Patent ID: 8548379
Filing Date: 2013-10-01
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
1. An apparatus comprising: a plurality of antennas; a plurality of gain blocks each associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of antennas, each gain block having an input, an output, and at least a first amplifier; a processor configured to supply respective transmit signals to the plurality of antennas via the plurality of gain blocks and to receive respective receive signals from the plurality of antennas via the plurality of gain blocks; a plurality of switch networks each associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of gain blocks, wherein each switch network is configured to operate in either of first and second switch modes, wherein in the first switch mode each switch network is configured to couple a transmit signal to the input of its associated gain block and to couple an amplified transmit signal from the output of its associated gain block to the antenna for the associated gain block such that the first amplifier of the associated gain block lies in a transmit signal path between the processor and the antenna for the associated gain block, and in the second switch mode each switch network is configured to couple a receive signal from the antenna for its associated gain block to the input of the associated gain block and to couple an amplified receive signal from the output of its associated gain block to a receive signal path to the processor such that the first amplifier of the associated gain block lies in the receive signal path between the antenna for the associated gain block and the processor; and a controller configured to control the plurality of gain blocks and the plurality of switch networks, wherein in a transmit mode the controller is configured to control each of the plurality of switch networks to operate in the first switch mode so as to cause the plurality of gain blocks to amplify a plurality of transmit signals for transmission substantially simultaneously via the plurality of antennas and in a receive mode the controller is configured to control each of the plurality of switch networks to operate in the second switch mode so as to cause the plurality of gain blocks to amplify a plurality of receive signals received by the plurality of antennas.