Cellular phone with integrated FM radio and remote low noise amplifier

• US 8,457,576 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2007
• Issued: 06/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marvell Asia Pte Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Original Assignee: Marvell International Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Inventors: Gopi, Paramesh
• Primary Examiner(s): Pan, Yuwen
• Assistant Examiner(s): AKINYEMI, AJIBOLA A
• Application Number:
  US11/704,885
• Publication Number:
  US 20070224954A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,307 Days
• Field of Search: 455/188.1
• US Class Current: 455/188.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3805 with built-in auxiliary receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/40 Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/3866 carried on the head
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality

Abstract

A cellular phone includes a first wireless transceiver that receives intermediate frequency (IF) signals. The IF signals are based on frequency modulated (FM) signals that have been tuned and down-converted from a radio frequency (RF) to an IF by a remote device. An FM processing module that receives the IF signals, that converts the IF signals to baseband signals, and that generates processed FM signals.

Claims

1. A cellular phone comprising:

a first wireless transceiver that receives intermediate frequency (IF) signals, said IF signals being based on frequency modulated (FM) signals that have been received, tuned and down-converted from a radio frequency (RF) to an IF by a remote device and transmitted to said cellular phone; and

an FM processing module that

receives said IF signals,

converts said IF signals to baseband signals, and

generates processed FM signals.

2. The cellular phone of claim 1, further comprising a cellular phone processing module that performs cellular phone signal processing,

wherein at least one of said first wireless transceiver and said FM processing module is integrated with said cellular phone processing module in an integrated circuit.

3. The cellular phone of claim 1, wherein said first wireless transceiver transmits said processed FM signals to said remote device.

4. The cellular phone of claim 1, further comprising a user interface that generates FM station selection data, wherein said first wireless transceiver transmits said FM station selection data to said remote device.

5. A system comprising:

the cellular phone of claim 1; and

said remote device,

wherein said remote device generates an audio signal based on said processed FM signals.

6. A system comprising:

the cellular phone of claim 1; and

said remote device,

wherein said remote device further comprises;

an antenna; and

a tuner that communicates with said antenna and that tunes an RF frequency.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said remote device further comprises an amplifier that amplifies RF signals at said RF frequency.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said remote device further comprises a mixer that mixes said RF signals to generate said IF signals.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said remote device further comprises a second wireless transceiver that transmits said IF signals to said cellular phone.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein said remote device includes a user interface that communicates with said tuner to select an FM station.

11. The system of claim 6 further comprising a headset, wherein:

said headset comprises said remote device and further comprises a conductor that connects said remote device to speakers; and

said antenna extends adjacent to said conductor and between said speakers.

12. The system of claim 6, further comprising:

an amplifier that generates amplified audio signals based on said processed FM signals;

earbuds that output said amplified audio signals; and

a conductor that connects said remote device to said earbuds,

wherein said antenna extends adjacent to said conductor.

13. The cellular phone of claim 1, wherein said first wireless transceiver and said FM processing module are implemented as an integrated circuit.

34. The cellular phone of claim 1, wherein said FM signals that have been received by said remote device are tuned by said remote device to a selected frequency based on a user input.

35. The cellular phone of claim 1, wherein:

said cellular phone selects a frequency of an FM station and transmits said selected frequency to said remote device;

said remote device generates said IF signals based on said selected frequency; and

said cellular phone generates audio output signals based on said processed FM signals.

14. A communication method comprising:

receiving intermediate frequency (IF) signals by a cellular phone, said IF signals being based on frequency modulated (FM) signals that have been tuned and down-converted from a radio frequency (RF) to an IF by a remote device via a first wireless transceiver and transmitted to said cellular phone;

receiving said IF signals,

converting said IF signals to baseband signals; and

generating processed FM signals via an FM processing module.

15. The communication method of claim 14, further comprising transmitting said processed FM signals to said remote device.

16. The communication method of claim 14, further comprising generating and transmitting FM station selection data to said remote device.

17. The communication method of claim 14, further comprising generating an audio signal based on said processed FM signals.

18. The communication method of claim 14, further comprising:

communicating with an antenna via a tuner; and

tuning an RF frequency.

19. The communication method of claim 18, further comprising amplifying RF signals at said RF frequency.

20. The communication method of claim 19, further comprising mixing said RF signals to generate said IF signals.

21. The communication method of claim 20, wherein:

said IF signals are transmitted to said cellular phone via a second wireless transceiver of said remote device; and

said IF signals are received via said first wireless transceiver of said cellular phone.

22. The communication method of claim 14, further comprising communicating with a tuner to select an FM station.

23. A cellular phone comprising:

first wireless transceiver means for receiving intermediate frequency (IF) signals, said IF signals being based on frequency modulated (FM) signals that have been tuned and down-converted from a radio frequency (RF) to an IF by a remote device and transmitted to said cellular phone; and

FM processing means for receiving said IF signals, converting said IF signals to baseband signals, and generating processed FM signals.

24. The cellular phone of claim 23, further comprising cellular phone processing means for performing cellular phone signal processing,

wherein at least one of said first wireless transceiver means and said FM processing means is integrated with said cellular phone processing means in an integrated circuit.

25. The cellular phone of claim 23, wherein said first wireless transceiver means transmits said processed FM signals to said remote device.

26. The cellular phone of claim 23, further comprising user interface means for generating FM station selection data,

wherein said first wireless transceiver means transmits said FM station selection data to said remote device.

27. A system comprising:

the cellular phone of claim 23;

said remote device,

wherein said remote device generates an audio signal based on said processed FM signals.

28. A system comprising:

the cellular phone of claim 23; and

said remote device,

wherein said remote device further comprises;

antenna; and

tuner means for communicating with said antenna and that tunes an RF frequency.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein said remote device further comprises amplifier means for amplifying RF signals at said RF frequency.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein said remote device further comprises mixer means for mixing said RF signals to generate said IF signals.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein said remote device further comprises second wireless transceiver means for transmitting said IF signals to said cellular phone.

32. The system of claim 28, wherein said remote device includes user interface means for communicating with said tuner means to select an FM station.

33. The cellular phone of claim 23, wherein said first wireless transceiver means and said FM processing means are implemented as an integrated circuit.