Radio frequency telecommunications transceiver

Claim 2

A radio frequency (RF) transceiver in which transmit and receive operations are selectively time-division-duplexed, comprising: signal generator means for receiving a plurality of control signals and in accordance therewith generating a transmitter RF signal during a first time period and a receiver RF signal during a second time period, wherein said first and second time periods are mutually exclusive; transmitter means coupled to said signal generator means for receiving said transmitter RF signal, a transmit enable signal and a modulation signal and in accordance therewith modulating said transmitter RF signal to provide a first modulated RF signal during a third time period, wherein operation of said transmitter means is enabled during said third time period and disabled otherwise; receiver means coupled to said signal generator means for receiving a receive enable signal and said receiver RF signal and in accordance therewith receiving, down-converting and demodulating a second modulated RF signal to provide a demodulated signal during a fourth time period, wherein operation of said receiver means is enabled during said fourth time period and disabled otherwise; transmitter interface means coupled to said transmitter means for receiving a transmit data signal and in accordance therewith providing said modulation signal during said third time period; and receiver interface means coupled to said receiver means for receiving said demodulated signal and in accordance therewith providing a receive data signal during said fourth time period.

Claim 3

An RF transceiver as recited in claim 1, wherein said signal generator means comprises an RF signal generator for generating a local RF signal and further comprises a local RF switch coupled to said RF signal generator, said transmitter means and said receiver means for receiving and outputting said local RF signal as said transmitter RF signal during said first time period and as said receiver RF signal during said second time period, and wherein said plurality of control signals includes a local switch control signal for said local RF switch.

Claim 4

An RF transceiver as recited in claim 1, wherein said signal generator means comprises a phase-lock-loop (PLL) which includes a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) and a programmable frequency divider, and wherein said plurality of control signals includes a frequency data signal and a data clock signal.

Claim 5

An RF transceiver as recited in claim 3, wherein said PLL further includes a phase detector for controlling said VCO, and said plurality of control signals further includes a power down signal for turning off said phase detector.

Claim 6

An RF transceiver as recited in claim 3, wherein said PLL further includes a loop switch for opening said PLL during said third time period, and said plurality of control signals further includes a loop switch control signal for said loop switch.

Claim 7

An RF transceiver as recited in claim 1, wherein said transmitter means comprises a modulation input port of a phase-lock-loop for receiving said modulation signal and in accordance therewith modulating said transmitter RF signal to provide said first modulated RF signal.

Claim 8

An RF transceiver as recited in claim 1, wherein said receiver means comprises a mixer for receiving and down-converting said second modulated RF signal with said receiver RF signal to provide a modulated intermediate frequency (IF) signal.

Claim 9

An RF transceiver as recited in claim 7, wherein said receiver means further comprises a frequency demodulator coupled to said mixer for receiving and frequency demodulating said modulated IF signal to provide said demodulated signal.

Claim 10

An RF transceiver as recited in claim 1, wherein said transmitter interface means comprises a digital-to-analog converter for receiving said transmit data signal and in accordance therewith providing said modulation signal.

Claim 11

An RF transceiver as recited in claim 1, wherein said transmitter interface means comprises a digital filter for receiving and filtering said transmit data signal to provide said modulation signal.

Claim 12

An RF transceiver as recited in claim 10, wherein said digital filter comprises a look-up table for receiving said transmit data signal as an address input signal and providing said modulation signal as a data output signal.

Claim 13

An RF transceiver as recited in claim 1, wherein said receiver interface means comprises a comparator for receiving and comparing said demodulated signal with a threshold signal to provide said receive data signal.

Claim 14

An RF transceiver as recited in claim 1, further comprising an antenna switch coupled to said transmitter means and said receiver means for receiving an antenna switch control signal and in accordance therewith receiving and switching said first modulated RF signal to an antenna during said first time period and receiving and switching said second modulated RF signal from said antenna during said second time period.

Claim 15

A radio frequency (RF) transceiver in which transmit and receive operations are selectively time-division-duplexed, comprising: a signal generator which receives a plurality of control signals and in accordance therewith generates a transmitter RF signal during a first time period and a receiver RF signal during a second time period, wherein said first and second time periods are mutually exclusive; a transmitter, coupled to said signal generator, which receives said transmitter RF signal, a transmit enable signal and a modulation signal and in accordance therewith modulates said transmitter RF signal to provide a first modulated RF signal during a third time period, wherein operation of said transmitter is enabled during said third time period and disabled otherwise; a receiver, coupled to said signal generator, which receives a receive enable signal and said receiver RF signal and in accordance therewith receives, down-converts and demodulates a second modulated RF signal to provide a demodulated signal during a fourth time period, wherein operation of said receiver is enabled during said fourth time period and disabled otherwise; a transmitter interface, coupled to said transmitter, which receives a transmit data signal and in accordance therewith provides said modulation signal during said third time period; and a receiver interface, coupled to said receiver, which receives said demodulated signal and in accordance therewith provides a receive data signal during said fourth time period.

Claim 16

A radio frequency (RF) transceiver in which transmit and receive operations are selectively time-division-duplexed, comprising: a signal generator which receives a plurality of control signals and in accordance therewith generates a transmitter RF signal during a first time period and a receiver RF signal during a second time period, wherein said first and second time periods are mutually exclusive; a transmitter, coupled to said signal generator, which receives said transmitter RF signal, a transmit enable signal and a modulation signal and in accordance therewith modulates said transmitter RF signal to provide a first modulated RF signal during a third time period, wherein operation of said transmitter is enabled during said third time period and disabled otherwise; a receiver, coupled to said signal generator, which receives a receive enable signal and said receiver RF signal and in accordance therewith receives, down-converts and demodulates a second modulated RF signal to provide a demodulated signal during a fourth time period, wherein operation of said receiver is enabled during said fourth time period and disabled otherwise; a transmitter interface, coupled to said transmitter, which receives a transmit data signal and in accordance therewith provides said modulation signal during said third time period; and a receiver interface, coupled to said receiver, which receives said demodulated signal and in accordance therewith provides a receive data signal during said fourth time period.

Claim 17

An RF transceiver as recited in claim 14, wherein said signal generator comprises an RF signal generator which generates a local RF signal and further comprises a local RF switch, coupled to said RF signal generator, said transmitter and said receiver, which receives and outputs said local RF signal as said transmitter RF signal during said first time period and as said receiver RF signal during said second time period, and wherein said plurality of control signals includes a local switch control signal for said local RF switch.

Claim 18

An RF transceiver as recited in claim 14, wherein said signal generator comprises a phase-lock-loop (PLL) which includes a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) and a programmable frequency divider, and wherein said plurality of control signals includes a frequency data signal and a data clock signal.

Claim 19

An RF transceiver as recited in claim 16, wherein said PLL further includes a phase detector for controlling said VCO, and said plurality of control signals further includes a power down signal for turning off said phase detector.

Claim 20

An RF transceiver as recited in claim 16, wherein said phase-lock-loop further includes a loop switch which opens said phase-lock-loop during said third time period, and said plurality of control signals further includes a loop switch control signal for said loop switch.

Claim 21

An RF transceiver as recited in claim 14, wherein said transmitter comprises a modulation input port of a phase-lock-loop which receives said modulation signal and in accordance therewith modulates said transmitter RF signal to provide said first modulated RF signal.

Claim 22

An RF transceiver as recited in claim 14, wherein said receiver comprises a mixer which receives and down-converts said second modulated RF signal with said receiver RF signal to provide a modulated intermediate frequency (IF) signal.

Claim 23

An RF transceiver as recited in claim 20, wherein said receiver further comprises a frequency demodulator, coupled to said mixer, which receives and frequency demodulates said modulated IF signal to provide said demodulated signal.

Claim 24

An RF transceiver as recited in claim 14, wherein said transmitter interface comprises a digital-to-analog converter which receives said transmit data signal and in accordance therewith provides said modulation signal.

Claim 25

An RF transceiver as recited in claim 14, wherein said transmitter interface comprises a digital filter which receives and filters said transmit data signal to provide said modulation signal.

Claim 26

An RF transceiver as recited in claim 23, wherein said digital filter comprises a look-up table which receives said transmit data signal as an address input signal and provides said modulation signal as a data output signal.

Claim 27

An RF transceiver as recited in claim 14, wherein said receiver interface means comprises a comparator which receives and compares said demodulated signal with a threshold signal to provide said receive data signal.

Claim 28

An RF transceiver as recited in claim 14, further comprising an antenna switch, coupled to said transmitter and said receiver, which receives an antenna switch control signal and in accordance therewith receives and switches said first modulated RF signal to an antenna during said first time period and receives and switches said second modulated RF signal from said antenna during said second time period.

Claim 29

A radio frequency (RF) transceiver controller, comprising: a controller which is programmed to input and output a plurality of signals for time-division-duplexing transmit and receive operations of an RF transceiver according to the steps comprising: outputting transmit frequency data for tuning a phase-lock-loop (PLL) to provide a transmit RF signal; outputting a transmit enable signal for enabling an RF transmitter during a first time period and disabling said RF transmitter otherwise; outputting transmit data for use by said RF transmitter for modulating said transmit RF signal to provide a first modulated RF signal during a third time period; outputting receive frequency data for tuning said phase-lock-loop (PLL) to provide a receive RF signal; outputting a receive enable signal for enabling an RF receiver during a second time period to receive said receive RF signal and to receive and demodulate a second modulated RF signal containing receive data during a fourth time period and disabling said RF receiver otherwise, wherein said first and second time periods are mutually exclusive; and inputting said receive data.

Claim 30

A radio frequency (RF) transceiver controller, comprising: a controller which is programmed to input and output a plurality of signals for time-division-duplexing transmit and receive operations of an RF transceiver according to the steps comprising: outputting transmit frequency data for tuning a phase-lock-loop (PLL) to provide a transmit RF signal; outputting a transmit enable signal for enabling an RF transmitter during a first time period and disabling said RF transmitter otherwise; outputting transmit data for use by said RF transmitter for modulating said transmit RF signal to provide a first modulated RF signal during a third time period; outputting receive frequency data for tuning said phase-lock-loop (PLL) to provide a receive RF signal; outputting a receive enable signal for enabling an RF receiver during a second time period to receive said receive RF signal and to receive and demodulate a second modulated RF signal containing receive data during a fourth time period and disabling said RF receiver otherwise, wherein said first and second time periods are mutually exclusive; and inputting said receive data.

Claim 31

An RF transceiver controller as recited in claim 27, further comprising the step of outputting a PLL switch control signal for controlling a switch coupled to said PLL for selectively switching an output of said PLL for use as said transmit RF signal and as said receive RF signal.

Claim 32

An RF transceiver controller as recited in claim 27, further comprising the step of outputting a power down signal for turning off a portion of said PLL during said third time period.

Claim 33

An RF transceiver controller as recited in claim 27, further comprising the step of outputting a loop switch control signal for controlling a loop switch coupled within said PLL for selectively opening said phase-lock-loop during said modulation of said transmit RF signal to provide said first modulated RF signal.

Claim 34

An RF transceiver controller as recited in claim 27, further comprising the step of outputting filter data to program a digital filter for filtering said transmit data.

Claim 35

An RF transceiver controller as recited in claim 27, further comprising the step of outputting an antenna switch control signal to control an antenna switch for selectively switching said first modulated RF signal to an antenna and switching said second modulated RF signal said from said antenna.

Claim 36

A transceiver control method for selectively time-division-duplexing transmit and receive operations of a radio frequency (RF) transceiver, comprising the steps of: receiving a plurality of control signals and in accordance therewith generating a transmitter RF signal during a first time period and a receiver RF signal during a second time period, wherein said first and second time periods are mutually exclusive; receiving a transmit enable signal; receiving a modulation signal; modulating said transmitter RF signal in accordance with said transmit enable signal and said modulation signal to provide a first modulated RF signal during a third time period, wherein said modulating of said transmitter RF signal is enabled during said third time period and disabled otherwise; receiving a receive enable signal; receiving said receiver RF signal; receiving, down-converting and demodulating a second modulated RF signal in accordance with said receive enable signal and said receiver RF signal to provide a demodulated signal during a fourth time period, wherein said receiving, down-converting and demodulating of said second modulated RF signal is enabled during said fourth time period and disabled otherwise; receiving a transmit data signal and in accordance therewith providing said modulation signal during said third time period; and receiving said demodulated signal and in accordance therewith providing a receive data signal during said fourth time period.

Claim 37

A transceiver control method for selectively time-division-duplexing transmit and receive operations of a radio frequency (RF) transceiver, comprising the steps of: receiving a plurality of control signals and in accordance therewith generating a transmitter RF signal during a first time period and a receiver RF signal during a second time period, wherein said first and second time periods are mutually exclusive; receiving a transmit enable signal; receiving a modulation signal; modulating said transmitter RF signal in accordance with said transmit enable signal and said modulation signal to provide a first modulated RF signal during a third time period, wherein said modulating of said transmitter RF signal is enabled during said third time period and disabled otherwise; receiving a receive enable signal; receiving said receiver RF signal; receiving, down-converting and demodulating a second modulated RF signal in accordance with said receive enable signal and said receiver RF signal to provide a demodulated signal during a fourth time period, wherein said receiving, down-converting and demodulating of said second modulated RF signal is enabled during said fourth time period and disabled otherwise; receiving a transmit data signal and in accordance therewith providing said modulation signal during said third time period; and receiving said demodulated signal and in accordance therewith providing a receive data signal during said fourth time period.

Claim 38

A transceiver control method as recited in claim 33, wherein said step of receiving a plurality of control signals and in accordance therewith generating a transmitter RF signal during a first time period and a receiver RF signal during a second time period comprises generating a local RF signal, and receiving a local switch control signal and in accordance therewith outputting said local RF signal as said transmitter RF signal during said first time period and as said receiver RF signal during said second time period.

Claim 39

A transceiver control method as recited in claim 33, wherein said step of receiving a plurality of control signals and in accordance therewith generating a transmitter RF signal during a first time period and a receiver RF signal during a second time period comprises receiving a frequency data signal and a data clock signal with a programmable frequency divider and in accordance therewith generating said transmitter RF signal and said receiver RF signal with a voltage-controlled oscillator in a phase-lock-loop (PLL).

Claim 40

A transceiver control method as recited in claim 35, wherein said step of modulating said transmitter RF signal in accordance with said transmit enable signal and said modulation signal to provide a first modulated RF signal during a third time period comprises turning off a portion of said PLL.

Claim 41

A transceiver control method as recited in claim 35, wherein said step of modulating said transmitter RF signal in accordance with said transmit enable signal and said modulation signal to provide a first modulated RF signal during a third time period comprises receiving a loop switch control signal and in accordance therewith opening said phase-lock-loop during said third time period.

Claim 42

A transceiver control method as recited in claim 33, wherein said step of modulating said transmitter RF signal in accordance with said transmit enable signal and said modulation signal to provide a first modulated RF signal during said third time period comprises receiving said modulation signal via a modulation input port of a phase-lock-loop and in accordance therewith modulating said transmitter RF signal to provide said first modulated RF signal.

Claim 43

A transceiver control method as recited in claim 33, wherein said step of receiving, down-converting and demodulating a second modulated RF signal in accordance with said receive enable signal and said receiver RF signal to provide a demodulated signal during a fourth time period comprises receiving and mixing said second modulated RF signal with said receiver RF signal to provide a modulated intermediate frequency (IF) signal.

Claim 44

A transceiver control method as recited in claim 39, wherein said step of receiving, down-converting and demodulating a second modulated RF signal in accordance with said receive enable signal and said receiver RF signal to provide a demodulated signal during a fourth time period further comprises frequency demodulating said modulated IF signal to provide said demodulated signal.

Claim 45

A transceiver control method as recited in claim 33, wherein said step of receiving a transmit data signal and in accordance therewith providing said modulation signal during said third time period comprises receiving and converting a digital transmit data signal to an analog modulation signal.

Claim 46

A transceiver control method as recited in claim 33, wherein said step of receiving a transmit data signal and in accordance therewith providing said modulation signal during said third time period comprises receiving and digitally filtering said transmit data signal to provide said modulation signal.

Claim 47

A transceiver control method as recited in claim 42, wherein said step of digitally filtering said transmit data signal to provide said modulation signal comprises receiving said transmit data signal as an address input signal and providing said modulation signal as a data output signal with a look-up table.

Claim 48

A transceiver control method as recited in claim 33, wherein said step of receiving said demodulated signal and in accordance therewith providing a receive data signal during said fourth time period comprises receiving and comparing said demodulated signal with a threshold signal to provide said receive data signal.

Claim 49

A transceiver control method as recited in claim 33, further comprising the step of receiving an antenna switch control signal and in accordance therewith switching said first modulated RF signal to an antenna during said first time period and switching said second modulated RF signal from said antenna during said second time period.

Claim 50

A radio frequency (RF) transceiver in which transmit and receive operations are selectively time-division-duplexed, comprising: signal generator means for receiving a plurality of control signals and in accordance therewith generating a transmitter RF signal during a first time period and a receiver RF signal during a second time period; transmitter means coupled to said signal generator means for receiving said transmitter RF signal, a transmit enable signal and a modulation signal and in accordance therewith modulating said transmitter RF signal to provide a first modulated RF signal during a third time period; receiver means coupled to said signal generator means for receiving a receive enable signal and said receiver RF signal and in accordance therewith receiving, down-converting and demodulating a second modulated RF signal to provide a demodulated signal during a fourth time period; transmitter interface means coupled to said transmitter means for receiving a transmit data signal and in accordance therewith providing said modulation signal during said third time period, wherein said transmitter interface means comprises a digital filter for receiving and filtering said transmit data signal to provide said modulation signal, and wherein said digital filter comprises a look-up table for receiving said transmit data signal as an address input signal and providing said modulation signal as a data output signal; and receiver interface means coupled to said receiver means for receiving said demodulated signal and in accordance therewith providing a receive data signal during said fourth time period.

Claim 51

A radio frequency (RF) transceiver in which transmit and receive operations are selectively time-division-duplexed, comprising: signal generator means for receiving a plurality of control signals and in accordance therewith generating a transmitter RF signal during a first time period and a receiver RF signal during a second time period; transmitter means coupled to said signal generator means for receiving said transmitter RF signal, a transmit enable signal and a modulation signal and in accordance therewith modulating said transmitter RF signal to provide a first modulated RF signal during a third time period; receiver means coupled to said signal generator means for receiving a receive enable signal and said receiver RF signal and in accordance therewith receiving, down-converting and demodulating a second modulated RF signal to provide a demodulated signal during a fourth time period; transmitter interface means coupled to said transmitter means for receiving a transmit data signal and in accordance therewith providing said modulation signal during said third time period, wherein said transmitter interface means comprises a digital filter for receiving and filtering said transmit data signal to provide said modulation signal, and wherein said digital filter comprises a look-up table for receiving said transmit data signal as an address input signal and providing said modulation signal as a data output signal; and receiver interface means coupled to said receiver means for receiving said demodulated signal and in accordance therewith providing a receive data signal during said fourth time period.

Claim 52

A radio frequency (RF) transceiver in which transmit and receive operations are selectively time-division-duplexed, comprising: a signal generator which receives a plurality of control signals and in accordance therewith generates a transmitter RF signal during a first time period and a receiver RF signal during a second time period; a transmitter, coupled to said signal generator, which receives said transmitter RF signal, a transmit enable signal and a modulation signal and in accordance therewith modulates said transmitter RF signal to provide a first modulated RF signal during a third time period; a receiver, coupled to said signal generator, which receives a receive enable signal and said receiver RF signal and in accordance therewith receives, down-converts and demodulates a second modulated RF signal to provide a demodulated signal during a fourth time period; a transmitter interface, coupled to said transmitter, which receives a transmit data signal and in accordance therewith provides said modulation signal during said third time period, wherein said transmitter interface comprises a digital filter which receives and filters said transmit data signal to provide said modulation signal, and wherein said digital filter comprises a look-up table which receives said transmit data signal as an address input signal and provides said modulation signal as a data output signal; and a receiver interface, coupled to said receiver, which receives said demodulated signal and in accordance therewith provides a receive data signal during said fourth time period.

Claim 53

A radio frequency (RF) transceiver in which transmit and receive operations are selectively time-division-duplexed, comprising: a signal generator which receives a plurality of control signals and in accordance therewith generates a transmitter RF signal during a first time period and a receiver RF signal during a second time period; a transmitter, coupled to said signal generator, which receives said transmitter RF signal, a transmit enable signal and a modulation signal and in accordance therewith modulates said transmitter RF signal to provide a first modulated RF signal during a third time period; a receiver, coupled to said signal generator, which receives a receive enable signal and said receiver RF signal and in accordance therewith receives, down-converts and demodulates a second modulated RF signal to provide a demodulated signal during a fourth time period; a transmitter interface, coupled to said transmitter, which receives a transmit data signal and in accordance therewith provides said modulation signal during said third time period, wherein said transmitter interface comprises a digital filter which receives and filters said transmit data signal to provide said modulation signal, and wherein said digital filter comprises a look-up table which receives said transmit data signal as an address input signal and provides said modulation signal as a data output signal; and a receiver interface, coupled to said receiver, which receives said demodulated signal and in accordance therewith provides a receive data signal during said fourth time period.

Claim 54

A transceiver control method for selectively time-division-duplexing transmit and receive operations of a radio frequency (RF) transceiver, comprising the steps of: receiving a plurality of control signals and in accordance therewith generating a transmitter RF signal during a first time period and a receiver RF signal during a second time period; receiving a transmit enable signal; receiving a modulation signal; modulating said transmitter RF signal in accordance with said transmit enable signal and said modulation signal to provide a first modulated RF signal during a third time period; receiving a receive enable signal; receiving said receiver RF signal; receiving, down-converting and demodulating a second modulated RF signal in accordance with said receive enable signal and said receiver RF signal to provide a demodulated signal during a fourth time period; receiving a transmit data signal and in accordance therewith providing said modulation signal during said third time period by receiving and digitally filtering said transmit data signal to provide said modulation signal by receiving said transmit data signal as an address input signal and providing said modulation signal as a data output signal with a look-up table; and receiving said demodulated signal and in accordance therewith providing a receive data signal during said fourth time period.

Claim 55

A transceiver control method for selectively time-division-duplexing transmit and receive operations of a radio frequency (RF) transceiver, comprising the steps of: receiving a plurality of control signals and in accordance therewith generating a transmitter RF signal during a first time period and a receiver RF signal during a second time period; receiving a transmit enable signal; receiving a modulation signal; modulating said transmitter RF signal in accordance with said transmit enable signal and said modulation signal to provide a first modulated RF signal during a third time period; receiving a receive enable signal; receiving said receiver RF signal; receiving, down-converting and demodulating a second modulated RF signal in accordance with said receive enable signal and said receiver RF signal to provide a demodulated signal during a fourth time period; receiving a transmit data signal and in accordance therewith providing said modulation signal during said third time period by receiving and digitally filtering said transmit data signal to provide said modulation signal by receiving said transmit data signal as an address input signal and providing said modulation signal as a data output signal with a look-up table; and receiving said demodulated signal and in accordance therewith providing a receive data signal during said fourth time period.