WIRELESS COMPUTER NETWORK INLUDING A MOBILE APPLIANCE CONTAINING A SINGLE CHIP TRANSCEIVER

• US 20060194614A1
• Filed: 04/25/2006
• Published: 08/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andrew Adams, David J. Skellern, John O'Sullivan, Neil Weste, Philip Ryan, Richard Keaney
• Original Assignee: Andrew Adams, David J. Skellern, John O'Sullivan, Neil Weste, Philip Ryan, Richard Keaney
• Inventors: Adams, Andrew, Keaney, Richard, Ryan, Philip, Weste, Neil, Skellern, David J., O'Sullivan, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,164,651 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/28 the receiver comprising at least one semiconductor device having three or more electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/405 with multiple discrete channels

Abstract

A wireless computer data network includes several untethered mobile units that make ad-hoc data connections with an Internet-connected base station using the IEEE-802.11a standard. Each unit includes a radio transceiver fully integrated on a single semiconductor chip. The receiver portion is a double-conversion superheterodyne type, and shares the same intermediate and local oscillator frequencies with a two-stage up-conversion transmitter. Two on-chip synthesizers that each include a voltage-controlled oscillator and phase-locked loop can be operated independently for each conversion stage, or operated in offset mode. External reference frequencies can be injected for voltage-controlled oscillator and phase-locked loop testing, chip characterization, and automatic compensation modeling. Each mobile and base unit can be outfitted with transmit/receive antenna transfer switches, RF-power amplifiers, and low-noise receiver amplifiers to increase operating range.

Claims

1. A first wireless station of a wireless computer data network, the wireless network including at least one other wireless station, including a second wireless station connected to a network that includes a wired section, the first wireless station comprising:

an interface circuit for establishing a radio communication link between the first wireless station and at least one of the other wireless stations, such that there data is transferable between the first wireless station and the second station, the interface circuit configured for operating with one or more carrier frequency bands, including the 5 GHz band, and for transferring data with orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM); and

a single integrated circuit that implements a complete radio transceiver for wireless connection with the interface circuit, wherein said single integrated circuit includes at least two frequency synthesizers connected in a double-conversion superheterodyne configuration.

2. A first wireless station as recited in claim 1, wherein the second wireless station is coupled to the Internet.

3. A first wireless station for operation in a wireless computer data network, the first wireless station comprising:

a single integrated circuit that implements a complete radio transceiver for wireless connection with an interface circuit,

wherein the single integrated circuit comprises;

at least two independent frequency synthesizers connected in a double-conversion superheterodyne configuration,

wherein the wireless computer data network includes;

a plurality of other wireless station including the first wireless station and a second station, the second station connected to the Internet;

wherein the interface circuit is arranged for establishing an ad-hoc radio communication link amongst the plurality of wireless stations, and

wherein data is transferred in the wireless network using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM).

4. A first untethered wireless station of a wireless computer data network that includes a plurality of wireless stations, the first untethered wireless station comprising:

a radio transceiver integrated on a single semiconductor chip, the radio transceiver including;

a double-conversion superheterodyne type receiver portion;

a two-stage up-conversion transmitter; and

a pair of on-chip synthesizers that each have a voltage-controlled oscillator and phase-locked loop that can be operated independently for each conversion stage, or operated in offset mode,

wherein the receiver and transmitter share the same intermediate and local oscillator frequencies,

wherein an input is provided on the transceiver for injecting external reference frequencies during voltage-controlled oscillator and phase-locked loop testing, chip characterization, and automatic compensation modeling,

wherein the wireless computer data network provides for ad-hoc data connection with a second wireless station using an IEEE-802.11 OFDM standard, and

wherein the second wireless station is connected to a network that includes a wired section.

5. A first wireless station as recited in claim 4, wherein the second wireless station is coupled to the Internet.

6. A first wireless station for mobile roaming within reach of an ad-hoc wireless communication link in a wireless computer data network, the first wireless station comprising:

an interface means for establishing said ad-hoc radio communication link, and for operating in one or more carrier frequency bands, including the 5 GHz band, and for transferring orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) data; and

a single integrated circuit means for implementing a single radio transceiver portion of the interface means, the single integrated circuit means including at least two independent frequency synthesizer means for connection in a double-conversion superheterodyne configuration,

wherein the wireless computer data network includes at least one wireless station coupled to a wired network such that the first wireless station can communicate with a node in the wired network over said ad-hoc wireless communication link.

7. A first wireless station as recited in claim 6, wherein the wired network is the Internet.