Radio-control board for software-defined radio platform
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A radio control board (RCB) comprising:
- a bus interface for operably connecting the RCB for communication with a system bus of a computing device for exchanging working data between the RCB and the computing device, the working data including first digital signal samples of radio waveforms to be transmitted by a radio frequency (RF) front end and second digital signal samples of radio waveforms received from the RF front end;
one or more buffers for storing the first digital signal samples to be transmitted by the RF front end and the second digital signal samples received from the RF front end; and
multiple low voltage differential signaling (LVDS) interfaces for operably connecting the RCB with the RF front end for exchanging the working data between the RCB and the RF front end, wherein individual ones of the multiple LVDS interfaces comprise;
at least one LVDS data channel for transmitting data messages between the RCB and the RF front end;
at least one LVDS control channel, separate from the at least one LVDS data channel, for transmitting control messages between the RCB and the RF front end; and
at least one dedicated LVDS status channel, separate from the at least one LVDS data channel and separate from the at least one LVDS control channel, for indicating whether data transmitted over an individual LVDS interface is the working data or training data, the training data used to at least tune a phase of a clock signal associated with the individual LVDS interface and to determine a data sampling time for the individual LVDS interface, wherein the training data includes a training pattern including a plurality of sub-patterns each including consecutive equal bits and bordered at both ends by a bit of a different value, a first sub-pattern of the plurality of sub-patterns including a first number of consecutive equal bits, and a second sub-pattern of the plurality of sub-patterns including a second different number of consecutive equal bits.
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Abstract
A radio control board exchanges data with a radio frequency (RF) front end using a messaging protocol over an interface that includes separate data and control channels. Training data can also be passed over the interface for tuning the clock phase.
140 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A radio control board (RCB) comprising:
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a bus interface for operably connecting the RCB for communication with a system bus of a computing device for exchanging working data between the RCB and the computing device, the working data including first digital signal samples of radio waveforms to be transmitted by a radio frequency (RF) front end and second digital signal samples of radio waveforms received from the RF front end; one or more buffers for storing the first digital signal samples to be transmitted by the RF front end and the second digital signal samples received from the RF front end; and multiple low voltage differential signaling (LVDS) interfaces for operably connecting the RCB with the RF front end for exchanging the working data between the RCB and the RF front end, wherein individual ones of the multiple LVDS interfaces comprise; at least one LVDS data channel for transmitting data messages between the RCB and the RF front end; at least one LVDS control channel, separate from the at least one LVDS data channel, for transmitting control messages between the RCB and the RF front end; and at least one dedicated LVDS status channel, separate from the at least one LVDS data channel and separate from the at least one LVDS control channel, for indicating whether data transmitted over an individual LVDS interface is the working data or training data, the training data used to at least tune a phase of a clock signal associated with the individual LVDS interface and to determine a data sampling time for the individual LVDS interface, wherein the training data includes a training pattern including a plurality of sub-patterns each including consecutive equal bits and bordered at both ends by a bit of a different value, a first sub-pattern of the plurality of sub-patterns including a first number of consecutive equal bits, and a second sub-pattern of the plurality of sub-patterns including a second different number of consecutive equal bits. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method comprising:
connecting a radio control board (RCB) having a processor and memory for operable communication with a radio frequency (RF) front end via multiple communication interfaces, wherein the RCB is further connected for operable communication with a system bus of a computing device, and wherein individual ones of the multiple communication interfaces include; at least one data channel for transmitting data messages between the RCB and the RF front end; at least one control channel, separate from the at least one data channel, for transmitting control messages between the RCB and the RF front end; and at least one dedicated status channel, separate from the at least one data channel and separate from the at least one control channel, for indicating whether data transmitted over an individual communication interface is working data or training data; and for individual ones of the multiple communication interfaces; receiving, via the at least one dedicated status channel, a status indicating that the training data is to be transmitted over the individual communication interface; transmitting, from the RCB to the RF front end, the training data, wherein the training data includes a training pattern including a plurality of sub-patterns each including consecutive equal bits and bordered at both ends by a bit of a different value, a first sub-pattern of the plurality of sub-patterns including a first number of consecutive equal bits, and a second sub-pattern of the plurality of sub-patterns including a second different number of consecutive equal bits; tuning, based at least in part on the status received and the training data transmitted, a phase of a clock signal associated with the individual communication interface; and determining, based at least in part on the tuning, a data sampling time for the individual communication interface. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A radio control board (RCB) comprising:
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a bus interface for operably connecting the RCB for communication with a computing device; and multiple low voltage differential signaling (LVDS) interfaces for operably connecting the RCB with a radio frequency (RF) front end for exchanging working data between the RCB and the RF front end, wherein individual ones of the multiple LVDS interfaces include separate channels comprising; a transmission data channel for transmitting first data messages to the RF front end; a reception data channel for receiving second data messages from the RF front end; a transmission control channel for transmitting first control messages to the RF front end; a reception control channel for receiving second control messages from the RF front end; and a dedicated status channel for delivering a status signal indicating whether data transmitted over an individual LVDS interface is the working data or training data, the training data used to at least tune a phase of a clock signal associated with the individual LVDS interface and to determine a data sampling time for the individual LVDS interface, wherein the training data includes a training pattern including a plurality of sub-patterns each including consecutive equal bits and bordered at both ends by a bit of a different value, a first sub-pattern of the plurality of sub-patterns including a first number of consecutive equal bits, and a second sub-pattern of the plurality of sub-patterns including a second different number of consecutive equal bits. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification