Configurable transceiver and methods for use therewith

• US 8,233,846 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2009
• Issued: 07/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rofougaran, Ahmadreza (Reza)
• Primary Examiner(s): Takaoka, Dean O
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wong, Alan
• Application Number:
  US12/393,351
• Publication Number:
  US 20100216412A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,251 Days
• Field of Search: 455/73, 455/552.1, 455/553.1, 455/127.4, 330/124.R, 330/295
• US Class Current: 455/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0003 Software-defined radio [SDR] systems, i.e. systems wherein components typically implemented in hardware, e.g. filters or modulators/demodulators, are implented using software, e.g. by involving an AD or DA conversion stage such that at least part of the signal processing is performed in the digital domain digital baseband systems H04L25/00; digital modulation/demodulation H04L27/00; CDMA H04B1/707; TDMA H04B7/2643; image transmission H04N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/406 with more than one transmission mode, e.g. analog and digital modes

Abstract

A configurable radio frequency (RF) transceiver includes a configuration controller that generates at least one mode control signal that indicates an isolation mode, a frequency mode and an antenna mode. An antenna section includes a plurality of antennas and that selects an antenna configuration based on the at least one mode control signal. An isolation section includes a plurality of isolation circuits and that selects an isolation circuit based on the at least one mode control signal. An RF section selects an RF configuration based on the at least one mode control signal. A baseband section selects a baseband configuration based on the at least one mode control signal.

Claims

1. A configurable radio frequency (RF) transceiver comprising:

a configuration controller that generates at least one mode control signal that indicates an isolation mode, a frequency mode, a power amplifier mode and an antenna mode;

an antenna section, coupled to the configuration controller, that includes a plurality of antennas and that selects an antenna configuration based on the at least one mode control signal;

an isolation section, coupled to the antenna section and the configuration controller, that includes a plurality of isolation circuits and that selects an isolation circuit based on the at least one mode control signal;

an RF section, coupled to the isolation section and the configuration controller, that selects an RF configuration based on the at least one mode control signal, wherein the RF section includes a plurality of power amplifier circuits that are selectable based on the power amplifier mode indicated by the at least one mode control signal and wherein the plurality of power amplifier circuits includes a linear power amplifier, a nonlinear power amplifier and a polar amplifier; and

a baseband section, coupled to the RF section and the configuration controller, that selects a baseband configuration based on the at least one mode control signal.

2. The RF transceiver of claim 1 wherein the RF section includes an RF receiver section and an RF transmitter section and wherein the plurality of isolation circuits include at least one of:

a circulator for coupling the RF receiver section and the RF transmitter section to one of the plurality of antennas in a first isolation mode;

a diplexer for coupling the RF receiver section and the RF transmitter section to one of the plurality of antennas in a second isolation mode; and

a bypass for coupling the RF receiver section to one of the plurality of antennas and the RF transmitter section to another one of the plurality of antennas in a third isolation mode.

3. The RF transceiver of claim 1 wherein the plurality of antennas includes a far field antenna and a near field coil.

4. The RF transceiver of claim 1 wherein the plurality of antennas includes a first antenna with a first polarization and a second antenna with a second polarization and wherein the first polarization is orthogonal to the second polarization.

5. The RF transceiver of claim 1 wherein the configuration controller generates the at least one mode control signal to further indicate a blocking mode, and wherein the RF section includes a plurality of blocking circuits that are selectable based on the blocking mode indicated by the at least one mode control signal.

6. The RF transceiver of claim 5 wherein the plurality of blocking circuits include at least one of:

a notch filter, a phase cancellation circuit and a limiter circuit.

7. The RF transceiver of claim 1 wherein the configuration controller generates the at least one mode control signal to further indicate a channel utilization mode.

8. The RF transceiver of claim 1 wherein the configuration controller generates the at least one mode control signal to further indicate a modulation mode.

9. The RF transceiver of claim 1 wherein the configuration controller generates the at least one mode control signal to further indicate a power supply mode, and wherein the RF Transceiver further comprises:

a power management unit, coupled to supply at least one power supply signal for powering the RF section and the baseband section and wherein the at least one power supply signal is configurable based on the power supply mode indicated by the at least one mode control signal.

10. A method for use in a configurable radio frequency (RF) transceiver, the method comprising:

generating at least one mode control signal via a configuration controller, the at least one mode control signal indicating an isolation mode, a frequency mode, a power amplifier mode and an antenna mode;

selecting an antenna configuration for an antenna section having a plurality of antennas, based on the at least one mode control signal;

selecting an RF configuration of an RF section based on the at least one mode control signal, wherein the RF section includes a plurality of power amplifier circuits that are selectable based on the power amplifier mode indicated by the at least one mode control signal and wherein the plurality of power amplifier circuits includes a linear power amplifier, a nonlinear power amplifier and a polar amplifier;

selecting a baseband configuration of a baseband section based on the at least one mode control signal; and

selecting one of a plurality of isolation circuits to couple the RF section to the antenna section based on the at least one mode control signal.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the RF section includes an RF receiver section and an RF transmitter section and wherein selecting one of the plurality of isolation circuits includes at least one of:

coupling the RF receiver section and the RF transmitter section to one of the plurality of antennas via a circulator in a first isolation mode;

coupling the RF receiver section and the RF transmitter section to one of the plurality of antennas via a diplexer in a second isolation mode; and

coupling the RF receiver section to one of the plurality of antennas and the RF transmitter section to another one of the plurality of antennas in a third isolation mode.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein selecting an antenna configuration includes selecting at least one of a far field antenna;

a near field coil;

a first antenna with a first polarization and a second antenna with a second polarization; and

wherein the first polarization is orthogonal to the second polarization.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the at least one mode control signal further indicates a blocking mode, and wherein the RF section includes a plurality of blocking circuits and selecting the RF configuration includes selecting one of the plurality of blocking circuits based on the blocking mode indicated by the at least one mode control signal.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the at least one mode control signal further indicates a channel utilization mode.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the at least one mode control signal further indicates a modulation mode.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein the at least one mode control signal further indicates a power supply mode, and wherein the method comprises:

generating at least one power supply signal for powering the RF section and the baseband section based on the power supply mode indicated by the at least one mode control signal.