RF front-end architecture
AssigneeSkyworks Solutions, Inc.
InventorNathan George Jess
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A front-end system includes a first terminal that receives a radio frequency signal from a transceiver and a second terminal coupled to an antenna. A front-end module including a power amplifier amplifies the radio frequency signal when powered by a supply signal. The front-end module includes a reference signal generator that generates a reference signal and modulates the reference signal frequency based on the supply signal. The frequency-modulated reference signal is transmitted to the transceiver through the first terminal. The front-end module can also include a voltage sensor that senses a voltage level at the first terminal when the frequency-modulated reference signal is being transmitted to the transceiver to determine at least one control signal for controlling the front-end module.
Claims20
A front-end system comprising:
- a first terminal configured to receive a radio frequency signal from a transceiver;
- a second terminal configured to be coupled to an antenna;
- and
- a front-end module including a power amplifier configured to amplify the radio frequency signal when powered by a supply signal, the front-end module including a reference signal generator configured to generate a reference signal which is apart in frequency from the radio frequency signal, the reference signal generator configured to modulate a frequency of the reference signal based on the supply signal, the frequency-modulated reference signal being transmitted to the transceiver through the first terminal, the front-end module including a voltage sensor configured to sense a voltage level at the first terminal when the frequency-modulated reference signal is being transmitted to the transceiver to determine at least one control signal for controlling the front-end module.
A transceiver system comprising:
- a terminal coupled to a front-end system configured to transmit a radio frequency signal to the front-end system and to receive a frequency-modulated reference signal from the front-end system, the frequency-modulated reference signal being spaced apart in the frequency domain from the radio frequency signal;
- a mux/de-mux module configured to determine a supply signal representing an output power of the radio frequency signal at the front-end system based on a frequency of the frequency-modulated reference signal, the mux/de-mux module configured to adjust a termination impedance based on at least one control signal for controlling the front-end system to control a voltage level at the terminal in response to an amplitude of the frequency-modulated reference signal;
- and
- a transceiver circuit configured to generate the radio frequency and the at least one control signal, and to process the determined supply signal.
A mobile device comprising:
- a front-end system configured to amplify a radio frequency signal when powered by a supply signal, the front-end system configured to generate a reference signal which is apart in frequency from the radio frequency signal, the front-end system configured to modulate a frequency of the reference signal based on the supply signal, the front-end system configured to sense a voltage level on a single transmission line when the frequency-modulated reference signal is applied to the single transmission line to determine at least one control signal for controlling the front-end system;
- a transceiver configured to generate the radio frequency signal and the at least one control signal, the transceiver configured to determine the supply signal based on a frequency of the frequency-modulated reference signal, the transceiver configured to adjust a termination impedance based on the at least one control signal to control the voltage level on the single transmission line in response to an amplitude of the frequency-modulated reference signal, the single transmission line being coupled between the transceiver and the front-end system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.