Wireless communication unit, integrated circuit and method therefor

• US 9,338,664 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2013
• Issued: 05/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MediaTek Singapore Pte. Ltd. (MediaTek, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MediaTek Singapore Pte. Ltd. (MediaTek, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tenbroek, Bernard Mark, Ali-Ahmad, Walid Youssef
• Primary Examiner(s): Ayotunde, Ayodeji
• Application Number:
  US13/771,093
• Publication Number:
  US 20130217343A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,175 Days
• Field of Search: 455/67.11, 455/67.14, 455/77
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/12 of transmit antennas, e.g. of the amplitude or phase
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/14 of the whole transmission and reception path, e.g. self-test loop-back
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements

Abstract

A wireless communication unit is described that includes a transceiver; at least one antenna port operably coupled to the transceiver via at least one antenna switch; a radio frequency part of the transceiver that includes at least one tuneable radio frequency (RF) component; and a test signal generator for generating an RF test signal for receiver calibration. The radio frequency part includes a coupler located between the at least one tuneable RF component and the at least one antenna switch for coupling the RF test signal to or from the radio frequency part for calibration.

Claims

1. A wireless communication unit comprising:

a transceiver;

at least one antenna port operably coupled to the transceiver via at least one antenna switch;

a signal generator for generating an RF test signal for calibration; and

a radio frequency part of the transceiver that comprises at least one tuneable radio frequency (RF) component;

wherein the radio frequency part comprises a coupler located between the at least one tuneable RF component and the at least one antenna switch for coupling the RF test signal to or from the at least one tuneable RF component for calibration; and

when the coupler couples the RF test signal to or from the at least one tuneable RF component for calibration, the at least one antenna switch disconnects the RF test signal from the at least one antenna port.

2. The wireless communication unit of claim 1 further comprising a signal processor operably coupled to the radio frequency part, wherein the signal processor is arranged to receive the RF test signal output from the at least one RF tuneable component and adjust the at least one RF tuneable component in response thereto.

3. The wireless communication unit of claim 2 wherein the signal processor is arranged to determine a performance characteristic of the at least one RF tuneable component based on the received RF test signal, compare the determined response signal with a stored performance characteristic and adjust the at least one RF tuneable component in response thereto.

4. The wireless communication unit of claim 2 wherein the coupler comprises at least one radio frequency coupling component arranged to route a signal to the signal processor, wherein the at least one radio frequency coupling component comprises at least one of:

at least one capacitive element, at least one directional coupler.

5. The wireless communication unit of claim 2 wherein the signal processor comprises a power detector or a secondary receiver.

6. The wireless communication unit of claim 1 wherein the at least one antenna switch comprises at least one of:

at least one single-pole multiple-throw antenna switch, a multiple-throw multi-pole antenna switch.

7. The wireless communication unit of claim 6 wherein the at least one single-pole multiple-throw antenna switch comprises at least one further single-pole multiple-throw antenna switch arranged in parallel with the at least one single-pole multiple-throw antenna switch.

8. The wireless communication unit of claim 1 wherein the radio frequency part comprises a plurality of transmit or receive paths each comprising at least one tuneable RF component.

9. The wireless communication unit of claim 1 wherein the radio frequency part comprises a transmitter operably coupled to a signal processor, wherein the signal processor is arranged to receive the RF test signal input to or output from the at least one antenna switch and adjust the at least one RF tuneable component in response thereto.

10. The wireless communication unit of claim 9 further comprising two feedback paths operably coupled to a dual-pole single-throw switch coupled to the signal processor.

11. The wireless communication unit of claim 9, wherein the signal processor is arranged to determine a performance characteristic of the at least one RF tuneable component based on the received RF test signal.

12. The wireless communication unit of claim 11 wherein the signal processor is arranged to compare the determined response signal with a stored performance characteristic and adjust the at least one RF tuneable component in response thereto.

13. The wireless communication unit of claim 9 wherein the signal processor comprises a power detector or a secondary receiver.

14. The wireless communication unit of claim 1 wherein the at least one antenna port comprises a first antenna port for coupling to a transmit antenna and a second antenna port for coupling to a receive antenna.

15. An integrated circuit comprising:

a front end module having at least one antenna port operably coupled to a transceiver via at least one antenna switch;

a radio frequency part of the transceiver that comprises at least one tuneable radio frequency (RF) component;

an input port operably coupled to a test signal generator for receiving an RF test signal for calibration, wherein the RF test signal is generated by the test signal generator;

wherein the radio frequency part comprises a coupler located between the at least one RF tuneable component and the at least one antenna switch for coupling the RF test signal to or from the at least one tuneable RF component for calibration; and

when the coupler couples the RF test signal to or from the at least one tuneable RF component for calibration, the at least one antenna switch disconnects the RF test signal from the at least one antenna port.

16. The integrated circuit of claim 15 wherein the coupler comprises a radio frequency coupling component comprising at least one from a group of:

at least one further single-pole multiple-throw antenna switch arranged in parallel with the at least one single-pole multiple-throw antenna switch;

at least one capacitive element;

at least one directional coupler.

17. A method of calibrating a transceiver comprising at least one tuneable radio frequency (RF) component and at least one antenna port operably coupled to at least one antenna switch via a receive path, the method comprising:

generating an RF test signal for calibration of the transceiver;

coupling the RF test signal into a location in between the at least one tuneable RF component and the at least one antenna switch;

processing the RF test signal after passing through the at least one tuneable RF component; and

performing calibration on the processed signal;

wherein when the RF test signal is coupled to the at least one tuneable RF component for calibration, the method further comprises;

utilizing the at least one antenna switch to disconnect the RF test signal from the at least one antenna port.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising determining whether calibration is required and generating a RF test signal for calibration in response thereto.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein performing calibration on the processed signal comprises comparing at least one performance characteristic of the processed RF test signal with a stored performance characteristic.

20. The method of claim 17 further comprising, following a performing of calibration, determining whether adjustment of the at least one tuneable RF component is required and making an adjustment in response to a positive determination.

21. A wireless communication unit comprising:

a signal generator for generating an RF transmit signal for calibration;

a transmitter that comprises a plurality of tuneable radio frequency (RF) components operably coupled to the signal generator;

at least one multiple throw multiple pole antenna switch for receiving the RF transmit signal passed through one of the plurality of tuneable RF components at an input port;

at least one antenna port operably coupled to the transmitter via the at least one first output port of the multiple throw multiple pole antenna switch; and

a signal processor operably coupled to the transmitter via at least one second output port of the multiple throw multiple pole antenna switch for receiving and processing the RF transmit signal;

wherein when the RF transmit signal is coupled to the one of the tuneable RF component for calibration, the at least one multiple throw multiple pole antenna switch disconnects the RF transmit signal from the at least one antenna port.