Method and system for using a multi-RF input receiver for diversity selection

• US 8,208,879 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2010
• Issued: 06/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Behzad, Arya, Afsahi, Ali, Gonikberg, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Simon
• Application Number:
  US12/939,387
• Publication Number:
  US 20110103532A1
• Time in Patent Office: 600 Days
• Field of Search: 455/67.11, 455/67.13, 455/67.16, 455132-135, 4552261-2264, 455272-2772, 455303-304, 455/562.1, 455/575.7
• US Class Current: 455/130
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0811 during preamble or gap period

Abstract

A method for processing signals in a receiver includes receiving a plurality of wireless signals via a plurality of M receive antennas coupled to M corresponding signal amplifiers. The method may also include measuring corresponding signal strengths of M signals generated when each of M phase-shifters is coupled to each of the M receive antennas, while one or more of the M signal amplifiers are disabled. One of the M generated signals may be selected for processing without the use of an antenna switch, where the selecting may be based on the measured signal strength. Each of the plurality of received wireless signals may be amplified prior to the measuring. One or both of an in-phase (I) component and/or a quadrature (Q) component may be generated for each of the M generated signals.

Claims

1. A method for processing signals in a receiver, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of wireless signals via a plurality of M receive antennas coupled to M corresponding signal amplifiers;

measuring corresponding signal strengths of M signals generated when each of M phase-shifters is coupled to each of said M receive antennas, while one or more of said M signal amplifiers are disabled; and

selecting, based on said measured signal strength, one of said M generated signals for processing without the use of an antenna switch.

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising amplifying each of said plurality of received wireless signals prior to said measuring.

3. The method according to claim 1, comprising generating one or both of an in-phase (I) component and/or a quadrature (Q) component for each of said M generated signals.

4. The method according to claim 3, comprising filtering each of said generated one or both of said in-phase (I) component and/or said quadrature (Q) component for each of said M generated signals to obtain M filtered signals.

5. The method according to claim 4, comprising analog-to-digital converting each of said M filtered signals to generate M digital signals.

6. The method according to claim 4, comprising measuring a signal strength of each of said M filtered signals.

7. The method according to claim 6, comprising selecting, based on said measured signal strength of each of said M filtered signals, one of said M filtered signals for processing without the use of an antenna switch.

8. A system for processing signals in a receiver, the system comprising:

one or more receiver processing circuits that enables receiving of a plurality of wireless signals via a plurality of M receive antennas coupled to M corresponding signal amplifiers;

said one or more receiver processing circuits enables measuring of corresponding signal strengths of M signals generated when each of M phase-shifters is coupled to each of said M receive antennas, while one or more of said M signal amplifiers are disabled; and

said one or more receiver processing circuits enables selecting, based on said measured signal strength, one of said M generated signals for processing without the use of an antenna switch.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein said one or more receiver processing circuits enables amplification of each of said plurality of received wireless signals prior to said measuring.

10. The system according to claim 8, wherein said one or more receiver processing circuits enables generation of one or both of an in-phase (I) component and/or a quadrature (Q) component for each of said M generated signals.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein said one or more receiver processing circuits enables filtering of each of said generated one or both of said in-phase (I) component and/or said quadrature (Q) component for each of said M generated signals to obtain M filtered signals.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more receiver processing circuits enables analog-to-digital converting of each of said M filtered signals to generate M digital signals.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more receiver processing circuits enables measuring of a signal strength of each of said M filtered signals.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein said one or more receiver processing circuits enables selecting, based on said measured signal strength of each of said M filtered signals, one of said M filtered signals for processing without the use of an antenna switch.

15. A method for processing signals in a receiver, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of wireless signals via a plurality of M receive antennas coupled to M corresponding signal amplifiers, wherein said M signal amplifiers generate M amplified signals;

making at least two measurements of a signal strength while disabling one or more of said M signal amplifiers; and

selecting, based on said at least two measurements of said signal strength, at least one of said M amplified signals for processing without the use of an antenna switch.

16. The method according to claim 15, comprising generating one or both of an in-phase (I) component and/or a quadrature (Q) component for each of said M amplified signals.

17. The method according to claim 16, comprising filtering each of said generated one or both of said in-phase (I) component and/or said quadrature (Q) component for each of said M amplified signals to obtain M filtered signals.

18. The method according to claim 17, comprising analog-to-digital converting each of said M filtered signals to generate M digital signals.

19. The method according to claim 17, comprising measuring a signal strength of each of said M filtered signals.

20. The method according to claim 19, comprising selecting, based on said measured signal strength of each of said M filtered signals, one of said M filtered signals for processing without the use of an antenna switch.

21. A system for processing signals in a receiver, the system comprising:

one or more receiver processing circuits that enable receiving of a plurality of wireless signals via a plurality of M receive antennas coupled to M corresponding signal amplifiers, wherein said M signal amplifiers generate M amplified signals;

said one or more receiver processing circuits enables making at least two measurements of said signal strength while disabling one or more of said M signal amplifiers; and

said one or more receiver processing circuits enables selecting, based on said at least two measurements of said signal strength, at least one of said M amplified signals for processing without the use of an antenna switch.

22. The system according to claim 21, comprising generating one or both of an in-phase (I) component and/or a quadrature (Q) component for each of said M amplified signals.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein said one or more receiver processing circuits enables filtering each of said generated one or both of said in-phase (I) component and/or said quadrature (Q) component for each of said M amplified signals to obtain M filtered signals.

24. The system according to claim 23, wherein said one or more receiver processing circuits enables analog-to-digital converting each of said M filtered signals to generate M digital signals.

25. The system according to claim 23, wherein said one or more receiver processing circuits enables measuring a signal strength of each of said M filtered signals.

26. The system according to claim 25, wherein said one or more receiver processing circuits enables selecting, based on said measured signal strength of each of said M filtered signals, one of said M filtered signals for processing without the use of an antenna switch.