Dual-mode RF transmission frontend
AssigneeTaiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
InventorsHong-Lin Chu, Hsieh-Hung Hsieh, Tzu-Jin Yeh
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A transmission frontend includes a modulator configured to generate a modulated signal. A first selectable path is electrically coupled to the modulator and is configured to generate a first signal having a first power level. A second selectable path is electrically coupled to the modulator and is configured to generate a second signal having a second power level. The first power level is greater than the second power level. A transformer is electrically coupled to each of the first selectable path and the second selectable path. An antenna is electrically coupled to the transformer.
Claims18
A transmission frontend, comprising:
- a modulator configured to generate a modulated signal;
- a first selectable path electrically coupled to the modulator, wherein the first selectable path is configured to generate a first signal having a first power level;
- a second selectable path electrically coupled to the modulator, wherein the second selectable path is configured to generate a second signal having a second power level, wherein the first power level is greater than the second power level, and wherein the second selectable path includes an impedance booster;
- and
- a transformer electrically coupled to each of the first selectable path and the second selectable path, wherein the impedance booster is configured to increase an impedance on a first side of the transformer when the second selectable path is selected;
- and
- an antenna electrically coupled to the transformer.
A transmitter, comprising:
- a first selectable path configured to receive a modulated signal, wherein the first selectable path includes a first amplifier configured to amplify the modulated signal from a first power level to a second power level, and wherein the first amplifier is configured to receive a first signal for selecting the first selectable path;
- a second selectable path configured to receive the modulated signal, wherein the second selectable path includes a second amplifier configured to amplify the modulated signal from the first power level to a third power level, wherein the second power level is greater than the third power level, and wherein the second amplifier is configured to receive a second signal for selecting the second selectable path, and wherein the second selectable path includes an impedance booster;
- a transformer electrically coupled to each of the first selectable path and the second selectable path, the transformer configured to receive the modulated signal from one of the first selectable path or the second selectable path if selected, wherein the impedance booster is configured to increase an impedance on a first side of the transformer when the second selectable path is selected;
- and
- an antenna coupled to the transformer.
A method of transmission, comprising:
- receiving an input signal;
- modulating the input signal to generate a modulated signal;
- selecting one of a high-power selectable path or a low-power selectable path;
- generating an amplified signal using the selected one of the high-power selectable path or the low-power selectable path;
- increasing an impedance on a first side of a transformer when the low-power selectable path is selected;
- transforming the amplified signal to a transmission signal having a frequency within a predetermined frequency range;
- and
- transmitting the transmission signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.