Method and system for matching an integrated FM system to an antenna utilizing on-chip measurement of reflected signals

• US 7,925,220 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2007
• Issued: 04/12/2011
• 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:
  US11/832,468
• Publication Number:
  US 20080232446A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,350 Days
• Field of Search: 455 78- 83, 455 68- 69, 455120-125, 455/269, 455280-281, 455/284, 455/296, 455/67.11, 455/67.14, 455/63.1, 455/557, 455/575.1, 455/575.7, 455 901- 903, 455344-349, 343/702, 343/724, 343/725, 343/820, 343/821, 343/822, 324/527
• US Class Current: 455/67.14
• 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

Aspects of a method and system for matching an integrated FM system to an antenna utilizing on-chip measurement of reflected signals are provided. In this regard a portion of a signal output by an integrated FM radio transmit block and reflected by an antenna may be routed to an on-chip signal analyzer. Accordingly, measurements of the reflected signals may be utilized to configure a matching network in order to provide a best impedance match between the FM radio and the antenna. In this regard, a best impedance match may maximize radiation efficiency and/or radiated power. Additionally, the configuration of the matching network may incorporate a correction algorithm/offset experimentally determined via a calibration utilizing external components.

Claims

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

in a chip comprising integrated FM radio receiver and FM radio transmitter functions;

utilizing on-chip measurement of one or more signals reflected from an antenna to determine a best impedance match between said antenna and said FM radio receiver and/or said FM radio transmitter; and

incorporating a correction algorithm into said determination of said best impedance match between said antenna and said chip, wherein said correction algorithm is determined utilizing data from an external test set that measures FM signals transmitted by said chip via said antenna.

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising routing to a signal analyzer, said reflected signals utilizing an on-chip directional coupler.

3. The method according to claim 1, comprising impedance matching said antenna and said chip utilizing a configurable matching network.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein at least a portion of said configurable matching network is integrated within said chip.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein said configurable matching network comprises one or more banks of impedances communicatively coupled via one or more switching elements.

6. The method according to claim 3, comprising programmably controlling said configurable matching network.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said best impedance match is determined for each of a plurality of frequencies.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said best impedance match is determined for each of a plurality of transmit signal strengths.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said external test set provides control signals to said chip via one or more wireless protocols other than FM radio.

10. A machine-readable storage having stored thereon, a computer program having at least one code section for wireless communication, the at least one code section being executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform steps comprising:

in a chip comprising integrated FM radio receiver and FM radio transmitter functions;

utilizing on-chip measurement of one or more signals reflected from an antenna to determine a best impedance match between said antenna and said FM radio receiver and/or said FM radio transmitter; and

incorporating a correction algorithm into said determination of said best impedance match between said antenna and said chip, wherein said correction algorithm is determined utilizing data from an external test set that measures FM signals transmitted by said chip via said antenna.

11. The machine-readable storage according to claim 10, wherein said at least one code section comprises code to enable routing to a signal analyzer, said reflected signals utilizing an on-chip directional coupler.

12. The machine-readable storage according to claim 10, wherein said at least one code section comprises code to enable impedance matching said antenna and said chip utilizing a configurable matching network.

13. The machine-readable storage according to claim 12, wherein at least a portion of said configurable matching network is integrated within said chip.

14. The machine-readable storage according to claim 12, wherein said configurable matching network comprises one or more banks of impedances communicatively coupled via one or more switching elements.

15. The method according to claim 10, wherein said at least one code section comprises code to enable programmably controlling said configurable matching network.

16. The machine-readable storage according to claim 10, wherein said best impedance match is determined for each of a plurality of frequencies.

17. The machine-readable storage according to claim 10, wherein said best impedance match is determined for each of a plurality of transmit signal strengths.

18. The machine-readable storage according to claim 10, wherein said external test set provides control signals to said chip via one or more wireless protocols other than FM radio.

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

a chip comprising integrated FM radio receiver and FM radio transmitter functions, said chip having one or more processors that enable;

utilizing on-chip measurement of one or more signals reflected from an antenna to determine a best impedance match between said antenna and said FM radio receiver and/or said FM radio transmitter; and

incorporating a correction algorithm into said determination of said best impedance match between said antenna and said chip, wherein said correction algorithm is determined utilizing data from an external test set that measures FM signals transmitted by said chip via said antenna.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein said one or more processors enable routing to a signal analyzer, said reflected signals utilizing an on-chip directional coupler.

21. The system according to claim 19, wherein said one or more processors enable impedance matching said antenna and said chip utilizing a configurable matching network.

22. The system according to claim 21, wherein at least a portion of said configurable matching network is integrated within said chip.

23. The system according to claim 21, wherein said configurable matching network comprises one or more banks of impedances communicatively coupled via one or more switching elements.

24. The system according to claim 21, wherein said one or more processors enable programmably controlling said configurable matching network.

25. The system according to claim 19, wherein said best impedance match is determined for each of a plurality of frequencies.

26. The system according to claim 19, wherein said best impedance match is determined for each of a plurality of transmit signal strengths.

27. The system according to claim 19, wherein said external test set provides control signals to said chip via one or more wireless protocols other than FM radio.