JP5702424B2 - Mobile communication equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a mobile communication device that performs communication using two bands simultaneously.

  For a method of performing communication by selecting one frequency band from a plurality of frequency bands, a technique for adjusting the characteristics of a filter so as to be suitable for a frequency band to be used using a variable filter has been proposed ( (See Patent Documents 1 and 2). However, in an actual mobile communication terminal, a filter with a fixed characteristic is used because it is difficult to obtain a required characteristic with a variable filter. In recent years, carrier aggregation has been known as a wireless communication method for performing communication using two bands at the same time in order to widen a communication band (see Non-Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-41844 JP 2003-78436 A

Nobuhiko Miki, Mikio Iwamura, Yoshihisa Kishiyama, Umesh Anneal, Hiroyuki Ishii, “Carrier Aggregation for Realizing Broadband in LTE-Advanced”, NTT DOCOMO Technical Journal, Vol 18 No.2, pp.12-21 (2010) July).

  FIG. 1 shows a functional configuration of a mobile communication device that performs carrier aggregation in band A and band B when the conventional technology is used. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing filter characteristics of the multiplexer / demultiplexer of the mobile communication device of FIG. The mobile communication device 700 includes an antenna 110, a band A transmission / reception circuit 170 that transmits / receives a band A signal, a band B transmission / reception circuit 270 that transmits / receives a band B signal, and a band B signal that transmits a band A signal and blocks a band B signal. A multiplexer / demultiplexer 760 having a first filter 761 and a second filter 762 that blocks a band A signal and transmits a band B signal, and a baseband signal generator 150 that generates a baseband signal. The transmission / reception circuits 170 and 270 include duplexers 120 and 220, power amplifiers 131 and 231, low noise amplifiers 132 and 232, quadrature modulation units 141 and 241, quadrature demodulation units 142 and 242, D / A conversion units 143 and 243, A / D converters 144 and 244 are provided.

  Bands A and B are frequency bands defined by standardization standards, and carrier aggregation is performed using the frequency band in band A and the frequency band in band B when communicating with any carrier system. Do. F761 in FIG. 2 indicates the characteristic of the first filter 761, and F762 indicates the characteristic of the second filter 762. The characteristics of the first filter 761 and the second filter 762 of the multiplexer / demultiplexer 760 are set for the entire band A and the entire band B. These characteristics are fixed. Therefore, when the interval 909 between the band A and the band B is narrow, the passage loss may increase or isolation may not be sufficiently ensured.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object of the present invention is to provide more suitable filtering characteristics in a mobile communication device that performs communication using two bands simultaneously.

  The mobile communication device of the present invention is a mobile communication device that sometimes performs communication in both band A and band B at the same time. The frequency band a is a partial frequency band in the band A, and the frequency band b is a partial frequency band in the band B. The mobile communication device of the present invention includes an antenna, a band A transmission / reception circuit that transmits / receives a band A signal, a band B transmission / reception circuit that transmits / receives a band B signal, and a first that transmits a band A signal and blocks a band B signal. Recorded the setting information of the multiplexer / demultiplexer having the second variable filter that blocks the variable filter and the band A signal and transmits the band B signal, the carrier identification unit, the first variable filter and the second variable filter A recording unit and a filter control unit for controlling characteristics of the first variable filter and the second variable filter are provided. The multiplexer / demultiplexer sends a band A signal from the antenna side to the band A transmission / reception circuit side, sends a band B signal from the antenna side to the band B transmission / reception circuit side, and transmits a band A signal from the band A transmission / reception circuit side. The signal and the band B signal from the band B transmission / reception circuit side are combined and sent to the antenna side. The telecommunications carrier specifying unit acquires information on the telecommunications carrier from the mobile communication device or acquires a signal indicating the telecommunications carrier included in the radio wave, and specifies the telecommunications carrier.

  The setting information is first setting information that is a setting of the first variable filter and the second variable filter for the frequency band a usable in the band A and the frequency band b usable in the band B for each communication carrier. Information, and second setting information which is setting information of the first variable filter and the second variable filter for the entire band A and the entire band B. The filter control unit controls the characteristics of the first variable filter and the second variable filter based on the first setting information when the communication carrier specifying unit can specify the communication carrier. The filter control unit controls the characteristics of the first variable filter and the second variable filter based on the second setting information when the communication carrier specifying unit cannot specify the communication carrier.

  Since the techniques shown in Patent Documents 1 and 2 are filter techniques for multiplexing and demultiplexing a transmission signal and a reception signal in the same band, even if the frequency band to be used is specified, the transmission frequency band and the reception frequency The band spacing does not increase. Therefore, it is considered that the variable filter is not actually used because the disadvantage that the characteristic is deteriorated by using the variable filter becomes larger than the advantage that the filter characteristic can be adjusted.

  On the other hand, the multiplexing / demultiplexing in the carrier aggregation is intended for signals in different bands. According to the mobile communication device of the present invention, since the filter characteristics can be set only in the frequency band that the mobile communication device may use, the frequency interval can be widened. Therefore, the influence of the advantage that the filter characteristics can be adjusted can be made larger than the influence of the disadvantage that the characteristics are deteriorated by using the variable filter. Therefore, a mobile communication device with better characteristics can be provided.

The figure which shows the function structure of the mobile communication apparatus which performs a carrier aggregation by the band A and the band B at the time of using a prior art. The figure which shows the characteristic of the filter of the multiplexer / demultiplexer of the mobile communication apparatus of FIG. The figure which shows the example of allocation of the frequency of the band A and the band B. The figure which shows the characteristic requested | required of a filter, when the communication carrier of the band A and the communication carrier of the band B can be specified and the frequency band to be used is known. 1 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of a mobile communication device according to a first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating information recorded in a recording unit according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a processing flow regarding filter control of the mobile communication device according to the first embodiment. The figure which shows the frequency band of the bands 1-3. The figure which shows the function structural example of the mobile communication apparatus of a modification. The figure which shows the information recorded on the recording part of the modification.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. In addition, the same number is attached | subjected to the structure part which has the same function, and duplication description is abbreviate | omitted.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of frequency allocation of band A and band B. In the band A 900 -A, the frequency band 910-1 A is assigned to the communication carrier 1, the frequency band 910-2 A is assigned to the communication carrier 2, and the frequency band 910-3 A is assigned to the communication carrier 3. In the band B900-B, the frequency band 910-1B is assigned to the communication carrier 1, the frequency band 910-2B is assigned to the communication carrier 2, and the frequency band 910-3B is assigned to the communication carrier 3. In this way, the standard standard shows the frequency of the entire band, but in fact, in order to use the same band by multiple carriers, the frequency band that can be used by a specific carrier is the frequency of each band. It is a part. For example, if communication is performed in band A and band B using the system of the communication carrier 1, the frequency bands that may actually be used are the frequency band 910-1A and the frequency band 910-1B. In the following description, a part of the frequency band in the band A is called a frequency band a, and a part of the frequency band in the band B is called a frequency band b. In the above example, frequency band 910-1A is frequency band a, and frequency band 910-1B is frequency band b.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating characteristics required for the filter when the carrier of band A and the carrier of band B can be identified and the frequency band to be used is known. An interval 919 between the frequency band a910-a and the frequency band b910-b is wider than the interval 909 between the band A and the band B shown in FIG. The characteristic required for the filter that transmits the band A signal and blocks the band B signal is F161. Further, a characteristic required for a filter that transmits the band B signal and blocks the band A signal is F162. Thus, if a frequency band that can be used in carrier aggregation can be identified, the interval between the frequency bands can be widened, so that it is easy to improve the filter characteristics.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the mobile communication device according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating information recorded in the recording unit. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a processing flow related to filter control of the mobile communication device according to the first embodiment. The mobile communication device 100 is a mobile communication device that sometimes performs communication in both band A and band B at the same time.

  The mobile communication device 100 includes an antenna 110, a band A transmission / reception circuit 170 that transmits / receives a band A signal, a band B transmission / reception circuit 270 that transmits / receives a band B signal, and a first signal that transmits a band A signal and blocks a band B signal. A multiplexer / demultiplexer 160 having a first variable filter 161 and a second variable filter 162 that blocks a band A signal and transmits a band B signal; a baseband signal generator 150; a communication carrier specifying unit 181; A communication method specifying unit 186 to specify, a recording unit 190 that records setting information of the first variable filter 161 and the second variable filter 162, and a filter control unit 165 that controls characteristics of the first variable filter 161 and the second variable filter 162. Prepare. The transmission / reception circuits 170 and 270 include duplexers 120 and 220, power amplifiers 131 and 231, low noise amplifiers 132 and 232, quadrature modulation units 141 and 241, quadrature demodulation units 142 and 242, D / A conversion units 143 and 243, A / D converters 144 and 244 are provided. The communication method specifying unit 186 may specify the communication method to be used from the setting information related to the communication method in the mobile communication device 100.

  The multiplexer / demultiplexer 160 sends a band A signal from the antenna 110 side to the band A transmission / reception circuit 170 side, and sends a band B signal from the antenna 110 side to the band B transmission / reception circuit 270 side. The band A signal from the side and the band B signal from the band B transmission / reception circuit 270 side are combined and sent to the antenna 110 side. The telecommunications carrier specifying unit 181 acquires information on the telecommunications carrier from the mobile communication device 100 or a signal indicating the telecommunications carrier included in the radio wave, and specifies the telecommunications carrier. “Acquisition of telecommunications carrier information from within mobile communication device 100” means, for example, that external media 195 such as USIM in which telecommunications carrier information is recorded is held inside mobile communication device 100, and this external This means that information on the communication carrier is acquired from the medium 195, and that the setting for limiting the communication carrier is performed in advance on the mobile communication device 100 itself, and that information is acquired. The “signal indicating the communication carrier included in the radio wave” is a signal such as notification information.

  The setting information recorded by the recording unit 190 includes the following first setting information and second setting information. In the example of FIG. 6, the first setting information includes a first variable filter for frequency band a usable in band A and frequency band b usable in band B, for each combination of a communication carrier and a communication method. This is information for setting the second variable filter. The second setting information is information for setting the first variable filter and the second variable filter for the entire band A and the entire band B for each communication method. The communication system means LTE (Long Term Evolution) or the like, but is not limited to the communication system existing at the time of filing this application. Even in consideration of future communication methods, it is considered that a smaller passage loss is desirable in any communication method. On the other hand, when two bands are used simultaneously, it is considered that the standard of isolation between the two bands to be used differs depending on the communication method. Therefore, for example, when the characteristics of the passage loss and the isolation characteristics are in a trade-off relationship, which method is prioritized and what balance is to be used differs depending on the method. Therefore, it is possible to obtain more appropriate characteristics by determining the settings of the first variable filter and the second variable filter in consideration of the communication method as well as the frequency band for identifying the communication carrier. However, if there is only one communication method provided by the carrier, or if the difference in isolation standards is negligible even if multiple communication methods are provided, setting information is provided for each communication method. There is no need. In such a case, the first setting information includes the first variable filter and the second variable filter for the frequency band a usable in the band A and the frequency band b usable in the band B for each communication carrier. What is necessary is just setting information. The second setting information may be information on the settings of the first variable filter and the second variable filter for the entire band A and the entire band B (regardless of the communication method).

  In the example of FIG. 6, the recording unit 190 includes a table 191 in which setting information at the time of carrier aggregation of band A and band B is recorded, setting information 196 at the time of communication using only band A, and band B only. The setting information 197 at the time of communication is recorded. In table 191, setting information is recorded for each combination of the methods α, β, γ and the communication carriers 1, 2, 3 as communication methods. These nine types are the first setting information. For example, the setting information ABα1 when the communication carrier 1 is the method α. Further, the setting information ABα0, ABβ0, ABγ0 for each method when the communication carrier is not specified is the second setting information. Note that, in the case of communication using only the band A or communication using only the band B, the setting information may be determined for each communication carrier. This is because the effect due to the wide frequency interval cannot be obtained, but there is a possibility that the passage loss in the frequency band to be used can be easily reduced.

  The filter control unit 165 controls the characteristics of the first variable filter 161 and the second variable filter 162 based on the first setting information when the communication carrier specifying unit 181 can specify the communication carrier. The filter control unit 165 controls the characteristics of the first variable filter 161 and the second variable filter 162 based on the second setting information when the communication carrier specifying unit 181 cannot specify the communication carrier.

  Next, a filter control method of mobile communication device 100 will be described with reference to FIG. When the mobile communication device 100 enters a state of starting communication, the communication carrier specifying unit 181 acquires information on the communication carrier from the mobile communication device 100 (S181). The communication carrier specifying unit 181 acquires a signal (for example, notification information) that specifies a communication carrier in radio waves (S182). Then, the communication carrier is specified by giving priority to the signal acquired in step S182 (S183). The communication method specifying unit 186 specifies the band to be used and the communication method (S186). For example, it is specified that the method is α using only band A, or carrier aggregation using method β using both bands A and B. When the filter setting does not depend on the communication method, it is necessary to confirm whether or not to use a plurality of bands at the same time, but it is not necessary to specify the method. The filter control unit 165 determines setting information to be used (S190). For example, if the system α uses only the band A, it is decided to use the setting information 196. If the carrier aggregation is based on the method β using both bands A and B in the system of the communication carrier 1, it is decided to use the setting information ABβ1 in the table 191. The filter control unit 165 controls the characteristics of the first variable filter 161 and the second variable filter 162 based on the determined setting information (S165). If the communication method or carrier aggregation setting has been changed, the process returns to step S182 (S185). Such processing is continued until communication is completed.

  Since the techniques shown in Patent Documents 1 and 2 are filter techniques for multiplexing and demultiplexing a transmission signal and a reception signal in the same band, even if the frequency band to be used is specified, the transmission frequency band and the reception frequency The band spacing does not increase. Therefore, it is considered that the variable filter is not actually used because the disadvantage that the characteristic is deteriorated by using the variable filter becomes larger than the advantage that the filter characteristic can be adjusted. On the other hand, the multiplexing / demultiplexing in the carrier aggregation is intended for signals in different bands. According to the mobile communication device 100, the filter characteristics can be set only in the frequency band that the mobile communication device 100 may use, so that the frequency interval can be widened. Therefore, the influence of the advantage that the filter characteristics can be adjusted can be made larger than the influence of the disadvantage that the characteristics are deteriorated by using the variable filter. Therefore, a mobile communication device with better characteristics can be provided.

[Modification]
In the first embodiment, the description has been given focusing on two bands for which the filter characteristics should be adjusted. This modification will be described on the assumption that there are three or more bands. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating frequency bands of bands 1 to 3. FIG. 9 is a functional configuration example of the mobile communication device according to the present modification, and FIG. Moreover, the processing flow regarding filter control is the same as FIG.

  In this example, the mobile communication device 300 is a mobile communication device that selects two bands from three bands and performs communication at the same time, and adjusts the characteristics of the filter in any combination of bands. . The mobile communication device 300 is different from the mobile communication device 100 in that the mobile communication device 300 includes a switch 367 for selecting a band and includes three transmission / reception circuits 170, 270, and 370 for the bands 1 to 3. Further, the information recorded in the recording unit 390 and the number of bands corresponding to the baseband signal generator 350 are different.

  The recording unit 390 records filter setting information for each combination of bands. Specifically, combinations of band 1 and band 2 are recorded in table 391, combinations of band 2 and band 3 are recorded in table 392, and combinations of band 1 and band 3 are recorded in table 393. In addition, setting information 396 for communication in band 1 only, setting information 397 for communication in band 2 only, and setting information 398 for communication in band 3 only are recorded. . That is, the setting information is recorded for each combination of bands that can be selected.

  Regarding the processing flow of the filter control, steps S181 to S183 are the same. Then, a band to be used and a communication method are specified (S186). In step S190, the filter control unit 165 determines setting information to be used in consideration of the combination of bands to be used. That is, when two bands used for carrier aggregation are determined, the two bands may be considered as band A and band B in the first embodiment. This concept can be applied in the same way even when the number of bands is four or more, if two bands are selected from them and carrier aggregation is performed. Therefore, the present invention can be applied even if the number of bands is 3 or more, and the same effect can be obtained.

100, 300, 700 Mobile communication device 110 Antenna 120, 220, 320 Duplexer 131, 231, 331 Power amplifier 132, 232, 332 Low noise amplifier 141, 241, 341 Quadrature modulator 142, 242, 342 Quadrature demodulator 143, 243 343 D / A converters 144, 244, 344 A / D converters 150, 350 Baseband signal generator 160, 760 MUX / DEMUX 161 First variable filter 162 Second variable filter 165 Filter control units 170, 270, 370 Transmission / reception circuit 181 Communication carrier specifying unit 186 Communication method specifying unit 190, 390 Recording unit 191, 391, 392, 393 Table 195 External medium 196, 197, 396, 397, 398 Setting information 367 Switch 761 First filter 762 Second Filter 90 Band 909,919 interval 910 frequency band

Claims (3)

A mobile communication device that performs communication simultaneously in both band A and band B,
Frequency band a is a part of the frequency band in band A, frequency band b is a part of the frequency band in band B,
An antenna,
A band A transceiver circuit for transmitting and receiving a band A signal;
A band B transmitting / receiving circuit for transmitting and receiving a band B signal;
A first variable filter that transmits a band A signal and blocks a band B signal; and a second variable filter that blocks a band A signal and transmits a band B signal. A signal is sent to the band A transmission / reception circuit side, a band B signal from the antenna side is sent to the band B transmission / reception circuit side, a band A signal from the band A transmission / reception circuit side and a band B transmission / reception circuit side A multiplexer / demultiplexer that multiplexes the signals of band B and sends them to the antenna side,
A telecommunications carrier identifying unit that obtains information on a telecommunications carrier from within the mobile communication device or acquires a signal indicating a telecommunications carrier included in radio waves,
A recording unit that records setting information of the first variable filter and the second variable filter;
A filter control unit for controlling characteristics of the first variable filter and the second variable filter;
With
The setting information includes
First setting information, which is information about the setting of the first variable filter and the second variable filter for the frequency band a usable in band A and the frequency band b usable in band B, for each communication carrier;
Second setting information that is setting information of the first variable filter and the second variable filter for the entire band A and the entire band B;
Contains
The filter control unit
When the telecommunications carrier specifying unit is able to specify the telecommunications carrier, control the characteristics of the first variable filter and the second variable filter based on the first setting information,
The mobile communication device characterized in that, when the communication carrier specifying unit cannot specify a communication carrier, the characteristics of the first variable filter and the second variable filter are controlled based on the second setting information. The mobile communication device according to claim 1,
Furthermore, a communication method specifying unit for specifying a communication method is provided,
The first setting information includes first variable filter and second variable filter for frequency band a usable in band A and frequency band b usable in band B for each combination of a communication carrier and a communication method. Configuration information,
The mobile communication device, wherein the second setting information is setting information of a first variable filter and a second variable filter for the entire band A and the entire band B for each communication method. The mobile communication device according to claim 1 or 2,
The mobile communication device is a mobile communication device that selects two bands from three or more bands and performs communication simultaneously,
The band A and the band B are two selected bands,
The mobile communication device, wherein the setting information is recorded for each combination of bands that can be selected.

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