Synchronization of front-end and baseband units in wireless communications device by wirelessly transmitting clock signal therebetween

• US 8,768,285 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2010
• Issued: 07/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Okada, Hiroki, Kishi, Takahiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Ghebretinsae, Temesgh
• Assistant Examiner(s): SANDIFORD, DEVAN A
• Application Number:
  US12/729,585
• Publication Number:
  US 20100248644A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,561 Days
• Field of Search: 455/68, 455/90.2, 455/297, 455/101, 455/334
• US Class Current: 455/334
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3822 specially adapted for use in vehicles H04B1/3827 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 7/0008 Synchronisation information channels, e.g. clock distribution lines

Abstract

A wireless device includes a baseband unit and front-end units that are provided in individual housings. The baseband unit and the front-end units are connected to each other by wire. A transmitter for synchronization that converts a signal based on a reference clock into a radio signal and transmits the radio signal as a clock synchronization signal is provided in any one of the housings, and receivers for synchronization that receive the signal for the clock synchronization and PLLs that generate a clock synchronized with a reference clock signal which is obtained from the received clock synchronization signal are provided in the housings other than the housing having the transmitter provided therein. In order to simultaneously process a plurality of wireless devices having different symbol rates, it is preferable to provide the transmitter, the receiver, and the PLL for each reference clock.

Claims

1. A wireless device comprising:

a baseband unit; and

a plurality of front-end units configured to perform diversity combining between signals received at a plurality of antennas from different wireless systems;

the baseband unit and the plurality of front-end units are each provided in individual housings,

the baseband unit and the plurality of front-end units are connected to each other by wire to transmit a wired signal,

a transmitter provided in any one of the housings, the transmitter being configured to convert a second signal based on a reference clock into a radio signal and wirelessly transmit the radio signal as a clock synchronization signal, and

one or more receivers that receive the clock synchronization signal and one or more PLLs that generate a clock synchronized with a reference clock signal which is obtained from the clock synchronization signal provided in one or more individual housings other than the housing having the transmitter provided therein, wherein

the one or more individual housings other than the housing having the transmitter are synchronized to the radio signal.

2. A wireless device according to claim 1,

wherein the wireless device performs communication using a plurality of wireless systems having different symbol rates at the same time and uses a plurality of different reference clocks, and

the transmitter, the receiver of the one or more receivers, and a PLL of the one or more PLLs are provided for each reference clock.

3. A wireless device according to claim 1,

wherein the transmitter transmits the clock synchronization signal as a burst signal.

4. A wireless device according to claim 3,

wherein the transmitter performs carrier sensing before burst transmission.

5. A wireless device according to claim 1,

wherein the transmitter transmits the clock synchronization signal including identification information, and

the one or more receiver determines whether the clock synchronization signal is received from a corresponding transmitter based on the identification information and updates the one or more PLLs when the clock synchronization signal is received from the corresponding transmitter.

6. A wireless device according to claim 1,

wherein the reference clock is set based on a symbol rate of a wired data communication between the baseband unit and the one or more front-end units.

7. A wireless device according to claim 1,

wherein the wireless device performs communication using a plurality of wireless systems having different symbol rates at the same time and uses a plurality of different reference clocks,

the transmitter, a receiver of the one or more receivers, and a PLL of the one or more PLLs are provided for each reference clock,

the transmitter transmits the clock synchronization signal including identification information, and

the one or more receivers determine whether the clock synchronization signal is received from a corresponding transmitter based on the identification information and updates the one or more PLLs when the clock synchronization signal is received from the corresponding transmitter.

8. A wireless device according to claim 7,

wherein the transmitter performs AM modulation on the clock synchronization signal based on the identification information.