Multi-band aggregated spectrum receiver employing frequency source reuse
AssigneeTelefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
InventorsLars Sundström, Stefan Andersson, Roland Strandberg
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Abstract
Efficient carrier aggregation is enabled in a receiver employing a single frequency source, and dividing the frequency source by different frequency dividing factors to generate two or more RF LO frequencies. Received signals are down-converted to intermediate frequencies by mixing with the respective RF LO frequencies. By utilizing only a single high frequency source, embodiments of the present invention avoid spurious and injection locking issues that arise when integrating two or more frequency sources, and additionally reduce power consumption as compared to a multiple frequency source solution.
Claims20
A method of simultaneously receiving communication signals with multi-carrier aggregation spread over several bands in a radio frequency (RF) wireless communication network, comprising:
- receiving a first communication signal on a first carrier frequency in an aggregated multi -carrier spectrum;
- receiving a second communication signal on a second carrier frequency in said aggregated multi-carrier spectrum different from the first carrier frequency;
- providing a first frequency source;
- dividing the first frequency source output by a first factor to generate a first RF local oscillator (RF LO) frequency;
- dividing the first frequency source output by a second factor, different from the first factor, to generate a second RF LO frequency different from the first RF LO frequency;
- down-converting the first received signal to a first intermediate frequency signal by mixing the first received signal with the first RF LO frequency;
- and
- down-converting the second received signal to a second intermediate frequency signal, at a different frequency from the first intermediate frequency signal, by mixing the second received signal with the second RF LO frequency.
A radio frequency receiver operative in a wireless communication network, comprising:
- one or more antennas, each operative to receive one or more communication signals, each on a different carrier frequency;
- a first frequency source;
- a first divider operative to divide the first frequency source output by a first factor to generate a first RF local oscillator (RF LO) frequency;
- a second divider operative to divide the first frequency source output by a second factor, different from the first factor, to generate a second RF LO frequency different from the first RF LO frequency;
- a first RF mixer operative to down-convert a first received signal received on a first carrier frequency in an aggregated multi-carrier spectrum to a first intermediate frequency signal by mixing the first received signal with the first RF LO frequency;
- and
- a second RF mixer operative to down-convert a second received signal received on a second carrier frequency in said aggregated multi-carrier spectrum to a second intermediate frequency signal, at a different frequency from the first intermediate frequency signal, by mixing the second received signal with the second RF LO frequency.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.