IP Library Granted Patent US 9,621,330
Granted Patent B2
US 9,621,330 · App. 13/436,046 · Granted Apr 11, 2017

Split microwave backhaul transceiver architecture with coaxial interconnect

Inventors: Iason Vassiliou (Athens, GR); Michael Boers (West Pennant Hills, AU); Sean Nicolson (Irvine, CA); Brima Ibrahim (Laguna Hills, CA); Spyridon Kavvadias (Voula, GR)
Assignee: Maxlinear Asia Singapore Private Limited
H04L5/143H04L5/1461H04L27/02H04L27/368
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,621,330
App. No.
13/436,046
Granted
Apr 11, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A communication system includes a conversion module configured to convert a signal between a radio frequency baseband (RF-BB) and an intermediate frequency (IF). At least one RF front-end module converts the signal between the IF and a radio frequency (RF). The RF front-end module is configured as an RF phased array and includes a coaxial interconnect configured to connect the conversion module with the RF front-end module. The signal is transmitted between the conversion module and the RF-front end module via the coaxial interconnect. At least one RF front-end module includes an active front-end (AFE) configured to allow the signal to be transmitted via the coaxial interconnect while minimizing any deterioration of the signal.

Claims (27)

1. A communication system, comprising:

a conversion module configured to convert a signal between a radio frequency baseband (RF BB) and an intermediate frequency (IF);

at least one RF phased array front-end module configured to convert the signal between the IF and a radio frequency (RF);

a coaxial interconnect configured to connect the conversion module with the at least one RF phased array front-end module, and to facilitate a communication of the signal between the conversion module and the RF phased array front-end module,

wherein the at least one RF phased array front-end module comprises:

an active front-end (AFE) configured to reduce a first deterioration of the signal associated with the communication over the coaxial interconnect:

a dedicated omnidirectional communication path, configured to reduce power losses and a second deterioration of the signal associated with at least one of a power combiner and a power divider included within the at least one RF phased array front-end module, wherein the dedicated omnidirectional communication path is separate from a path that the signal follows through the at least one RF phased array front-end module;

a programmable gain attenuator;

a low noise amplifier (LNA), wherein the LNA and the programmable gain attenuator are included in the path that the signal follows through the at least one RF phased array front-end module, and are configured to collectively reduce power losses and perform gain control; and

a power divider network comprising a plurality of interpolated RF amplifiers, the power divider network being configured to overcome divider loss associated with feeding a plurality of RF paths.

2. The communication system of claim 1 , wherein the RF phased array front-end module includes a plurality of antennas, an integrated local oscillator (LO), at least one mixer, a phase-locked loop (PLL), a power supply (PS), and a power amplifier (PA).

3. The communication system of claim 1 , wherein the communication system is implemented inside of a laptop computer, a tablet computing device, or a personal digital assistant (PDA).

4. The communication system of claim 1 , wherein the conversion module includes:

a first loop-back path configured to measure and calibrate a receipt IQ, wherein the first loop-back path extends between a transmission IF power amplifier and a receipt IF power amplifier;

a plurality of second loop-back paths configured to facilitate measurement and calibration of a plurality of first baseband (BB) filters, wherein the plurality of second loop-back paths extend between outputs of the plurality of first BB filters and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC):

a third loop-back path configured to facilitate the calibration of a plurality of second BB filters, wherein the third loop-back path extends between an output of a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and inputs of the second BB filters; and

a fourth loop-hack path configured to measure and calibrate a transmission IQ, wherein the fourth loop-back path extends between an output of a power detector and the ADC.

5. The communication system of claim 1 , wherein each of the at least one RF pleased array front-end modules is connected to at least one of a multiplexer, a coaxial splitter device and a switching device using the coaxial interconnect for each of the at least one RF phased array front-end modules, and wherein at least one of the multiplexer, coaxial splitter device and the switching device is coupled to the conversion module.

6. The communication system of claim 1 , wherein each of the at least one RF phased array front-end modules are serially connected or connected in parallel to the conversion module via the coaxial interconnect.

7. The communication system of claim 1 , wherein the communication system is a super-heterodyne 60 GHz phase antenna array transceiver.

8. The communication system of claim 1 , wherein the signal is combined with one or more additional signals, over the coaxial interconnect, in accordance with a frequency multiplexing technique.

9. The communication system of claim 2 , wherein the signal is converted to the IF using frequency mixing or heterodyning.

10. The communication system of claim 2 , wherein the signal is split into a plurality of modulated signals, when in a transmission mode, and the plurality of modulated signals are input into the plurality of antennas included within the RF phased array front-end module.

11. The communication system of claim 10 , wherein the signal includes a direct current (DC) feed, a control interface, and a reference element associated with the at least one RF phased array front-end module.

12. The communication system of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of antennas are configured to combine the plurality of modulated signals into a single combined signal, when in a receipt mode.

13. The communication system of claim 11 , wherein the conversion module and the at least one RF phased array front-end module are located in different regions of the communication system.

14. The communication system of claim 13 , wherein the conversion module is integrated on a platform or on a wireless card.

Assignments (4)
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Feb 3, 2017
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: BROADCOM CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 041712/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 19, 2016
From: BROADCOM CORPORATION
To: MAXLINEAR ASIA SINGAPORE PRIVATE LIMITED
Reel/Frame 040658/0753 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 11, 2016
From: BROADCOM CORPORATION
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 037806/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2012
From: VASSILIOU, IASON; BOERS, MICHAEL; NICOLSON, SEAN; IBRAHIM, BRIMA; KAVVADIAS, SPYRIDON
To: BROADCOM CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 028821/0346 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61565469 · Nov 30, 2011
Related Publication 20130137381A1 · May 30, 2013