Abstract:
Disclosed is a multimode receiver, comprising: an antenna system configured to receive a signal sent by a base station and select a receiving circuit front end according to the frequency band of the signal; more than one receiving circuit front end configured to perform down-conversion frequency processing on a signal sent by the antenna system and send the processed signal to an I/Q demodulator; the I/Q demodulator configured to demodulate the signal sent by the receiving circuit front ends and send the demodulated signal to a baseband unit; and the baseband unit configured to decode the demodulated signal. Disclosed is a receiving method for a multimode receiver. By adopting the present invention, one set of receiving circuit front ends can be utilized for signals of the same frequency band and different modes, decreasing the number of radio-frequency chips, and lowering the cost.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The disclosure relates to the field of multi-mode receiving, in particular to a multi-mode receiver and receiving method thereof. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    With rapid development of circuit integration, Radio Frequency RF circuits tend to be integrated and modular, which is particularly beneficial to mobile User Equipment UE miniaturization. An RF circuit of an existing mobile UE (such as a cellphone) consists of an RF integrated circuit as a core and of peripheral auxiliary and control circuits. The RF integrated circuit, as the main part of the mobile UE RF circuit, may include a signal receiving circuit and a signal transmitting circuit. The signal receiving circuit may include an antenna, a Surface Acoustic Wave SAW filter, a Low Noise Amplifier LNA, a mixer, an Intermediate-Frequency IF filter, an IF amplifier, etc. 
         [0003]    When a mobile UE receives a signal, the signal sent out by a base station BS managing a cell, such as a Global System of Mobile communication GSM 900 MHz signal, is transmitted to an antenna end of the mobile UE via a wireless interface. The signal may enter the SAW through the antenna, where any out-of-band signal and noise may be filtered out. The filtered signal may enter the LNA to be amplified. The LNA-amplified signal may be sent to the mixer, where the LNA-amplified signal may be mixed with a Local Oscillator LO signal output by a Voltage Controlled Oscillator VCO, producing an IF signal. The IF signal is sent through the IF filter, such that any out-of-band noise may be filtered out. Then, the filtered IF signal may be sent to the IF amplifier, where the filtered IF signal may be amplified. Then, the output signal may enter an In-phase/Quadrature I/Q demodulator, where the output signal is demodulated. The demodulated I/Q signal may be sent to a baseband part, where digital processing is performed on the demodulated I/Q signal. 
         [0004]    In an existing mobile UE, in order to allow a receiver thereof to receive signals in different frequency bands, such as GSM 900 MHz and GSM 1800 MHz, a receiving circuit is designed respectively for receiving signals in each frequency band. Such parallel receiving circuits are then integrated into one overall integrated circuit. In addition, an antenna switch is added at a rear end of an antenna, to transfer a received signal respectively to a receiving circuit corresponding to a frequency band of the received signal. On this basis, in order to allow the receiver of a mobile UE to receive signals in different modes, such as signals in GSM 800MHz/1900 MHz and in Time Division-Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access TD-SCDMA 1880 MHz-1920 MHz, a receiving circuit may further be designed respectively for receiving signals in each mode. 
         [0005]    As an RF circuit adopts Time Division Multiplexing, receiving and transmitting will not be performed at the same time, front ends of receiving circuits for receiving same-band signals in different modes are completely equivalent. Therefore, for same-band signals in different modes, receiving circuit front ends inside the integrated circuit may be used repeatedly, which may lead to multiple equivalent RF chips in the integrated circuit, increasing an area and cost in circuit design. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    In view of this, embodiments herein provide a multi-mode receiver and receiving method thereof, capable of simplifying a receiving circuit front end of a mobile UE, thereby lowering a number of chips, reducing an area and cost in circuit design. 
         [0007]    To this end, a technical solution according to an embodiment herein may be implemented as follows. 
         [0008]    According to an embodiment herein, a multi-mode receiver may include an antenna system, one or more receiving circuit front ends, an In-phase/Quadrature I/Q demodulator, and a baseband unit. 
         [0009]    The antenna system may be configured for: receiving a signal sent by a base station BS, sending the signal sent by the BS to a receiving circuit front end of the one or more receiving circuit front ends that corresponds to a frequency band of the signal sent by the BS. 
         [0010]    Each of the one or more receiving circuit front ends may be configured for: receiving a signal sent by the antenna system, performing down-conversion on the signal sent by the antenna system, and sending the down-converted signal to the I/Q demodulator. 
         [0011]    The I/Q demodulator may be configured for: receiving a signal sent by one of the one or more receiving circuit front ends, demodulating the signal sent by one of the one or more receiving circuit front ends, and sending the demodulated signal to the baseband unit. 
         [0012]    The baseband unit may be configured for: decoding the demodulated signal. 
         [0013]    The multi-mode receiver may further include a protocol detecting device. 
         [0014]    The antenna system may be further configured for: sending the signal sent by the BS to the protocol detecting device. 
         [0015]    The protocol detecting device may be configured for: receiving a signal sent by the antenna system, detecting the signal sent by the antenna system, and selecting a transmission mode and a decoding mode for the demodulated signal according to synchronization information of the signal sending BS side. 
         [0016]    The I/Q demodulator may be configured for: sending the demodulated signal to the baseband unit according to the transmission mode selected by the protocol detecting device. 
         [0017]    The baseband unit may be configured for: decoding the demodulated signal in the decoding mode selected by the protocol detecting device. 
         [0018]    The antenna system may include an antenna and an antenna switch. 
         [0019]    The antenna may be configured for: receiving the signal sent by the BS, and transferring the signal sent by the BS to the antenna switch. 
         [0020]    The antenna switch may be configured for: receiving a signal transferred by the antenna, sending the signal transferred by the antenna to the receiving circuit front end corresponding to the frequency band of the signal transferred by the antenna, and sending the signal sent by the BS to the protocol detecting device which then detects the received signal. 
         [0021]    The one or more receiving circuit front ends may include a first receiving circuit front end, a second receiving circuit front end, and a third receiving circuit front end. 
         [0022]    The first receiving circuit front end may be configured for: receiving a first signal in a first frequency band sent by the antenna system, performing down-conversion on the first signal, sending the down-converted first signal to the I/Q demodulator. 
         [0023]    The second receiving circuit front end may be configured for: receiving a second signal in a second frequency band sent by the antenna system, performing down-conversion on the second signal, sending the down-converted second signal to the I/Q demodulator. 
         [0024]    The third receiving circuit front end may be configured for: receiving a third signal in a third frequency band sent by the antenna system, performing down-conversion on the third signal, sending the down-converted third signal to the I/Q demodulator. 
         [0025]    Each of the first signal, the second signal, and the third signal may include a group of same-band signals in different modes. The first frequency band, the second frequency band, and the third frequency band may differ from each other. 
         [0026]    A receiving method for a multi-mode receiver may include: 
         [0027]    receiving a signal sent by a base station BS; performing frequency conversion on the signal using a receiving circuit front end corresponding to a frequency band of the signal; and 
         [0028]    performing I/Q demodulation on the frequency-converted signal, and decoding the demodulated signal. 
         [0029]    The frequency conversion may include filtering, amplification, down-conversion, Intermediate-Frequency IF filtering, and IF amplification. 
         [0030]    The method may further include: detecting the signal sent by the BS. 
         [0031]    The detecting the signal sent by the BS may include: selecting a transmission mode and a decoding mode for a demodulated I/Q signal according to synchronization information of the signal sending BS side. 
         [0032]    The decoding the demodulated signal may include: decoding the demodulated signal in the selected decoding mode. 
         [0033]    The selecting a transmission mode and a decoding mode for a demodulated I/Q signal may include: 
         [0034]    automatically matching a Global System of Mobile communication GSM signal with a transmission mode of a Digital Radio Frequency DigRF interface protocol; automatically matching a Time Division-Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access TD-SCDMA signal with a 10-bit parallel-port data transmission mode; and automatically matching a Time Division Long Term Evolution TD-LTE signal with a 12-bit parallel-port data transmission mode; and 
         [0035]    decoding each of the GSM signal, the TD-SCDMA signal, and the TD-LTE signal using a data processing unit corresponding to the each of the GSM signal, the TD-SCDMA signal, and the TD-LTE signal. 
         [0036]    With a multi-mode receiver and receiving method thereof according to an embodiment herein, an antenna switch may be built inside the multi-mode receiver, such that a receiving circuit front end corresponding to a frequency band of a received signal may be selected; a protocol detecting device may be built inside the multi-mode receiver, such that modes of same-band signals may be detected; thereby a transmission mode for transmitting the demodulated I/Q signal and a decoding unit for decoding the I/Q signal transmitted to the baseband may be provided. Therefore, same-band signals in different modes may share one receiving circuit front end, reducing a number of RF chips used and lowering an area and cost in circuit design. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0037]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a structure of a multi-mode receiver according to an embodiment herein. 
           [0038]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart of a receiving method for a multi-mode receiver according to an embodiment herein. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0039]    For understanding more details of features and technical content according to an embodiment herein, an embodiment herein is elaborated below with reference to drawings. The drawings are only for reference and illustration, and are not for limiting an embodiment herein. 
         [0040]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a structure of a multi-mode receiver according to an embodiment herein. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the multi-mode receiver may include an antenna system  11 , one or more receiving circuit front ends  12 , an I/Q demodulator  14 , and a baseband unit  15 . 
         [0041]    The antenna system  11  may be configured for: receiving a signal sent by a BS, and sending the signal sent by the BS to one of the one or more receiving circuit front ends  12  that corresponds to a frequency band of the signal sent by the BS. 
         [0042]    The signal sent by the BS may be signals in different modes, such as a GSM signal, a TD-SCDMA signal, a TD-LTE signal, etc. 
         [0043]    Signals in a mode may include signals in different frequency bands. For example, GSM signals may include signals of: GSM 850 MHz/900 MHz, GSM 1800 MHz/1900 MHz, etc. TD-SCDMA signals may include signals of: TD-SCDMA 1880MHz--1920 MHz, TD-SCDMA 2300 MHz-2400 MHz, etc. TD-LTE signals may include signals of: TD-LTE 1880 MHz-1920 MHz, TD-LTE 2300 MHz-2400 MHz, etc. 
         [0044]    Signals in the same frequency band or in bands close to each other may be sent to one receiving circuit front end  12 . For example, signals of GSM 1800 MHz/1900 MHz, TD-SCDMA 1880 MHz-1920 MHz, TD-LTE 1880 MHz-1920 MHz may be sent to one receiving circuit front end  12 ; signals of TD-SCDMA 2300 MHz-2400 MHz and TD-LTE 2300 MHz-2400 MHz may be sent to one receiving circuit front end  12 ; signals of GSM 850 MHz/900 MHz may be sent to one receiving circuit front end  12 . 
         [0045]    A receiving circuit front end  12  may be configured for: receiving a signal sent by the antenna system  11 , performing down-conversion on the signal sent by the antenna system, and sending the down-converted signal to the I/Q demodulator  14 , where I/Q demodulation may be performed. 
         [0046]    The frequency conversion may include filtering, amplification, down-conversion, IF filtering, and IF amplification. 
         [0047]    By the filtering, an out-of-band signal may be filtered out. By the amplification, the filtered signal may be amplified. By the down-conversion, the amplified signal may be mixed into an IF signal. By the IF filtering, an out-of-band signal in the IF signal may be filtered out. By the IF amplification, the filtered IF signal may be amplified. 
         [0048]    The I/Q demodulator  14  may be configured for: receiving a down-converted signal sent by a receiving circuit front end  12 , performing I/Q demodulation on the received signal, and sending a demodulated I/Q signal to the baseband unit  15 . 
         [0049]    The baseband unit  15  may be configured for decoding the I/Q signal sent by the I/Q demodulator  14 . 
         [0050]    The multi-mode receiver may further include a protocol detecting device  13 . The protocol detecting device may be configured for: receiving the signal sent by the BS via the antenna system  11 , detecting the signal, and selecting a transmission mode and a decoding mode for the demodulated I/Q signal according to synchronization information of the signal sending BS side. 
         [0051]    The synchronization information of the BS side may include a pilot signal, a modulation mode, a downlink synchronization code, etc. 
         [0052]    A transmission mode may be selected for the demodulated I/Q signal as follows. When the synchronization information such as a Gaussian Filtered Minimum Shift Keying GMSK modulation mode shows that the signal sent by the BS is a GSM signal, the I/Q demodulator  14  may be automatically matched with a transmission mode of a Digital Radio Frequency DigRF interface protocol; the demodulated I/Q signal may then be transmitted to the baseband unit  15 . When the synchronization information such as a downlink synchronization code shows that the signal sent by the BS is a TD-SCDMA signal, the I/Q demodulator  14  may be automatically matched with a 10-bit parallel-port data transmission mode; the demodulated I/Q signal may then be transmitted to the baseband unit  15 . When the synchronization information such as a downlink synchronization code shows that the signal sent by the BS is a TD-LTE signal, the I/Q demodulator  14  may be automatically matched with a 12-bit parallel-port data transmission mode; the demodulated I/Q signal may then be transmitted to the baseband unit  15 . 
         [0053]    A decoding mode may be selected for the demodulated I/Q signal as follows. The signal may be decoded using a data processing unit (such as a Reduced Instruction Set Computer RISC processor or a Digital Signal Processing DSP unit) in the baseband unit  15  corresponding to the mode of the signal. 
         [0054]    The antenna system may further be configured for: sending the signal sent by the BS to the protocol detecting device. 
         [0055]    The I/Q demodulator may be configured for sending the demodulated signal to the baseband unit according to the transmission mode selected by the protocol detecting device. The transmission mode may be a transmission mode of a DigRF interface protocol automatically matched with a GSM signal. The transmission mode may be a 10-bit parallel-port data transmission mode automatically matched with a TD-SCDMA signal. The transmission mode may be a 12-bit parallel-port data transmission mode automatically matched with a TD-LTE signal. 
         [0056]    The baseband unit may be configured for: decoding the demodulated signal in the decoding mode selected by the protocol detecting device. The decoding may be performed using a data processing unit in the baseband unit  15  (such as a RISC processor or a DSP) corresponding to the mode of the signal. 
         [0057]    The antenna system  11  may include an antenna  111  and an antenna switch  112 . 
         [0058]    The antenna  111  may be configured for: receiving the signal sent by the BS, and transferring the signal to the antenna switch  112 . The signal may be sent to a receiving circuit front end  12  corresponding to the frequency band of the signal. 
         [0059]    The signal sent by the BS may be signals in different modes, such as a GSM signal, a TD-SCDMA signal, and a TD-LTE signal, etc. 
         [0060]    Signals in a mode may include signals in different frequency bands. For example, GSM signals may include signals of: GSM 850 MHz/900 MHz, GSM 1800 MHz/1900 MHz, etc. TD-SCDMA signals may include signals of: TD-SCDMA 1880 MHz-1920 MHz, TD-SCDMA 2300 MHz-2400 MHz, etc. TD-LTE signals may include signals of: TD-LTE 1880 MHz-1920 MHz, TD-LTE 2300 MHz-2400 MHz, etc. 
         [0061]    The antenna switch  112  may be configured for: receiving the signal sent by the antenna  111 , sending the signal to the receiving circuit front end  12  corresponding to the frequency band of the signal, and sending the signal sent by the BS to the protocol detecting device  13  which then detects the received signal. 
         [0062]    Signals in the same frequency band or in bands close to each other may be sent to one receiving circuit front end  12 . For example, signals of GSM 1800 MHz/1900 MHz, TD-SCDMA 1880 MHz-1920 MHz, TD-LTE 1880 MHz-1920 MHz may be sent to one receiving circuit front end  12 ; signals of TD-SCDMA 2300 MHz-2400 MHz and TD-LTE 2300 MHz-2400 MHz may be sent to one receiving circuit front end  12 ; signals of GSM 850 MHz/900 MHz may be sent to one receiving circuit front end  12 . 
         [0063]    The receiving circuit front end  12  may include a first receiving circuit front end, a second receiving circuit front end, and a third receiving circuit front end. 
         [0064]    The first receiving circuit front end may be configured for: receiving a first signal in a first frequency band sent by the antenna switch  111  in the antenna system  11 , performing down-conversion on the first signal, and sending the down-converted first signal to the I/Q demodulator  14 , where I/Q demodulation may be performed. 
         [0065]    The first signal in the first frequency band may include signals in the same frequency band or in bands close to each other, such as signals in GSM 1800 MHz/1900 MHz, TD-SCDMA 1880 MHz-1920 MHz, TD-LTE 1880 MHz-1920 MHz. 
         [0066]    The second receiving circuit front end may be configured for: receiving a second signal in a second frequency band sent by the antenna switch  111  in the antenna system  11 , performing down-conversion on the second signal, and sending the down-converted second signal to the I/Q demodulator  14 , where I/Q demodulation may be performed. 
         [0067]    The second signal in the second frequency band may include signals in the same frequency band or in bands close to each other, such as signals in TD-SCDMA 2300 MHz-2400 MHz and TD-LTE 2300 MHz-2400 MHz. 
         [0068]    The third receiving circuit front end may be configured for: receiving a third signal in a third frequency band sent by the antenna switch  111  in the antenna system  11 , performing down-conversion on the third signal, and sending the down-converted third signal to the I/Q demodulator  14 , where I/Q demodulation may be performed. 
         [0069]    The third signal in the third frequency band may include signals in the same frequency band or in bands close to each other, such as signals in GSM 850 MHz/900 MHz. 
         [0070]    The frequency conversion may include filtering, amplification, down-conversion, IF filtering, and IF amplification. By the filtering, an out-of-band signal may be filtered out. By the amplification, the filtered signal may be amplified. By the down-conversion, the amplified signal may be mixed into an IF signal. By the IF filtering, an out-of-band signal in the IF signal may be filtered out. By the IF amplification, the filtered IF signal may be amplified. 
         [0071]    The first receiving circuit front end may perform frequency conversion on a frequency band around 1800 MHz. The second receiving circuit front end may perform frequency conversion on a frequency band around 2300 MHz. The third receiving circuit front end may perform frequency conversion on a frequency band around 900 MHz. 
         [0072]    Here, as an example only, assume that a frequency of a signal sent by a BS falls into three bands. In an actual application, when there are fewer or more frequency bands, more or less than 3 receiving circuit front ends may be used. For example, two receiving circuit front ends, four receiving circuit front ends, five receiving circuit front ends, or the like may be adopted to respectively process signals in different frequency bands. The processing and a mode thereof may be similar to what described. 
         [0073]    In an actual application, the antenna  111  in the antenna system  11  may be implemented by an antenna apparatus. The antenna switch  112  in the antenna system  11  may be implemented by a switch logic circuit. The receiving circuit front end  12  may be implemented by a filter, an amplifier, a down-converter, an IF filter, and an IF amplifier. The baseband unit  15  may be implemented by a decoder in a baseband system. The protocol detecting device  13  may be implemented by a protocol detecting logic circuit. 
         [0074]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart of a receiving method for a multi-mode receiver according to an embodiment herein. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the method may include steps as follows. 
         [0075]    In step  201 , a signal sent by a BS is received; a receiving circuit front end corresponding to a frequency band of the signal is selected. 
         [0076]    The signal sent by the BS may be received by the antenna system. A receiving circuit front end corresponding the frequency band of the signal may be selected. The signal sent by the BS may be sent to the selected receiving circuit front end. 
         [0077]    The signal sent by the BS may be a signal in any mode and any band, such as a signal in GSM 1800 MHz. A receiving circuit front end corresponding to the frequency band of a signal may be selected by selecting one receiving circuit front end for signals in the same frequency band or in bands close to each other. For example, for signals in GSM 1800 MHz, a receiving circuit front end corresponding to a frequency band around 1800 MHz, namely the first receiving circuit front end, may be selected. 
         [0078]    In step  202 , frequency conversion is performed on the received signal using the selected receiving circuit; the converted signal is output. 
         [0079]    The frequency conversion may include filtering, amplification, down-conversion, IF filtering, and IF amplification. For example for a GSM signal in a 1800 MHz band, by the filtering, a signal outside the 1800 MHz band may be filtered out from the GSM signal. By the amplification, the filtered GSM signal may be amplified. By the down-conversion, the amplified GSM signal may be mixed into a GSM IF signal. By the IF filtering, an out-of-band signal in the GSM IF signal may be filtered out. By the IF amplification, the filtered GSM IF signal may be amplified. 
         [0080]    In step  203 , I/Q demodulation is performed on the converted signal, and the demodulated signal is decoded. 
         [0081]    The I/Q demodulation may be performed by the I/Q demodulator. The decoding may be performed by the baseband unit. Having performed I/Q demodulation on the signal, the I/Q demodulator will send the demodulated signal to the baseband unit, where decoding may be performed. 
         [0082]    The step  203  may further include detecting the signal sent by the BS. The detection may be performed as follows. A transmission mode and a decoding mode may be selected for the demodulated I/Q signal according to synchronization information of the signal sending BS side. The synchronization information of the BS side may include a pilot signal, a modulation mode, a downlink synchronization code, etc. 
         [0083]    The signal may be detected by the protocol detecting device. In addition, the protocol detecting device will send the selected decoding mode to the baseband unit. The baseband unit may decode the signal using a data processing unit such as a RISC processor or a DSP. 
         [0084]    A transmission mode may be selected for the demodulated I/Q signal as follows. When the synchronization information such as a GMSK modulation mode shows that the signal sent by the BS is a GSM signal, the I/Q demodulator may be automatically matched with a transmission mode of a DigRF interface protocol; the demodulated I/Q signal may then be transmitted to the baseband unit. When the synchronization information such as a downlink synchronization code shows that the signal sent by the BS is a TD-SCDMA signal, the I/Q demodulator may be automatically matched with a 10-bit parallel-port data transmission mode; the demodulated I/Q signal may then be transmitted to the baseband. When the synchronization information such as a downlink synchronization code shows that the signal sent by the BS is a TD-LTE signal, the I/Q demodulator may be automatically matched with a 12-bit parallel-port data transmission mode; the demodulated I/Q signal may then be transmitted to the baseband unit. 
         [0085]    A decoding mode may be selected for the demodulated I/Q signal as follows. The signal may be decoded using a data processing unit (such as a RISC processor or a DSP) in the baseband unit corresponding to the mode of the signal. 
         [0086]    Before the demodulated signal is sent to baseband, the protocol detecting device may send the detected transmission mode to the I/Q demodulator. The I/Q demodulator may send the signal to the baseband according to the transmission mode. 
         [0087]    For example a signal in a GSM 1800 MHz band may be automatically matched with a transmission mode of a DigRF interface protocol; the demodulated I/Q signal may be transmitted to the baseband. 
         [0088]    What described are merely embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. 
       INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
       [0089]    With a multi-mode receiver and receiving method thereof according to an embodiment herein, an antenna switch may be built inside the multi-mode receiver, such that a receiving circuit front end corresponding to a frequency band of a received signal may be selected; a protocol detecting device may be built inside the multi-mode receiver, such that modes of same-band signals may be detected; thereby a transmission mode for transmitting the demodulated I/Q signal and a decoding unit for decoding the I/Q signal transmitted to the baseband may be provided. Therefore, same-band signals in different modes may share one receiving circuit front end, reducing a number of RF chips used, lowering cost.