RF FRONT-END ARCHITECTURE FOR MACHINE-TO-MACHINE APPLICATIONS
One embodiment of the present invention provides an RF front-end module for machine-to-machine applications. The RF front-end module includes an integrated circuit (IC) chip that comprises multiple functional blocks. The multiple functional blocks include at least a transmission chain, a receiving chain, a synthesizer, and one or more interfaces for interfacing with other off-chip front-end components.
1 . An RF front-end module for machine-to-machine applications, comprising:
an integrated circuit (IC) chip that comprises multiple functional blocks, wherein the multiple functional blocks include at least:
a transmission chain,
a receiving chain,
a synthesizer, and
one or more interfaces for interfacing with other off-chip front-end components.
2 . The RF front-end module of claim 1 , wherein the receiving chain includes a receiver, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), and a digital interface for interfacing with a baseband processor.
3 . The RF front-end module of claim 2 , wherein the digital interface is a serial interface.
4 . The RF front-end module of claim 1 , wherein the transmission chain includes a transmitter, a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), and a digital interface for interfacing with a baseband processor.
5 . The RF front-end module of claim 4 , wherein the digital interface is a serial interface.
6 . The RF front-end module of claim 1 , wherein the functional blocks further comprise a power detector coupled to the transmission chain.
7 . The RF front-end module of claim 1 , wherein the functional blocks further comprise a temperature sensor.
8 . The RF front-end module of claim 1 , wherein the one or more interfaces include one or more of:
a Mobile Industry Processor Interface (MIPI) RF front-end interface;
a general purpose input/output (GPIO) interface; and
a Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI).
9 . The RF front-end module of claim 1 , wherein the functional blocks further include a second digital-to-analog converter (DAC) configured to provide a control signal to an oscillator.
10 . The RF front-end module of claim 8 , wherein the oscillator is located off-chip, and wherein the oscillator is a voltage-controlled oscillator.
11 . The RF front-end module of claim 1 , wherein the other off-chip front-end components include one or more of:
a filter;
a switch; and
an amplifier.
12 . The RF front-end module of claim 1 , wherein the transmission chain and the receiving chain are configured to operate in compliance with a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) Category 0 (Cat-0) Standard.