Radio receiver with shared low noise amplifier for multi-standard operation in a single antenna system

Abstract

A radio receiver is described that processes multiple wireless standards using a single antenna according to embodiments of the invention. The radio receiver includes a single antenna, and a low noise amplifier that is connected to the antenna, without an intervening power divider or power splitter. The output of the low noise amplifier feeds multiple wireless receivers in a parallel arrangement that are operating according to different communications standards, including for example a Bluetooth receiver, and a WLAN 802.11 receiver. Additional wireless standards and their corresponding receivers could be added as well. The input impedance of the low noise amplifier defines the impedance seen by the antenna, regardless of which operational standard is actually in use. Since the input impedance of the low noise amplifier is substantially independent of whether the Bluetooth or WLAN paths are ON or OFF, simultaneous operation can be accomplished.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. Additionally, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the drawing in which the reference number first appears.

FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional radio receiver configured for multi-standard operation using a single antenna and power divider.

FIG. 2 further illustrates a radio receiver configured for multi-standard operation using a single antenna that does not include a power divider according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3 further illustrates a radio receiver configured for multi-standard operation using a single antenna and a pre-processing module, but does not include a power divider according to embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A radio receiver, comprising: an antenna;a low noise amplifier connected to an output of said antenna;a first circuit corresponding to a first wireless standard coupled to an output of said low noise amplifier; anda second circuit corresponding to a second wireless standard coupled to an output of said low noise amplifier.

2. The radio receiver of claim 1, wherein said first wireless standard is Bluetooth, and said second wireless standard is WLAN IEEE 802.11.

3. The radio receiver of claim 1, wherein an input impedance of said low noise amplifier is matched to an output impedance of said antenna.

4. The radio receiver of claim 1, wherein said first circuit and said second circuit are directly connected to said output of said low noise amplifier without an intervening power divider.

5. The radio receiver of claim 1, wherein said first circuit is a Bluetooth radio receiver, and said second circuit is a WLAN 802.11 radio receiver.

6. The radio receiver of claim 1, further comprising a third circuit corresponding to a third standard coupled to an output of said low noise amplifier.

7. The radio receiver of claim 1, wherein said second circuit is powered off when an input signal corresponding to said first wireless standard is received by said radio receiver.

8. The radio receiver of claim 1, wherein said first circuit is powered off when an input signal corresponding to said second wireless standard is received by said radio receiver.

9. The radio receiver of claim 1, wherein said first and second circuits are powered off, when neither said first wireless standard or said second wireless standard is operational.

10. The radio receiver of claim 9, wherein said low noise amplifier maintains an impedance match to said antenna even when at least one of said first and second circuits are powered off.

11. A radio receiver, comprising: an antenna;a pre-processing module coupled to an output of said antenna;a low noise amplifier connected to an output of said pre-processing module;a first circuit corresponding to a first wireless standard coupled to an output of said low noise amplifier; anda second circuit corresponding to a second wireless standard coupled to an output of said low noise amplifier.

12. The radio receiver of claim 11, wherein said pre-processing module is one of the following: a filter, a diplexer, a switch and a balun.

13. The radio receiver of claim 11, wherein said first wireless standard is Bluetooth, and said second wireless standard is WLAN IEEE 802.11.

14. The radio receiver of claim 11, wherein an input impedance of said pre-processing module is matched to an output impedance of said antenna.

15. The radio receiver of claim 11, wherein said first circuit is a Bluetooth radio receiver, and said second circuit is a WLAN 802.11 radio receiver.

16. The radio receiver of claim 11, further comprising a third circuit corresponding to a third standard coupled to an output of said low noise amplifier.

17. The radio receiver of claim 11, wherein said second circuit is powered off when an input signal corresponding to said first wireless standard is received by said radio receiver.

18. The radio receiver of claim 11, wherein said first circuit is powered off when an input signal corresponding to said second wireless standard is received by said radio receiver.

19. The radio receiver of claim 11, wherein said first and second circuits are powered off, and said low noise amplifier is powered on, when neither said first wireless standard or said second wireless standard is operational.

20. The radio receiver of claim 11, wherein said pre-processing module maintains an impedance match to said antenna even when at least one of said first and second circuits are powered off.