Cellular phone with integrated FM radio and remote low noise amplifier

• US 8,768,274 B2
• Filed: 03/19/2007
• Issued: 07/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marvell Asia Pte Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Original Assignee: Marvell World Trade Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Inventors: Gopi, Paramesh
• Primary Examiner(s): AKINYEMI, AJIBOLA A
• Application Number:
  US11/725,397
• Publication Number:
  US 20070224956A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,661 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 comprises a first wireless transceiver that receives radio frequency (RF) signals, which include frequency modulated (FM) signals that have been tuned by a remote device. An FM processing module receives the RF signals, converts the RF signals to baseband signals and generates processed FM signals.

Claims

1. A cellular phone, comprising:

a first wireless transceiver that receives radio frequency (RF) signals, said RF signals including frequency modulated (FM) signals that have been tuned by a remote device via a user input to a selected frequency associated with said FM signals; and

an FM processing module that

receives said RF signals at said selected frequency,

converts said RF signals to baseband signals, and

generates processed FM signals,

wherein said RF signals are transmitted from said remote device and converted to said baseband signals by said cellular phone.

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 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 signals at said tuned RF frequency.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said remote device further comprises a second wireless transceiver that transmits said IF signals to said cellular phone.

9. 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.

10. 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.

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

12. The cellular phone of claim 1, wherein said FM processing module comprises:

an intermediate frequency (IF) mixer that converts said RF signals to IF signals; and

a BB mixer that converts said IF signals to BB signals.

13. The cellular phone of claim 1, wherein said FM processing module receives said RF signals at said selected frequency from said remote device.

14. 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 RF signals based on said selected frequency; and

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

15. A communication method comprising:

receiving radio frequency (RF) signals, said RF signals including frequency modulated (FM) signals that have been tuned by a remote device via a first wireless transceiver via a user input to a selected frequency associated with said FM signals; and

receiving said RF signals at said selected frequency;

converting said RF signals to baseband signals; and

generating processed FM signals via an FM processing module,

wherein said RF signals are transmitted from said remote device and converted to said baseband signals by a cellular phone.

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

17. The communication method of claim 15, further comprising generating and transmitting FM station selection data to said remote device.

18. The communication method of claim 15, further comprising generating an audio signal based on said processed FM signals.

19. The communication method of claim 15, further comprising communicating with an antenna and tuning an RF frequency.

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

21. The communication method of claim 20, wherein:

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

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

22. The communication method of claim 15, further comprising:

converting said RF signals to IF signals; and

converting said IF signals to BB signals.

23. A cellular phone, comprising:

first wireless transceiver means for receiving radio frequency (RF) signals, said RF signals including frequency modulated (FM) signals that have been tuned by a remote device via a user input to a selected frequency associated with said FM signals; and

FM processing means for receiving said RF signals at said selected frequency, converting said RF signals to baseband signals, and generating processed FM signals,

wherein said RF signals are transmitted from said remote device and converted to said baseband signals by said cellular phone.

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 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; and

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;

an antenna; and

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

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

30. The system of claim 29, wherein said remote device further comprises a second wireless transceiver means for transmitting said IF signals to said cellular phone.

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

32. The cellular phone of claim 23, wherein said FM processing means comprises:

intermediate frequency (IF) mixer means for converting said RF signals to IF signals; and

BB mixer means for converting said IF signals to BB signals.