the received first signal and to an upconverter of the transmitter that upconverts to form the second signal.

86. The adaptive transceiver of claim 85 wherein transmitter comprises a filter, wherein the second signal has been filtered by the filter, and wherein a frequency band of the filter is programmed.

87. The adaptive transceiver of claim 85 wherein the transmitter comprises an adjustable gain power amplifier and a programmable amplifier, wherein the second signal has been amplified by the adjustable gain power amplifier and the programmable amplifier.

88. The adaptive transceiver of claim 85, wherein the transmitter comprises a filter and an amplifier, wherein the second signal has been filtered by the filter and amplified by the amplifier, and wherein a frequency band of the filter and a gain of the amplifier are programmable.

89. The adaptive transceiver of claim 85 wherein the receiver comprises a complex bandpass filter that filters the received first signal, and wherein a frequency band of the complex bandpass filter is programmed.

90. The adaptive transceiver of claim 85 wherein the receiver comprises a programmable low noise amplifier that amplifies the received first signal.

91. The adaptive transceiver of claim 85, wherein the receiver comprises a programmable low noise amplifier that amplifies the received first signal, a complex bandpass filter that filters the amplified first signal, and the demodulator that demodulates the filtered first signal, and wherein a gain of the programmable low noise amplifier and a frequency band of the complex bandpass filter are adaptively programmed.

92. The adaptive transceiver of claim 91 wherein the transmitter comprises a programmable low pass filter, a power amplifier and a second amplifier, wherein second signal has been filtered by the programmable low pass filter and amplified by the power amplifier and the second amplifier, wherein the second amplifier is operatively disposed between the power amplifier and the programmable low pass filter, and wherein a gain of the second amplifier and a frequency band of the programmable low pass filter have been programmed.

93. The adaptive transceiver of claim 85 comprising a multiple stage amplifier in which at least one stage of the amplifier can be programmed.

94. The adaptive transceiver of claim 93 wherein the downconverter comprises a mixer that mixes the received first signal with a clock.

95. The adaptive transceiver of claim 94 wherein the clock is generated by mixing a second clock with a third clock.

96. The adaptive transceiver of claim 95 wherein the third clock is generated by dividing the second clock by an integer N.

97. The adaptive transceiver of claim 96 wherein the clock comprises a frequency f_LO equal to f_VCO(N+1)/N, wherein f_VCO equals a frequency of the second clock.

98. The adaptive transceiver of claim 97 wherein N=2.

99. The adaptive transceiver of claim 85 wherein the transmitter comprises a programmable low pass filter in which a frequency band can be programmed, wherein the second signal has been filtered by the programmable low pass filter before transmission into space.

100. The adaptive transceiver of claim 99 wherein the upconverter comprises a mixer that has a first input operatively coupled to the clock and a second input that is operatively coupled to the programmable low pass filter.

101. The adaptive transceiver of claim 100 wherein the clock is generated by mixing a second clock with a third clock.

102. The adaptive transceiver of claim 101 wherein the third clock is generated by dividing the second clock by an integer N.

103. The adaptive transceiver of claim 102 wherein the clock comprises a frequency f_LO equal to f_VCO(N+1)/N, wherein f_VCO equals a frequency of the second clock.

104. The adaptive transceiver of claim 103 wherein N=2.

105. The adaptive transceiver of claim 85 wherein the transmitting means and receiver means each have a component, the adaptive transceiver further comprising means for calibrating one of the components of the transmitting and receiving means.

106. The adaptive transceiver of claim 105 wherein one of the components comprises a resistor.

107. The adaptive transceiver of claim 105 wherein one of the components comprises a capacitor.

108. The adaptive transceiver of claim 105 the calibrating means is configured to calibrate the component of the transmitting means.

109. The adaptive transceiver of claim 105 the calibrating means is configured to calibrate the component of the receiving means.

110. The adaptive transceiver of claim 105 further comprising means for testing said one of the transmitting and receiving means with the calibrated component by coupling test data thereto and monitoring an output thereof.

111. An adaptive transceiver, comprising:

means for programming the transceiver to process a communication protocol for a local area network or a personal area network;

means for receiving a first signal from a wireless source;

means for downconverting the received first signal using a clock;

means for upconverting a second signal using the clock;

means for transmitting the upconverted second signal into space;

means for programming a frequency of the clock; and

means for programming a demodulator with a demodulation,

wherein the receiving means comprises a low intermediate frequency (IF) heterodyne architecture, wherein the downconverting means, the upconverting means and a local oscillator (LO) are integrated on a single integrated circuit chip, wherein the LO provides the clock, wherein the LO comprises a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO), a frequency divider and a mixer, wherein an output of the VCO is operatively coupled to an input of the frequency divider and to an input of the mixer, wherein an output of frequency divider is operatively coupled to the input of the mixer, and wherein the output of the mixer is operatively coupled to downconverting means and to the upconverting means.

112. The adaptive transceiver of claim 111 further comprising means for amplifying the received first signal, and means for programming gain of the amplifying means.

113. The adaptive transceiver of claim 111 wherein the downconverting means downconverts the received first signal to an intermediate frequency signal.

114. The adaptive transceiver of claim 113 further comprising means for filtering the intermediate frequency signal, and means for programming a frequency band of the filtering means.

115. The adaptive transceiver of claim 113 further comprising means for downconverting the intermediate frequency signal to a baseband signal.

116. The adaptive transceiver of claim 115 wherein the demodulator comprises means for demodulating the baseband signal.

117. The adaptive transceiver of claim 111 wherein the clock frequency programming means comprises means for mixing a second clock with a third clock.

118. The adaptive transceiver of claim 117 wherein the clock frequency programming means further comprises means for generating the third clock by dividing the second clock by an integer N.

119. The adaptive transceiver of claim 118 wherein the clock frequency f_LO is equal to f_VCO(N+1)/N, wherein f_VCO equals a frequency of the second clock.

120. The adaptive transceiver of claim 119 wherein N=2.

121. The adaptive transceiver of claim 111 further comprising means for amplifying the upconverted first signal before transmitting the upconverted first signal into space, and means for programming gain of the amplifying means.

122. The adaptive transceiver of claim 111 further comprising means for filtering the first signal, and means for programming a frequency band of the filtering means.

123. The adaptive transceiver of claim 111 wherein the transmitting and receiving means each have a component, the adaptive transceiver further comprising means for calibrating one of the components of the transmitting and receiving means.

124. The adaptive transceiver of claim 123 wherein one of the components comprises a resistor.

125. The adaptive transceiver of claim 123 wherein one of the components comprises a capacitor.

126. The adaptive transceiver of claim 123 wherein the calibrating means is configured to calibrate the component of the transmitting means.

127. The adaptive transceiver of claim 123 wherein the calibrating means is configured to calibrate the component of the receiving means.

128. The adaptive transceiver of claim 123 further comprising means for testing one of the receiving and transmitting means by coupling test data thereto and monitoring an output thereof.