Frequency band switching radio front end
A full duplex microwave front end ( 300, 400, 500, 600, 800 ) for the communication system of an unmanned aerial vehicle such as a drone, comprising: —a transmitter module ( 310, 410, 510, 610, 710, 810 ) capable of selecting an antenna ( 311, 312, 411, 412, 511, 512, 611, 612, 711, 712 ), the most appropriate one at a given time, in order to emit and/or receive a signal, —a filter module ( 320, 420, 520, 620, 720, 820 ), capable of insulating the emission function from the reception function in order to emit the signal or insulating the reception function from the emission function in order to receive the signal, and —an amplifier module ( 340, 440, 540, 640, 740, 840 ), capable of amplifying the weak signal received in order to demodulate it, or capable of amplifying the power of the modulated signal intended to be emitted, characterized in that it comprises, —a switch module ( 330, 430, 530, 630, 730, 830 ) capable of switching the frequency bands B 1 and B 2 used for emitting and receiving the said signal respectively.
1. A full duplex microwave front end for the communication system of an unmanned aerial vehicle, comprising:
a transmitter module capable of selecting an antenna of a plurality of antennas that is most appropriate at a given time to emit a modulated signal or receive a reception signal, or both to emit the modulated signal and receive the reception signal;
a filter module, capable of insulating an emission function from a reception function in order to emit the modulated signal or insulating the reception function from the emission function in order to receive the reception signal;
an amplifier module, capable of amplifying the reception signal received in order to demodulate it, and capable of amplifying a power of the modulated signal intended to be emitted, and
a switch module,
wherein the filter module comprises at least one first filter that insulates the reception signal on a first frequency band and at least one second filter that insulates the modulated signal on a second frequency band when the front-end is in a direct communication link mode,
wherein said first filter insulates the modulated signal on the first frequency band and said second filter insulates the reception signal on the second frequency band when the front-end is in a relayed communication link mode,
wherein the switch module is capable of switching the first and second frequency bands used for the reception function and the emission function, respectively, when switching from the direct communication link mode to the relayed communication link mode.
2. A front end according to claim 1 , wherein the amplifier module comprises at least a first amplifier capable of amplifying the reception signal received so as to be demodulated by a modem, and a second amplifier capable of amplifying the power of the modulated signal modulated by said modem so as to be emitted.
3. A front end according to claim 1 , wherein the transmitter module comprises at least one switch, configured to select the antenna which is the most appropriate at a given time.
4. A front end according to claim 2 , wherein said first and second filters of the filter module are connected to the transmitter module by means of a duplexer and connected to the amplifier module by means of the switch module.
5. A front end according to claim 2 , wherein the switch module comprises at least one switch configured:
to couple said first amplifier with said first filter and said second amplifier with said second filter when the front end is in said direct communication link mode, and
to couple said first amplifier with said second filter and said second amplifier with said first filter when the front end is in said relayed communication link mode.
6. A front end according to claim 5 , wherein the switch module comprises four switches configured so that said switches are capable of switching together synchronously.
7. A front end according to claim 2 , wherein the filter module has first and second branches each comprising one first filter and one second filter,
the first and second filters of each branch being each connected to the transmitter module by means of a duplexer and also connected to the amplifier module by means of the switch module.
8. A front end according to claim 7 , wherein the switch module comprises two switches configured:
to couple said first amplifier with said first filter of the first branch and said second amplifier with said second filter of the first branch when the front end is in said direct communication link mode, and
to couple said first amplifier with said second filter of the second branch and said second amplifier with said first filter of the second branch when the front end is in said relayed communication link mode.
9. A front end according to claim 7 , wherein the switch module comprises a duplexer and a switch configured:
to couple said first amplifier with said first filter of the first branch and said second amplifier with said second filter of the first branch when the front end is in said direct communication link mode, and
to couple said first amplifier with said second filter of the second branch and said second amplifier with said first filter of the second branch when the front end is in said relayed communication link mode.
10. A front end according to claim 9 , wherein the transmitter module comprises two switches capable of selecting two antennas at the same time, so that:
when the second amplifier is coupled with said first filter of the second branch and the first amplifier is coupled with said first filter of the first branch, the front end is configured to be in a self-test mode in the first frequency band, and
when the first amplifier is coupled with said second filter of the second branch and the second amplifier is coupled with said second filter of the first branch, the front end is configured to be in a self-test mode in the second frequency band.
11. A front end according to claim 9 , wherein the switch module is configured to be able to couple the modem with:
either one of said first amplifier connected to said first filter insulating the reception circuit on the first frequency band in the first branch, or
another of said first amplifier connected to said second filter insulating the reception circuit on the second frequency band in the second branch.
12. A front end according to claim 5 , wherein the first and second filters of the filter module are connected to the transmitter module by means of a duplexer and connected to the amplifier module by means of the switch module.
13. A front end according to claim 5 , wherein the transmitter module comprises at least one switch, configured to select the antenna which is the most appropriate at a given time.
14. A front end according to claim 10 , wherein the switch module is configured to be able to couple the modem with:
either one of said first amplifier connected to said first filter insulating the reception circuit on the first frequency band in the first branch, or
another of said first amplifier connected to said second filter insulating the reception circuit on the second frequency band in the second branch.
15. A front end according to claim 10 , wherein the transmitter module comprises two switches capable of coupling either one of said antennas or another one of said antennas or two antennas or neither of the two antennas with the filter module.
16. A front end according to claim 14 , wherein the transmitter module comprises two switches capable of coupling either one of said antennas or another one of said antennas or two antennas or neither of the two antennas with the filter module.