Method and system for auto detecting and auto switching antennas in a multi-antenna FM transmit/receive system

• US 7,917,115 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2007
• Issued: 03/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Baker, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Tuan A
• Application Number:
  US11/832,598
• Publication Number:
  US 20080233890A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,336 Days
• Field of Search: 455/67.11, 455/67.14, 455 78- 83, 455/557, 455/575.1, 455/575.7, 455 901- 903, 455/277.1, 455/277.2, 455344-349, 343/702, 343/724, 343/725, 324/527
• US Class Current: 455/277.1
• CPC Class Codes: H03L 7/085 concerning mainly the frequency- or phase-detection arrangement including the filtering or amplification of its output signal H03L7/10 takes precedence; circuits for comparing the phase or frequency of two mutually-independent oscillations H03D13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H03L 7/181 a numerical count result being used for locking the loop, the counter counting during fixed time intervals H03L7/1806 takes precedence

Abstract

Methods and systems for auto detecting and auto switching antennas in a multi-antenna FM transmit/receive system are disclosed and may include detecting when an external antenna may be coupled to an external port of the wireless device and utilizing the external antenna for transmitting and/or receiving FM signals. The decoupling of an external antenna from an external port may be detected, which may cause the FM radio transmitter/receiver to be configured to transmit and/or receive FM signals utilizing antennas internal to the wireless device. One or more test signals, which may include AC signals, may be generated within the chip for detecting whether an external antenna may be coupled to an external port. A reflected signal from an external port may be measured and compared to a prestored value corresponding to a reflection due to an open circuit at the one or more external ports of the wireless device.

Claims

1. A method for wireless communication, the method comprising:

in a wireless device comprising an FM radio transmitter and an FM radio receiver integrated within a chip;

detecting via said chip, whether an external antenna is coupled to one or more external port of said wireless device by generating from within said chip, one or more test signals; and

transmitting and/or receiving FM signals via said FM radio transmitter and/or said FM radio receiver respectively, when said external antenna is detected.

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising configuring said FM radio transmitter for transmitting said FM signal via said external antenna when said external antenna is detected.

3. The method according to claim 1, comprising configuring said FM radio receiver for receiving said FM signals via said external antenna when said external antenna is detected.

4. The method according to claim 1, comprising detecting when said external antenna is decoupled from said one or more external ports of said wireless device.

5. The method according to claim 4, comprising configuring said FM radio transmitter for transmitting said FM signals via one or more antennas internal to said wireless device.

6. The method according to claim 4, comprising configuring said FM radio receiver for receiving said FM signals via one or more antennas internal to said wireless device.

7. The method according to claim 1, comprising measuring a reflected signal resulting from reflection of said generated one or more test signals when said generated test signal is communicated to said one or more external ports of said wireless device.

8. The method according to claim 7, comprising comparing said measured reflected signal to a prestored value corresponding to a reflection due to an open circuit at said one or more external ports of said wireless device.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said generated one or more test signals comprises an AC signal.

10. The method according to claim 1, comprising detecting when said external antenna is connected to said one or more external port utilizing an LC tank circuit.

11. The method according to claim 10, comprising detecting via said LC tank circuit a change in oscillation frequency when said external antenna is coupled to said one or more external port.

12. A system for wireless communication, the system comprising:

one or more circuits in a wireless device, said one or more circuits comprising an FM radio transmitter and an FM radio receiver integrated within a chip, said one or more circuits being operable to detect, whether an external antenna is coupled to one or more external port of said wireless device by generating one or more test signals; and

said one or more circuits enable transmission and/or reception of FM signals utilizing said FM radio transmitter and/or said FM radio receiver respectively, when said external antenna is detected.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein said one or more circuits enable configuration of said FM radio transmitter for transmitting said FM signal via said external antenna when said external antenna is detected.

14. The system according to claim 12, wherein said one or more circuits enable configuration of said FM radio receiver for receiving said FM signals via said external antenna when said external antenna is detected.

15. The system according to claim 12, wherein said one or more circuits enable detection of decoupling of said external antenna from said one or more external ports of said wireless device.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein said one or more circuits enable configuration of said FM radio transmitter for transmitting said FM signals via one or more antennas internal to said wireless device.

17. The system according to claim 15, wherein said one or more circuits enable configuration of said FM radio receiver for receiving said FM signals via one or more antennas internal to said wireless device.

18. The system according to claim 12, wherein said one or more circuits enable measurement of a reflected signal resulting from reflection of said generated one or more test signals when said generated test signal is communicated to said one or more external ports of said wireless device.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein said one or more circuits enable comparison of said measured reflected signal to a prestored value corresponding to a reflection due to an open circuit at said one or more external ports of said wireless device.

20. The system according to claim 12, wherein said generated one or more test signals comprises an AC signal.

21. The system according to claim 12, wherein said one or more circuits enable detecting when said external antenna is connected to said one or more external port utilizing an LC tank circuit.

22. The system according to claim 21, wherein said one or more circuits enable detecting via said LC tank circuit a change in oscillation frequency when said external antenna is coupled to said one or more external port.

23. A method for wireless communication, the method comprising:

in a wireless device comprising an FM radio transmitter and an FM radio receiver integrated within a chip;

detecting via said chip, whether an external antenna is coupled to one or more external port of said wireless device utilizing an LC tank circuit; and

transmitting and/or receiving FM signals via said FM radio transmitter and/or said FM radio receiver respectively, when said external antenna is detected.

24. The method according to claim 23, comprising configuring said FM radio transmitter for transmitting said FM signal via said external antenna when said external antenna is detected.

25. The method according to claim 23, comprising configuring said FM radio receiver for receiving said FM signals via said external antenna when said external antenna is detected.

26. The method according to claim 23, comprising detecting when said external antenna is decoupled from said one or more external ports of said wireless device.

27. The method according to claim 26, comprising configuring said FM radio transmitter for transmitting said FM signals via one or more antennas internal to said wireless device.

28. The method according to claim 23, comprising configuring said FM radio receiver for receiving said FM signals via one or more antennas internal to said wireless device.

29. The method according to claim 23, comprising detecting via said LC tank circuit a change in oscillation frequency when said external antenna is coupled to said one or more external port.

30. A system for wireless communication, the system comprising:

one or more circuits in a wireless device, said one or more circuits comprising an FM radio transmitter and an FM radio receiver integrated within a chip, said one or more circuits being operable to detect, whether an external antenna is coupled to one or more external port of said wireless device utilizing an LC tank circuit; and

said one or more circuits enable transmission and/or reception of FM signals utilizing said FM radio transmitter and/or said FM radio receiver respectively, when said external antenna is detected.

31. The system according to claim 30, wherein said one or more circuits enable configuration of said FM radio transmitter for transmitting said FM signal via said external antenna when said external antenna is detected.

32. The system according to claim 30, wherein said one or more circuits enable configuration of said FM radio receiver for receiving said FM signals via said external antenna when said external antenna is detected.

33. The system according to claim 30, wherein said one or more circuits enable detection of decoupling of said external antenna from said one or more external ports of said wireless device.

34. The system according to claim 33, wherein said one or more circuits enable configuration of said FM radio transmitter for transmitting said FM signals via one or more antennas internal to said wireless device.

35. The system according to claim 33, wherein said one or more circuits enable configuration of said FM radio receiver for receiving said FM signals via one or more antennas internal to said wireless device.

36. The system according to claim 30, wherein said one or more circuits enable detecting via said LC tank circuit a change in oscillation frequency when said external antenna is coupled to said one or more external port.