Structure of mobile terminal operating in a mobile communication system supporting device to device communication and operation method therefor

• US 9,609,463 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2014
• Issued: 03/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Ryu, Hyun-Seok, Chang, Young-Bin, Lim, Chi-Woo, Kim, Kyung-Kyu, Kim, Dae-Gyun, Park, Seung-Hoon, Baek, Sang-Kyu
• Primary Examiner(s): Lai, Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Chuong M
• Application Number:
  US14/268,694
• Publication Number:
  US 20140328267A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,061 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/406 with more than one transmission mode, e.g. analog and digital modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/18 between terminal devices

Abstract

A mobile terminal in a mobile communication system supporting device to device (D2D) communication, and a method for operating the mobile terminal are provided. The terminal includes a first radio frequency (RF) chain configured to transmit a mobile communication signal and a second RF chain configured to receive a mobile communication signal, for mobile communication with a base station, a switching unit including a plurality of switches configured to establish transmission and reception paths in the first and second RF chains, and a controller configured to control switching of the switching unit to establish transmission and reception paths of a D2D communication signal for D2D communication by combining a part of the first RF chain with a part of the second RF chain. The combination of the parts of the first and second RF chains is different according to a D2D communication frequency band.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal supporting device to device (D2D) communication in a mobile communication system, the mobile terminal comprising:

a duplexer connected to an antenna unit;

a first radio frequency (RF) chain comprising a digital-to-analog converter, a first mixer, and a power amplifier;

a second RF chain comprising an analog-to-digital converter, a second mixer, and a low noise amplifier;

a first switch configured to connect the first mixer with the power amplifier or the low noise amplifier;

a second switch configured to connect the low noise amplifier with a first band pass filter of the duplexer or a second band pass filter of the duplexer;

a third switch configured to connect the analog-to-digital converter with the first mixer or the second mixer; and

a controller configured to control switching a plurality of the first switch, the second switch, and the third switch based on a D2D communication mode or a mobile communication mode.

2. The mobile terminal of claim 1,

wherein the first switch connects the first mixer to the power amplifier if the mobile terminal transmits a signal for D2D communication or mobile communication.

3. The mobile terminal of claim 1,

wherein, if the mobile terminal receives a signal for D2D communication, the first switch connects the first mixer to the low noise amplifier, the second switch connects the low noise amplifier to the first band pass filter of the duplexer, and the third switch connects the first mixer to the analog-to-digital converter.

4. The mobile terminal of claim 1,

wherein, if the mobile terminal receives a signal for mobile communication, the second switch connects the low noise amplifier to the second band pass filter of the duplexer, and the third switch connects the second mixer to the analog-to-digital converter.

5. A device to device (D2D) communication method of a mobile terminal in a mobile communication system supporting D2D communication,

wherein the mobile terminal comprising a duplexer connected to an antenna unit, a first radio frequency (RF) chain comprising a digital-to-analog converter, a first mixer, and a power amplifier, a second RF chain comprising an analog-to-digital converter, a second mixer, and a low noise amplifier, a first switch configured to connect the first mixer with the power amplifier or the low noise amplifier, a second switch configured to connect the low noise amplifier with a first band pass filter of the duplexer or a second band pass filter of the duplexer, a third switch configured to connect the analog-to-digital converter with the first mixer or the second mixer, and a controller configured to control switching of the first switch, the second switch, and the third switch based on a D2D communication mode or a mobile communication mode,

the method comprising:

determining, by the controller, to receive a signal for D2D communication;

controlling, by the controller, the first switch to connect the first mixer to the low noise amplifier;

controlling, by the controller, the second switch to connect the low noise amplifier to the first band pass filter of the duplexer; and

controlling, by the controller, the third switch to connect the first mixer to the analog-to-digital converter.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

determining, by the controller, to transmit a signal for D2D communication or mobile communication; and

switching, by the controller, the first switch to connect the first mixer to the power amplifier.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

determining, by the controller, to receive a signal for mobile communication;

switching, by the controller, the second switch to connect the low noise amplifier to the second band pass filter of the duplexer; and

switching, by the controller, the third switch to connect the second mixer to the analog-to-digital converter.