KR20080005295A - Radio apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A radio apparatus (400) comprises first and second antennas (42, 44), a first transceiver (40) having a first transmitter (60) and a first receiver (61), a second receiver (62), a switching means (45, 46) arranged to provide selectable first and second states, and a control means (50) adapted to select between the first and second states for simultaneous transmission by the first transmitter (60) and reception by the second receiver (62). The switching means (45, 46) enables the first transmitter (60) to be coupled to either one of the first and second antennas (42, 44) and simultaneously the second receiver (62) to be coupled to the other of the antennas (42, 44), but prohibits coupling of both the first transmitter (60) and the second receiver (62) to a common antenna (42 or 44).

Description

Wireless device {RADIO APPARATUS}

The present invention relates to a wireless device incorporating antenna diversity.

Antenna diversity is well known as a way to improve communication quality in systems where wireless signals are affected by multipath propagation. Some configurations of antenna diversity provide a choice between a plurality of antennas for transmission or reception, while others provide a combination of signals received via the plurality of antennas. The latter category of configuration requires a relatively complex receiver capable of combining signals. The configuration of the former category, referred to as antenna selection diversity, requires a relatively simple receiver and is of the highest relevance to the present invention.

1 shows an example of a wireless device using antenna select diversity. It includes a transceiver (Tx / Rx) 10 connected to the selector switch 16. The selector switch 16 is controllable to connect either one of the two antennas 12, 13 to the transceiver 10. Thus, the antenna can be selected for both transmitting and receiving. A controller (not shown) controls the selector switch 16, the selection being based on the received signal quality.

Wireless devices equipped to operate with more than one signal type, such as mobile phone signals for communicating with mobile telephone networks, as well as for transmitting and receiving Bluetooth ^TM signals for communicating with Bluetooth ^TM capable headsets or personal computers. Also provided are mobile phones equipped, and mobile phones equipped to also receive Global Positioning System (GPS) signals. Other combinations may be envisioned, for example, a mobile phone equipped to receive a television signal as well. Such an apparatus is referred to herein as a "dual signal apparatus" and is characterized by the ability to simultaneously transmit and receive different signals carrying different data bits. The term "dual signal device" does not exclude the possibility that such device transmits and receives more than two signals simultaneously.

2 shows an example of a dual signal device. It comprises two transceivers 10, 11, each transceiver connected to an antenna 12, 14, respectively. One of the transceivers may be replaced by a receiver, for example, if necessary for the reception of a broadcast signal from a broadcast system for which no return transmission is required by that system. As shown in FIG. 2, the dual signal device may include at least one antenna for each receiver or transceiver to provide separation between different signals transmitted and received simultaneously. It will be possible for the two transceivers 10, 11 to use a common antenna, but in this case the filters will need to be integrated to ensure proper separation between the two transceivers 10, 11. Such a filter is undesirable because it will not only increase component count and cost, but will also increase passband loss and reduce transmitter efficiency.

In order to improve the communication quality of the dual signal antenna, the antenna diversity shown in FIG. 1 may be applied to the apparatus shown in FIG. The resulting device architecture is shown in FIG. 3, with elements common to FIGS. 3 and 1 or 2 being given the same reference numerals. In order to provide antenna diversity for the two transceivers 10, 11, four antennas 12, 13, 14, 15 are provided and a dual selector switch 18 comprising two selector switches 16. Is needed. Although the controller controlling the switch is not shown, each selector switch 16 will generally be controlled independently since the multipath propagation experienced by each signal will be independent. The device shown in FIG. 3 requires four antennas, which increases the size of the device.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved wireless device suitable for dual signal operation and incorporating antenna diversity.

According to the present invention, there is provided a wireless device, which wireless device,

First and second antennas,

A first transceiver comprising a first transmitter and a first receiver,

With a second receiver,

Switching means arranged to provide a selectable first and second state, in the first state, the output of the first transmitter is connected to the first antenna but not to the second antenna, and the input of the second receiver is the second antenna Is connected to but not to the first antenna, and in the second state, the output of the first transmitter is connected to the second antenna but not to the first antenna, and the input of the second receiver is connected to the first antenna but Not connected to the antenna—and

Control means for selecting between the first and second states for reception by the second receiver concurrently with transmission by the first transmitter.

The apparatus operates to ensure that simultaneous transmission and reception of different signals occurs through different antennas. The present invention incorporates antenna diversity, but by requiring fewer antennas than the device shown in FIG. 3, a dual signal device that enables a more compact device and simplifies the requirements for providing separation between the transmitter and receiver. To provide. In order to benefit from these advantages, the device cannot independently select an antenna for simultaneous transmission and reception of different signals. However, such constraints are believed to result in an acceptable signal level, for example, rather than an unacceptable signal level, which is expected in most locations within the coverage area of the wireless system, for example. It is acceptable in the environment.

In one embodiment, when the first and second receivers receive simultaneously, the device connects the first and second receivers to different ones of the first and second antennas. Such an environment has the advantage of being simple to implement.

In another embodiment, when the first and second receivers receive simultaneously, the device independently connects either one of the first and second receivers to either the first or second antenna. Such an embodiment has the advantage of providing independent receive diversity for both receivers.

The selection of the state by the control means may depend on the indication of the signal quality. Various alternative different signal quality criteria may be used for antenna selection. For example, the indication of signal quality may be obtained from a quality parameter measured for one or more of the signal received by the first receiver and the signal received by the second receiver via either or both of the first and second antennas. Can be generated. In this way, the device can make a selection to optimize its own reception quality.

The selection of the state by the control means can be made in response to the value of the signal received via at least one of the first and second antennas. In this way, the device may make a selection to receive a signal sent by the device and to optimize reception by an external device sending a command to the device to change states or an indication of the signal quality measured by the external device. Can be.

Combinations of the above state selection criteria can be used.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings as an example.

1 is a schematic block diagram of a conventional antenna diversity apparatus.

2 is a schematic block diagram of a conventional dual signal device.

3 is a schematic block diagram of a dual signal device with antenna diversity.

4 is a schematic block diagram of an apparatus according to the invention.

5 is a flow chart of a method of operating the apparatus of FIG.

6 is a schematic block diagram of another apparatus according to the present invention;

Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown a first embodiment of a wireless device 400 according to the present invention, wherein the wireless device 400 includes a first antenna 42, a second antenna 44, and a first transmitter ( A first transceiver 40 comprising a 60) and a first receiver 61, and a second receiver 62. The first transceiver 40 may be, for example, a mobile telephone transceiver for communication with a Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) network, a Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) network, or another mobile telephone network. The second receiver 62 receives a different signal carrying different data bits than the first receiver 61. For example, the second receiver 62 may be a broadcast receiver that receives a digital television signal, such as a digital video broadcast (DVB), or in particular a digital video broadcast handheld (DVB-H) signal, or any other broadcast signal. .

There are switching means 45, 46 comprising an antenna selector means 46 and a routing means 45. The antenna selector means 46 connects either one of the antennas 42 or 44 to the first transceiver 40 via the routing means 45 and the other of the antennas 42 or 44 to the second receiver 62. It functions as a changeover switch arranged to connect to the The routing means 45 may be configured to include the first transmitter (if the first transceiver 40 is adapted for half duplex operation, ie if it can transmit or receive a signal but does not perform such an operation simultaneously). 60) and the first receiver 61 may be a switch connecting the antenna selector means. Half-duplex operation can be used in a time division multiple access (TDMA) system where transmission and reception do not have to occur simultaneously, although it may give the user an impression of full duplex operation. Alternatively, the routing means 45 is adapted to the case where the first transceiver 40 is adapted for full duplex operation, i.e., it can transmit and receive signals simultaneously, or the first transceiver 40 is half duplex operation. Even if it is adapted for, it may be a duplexer.

The switching means 45, 46 have the output of the first transmitter 60 connected to the first antenna 42 but not the second antenna 44, and the input of the second receiver 62 to the second antenna. A first state connected to the 44 but not to the first antenna 42 and the output of the first transmitter 60 is connected to the second antenna 44 but not to the first antenna 42, The input of the second receiver 62 provides a second state that is connected to the first antenna 42 but not to the second antenna 44. The selection of the state of the switching means 45, 46 is controlled by a control means 50, such as a microcontroller. The control means 50 selects one of the first and second states when it is necessary to receive by the second receiver 62 simultaneously with the transmission by the first transmitter 60.

Optionally, the signal quality measuring means 52 connected to the control means 50 for measuring at least one quality parameter of the signal received by the first receiver 61 and the signal received by the second receiver 62. , 53). The quality parameter may be one or more of signal level, signal to noise ratio, signal to interference ratio, bit error rate, frame error rate, or any other parameter indicative of signal quality. The control means 50 selects the state of the switching means 45, 46 according to the value of the measured quality parameter.

Alternatively, or in addition, device 400 may receive a command from an external device, including a command, or a signal including a quality indication of a signal transmitted by and received by the device 400, such a command or The indication is used to select the state of the switching means 45, 46. For example, the external device may report if the signal it receives from the device 400 falls below a predetermined quality threshold for a predetermined time duration.

5, an example of a method of selecting the state of the switching means 45, 46 is shown. By way of example, the first transceiver 40 is considered to be a GSM transceiver and the second receiver 62 is considered to be a DVB receiver. Such a method is initiated in step 100, where the initial state of the switching means 45, 46 is arbitrarily selected such that an antenna for each of the first transceiver 40 and the second receiver 62 is arbitrarily selected. do.

The flow proceeds to step 110 where a test is performed to determine whether the device currently needs to operate as a GSM phone and / or DVB receiver, in accordance with the user requirements indicated by the user interface. If the device only needs to operate as a GSM phone, the flow proceeds to step 120, where signal quality measurement means 52, such as a received signal strength indication (RSSI) circuit, is used for the received GSM signal. Signal quality measurements are performed and a test is performed to determine whether the measured value exceeds a predetermined value T _GSM . If the measured value exceeds the predetermined value T _GSM , the flow returns to step 110. The current state of the switching means is maintained and the test in step 110 is repeated in a loop to detect when the user indicates a requirement for receiving a DVB signal.

If the test at step 120 indicates that the measured value does not exceed the predetermined value T _GSM , the flow proceeds to step 130 where the antennas are switched so that the other antenna is now the first transceiver. To (40). Then, in step 140, the same test as in step 120 is performed to determine whether the GSM signal, now received by the other antenna, satisfies the quality criteria. If the measured value exceeds the predetermined value T _GSM , the flow returns to step 110.

If the test at step 140 indicates that the measured value does not exceed the predetermined value T _GSM , this is a GSM of sufficient quality so that neither of the antennas 42 or 44 exceeds the quality threshold requirement T _GSM . Signal is received, and in step 150, an antenna that receives a better quality GSM signal is selected for use by the first transceiver 40. The flow then returns to step 110.

If in step 110 the device only needs to operate as a DVB receiver, the flow proceeds to step 160, where the signal for the received DVB signal is received by means of signal quality measuring means 53, such as an RSSI circuit. A quality measurement is performed and a test is performed to determine whether the measured value exceeds a predetermined value T _DVB . If the measured value exceeds the predetermined value T _DVB , the flow returns to step 110. The current state of the switching means is maintained and the test in step 110 is repeated in a loop to detect when the user indicates a requirement for receiving a GSM signal.

If the test at step 160 indicates that the measured value does not exceed the predetermined value T _DVB , the flow proceeds to step 170 where the antennas are switched so that the other antenna is now a second receiver. To (62). Then, in step 180, the same test as in step 160 is performed to determine whether the DVB signal currently received by the second receiver 62 meets the quality criteria. If the measured value exceeds the predetermined value T _DVB , the flow returns to step 110.

If the test in step 180 indicates that the measured value does not exceed the predetermined value T _DVB , this indicates that the DVB is of sufficient quality so that neither of the antennas 42 or 44 exceeds the quality threshold requirement T _TVB . Signal not being received, and in step 190, an antenna that receives a higher quality DVB signal is selected for use by the second receiver 62. The flow then returns to step 110.

Other antenna selection criteria may be used. For example, if the device is required to operate as only one mode, i.e., a GSM mobile phone or a DVB receiver, the control means 50 provides an antenna which provides a signal exceeding an appropriate quality threshold T _GSM or T _DVB . It is operable to select an antenna 42 or 44 that provides a higher quality signal without selecting.

If the test at step 110 indicates that the device needs to operate simultaneously as both a GSM mobile phone and a DVB receiver, then the flow proceeds to steps 160 to 190, where any antenna is connected to the second receiver ( The determination of whether or not to connect to 62 is based on whether the selection criteria for the DVB signal in steps 160 and 180 are met, and the first transceiver 40 is an antenna (not used by the second receiver 62). 42 or 44).

Alternatively, if the test at step 110 indicates that the device needs to operate simultaneously as both a GSM mobile phone and a DVB receiver, then the flow proceeds to steps 120 to 150 where any antennas are removed. The determination of whether it is connected to the first transceiver 40 is based on whether it meets the selection criteria for the GSM signal in steps 120 and 140, and the second receiver 62 is used by the antenna first transceiver 40. To an antenna 42 or 44 that is not connected.

Alternatively, if the test in step 110 indicates that the device needs to operate simultaneously as both a GSM mobile phone and a DVB receiver, the selection criteria may take into account the quality of both the received GSM signal and the received DVB signal. Can be. For example, such a scheme may operate to ensure that both GSM and DVB signals are received at a level higher than the appropriate quality threshold T _GSM or T _DVB where possible.

Alternatively or additionally, the selection criteria may take into account the value of the signal received by either of the first and second receivers 61, 62, as described above. In this way, the device may make a selection to receive a signal sent by the device and optimize the reception by an external device sending a command to the device to change state or an indication of the signal quality measured by the external device. have.

4, as described above, the control means 50 is one of the first and second states when the reception by the second receiver 62 is required simultaneously with the transmission by the first transmitter 60. Select. Optionally, if the device 400 is required to simultaneously receive different signals by the first receiver 61 and the second receiver 62, depending on the requirements of the system in which the device 400 operates or according to user requirements. The control means 50 can select one of the third and fourth states. In the third state, the input of the first receiver 61 is connected to the first antenna 42 but not to the second antenna 44, and the input of the second receiver 62 is connected to the second antenna 44. Connected but not to the first antenna 42. In the fourth state, the input of the first receiver 61 is connected to the second antenna 44 but not to the first antenna 42, and the input of the second receiver 62 is connected to the first antenna 42. But not to the second antenna 44. The control means 50 selects between the third and fourth states for simultaneous reception by the first and second receivers 61, 62 using one or more of the selection criteria described above.

If the first transceiver 40 switches back and forth between transmission and reception, i.e., half-duplex operation, the control means 50 switches the device 400 to one of the first and second states, Will switch between one of the fourth states. Typically, but not by way of limitation, reception by the first receiver 61 and transmission by the first transmitter 60 are common in most cases, although the specific choice of antenna will change as the propagation conditions change. It can be generated via an antenna. This corresponds in most cases to devices using states 1 and 3 and states 2 and 4. Optionally, reselection of states can occur upon exchange between transmission and reception.

If the first transceiver 40 operates the transmission by the first transmitter 60 and the reception by the first receiver 61 simultaneously, i.e., in full duplex operation, the apparatus 400 as described with reference to FIG. ) May operate simultaneously in states 1 and 3, or simultaneously in states 2 and 4, and control means 50 will control the selection of these pairs, according to one or more of the selection criteria described above.

6, a second embodiment of a wireless device 500 in accordance with the present invention is shown. Except for the differences described below, the elements of the second embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment described above with reference to FIG. 4 and have the same reference numerals. The difference is as follows.

(i) The antenna selector means 46 of FIG. 6 includes an antenna 42 comprising connections for each of the first transceiver 40 and the second receiver 62 to the same or different antennas 42, 44. It acts as a pair of selector switches 48 configured to independently connect to any one of 44).

(ii) The switching means 45, 46 in the second embodiment provide first, second, third and fourth states as described above in connection with the first embodiment, and the fifth and sixth states. Provides additional. In the fifth state, the input of the first receiver 61 and the input of the second receiver 62 are connected to the first antenna 42 but not to the second antenna 44. In the sixth state, the input of the first receiver 61 and the input of the second receiver 62 are connected to the second antenna 44 but not to the first antenna 42. The control means selects one of the first and second states when the reception by the second receiver 62 is required simultaneously with the transmission by the first transmitter 60, and the first and second receivers 61, 62. When simultaneous reception is required, select one of the third, fourth, fifth or sixth states using one or more of the selection criteria described above.

(iii) If the first transceiver 40 can perform full-duplex operation, i.e., if reception by the first receiver 61 is possible simultaneously with transmission by the first transmitter 60, the configuration of both selected states is If compiled, one of the third, fourth, fifth or sixth state may be selected simultaneously with one of the first and second states. For example, the selection of the first and third states may include the first transmitter 60 and the first receiver 61 to the first antenna 42 and the second receiver 62 to the second antenna 44. Will connect at the same time. As another example, the selection of the first and sixth states simultaneously connects the first transmitter 60 to the first antenna 42 and the first and second receivers 61, 62 to the second antenna 44 at the same time. will be. Thus, transmission and reception by the first transceiver 40 can occur simultaneously through different antennas. An example of a combination of states that cannot be implemented because of a conflicting state is the simultaneous combination of states 1 and 5.

The embodiment of FIG. 6 may operate in accordance with the method described above with respect to FIG. 5, or may use variations of the method using additional fifth and sixth states.

At least one of the first and second receivers 61, 62 may receive a signal divided into a time frame, such as a GSM signal or a DVB-H signal. In this case, the control means 50 can reselect the state of the switching means 45, 46 only at the time frame boundary while such a signal is received, so that the received signal is not compromised by the reselection. .

The first transceiver 40 may alternately transmit and receive in time division mode, and includes a period during which neither transmission nor reception occurs, during which power savings may be implemented. Similarly, the second receiver 62 may alternate the period of reception with the period during which no reception occurs, to enable power saving during periods of no reception. The control means 50 is in the following states, i.e., not transmitted by the first transmitter 60, not received by the first receiver 61, and not received by the second receiver 62. The state of the switching means 45, 46 can only be reselected while at least one is satisfied.

Optionally, the device 400 or 500 may include a second transceiver that includes a second receiver 62 and a second transmitter. In this case, the control means 50 and the switching means 45 and 46 generate simultaneous transmissions by the first transmitter 60 and the second transmitter through different ones of the antennas 42 and 44, thereby generating a common antenna ( It is further possible to ensure that simultaneous transmissions via 42 or 44 are avoided, and that reception by the first receiver 61 occurs simultaneously with transmission by the second transmitter via different ones of the antennas 42 and 44, thereby creating a common It is possible to ensure that reception by the first receiver 61 at the same time as transmission by the second transmitter via the antenna 42 or 44 is avoided.

The measuring means 52, 53 can be integrated or separated with the respective receivers 61, 62.

The switching means 45, 46 can be implemented using electronic or electromechanical techniques.

Although the invention has been described with reference to two antennas and two receivers, and optionally two transceivers, the use of more antennas, receivers or transceivers is not excluded.

Although embodiments have been described with particular reference to GSM and DVB, the present invention may be used in conjunction with other wireless systems, such as a wireless local area network (WLAN) or digital audio broadcast (DAB).

Although exemplary criteria for selecting a state of the device 400 or 500 have been described, the use of other selection criteria is not excluded.

In the specification and claims, the term "one" before an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. Moreover, the term "comprising" does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those listed.

Reference signs in parentheses in the claims are for the purpose of understanding and not limitation.

Those skilled in the art will clearly understand that other variations are possible by reading the disclosure of the present invention. Such modifications may include other features that are already known in the art of wireless communication and antenna diversity schemes, and that may be used in place of or in addition to the features already described herein.

Claims (9)

In a wireless device, The first and second antennas 42 and 44, A first transceiver 40 comprising a first transmitter 60 and a first receiver 61, The second receiver 62, Switching means 45, 46 arranged to provide a selectable first and second state, in which the output of the first transmitter 60 is connected to the first antenna 42 but the second Not connected to the antenna 44, the input of the second receiver 62 is connected to the second antenna 44 but not to the first antenna 42, in the second state, the first The output of the transmitter 60 is connected to the second antenna 44 but not to the first antenna 42, and the input of the second receiver 62 is connected to the first antenna 42. But not connected to the second antenna 44—and Control means (50) for selecting between said first and second states for reception by said second receiver (62) simultaneously with transmission by said first transmitter (60). Wireless device. The method of claim 1, The switching means 45, 46 have a selectable third and fourth state, In the third state, the input of the first receiver 61 is connected to the first antenna 42 but not to the second antenna 44, and the input of the second receiver 62 is Is connected to the second antenna 44 but not to the first antenna 42, In the fourth state, the input of the first receiver 61 is connected to the second antenna 44 but not to the first antenna 42, and the input of the second receiver 62 is Is connected to the first antenna 42 but not to the second antenna 44, The control means (50) select between the third and fourth states for simultaneous reception by the first and second receivers (61, 62). The method of claim 2, The switching means 45, 46 have selectable fifth and sixth states, In the fifth state, the input of the first receiver 61 and the input of the second receiver 62 are connected to the first antenna 42 but not to the second antenna 44, In the sixth state, the input of the first receiver 61 and the input of the second receiver 62 are connected to the second antenna 44 but not to the first antenna 42, Said control means (50) selecting between said third, fourth, fifth and sixth states for simultaneous reception by said first and second receivers (61, 62). The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, Measuring means 52, 53 for generating an indication of signal quality by measuring a quality parameter of at least one of the signal received by the first receiver 61 and the signal received by the second receiver 62; , The control means (50) selects the state of the switching means in accordance with the indication of the signal quality. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The control means (50) select the state of the switching means (45, 46) in response to the value of the received signal. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, The control means 50 has the following conditions, that is, the first transmitter 60 does not transmit, the first receiver 61 does not receive, the second receiver 62 receives Wireless device for reselecting the state of the switching means (45, 46) only while one or more of the non-states are satisfied. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, The first transceiver (40) operates on a mobile telephone network. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, The second receiver (62) receives a broadcast signal. The method of claim 8, And the broadcast signal is a digital television signal or a digital audio signal.

Images