OA17424A - RFIC configuration for reduced antenna trace loss. - Google Patents

Abstract

An RFIC configuration for reduced antenna trace loss is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, an apparatus includes a primary RFIC and a secondary RFIC that is configured to receive analog signals from at least two antennas. The secondary RFIC is configured to process selected analog signals received from at least one antenna to generate an analog output that is input to the primary RFIC.

Description

RFIC CONFIGURATION FOR REDUCED ANTENNA TRACE

LOSS

BACKGROUND

Field [0001] The présent application relates generally to the operation and design of wireless devices, and more particularly, to the configuration of radio frequency integrated circuit components for improved performance of a wireless device.

Background [0002] Modem smart phones and other portable devices hâve extended Lhe use of different wireless links with a variety of technologies in different radio frequency bands. Intense intégration of multiple transceivers in one radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC) chip or in one small module is increasingly required by consumer markets. However, as chips and modules gel smaller, antenna dimensions remain fixed due to the frequency bands in which they operate. Although antenna sharing is common, a typical smart phone may include two or more antennas to receive and transmit signais in various frequency bands. Inevitably, al least one of the antennas is located far from lhe device’s RFIC, and this distance introduces undesirable trace loss. By reducing trace loss, it is possible that signal quality and/or overall performance of the device with respect to a particular antenna or frequency band can be improved.

[0003] Accordingly, what is needed is an RFIC configuration to reduce trace loss in a multi-antenna wireless device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0004] The foregoing aspects described herein will become more readily apparent by référencé to lhe following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

[0005] FIG. 1 illustrâtes a conventional device having multiple antennas configured to communicate in multiple RF bands;

[0006] FIG. 2 shows a wireless device comprising an exemplary embodiment of an

RFIC configuration for reduced antenna trace loss;

[0007] FIG. 3 shows an exemplary ernbodîmenl of die secondary RFIC;

[0008] FIG. 4 shows a wireless device comprising an exemplary embodiment of an

RFIC configuration far reduced antenna trace loss; and [0009] FIG. 5 shows an exemplary embodiment of an apparatus comprising an

RFIC configuration for reduce antenna trace loss.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0010] The detailed description sel fordi below in connection wilh tlie appended drawings is intended as a description of exemplary embodiments of the invention and is 10 not intended to represent the only embodiments in which the invention can bc praclîced.

The term exemplary used throughoul this description means serving as an example, instance, or illustration, and should not necessarily be construed as preferred or advantageous over other exemplary embodiments. Tlie detailed description includes spécifie details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of the exemplary 15 embodiments of the invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in tlie art that the exemplary embodiments of tlie invention may be practiced without these spécifie details. In some instances, well known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring tlie novelty of the exemplary embodiments presented herein.

[0011] FIG. 1 illustrâtes a conventional device 100 having multiple antennas 20 configured to communicate in multiple RF bands. For example, the device 100 comprises a smart phone or other wireless device. The device 100 includes antennas 102, 104,106, and 108. Each antenna has a corresponding signal trace connecting it to an RFIC 110 thaï is configured to receive and/or transmit signais over the antennas. For example, the signal traces may be rouled on a circuit board or by dedicated connecting 25 wires located within the device 100.

[0012] The size of the antennas may necessitate their locations within tlie device 100. Thus, is it possible thaï one or more of the antennas are located within the device 100 such that their corresponding signal traces to the RFIC 110 are long enough to expérience significanl trace loss. For example, the antenna 104 is located relatively 30 close to the RFIC 110 and its corresponding signal trace 114 is relatively short compared to tlie longer signal trace 112 associated with the antenna 108, Longer signal traces lead may lead to unacccptable trace loss that dégradés tlie performance of the device. Accordingly, in various exemplary embodiments, an RFIC configuration is provided to reduce antenna trace loss in multi-antcnna devices.

[0013] FIG. 2 shows a wireless device 200 comprising an exemplary embodiment of an RFIC configuration for reduced antenna trace loss, The wireless device 200 comprises a primary RFIC 202 that is coupled to aniennas 206, 212 to transmit and/or receive RF signais with external devices. The wireless device 200 also comprises a secondary RFIC 204 that is coupled to antennas 208, 210 through signal traces 216 and

218 lo transmit and/or receive RF signais with extemal devices. In exemplary embodiments, the antennas 208 and 210 are configured for communication using one or more communication technologies. For example, the antenna 208 may be configured as a global navigation satellite syslem (GNSS) antenna to receive GNSS signais, and the 10 antenna 210 may be configured as a wireless wide area network (WWAN) receiver (Rx) diversity antenna to communicate with a wide area network, for example, a cellular wide area network. Il should be noted that the antennas 208 and 210 are not limited to any particular communication technology and may be configured for use with any wireless technology, such as GNSS. WWAN, wireless local area network (WLAN), 15 WiFi® (designating products using the IEEE 802.11 family of standards), Bluetooth (a wireless technology standard for exchanging data over short distances), or any other wireless technology.

[0014] In an exemplary embodiment, the secondary RFIC 204 receives analog signais from at least two antennas (i.e., the antennas 208, 210) and processes one or both 20 of these signais lo produce at least one analog output signal 214 that is input lo the primary RFIC 202. The analog output signal 214 may be further processed by the primary RFIC 202 as discussed in more detail below.

[0015] In an exemplary embodiment, the secondary RFIC 204 performs at least the following functions.

1. Receives signais from at least two antennas. Each antenna configured to communicate using a selected communication technology.

2. Provides processing of at least one of the received antenna signais (i.e, amplify, filter, down-convert, etc.).

3. Provides an analog output signal lo the primary RFIC.

4. Is positioned doser to one or more of the at least two antennas than is the primary RFIC to reduce trace loss associated with the antenna signal paths.

[0016] In various exemplary embodiments, the novel RFIC configuration comprises the secondary RFIC 204 which is located within a wireless device so that trace loss

associated with one or more antennas connected to the secondary RFIC can be reduced. For example, al least one of lhe signal traces 216 and 218 connecting the antennas 208 and 210 lo the secondary RFIC 204 is shorter and expériences less trace Ioss than if these signal traces were extended to connect tlie antennas 208 and 210 to the primary RFIC 202. The shorter signal traces resuit in reduced trace Ioss.

[0017] FIG. 3 shows an exemplary embodiment of the secondary RFIC 204. The secondary RFIC 204 comprises a first module 302 and a second module 304. The first module 302 processes signais that flow to/from tlie antenna 208. Tlie second module 304 processes signais thaï flow lo/from Lhe antenna 210. The antennas 208, 210 are configured to receive signais having tlie same or different frequency. The first module 302 communicates with the primary RFIC 202 (not shown) through communication line 214. The second module 304 communicates with other functional éléments al the device through the communication line 306. In an exemplary embodiment, each module is configured to process ai least one of global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signais, wireless wide area network (WWAN) communication signais, Wi-Fi communication signais, and Bluetooth communication signais. The antennas 208, 210 are configured to operate in the correspondîng frequency bands.

[0018] In an exemplary embodiment, the first module 302 receives analog RF signais from the antenna 208 and processes these signais to generate the analog output 214. The processing includes but is not limited to amplification, fïltering, downconvcrting or any other suitable process. The analog output 214 can be further processed by lhe primary RFIC. Thus, in an exemplary embodiment, the processing performed by the first module 302 comprises a sub-process associated with processing performed by the primary RFIC. In another exemplary embodiment, the first module 302 is coupled to multiple antennas. Thus, one or more antennas in addition to the antenna 208 are coupled to the first module 302. The first module 302 processes the multiple antennas coupled to it to generate lhe analog output 214 to the primary RFIC.

[0019] Accordingly, die secondary RFIC 204 is configured lo process signais that flow lo/from at least two antennas and provide a processed analog signal Lo lhe primary RFIC 202 using the communication line 214. This configuration allows the secondary RFIC 204 lo be positioned within die device so dial antenna traces lo the secondary RFIC 204 are short. As a resuit, the shorter trace lengths resuit in reduced trace Ioss.

[0020] FIG. 4 shows a wireless device 400 comprising an exemplary embodiment of an RFIC configuration that includes tlie secondary RFIC 204 that provides reduced antenna trace loss, The device 400 comprises antennas 402, 404, 406, and 408. A primary RFIC 410 is configured to receive signais from antennas 404 and 408. The secondary RFIC 204 is configured to receive signais from antennas 402 and 406. In an exemplary embodiment, the secondary RFIC 204 includes a first module (Ml) comprising an LNA 302 that processes signais received from the antenna 402 in a first frequency band. The secondary RFIC 204 also includes a second module (M2) that comprises a receive circuit 304 that processes signais received from die antenna 406 in a second frequency band. For example, the receive circuit 304 may be a GNSS receive circuit thaï processes GNSS signais received by the antenna 406. The proccssed GNSS 10 signais are tlien passed to a GNSS processor 412 for further processing at the device 400.

In another exemplary embodiment, the GNSS processor 412 is located at Üie receiver

304 so that the GNSS front end is located in the secondary RFIC 204. Thus, the secondary RFIC 204 is configured to comprise a variely of functional configurations to process analog signais associated with al least two antennas.

[0021] By încluding the secondary RFIC 204 in the device 400, various functions originally provided by the primary RFIC 410 can be partitioned to the secondary RFIC 204, which can be located doser to the appropriate antennas to reduce signal trace length and tliereby reduce trace loss. For ex ample, llic secondary RFIC 204 is configured to process the analog antenna signais it receives from the antennas 402 and 20 406 and generale at least one analog output signal 214. For example, the secondary

RFIC 204 may provide amplification, down-conversion, filtering and/or any other functions to process the received analog signais from two or more antennas to produce the analog output signal 214. ln a spécifie implémentation, the antenna 402 may be a GNSS antenna and its received signal may be amplified by the LNA 302. The analog 25 output of the LNA 302 is transmitted to the primary RFIC 410 in the analog signal 214.

The primary RFIC 410 comprises receiver 412 that receives the amplified analog signal and performs further processing. For example, the receiver 412 may be a GNSS front end processor that processes tlie amplified GNSS signal to perform position/location functions. Thus, in an exemplary embodiment, the processing performed by the first 30 module 302 comprises a sub-process associated with processing performed by the receiver 412 of tlie primary RFIC 400.

[0022] The antenna 406 may be a WW AN Rx diversity antenna and its received signal may be input to the second module M2 whîch may comprise a WW AN Rx diversity receiver 304 configured to receive and down-convert a WWAN Rx diversity signal. B y positioning the secondary RFIC 204 doser to at least one of tlie antennas 402 and 406, the trace loss associated with the input signal patlis of tlie antennas 402, 406 is reduced as compared to the conventional device configuration shown in FIG. 1.

[0023] In another exemplary embodiment, tlie antenna 406 may be configured to receive WiFi signais and the receiver 304 is configured to process tlie received WiFi signais. Thus, the secondary RFIC 204 may receive and process signais associated with any communication or information technology, It should also be noted that the novel configuration is not limited to having only one secondary RFIC, such that any number of secondary RFICs can be utilized.

[0024] Accordingly, tlie novel RFIC configuration comprises at least one secondary

RFIC configured to process analog signais from at least two antennas. The secondary RFIC is positioned close to ils respective antennas to reduce trace length and thereby reduce trace loss. In various exemplary embodiments, one or more of the following features are provided by the novel RFIC configuration.

1. Antenna trace loss is reduced

2. Functions are partitioned between primary and secondary RFICs

3. Reduced cost and circuit board area

4. Secondary RFIC configured to provide processing for analog signais associated with at least two antennas

5, Secondary RFIC performs sub-processes for primary RFIC [0025] FIG. 5 shows an exemplary embodiment of an apparatus 500 comprising an RFIC configuration for reduce antenna trace loss. In an aspect, the apparatus 500 is implemented by one or more modules configured to provide the functions as described herein. For example, in an aspect, each module comprises hardware and/or hardware 25 executing software.

[0026] The apparatus 500 comprises a first module comprising means (502) for receiving first signais from a first antenna, which in an aspect comprises the primary RFIC 202.

[0027] The apparatus 500 also comprises a second module comprising means (504) for receiving analog signais from at least two additional antennas, tlie means for receiving the analog signais configured to process selected analog signais received from at least one additional antenna to générale an analog output that is input to the means for receiving the first signais, which in an aspect comprises the secondary RFIC 204.

Λ [0028] Those of skill in tlie art would understand that information and signais may be represented or processcd using any of a variety of different technologies and techniques. For example, data, instructions, commanda, information, signais, bits, symbols, and chips thaï may be referenced throughoul the above description may be represented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, optical fields or particles, or any combination thereof. It is further noted thaï transistor types and technologies may be substituted, rearranged or otherwise modified to achieve the same results. For example, circuits shown utilizing PMOS transistors may be modified to use NMOS transistors and vice versa. Thus, the aniplifiers disclosed herein may be realized using a variety of transistor types and technologies and are not limited to those transistor types and technologies illustrated in the Drawings. For example, transistors types such as BJT, GaAs, MOSFET or any other transistor technology may be used.

(0029] Those of skill would further appreciate that the various illustrative logical blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithm steps described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented as eiectronic hardware, computer software, or combinations of both. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software, various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps hâve been described above generally in tenus of their funclionality. Whether such funclionality is implemented as hardware or software dépends upon the particular application and design constrainls imposed on the overall system. Skilled artisans may implement the described funclionality in varying ways for each particular application, but such implémentation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the exemplary embodiments of the invention.

[0030] The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and circuits described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented or performed with a general purpose processor, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), an Application Spécifie Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field Programmable Gâte Array (FPGA) or oihcr programmable logic device, discrète gale or transistor logic, discrète hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform tlie functions described herein. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor may be any conventional processor, controller, microconlroller, or state machine. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices,

e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one oç or more microprocessors in conjonction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration.

[0031] The steps of a method or algorithm described in connection with the embodîments disclosed herein may be embodied directly in hardware, in a software 5 module executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two, A software module may résidé in Random Access Memory (RAM), flash memory, Read Only Memory (ROM), Electrically Programmable ROM (EPROM), Eleclrically Erasable Programmable ROM (EEPROM), registers, hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is 10 coupled to the processor such thaï the processor can read information from, and write information to, the storage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium may be intégral to the processor. The processor and the storage medium may résidé in an AS1C. The ASIC may résidé in a user terminal. In the alternative, the processor and the storage medium may résidé as discrète components in a user terminal.

[0032] In one or more exemplary embodîments, the fonctions described may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. If implemented in software, the fonctions may be stored on or transmitted over as one or more instructions or code on a computer-readable medium. Computer-readable media includes both non-transi tory computer storage media and communication media 20 including any medium that facilitâtes transfer of a computer program from one place to another. A non-transitory storage media may be any available media that can be accessed by a computer. By way of example, and not limitation, such computerreadable media can comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium 25 that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a computer. Also, any connection is properly termed a computer-readable medium. For example, if tlic software is transmitted front a website, server, or other remote source using a coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, digital subscriber line (DSL), or wireless technologies such as 30 infrared, radio, and microwave, then the coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, DSL, or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and inicrowave are included in the définition of medium. Disk and dise, as used herein, includes compact dise (CD), laser dise, optical dise, digital versatile dise (DVD), floppy disk and blu-ray dise where disks usually reproduce data magnetically, while dises reproduce data optically with

lasers. Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope of computer-readable media.

[0033] The description of the dîsclosed exemplary embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the invention, Various modifications 5 to these exemplary embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to Ollier embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the invention is not intended to be limited to the exemplary embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features dîsclosed herein,

Claims (19)

1. a primary radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC); and a secondary RF1C configured to receive analog signais from at least two antennas, the secondary RFIC configured lo process selected analog signais received from at least one antenna to generate an analog output tliat is input to the primary RFIC.
2. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, the primary RFIC is coupled to receive signais from at least one additional antenna.
3. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, tlie secondary RFIC comprising at least iwo modules coupled lo tlie at least two antennas, rcspectively.
4. 4. The apparatus of claim 3, at least one module provides selected processitig on al least one analog signal lo generate lhe analog oulpul.
5. 5. The apparatus of claim 4, the selecled processing comprises at least one of amplifying, filtering, downeonverting, and up-converting.
6. 6. The apparatus of claim 4, the selected processing comprises a subprocess associated with processing performed by the primary RFIC,
7. 7. The apparatus of claim 3, each module is configured lo process al least one of global navigation satellite System (GNSS) signais, wireless wide area network (WWAN) communication signais, Wi-Fi communication signais, and Bluetooth communication signais.
8. 8. The apparatus of claim 3, each of die at least two antennas is configured to receive signais in al least one of a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) frequency band, a wireless wide area network (WWAN) communication frequency band, a Wi-Fi communication band, and a Bluetooth communication band.

   l I
9. 9. The apparatus of claim 1, the at least two antennas are configured to receive signais having the sanie or different frequency.
10. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, the secondary RFIC positioned within the apparatus to reduce trace loss associated with the at least one antenna.
11. 11. An apparatus comprising:

    means for receiving first signais from a first antenna; and means for receiving analog signais from at least two antennas, the means for receiving analog signais configured to process selected analog signais received from at least one antenna to generate an analog output that is inpuL to the means for receiving the first signais.
12. 12. The apparatus of claim 11, the means for receiving analog signais comprising at least two modules coupled to tlie at least two antennas, respectively.
13. 13. The apparatus of claim 12, at least one module provides selected processing on at least one analog signal to generate the analog output.
14. 14. The apparatus of claim 13, the selected processing comprises at least one of amplifying, fïltering, downconverting, and up-convcrting.
15. 15. The apparatus of claim 13, tlie selected processing comprises a subprocess associated with processing performed by the means for receiving tlie first signais.
16. 16. The apparatus of daim 12, each module is configured to process at least one of global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signais, wireless wide area network (WWAN) communication signais, Wi-Fi communication signais, and Bluetooth communication signais,
17. 17. The apparatus of claim 11, each of the at least two antennas is configured to receive signais in at least one of a global navigation satellite system (GNSS)

    I2 frequency band, a wireless wide area network (WWAN) communication frequency band, a Wi-Fi communication band, and a Bluetooth communication band.
18. 18. The apparatus of claim 11, the at least two antennas are configured to 5 receive signais having the same or different frequency.
19. 19. The apparatus of claim 11, the means for receiving analog signais positioned within the apparatus to reduce trace loss associated with the al least one of the antennas.