RF Processing Circuit and Wireless Communication Device Using the Same

• US 20120309332A1
• Filed: 04/03/2012
• Published: 12/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xueshan Technologies Inc. (Wi-LAN Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ralink Technology Corporation (MediaTek, Inc.)
• Inventors: Liao, Shen-Yi
• Granted Patent: US 9,148,179 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/103
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/005 adapting radio receivers, transmitters andtransceivers for operation on two or more bands, i.e. frequency ranges
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/401 for selecting or indicating operating mode

Abstract

A radio-frequency (RF) processing circuit used in a wireless communication device is disclosed. The RF processing circuit comprises an RF front-end circuit, coupled to a first antenna, a second antenna, a first wireless communication module and a second wireless communication module, for switching couplings between the first antenna and the second antenna, and the first wireless communication module and the second wireless communication module according to a control signal; and a control unit, for generating the control signal to the RF front-end circuit according to operation frequency bands and operation conditions of the first wireless communication module and the second wireless communication module.

Claims

1. A radio-frequency (RF) processing circuit used in a wireless communication device, comprising:

an RF front-end circuit, coupled to a first antenna, a second antenna, a first wireless communication module and a second wireless communication module, for switching couplings between the first antenna and the second antenna, and the first wireless communication module and the second wireless communication module according to a control signal; and

a control unit, for generating the control signal to the RF front-end circuit according to operation frequency bands and operation conditions of the first wireless communication module and the second wireless communication module;

wherein the first wireless communication module is coupled to the first antenna and the second wireless communication module is coupled to the first antenna and the second antenna according to the control signal generated by the control unit, when the operation frequency bands of the first wireless communication module and the second wireless communication module are different, or when the first wireless communication module stops operation.

2. The RF processing circuit of claim 1, wherein the RF front-end circuit comprises:

an interface, for coupling the second antenna and the second wireless communication module;

a diplexer, comprising a first signal terminal and a second signal terminal respectively used for different operation frequency bands, and a third signal terminal coupled to the first antenna, for exchanging signals between the first signal terminal and the second signal terminal, and the third signal terminal; and

a first switch, comprising a first terminal coupled to the first wireless communication module, a second terminal coupled to the second wireless communication module, a third terminal coupled to the first signal terminal, and a fourth terminal coupled to the second signal terminal, for switching couplings between the first terminal and the second terminal, and the third terminal and the fourth terminal according to the control signal.

3. The RF processing circuit of claim 2, wherein the control unit controls the first switch via the control signal to turn on a coupling between the first terminal and the third terminal, and a coupling between the second terminal and the fourth terminal, when the operation frequency bands of the first wireless communication module and the second wireless communication module are different.

4. The RF processing circuit of claim 2, wherein the control unit controls the first switch via the control signal to turn on a coupling between the first terminal and the third terminal, and a coupling between the second terminal and the fourth terminal, when the operation frequency bands of the first wireless communication module and the second wireless communication module are the same and the first wireless communication module is operating.

5. The RF processing circuit of claim 2, wherein the control unit controls the first switch via the control signal to turn on a coupling between the first terminal and the fourth terminal, and a coupling between the second terminal and the third terminal, when the operation frequency bands of the first wireless communication module and the second wireless communication module are the same and the first wireless communication module stops operation.

6. The RF processing circuit of claim 2, wherein the first switch is a dual-pole dual-throw (DPDT) switch.

7. The RF processing circuit of claim 2, wherein the RF front-end circuit further comprises a second switch, comprising a first terminal coupled to the third signal terminal of the diplexer, a second terminal coupled to the interface, a third terminal coupled to the first antenna, and a fourth terminal coupled to the second antenna, for switching couplings between the first terminal and the second terminal, and the third terminal and the fourth terminal according to the control signal.

8. The RF processing circuit of claim 7, wherein the control unit generates the control signal to the second switch according to priorities of signals transmitted by the first terminal and the second terminal of the second switch, and channel qualities corresponding to the first antenna and the second antenna.

9. The RF processing circuit of claim 8, wherein the priorities of the signals transmitted by the first terminal and the second terminal of the second switch are determined by a user input.

10. The RF processing circuit of claim 8, wherein the priorities of the signals transmitted by the first terminal and the second terminal of the second switch are predefined in the wireless communication device.

11. The RF processing circuit of claim 8, wherein the channel qualities corresponding to the first antenna and the second antenna are measured by the wireless communication device.

12. The RF processing circuit of claim 8, wherein the channel qualities corresponding to the first antenna and the second antenna are fed back by wireless networks corresponding to the first wireless communication module and the second wireless communication module.

13. A wireless communication device, comprising:

a first antenna;

a second antenna;

a first wireless communication module;

a second wireless communication module; and

a radio-frequency (RF) processing circuit, comprising;

an RF front-end circuit, coupled to the first antenna, the second antenna, the first wireless communication module and the second wireless communication module, for switching couplings between the first antenna and the second antenna, and the first wireless communication module and the second wireless communication module according to a control signal; and

a control unit, for generating the control signal to the RF front-end circuit according to operation frequency bands and operation conditions of the first wireless communication module and the second wireless communication module;

wherein the first wireless communication module is coupled to the first antenna and the second wireless communication module is coupled to the first antenna and the second antenna according to the control signal generated by the control unit, when the operation frequency bands of the first wireless communication module and the second wireless communication module are different, or when the first wireless communication module stops operation.

14. The wireless communication device of claim 13, wherein the RF front-end circuit comprises:

an interface, for coupling the second antenna and the second wireless communication module;

a diplexer, comprising a first signal terminal and a second signal terminal respectively used for different operation frequency bands, and a third signal terminal coupled to the first antenna, for exchanging signals between the first signal terminal and the second signal terminal, and the third signal terminal; and

a first switch, comprising a first terminal coupled to the first wireless communication module, a second terminal coupled to the second wireless communication module, a third terminal coupled to the first signal terminal, and a fourth terminal coupled to the second signal terminal, for switching couplings between the first terminal and the second terminal, and the third terminal and the fourth terminal according to the control signal.

15. The wireless communication device of claim 14, wherein the control unit controls the first switch via the control signal to turn on a coupling between the first terminal and the third terminal, and a coupling between the second terminal and the fourth terminal, when the operation frequency bands of the first wireless communication module and the second wireless communication module are different.

16. The wireless communication device of claim 14, wherein the control unit controls the first switch via the control signal to turn on a coupling between the first terminal and the third terminal, and a coupling between the second terminal and the fourth terminal, when the operation frequency bands of the first wireless communication module and the second wireless communication module are the same and the first wireless communication module is operating.

17. The wireless communication device of claim 14, wherein the control unit controls the first switch via the control signal to turn on a coupling between the first terminal and the fourth terminal, and a coupling between the second terminal and the third terminal, when the operation frequency bands of the first wireless communication module and the second wireless communication module are the same and the first wireless communication module stops operation.

18. The wireless communication device of claim 14, wherein the first switch is a dual-pole dual-throw (DPDT) switch.

19. The wireless communication device of claim 14, wherein the RF front-end circuit further comprises a second switch, comprising a first terminal coupled to the third signal terminal of the diplexer, a second terminal coupled to the interface, a third terminal coupled to the first antenna, and a fourth terminal coupled to the second antenna, for switching couplings between the first terminal and the second terminal, and the third terminal and the fourth terminal according to the control signal.

20. The wireless communication device of claim 19, wherein the control unit generates the control signal to the second switch according to priorities of signals transmitted by the first terminal and the second terminal of the second switch, and channel qualities corresponding to the first antenna and the second antenna.

21. The wireless communication device of claim 20, wherein the priorities of the signals transmitted by the first terminal and the second terminal of the second switch are determined by a user input.

22. The wireless communication device of claim 20, wherein the priorities of the signals transmitted by the first terminal and the second terminal of the second switch are predefined in the wireless communication device.

23. The wireless communication device of claim 20, wherein the channel qualities corresponding to the first antenna and the second antenna are measured by the wireless communication device.

24. The wireless communication device of claim 20, wherein the channel qualities corresponding to the first antenna and the second antenna are fed back by wireless networks corresponding to the first wireless communication module and the second wireless communication module.