System for monitoring and controlling the power of a radio frequency (RF) signal in a short-range RF transmitter

• US 8,731,492 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2008
• Issued: 05/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NXP USA, Inc. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Original Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Inventors: Huot, Alain, Pinatel, Christophe
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Blane J
• Application Number:
  US13/054,124
• Publication Number:
  US 20110124303A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,133 Days
• Field of Search: 455/115.1, 455/115.4, 455/127.2
• US Class Current: 455/115.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0433 Radio signals
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/3042 in modulators, frequency-changers, transmitters or power amplifiers transmission power control in bidirectional transmission systems H04W52/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/52 using AGC [Automatic Gain Control] circuits or amplifiers

Abstract

A system for monitoring and controlling the power of a Radio Frequency (RF) signal in a short-range RF transmitter. An RF signal-generation unit generates the RF signal. A power amplifier amplifies the RF signal. An impedance-matching network matches the output impedance of the power amplifier to input impedance of an antenna. One or more RF power monitors monitor the voltage amplitude of the RF signal at the output of at least one of the RF signal-generation unit, the power amplifier and the impedance-matching network. The one or more RF power monitors further generate at least one alarm signal, based on the voltage amplitude of the RF signal. A control unit modifies at least one operating parameter of at least one of the RF signal-generation unit and the power amplifier, based on the at least one alarm signal generated by the one or more RF power monitors.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring and controlling the power of a Radio Frequency (RF) signal in a short range RF transmitter, said RF transmitter comprising an RF signal generation unit for generating the RF signal, a power amplifier for amplifying the RF signal, and an antenna for radiating the amplified RF signal, said system comprising:

an RF power monitoring unit for connecting to an output stage of at least one component of the transmitter, for monitoring a power of the RF signal and generating at least one alarm signal indicating a faulty condition when said power meets a predetermined alarm criterion revealing a failure of at least one of said RF signal-generation unit, said power amplifier and impedance-matching network; and

a control unit connected with an input to said RF power monitoring unit and for connecting to an output to a control input of at least one component of said transmitter for modifying at least one operating parameter of at least one of the RF signal generation unit and the power amplifier in response to said alarm signal, wherein said control unit is arranged to restart a telegram transmission of said RF signal after modifying said operating parameter.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the RF signal generation unit comprises:

a local oscillator for generating the RF signal; and

a synthesizer for varying a frequency of the RF signal and wherein said control unit for connecting to said synthesizer.

3. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said operating parameter comprises at least one of biasing conditions of the power amplifier, gain of the power amplifier, a frequency of the RF signal and an amplitude of the RF signal.

4. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said transmitter includes an impedance matching network connected between the power amplifier and the antenna for matching output impedance of the power amplifier to input impedance of the antenna.

5. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said RF power monitoring unit comprises:

a peak detector circuit for measuring an amplitude of the RF signal at said output stage; and

a comparator for comparing said amplitude with at least one reference level and generating said alarm signal based on said comparison.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said operating parameter comprises at least one of biasing conditions of the power amplifier, gain of the power amplifier, a frequency of the RF signal and an amplitude of the RF signal.

7. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transmitter includes an impedance matching network connected between the power amplifier and the antenna for matching output impedance of the power amplifier to input impedance of the antenna.

8. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said RF power monitoring unit comprises:

a peak detector circuit for measuring an amplitude of the RF signal at said output stage; and

a comparator for comparing said amplitude with at least one reference level and generating said alarm signal based on said comparison.

9. The system as claimed in claim 1, comprising a first comparator for comparing an amplitude with a lower reference level and generating a power too low signal when said amplitude comes below said lower reference level.

10. The system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said RF power monitoring unit comprises a second comparator for comparing said amplitude with an upper reference level higher than said lower reference level and generating a power too high alarm signal when said amplitude exceeds said first reference level.

11. The system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said control unit is arranged to modify at least one parameter to reduce said power of said RF signal in response said power too high signal and/or to modify the parameter to increase said power of said RF signal in response said power too low signal.

12. A short range communication unit, comprising:

a source of data signals;

a transmitter connected to said source of data, said RF transmitter comprising;

an RF signal generation unit for generating the RF signal based on said data signals;

a power amplifier for amplifying the RF signal; and

an antenna for radiating the amplified RF signal; and

an RF power monitoring unit connected to an output stage of at least one component of the transmitter, for monitoring a power of the RF signal and generating at least one alarm signal indicating a faulty condition when said power meets a predetermined alarm criterion revealing a failure of at least one of said RF signal-generation unit, said power amplifier and impedance-matching network; and

a control unit connected with an input to said RF power monitoring unit and with an output to a control input of at least one component of said transmitter for modifying at least one operating parameter of at least one of the RF signal generation unit and the power amplifier in response to said alarm signal, wherein said control unit is arranged to restart a telegram transmission of said RF signal after modifying said operating parameter.

13. The unit as claimed in claim 12, wherein said source of data signals comprises:

a pressure sensor for measuring the pressure of at least one tire of a vehicle; and

a microcontroller for generating a telegram using said data signal based on the measured pressure.

14. The unit as claimed in claim 12, comprising an accelerometer for measuring the acceleration of the at least one tire of a vehicle.

15. The unit as claimed in claim 14, comprising a microcontroller arranged to generate a telegram using data signals based on the measured acceleration.

16. A communication system including a communication unit as claimed in claim 12 and a receiving unit positioned within said short range from said communication unit, for receiving said RF signal and extracting said data signals from said RF signal.

17. A communication system including a communication unit as claimed in claim 13 and a receiving unit positioned within said short range from said communication unit, for receiving said RF signal and extracting said data signals from said RF signal.

18. A communication system including a communication unit as claimed in claim 15 and a receiving unit positioned within said short range from said communication unit, for receiving said RF signal and extracting said data signals from said RF signal.