Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04B—TRANSMISSION
  • H04B1/00—Details of transmission systems, not covered by a single one of groups H04B3/00 - H04B13/00; Details of transmission systems not characterised by the medium used for transmission
  • H04B1/38—Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving
  • H04B1/40—Circuits
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W88/00—Devices specially adapted for wireless communication networks, e.g. terminals, base stations or access point devices
  • H04W88/02—Terminal devices

Definitions

• the field of the invention is that of radiocommunications, and more
• Radiocommunication terminals whether radiotelephones or devices or means of all types capable of exchanging signals using a radiocommunication system, installed for example in machines or vehicles .
• the invention relates to the manufacture of these terminals, and in particular to their miniaturization and the optimization of their mounting and their design, as required.
• Radiocommunication devices include, so
• the assembly occupies a certain area, which is difficult to reduce.
• the owner of the present patent application has proposed an approach which overcomes a certain number of these drawbacks, consisting in grouping, in a single module, all or at least most of the functions of a digital radiocommunication device.
• Such a module is in the form of a single and compact housing, preferably shielded, that the device manufacturers can install directly, without having to take into account a multitude of components.
• This module (also sometimes called “macro-component”) is in fact formed by a grouping of several components on a substrate, so as to be installed in the form of a single element. It includes the essential components and software necessary for the operation of a telecommunications terminal using radio frequencies. There are therefore no more complex stages in the design of the design, and validation of it. You just need to reserve the necessary space for the module.
• Such a module therefore makes it possible to easily, quickly and optimally integrate all of the components in wireless terminals (mobile phones, modems, or any other application using a wireless standard).
• the modules distributed by the owner of this patent application are fully tested both on the hardware (“hardware”) and software ("software”) on most networks on which they can be used. then.
• the module advantageously includes the aspects of industrial property (all the functions having been grouped, it is the manufacturer of the module who manages the aspects of corresponding industrial property rights) and technical assistance.
• the module has a certain size, since it must group all the functions. It is therefore therefore sometimes difficult to implement it in certain devices of reduced size and / or original. This relatively large size, and the corresponding weight, can also cause problems in automatic assembly lines, which are not intended for such modules.
• the invention particularly aims to overcome these drawbacks of the state of the art.
• an objective of the invention is to provide a technique making it possible to optimize the manufacture of radiocommunication devices, and in particular to further miniaturize them, or to adapt new forms, while retaining the advantages brought by modules proposed by the owner of this patent application, and avoiding the drawbacks of conventional systems implementing multiple components.
• an objective of the invention is to provide such a technique, allowing manufacturers of radio communication devices, to easily design such devices, which are also easy to mount, calibrate and / or test.
• Another objective of the invention is to provide such a technique offering good quality signal processing, and in particular good resistance to noise and interference due to RF signals.
• the invention also aims to provide such a technique, allowing rapid and inexpensive mounting of radio communication devices.
• Yet another objective of the invention is to simplify the development and development of the means used, as well as the management of stocks.
• each module can be of reduced size (and therefore more easily manipulated by machines), and produced according to the most suitable technologies.
• each module is also simplified, and faster. In addition, it is easier to upgrade one or other of the modules.
• said intermediate signals are digital signals.
• a first module provides radio frequency processing, and a second module for baseband processing.
• each of said modules comprises a memory.
• a memory is thus advantageously provided in the RF module (which is essentially analog), so that it in particular has its calibration parameters.
• the power control and / or frequency reference information is generated and used in said first module.
• At least some of said intermediate signals from at least one of said modules are distributed over at least two outputs of said module, so as to optimize the flexibility of placement of said modules.
• said intermediate signals can be available to the right and to the left of the first module, the antenna or the antenna output remaining in the same direction.
• At least one of said modules is produced on a ceramic support.
• one of said modules made of ceramic incorporates surface acoustic wave filters (SAW).
• At least one of said modules made of ceramic incorporates means for heat dissipation of a power amplifier.
• at least one of said modules comprises means for identifying a lot number to which it belongs.
• said identification means can use short circuits and / or open circuits on certain connections of said module. It can also be provided that at least one of said modules comprises at least one passive component belonging to the group comprising the capacitors, the inductors and the resistors, the value or values of which form means of identification.
• Said modules can also advantageously comprise means of verification that they are paired. This prevents the assembly of two modules not intended to work together.
• a first of said modules comprises a code and in that a second of said modules comprises a key making it possible to decode said code.
• the key can then be transmitted to the module provided with the code, which is blocked if the key is not correct.
• the modules can exchange coded (encrypted) data, linking the operation of one to the operation of the other.
• At least one of said modules carry shielding.
• said shielding carries an antenna or means for receiving an antenna.
• Said antenna may in particular comprise at least one slot forming a radiating structure.
• the invention also relates to each module forming such a system, and in particular modules comprising radio frequency processing means and modules comprising baseband processing means.
• such a module implements a digital interface for exchanging intermediate signals with another module.
• the invention also relates to radiocommunication devices implementing signal processing means are distributed in two separate modules exchanging intermediate signals on an interface provided for this purpose.
• these can be devices of all types embedded in a machine (for so-called “M2M” systems (“machine to machine” in English) or a vehicle, or a radio telephone.
• it may for example be a telephone comprising two parts which are movable relative to each other, each of said parts receiving one of said modules.
• Figure 1 shows devices that can implement the system of the invention, namely a radio telephone having two moving parts relative to each other;
• FIG. 2 is a general block diagram of the system of the invention
• FIG. 3 and 4 show, in the form of a simplified block diagram, the principle of each of the modules of Figure 2;
• FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a module according to the invention, with duplicated connection.
• this technique cannot be implemented effectively without non-obvious adaptation, such as the implementation of a digital interface, while the RF components and the baseband components are conventionally interconnected in analog.
• a module differs from a conventional component in that it groups together, on the same substrate and in the same housing, several components mounted, adapted and tested so as to form an easily implantable whole.
• modules according to the invention makes it possible to conserve, and even to optimize, these advantages, while offering new possibilities of implantation and assembly.
• modules of reduced size which can be handled by automata and allow the realization of new products, or with new designs.
• FIG. 1 thus shows an example of a telephone for which the invention is advantageous. It is a miniature radio telephone in two parts 11 and 12 movable with respect to each other, so as to come one on top of the other in the closed position and to form an angle of l 'order from 120 ° to 160 ° (for example), as illustrated in Figure 1 (this type of phone is said in English "clam shell ”).
• Part 11 includes in particular, for the visible elements, the keyboard 111.
• Part 12 carries the screen 121.
• part 11 contains the battery and the module (or major components) on a printed circuit. For this reason, the part 11 is generally relatively bulky and thick.
• FIG. 2 presents a block diagram of the invention, on which the two modules are distinguished, between which the different functions have been distributed.
• the two modules are called baseband module 21 and RF (radio frequency) module 22. It will however be noted that the distribution of the different functions is significantly different from that found in a single module, so as to optimize each of the modules. It is also possible to optimize the manufacture of each module, and for example by shielding only the RF module 22 or by using different substrate technologies, and those best suited to each module.
• the presence of the two modules makes it possible to separate the radio part from the part of the baseband, and to fight against interference generated in particular by the RF module and the other active elements of the application.
• the separation of the two modules 21 and 22 also allows flexibility in the organization of the other elements of the application. For example, the distance between the antenna and the RF module 22 can be shortened, which makes it possible to obtain a better total efficiency, and therefore an extension of the battery life.
• the baseband module 21 is presented, in the form of a simplified block diagram, in FIG. 3.
• DSP signal processing processor
• the baseband module 21 thus ensures in particular the digital processing operations, and must therefore include software calculation functions and memory areas. This module is therefore essentially digital.
• the RF module 22 is illustrated, also in the form of a simplified block diagram. This module includes the components following, connected together and assembled on a single substrate which serves in particular as a mechanical support:
• a “transceiver” block 41 grouping low noise amplifiers, a mixer, a low frequency amplifier, a modulator, a demodulator, a frequency synthesizer, an oscillator);
• This RF module is essentially analog. However, according to the invention, it advantageously comprises digital elements, on the one hand for managing the digital interface and on the other hand for managing the calibration parameters internally. It therefore includes a memory 46.
• the RF module preferably comprises power control and frequency reference means, or other calibration elements (which are generally in the digital baseband part of a single module). These parameters are controlled, for example, by programming preset registers.
• the modules are produced on a ceramic substrate.
• the RF module 22 integrates the SAW filters. Specific means are provided for the heat dissipation of the power amplifier.
• a multi-input / multi-output system illustrated in FIG. 5 is provided, at least for the RF module 22.
• the same signals 51 and 52 which interface with the baseband module are duplicated to the right and to the left of the RF module. It is thus possible to choose, leaving the antenna 53 towards the top of the module, to place the baseband module 21 to the right or to the left of the RF module 22.
• the shielding of the RF module 22 can receive one, or serve as an antenna (in particular in the case of a double face). It is thus possible to engrave therein a slot, or another suitable pattern, so as to make it a radiant structure.
• the shielding can also allow a fixed metallic element to be attached to it, serving as an antenna.
• the shielding makes it possible to protect the radio functions of the module from the radiation of the antenna and serves as a physical support for the radiating element, and itself participates in the radiation.
• Another possibility is to extend the substrate (for example ceramic) of the RF module to integrate the antenna there, as illustrated in FIG. 5. In this case, the shielding starting under the antenna participates in the radio radiation.
• the modules can allow authentication of the batch number by coding by the use of short circuits or open circuits on certain connections. Ceramics are used to engrave an electrical function (inductance, capacitance and / or resistance) which makes it possible to code a lot number.
• the identity of the module or the batch number is obtained by measurement on the inputs / outputs of the module of the values of components integrated in the substrate. Note that these aspects can also be implemented in the case of a single module.
• the invention applies in particular to modules according to the GSM standard.
• the modules are guaranteed at the GSM standard (FTA) level.
• FTA GSM standard
• the modules are independently tested and calibrated. Compatibility with the standard is therefore guaranteed on each module and in their grouping in the application independently of each other, thanks to the use of the digital interface.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
• Signal Processing (AREA)
• Transceivers (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=32749707

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (9)

Families Citing this family (5)

Citations (1)

Family Cites Families (14)

• 2003
  • 2003-02-18 FR FR0302112A patent/FR2851391B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2004
  • 2004-02-18 WO PCT/FR2004/000386 patent/WO2004075429A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2004-02-18 KR KR1020057015121A patent/KR20050102121A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2004-02-18 EP EP04712080A patent/EP1595338A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2004-02-18 RU RU2005125646/09A patent/RU2005125646A/ru unknown
  • 2004-02-18 US US10/545,933 patent/US20060240796A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2004-02-18 JP JP2006502157A patent/JP2006518136A/ja active Pending
  • 2004-02-18 CN CNA2004800044517A patent/CN1751448A/zh active Pending
• 2005
  • 2005-07-22 ZA ZA200505885A patent/ZA200505885B/en unknown

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Non-Patent Citations (1)

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