RF radiohead with optical interconnection to baseband processor
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsRastislav Vazny, Matthias Sauer, Ronald W. Dimpflmaier
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A portable electronic device includes a baseband integrated circuit configured to generate communication data and control signals. The portable electronic device also includes an optical path configured to be coupled to the baseband integrated circuit to transmit the data signals from the baseband integrated circuit. The portable electronic device additionally includes a radiohead configured to be coupled to the optical path to receive the data signals transmitted along the optical path from the baseband integrated circuit.
Claims20
An electronic device, comprising:
- a housing of a handheld cellular telephone or a handheld tablet;
- a baseband integrated circuit disposed within the housing and configured to generate communication data signals and control signals;
- a radiohead disposed within the housing and configured to receive the communication data signals from the baseband integrated circuit;
- and
- an optical path disposed within the housing and coupled between the baseband integrated circuit and the radiohead, wherein the optical path is configured to transmit the communication data signals from the baseband integrated circuit to the radiohead.
An electronic device, comprising:
- an enclosure configured to house electronic circuitry of a handheld cellular telephone or a handheld tablet, wherein the electronic circuitry comprises:
- a baseband integrated circuit configured to generate data signals;
- a radiohead configured to receive the data signals from the baseband integrated circuit via an optical path and to generate communication signals based at least in part on the data signals;
- and
- a transmission line coupled to the radiohead and configured to transmit the communication signals from the radiohead;
- and
- an antenna coupled to the transmission line and configured to receive the communication signals from the radiohead and transmit the communication signals.
A method, comprising:
- generating communication data and control signals via a baseband integrated circuit of a portable electronic device, wherein the portable electronic device comprises a handheld cellular telephone or a handheld tablet;
- transmitting the data signals from the baseband integrated circuit of the portable electronic device to a radiohead of the portable electronic device across a fiber optic path;
- and
- receiving the data signals at the radiohead of the portable electronic device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.