Transceiver and method of operating an electrical circuit

• US 7,787,830 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2006
• Issued: 08/31/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NXP B.V. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Original Assignee: Jennic Ltd. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Inventors: Goddard, Simon P., Li, Kim
• Primary Examiner(s): Milord; Marceau
• Application Number:
  US11/444,148
• Publication Number:
  US 20070279099A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,554 Days
• Field of Search: 455/78, 455/76, 455/343.5, 455/326, 455/86, 455/254, 455/234.1, 455/232.1, 455/253.2, 455/83, 455/80, 455/281, 455/292, 455/293, 331/16, 330/253, 330/252, 326/86, 375/219
• US Class Current: 455/78
• CPC Class Codes: H03D 7/1441 using field-effect transistors H03D7/145 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/1615 Switching on; Switching off, e.g. remotely battery saving circuits associated with selective call operation H04W52/00; details of power consumption reduction in a PLL, H03L7/0802, H03L7/14, H03L2207/08, H03L2207/18; muting amplifiers by gain control see H03G3/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/40 Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0274 by switching on or off the equipment or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

There is provided a transceiver comprising a first node for receiving a received signal and transmitting a transmitted signal; a receiver, connected between a first voltage and the first node, for processing the received signal; a transmitter, connected between a second voltage and the first node, for generating the transmitted signal; and a DC voltage controller for selecting a DC component of a voltage of the first node to at least one of: selectively activate at least one of the transmitter and the receiver; and selectively substantially deactivate at least one of the transmitter and receiver.

Claims

1. A transceiver comprising:

a first differential node for receiving a received signal and transmitting a transmitted signal;

a differential receiver, connected between a first voltage and the first node, for processing the received signal;

a differential transmitter, connected between a second voltage and the first node, for generating the transmitted signal;

a balun connected across the first node; and

a DC voltage controller comprising a centre tap voltage controller for selecting a centre tap voltage for a centre tap of the balun for at least one of;

selectively activating at least one of the transmitter and the receiver; and

selectively substantially deactivating at least one of the transmitter and receiver.

2. A transceiver as claimed in claim 1, wherein the centre tap voltage controller comprises a switch for selectively connecting the centre tap to a third voltage and a fourth voltage to activate the receiver and the transmitter respectively.

3. A transceiver as claimed in claim 1, wherein the centre tap voltage controller comprises a switch for selectively connecting the centre tap to a third voltage and a fourth voltage to substantially deactivate the transmitter and the receiver respectively.

4. A transceiver as claimed in claim 1, comprising a differential antenna connected to terminals of the first node.

5. A transceiver as claimed in claim 4, wherein the DC voltage controller comprises a centre tap voltage controller for selecting a centre tap voltage for a centre tap of the differential antenna.

6. A transceiver as claimed in claim 5, wherein the centre tap voltage controller comprises a switch for selectively connecting the centre tap to a third voltage and a fourth voltage to activate the receiver and the transmitter respectively.

7. A transceiver as claimed in claim 5, wherein the centre tap voltage controller comprises a switch for selectively connecting the centre tap to a third voltage and a fourth voltage to substantially deactivate the transmitter and the receiver respectively.

8. A transceiver as claimed in claim 1, wherein the DC voltage controller comprises a DC voltage selector for selecting one of a third voltage and a fourth voltage for the DC component to at least one of activate the receiver and the transmitter respectively, and substantially deactivate the transmitter and the receiver respectively.

9. A transceiver as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first voltage is substantially equal to the third voltage.

10. A transceiver as claimed in claim 8, wherein the second voltage is substantially equal to the fourth voltage.

11. A transceiver as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of the first voltage and the second voltage is a power supply voltage, and the other of the first voltage and the second voltage is a ground voltage.

12. A transceiver as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receiver comprises a low noise amplifier (LNA).

13. A transceiver as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receiver comprises a mixer such as, for example, a Gilbert cell mixer.

14. A transceiver as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receiver comprises a low noise amplifier (LNA) and a mixer such as, for example, a Gilbert cell mixer.

15. A transceiver as claimed in claim 14, wherein the LNA and the mixer are connected in series between the first voltage and the first node.

16. A method of operating a transceiver, wherein the transceiver comprises a differential receiver, connected between a first voltage and a first differential node, for processing the received signal, and a differential transmitter, connected between a second voltage and the first node, for generating the transmitted signal;

and the method comprises controlling a DC component of a voltage of the first node to selectively activate at least one of the transmitter and the receiver, wherein controlling a DC component comprises controlling a voltage of a centre tap of at least one of a balun and a differential antenna connected across the first node.

17. A method as claimed in claim 16, comprising activating the receiver by selecting a third voltage for the centre tap.

18. A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the third voltage is substantially equal to the first voltage.

19. A method as claimed in claim 16, comprising activating the transmitter by selecting a fourth voltage for the centre tap.

20. A method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the fourth voltage is substantially equal to the second voltage.