Dual frequency band wireless LAN
View Patent ↗A dual band radio is constructed using a primary and secondary transceiver. The primary transceiver is a complete radio that is operational in a stand alone configuration. The secondary transceiver is a not a complete radio and is configured to re-use components such as fine gain control and fine frequency stepping of the primary transceiver to produce operational frequencies of the secondary transceiver. The primary transceiver acts like an intermediate frequency device for the secondary transceiver. Switches are utilized to divert signals to/from the primary transceiver from/to the secondary transceiver. The switches are also configured to act as gain control devices. Antennas are selected using either wideband or narrowband antenna switches that are configured as a diode bridge having high impedance at operational frequencies on control lines that bias the diodes.
1. A method of performing wireless LAN (WLAN) communications with a dual band WLAN device, the method comprising:
listening for primary communication signals in a primary frequency band;
initiating WLAN operations in the primary frequency band when the primary communication signals are detected;
listening for secondary communication signals in a secondary frequency band when the primary communication signals are not detected, each frequency band being defined by a standard; and
initiating WLAN operations in the secondary frequency band when the secondary communication signals are detected,
wherein initiating WLAN operations in the secondary frequency band includes:
in a first operation,
converting a first signal generated by a primary transceiver in the primary frequency band to the secondary frequency band in a secondary transceiver, the secondary transceiver using features of the primary transceiver to perform as a radio frequency device; and
transmitting the first signal in the secondary frequency band;
in a second operation,
receiving a second signal in the secondary frequency band in the secondary transceiver;
converting the second signal to the primary frequency band in the secondary transceiver; and
processing the second signal in the primary frequency band in the primary transceiver,
wherein the primary transceiver performs all fine gain and frequency adjustments for the primary and secondary transceivers.
2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising repeating listening for primary communication signals and initiating WLAN operations in the primary frequency band if no WLAN operations have been initiated or if previously established WLAN operations have ceased.
3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the repeating is performed at a predetermined interval.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein:
the method is embodied in a set of computer instructions stored on a computer readable storage medium; and
the set of computer instructions, when loaded into a computer, cause the computer to perform steps of the method.
5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the set of computer instructions are compiled computer instructions stored as an executable program on the computer readable storage medium.
6. A method of performing wireless LAN (WLAN) communications with a dual band WLAN device, the method comprising:
listening for primary communication signals in a primary frequency band;
initiating WLAN operations in the primary frequency band when the primary communication signals are detected;
listening for secondary communication signals in a secondary frequency band when the primary communication signals are not detected, each frequency band being defined by a standard; and
initiating WLAN operations in the secondary frequency band when the secondary communication signals are detected,
wherein initiating WLAN operations in the secondary frequency band includes:
in a first operation,
converting a first signal generated by a primary transceiver in the primary frequency band to the secondary frequency band in a secondary transceiver, the secondary transceiver using features of the primary transceiver to perform as a radio frequency device; and
transmitting the first signal in the secondary frequency band;
in a second operation,
receiving a second signal in the secondary frequency band in the secondary transceiver;
directing flow of the second signal via switching that properly sizes the second signal so as not to saturate any components of the primary transceiver;
converting the second signal to the primary frequency band in the secondary transceiver; and
processing the second signal in the primary frequency band in the primary transceiver,
wherein the primary transceiver performs all fine gain and frequency adjustments for the primary and secondary transceivers.
7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the switching comprises at least one switch set to a position not directly connecting a signal path of the second signal so that leakage onto the signal path provides an attenuated signal to the signal path.
8. The method according to claim 6 , further comprising repeating listening for primary communication signals and initiating WLAN operations in the primary frequency band if no WLAN operations have been initiated or if previously established WLAN operations have ceased.
9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein repeated steps are performed at a predetermined interval.
10. The method according to claim 6 , wherein:
the method is embodied in a set of computer instructions stored on a computer readable storage medium; and
the set of computer instructions, when loaded into a computer, cause the computer to perform steps of the method.
11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the set of computer instructions are compiled computer instructions stored as an executable program on the computer readable storage medium.