Abstract:
A handset includes two antennae, wherein one antenna is solely dedicated to multi-band frequency division multiplexed signals. The first antenna connects to an antenna switch. The antenna switch further connects to receivers and transmitters of time division band standards. The second antenna transceives a multi-band frequency division multiplexed signal. A modular filter receives the multi-band frequency division multiplexed signal and separates the frequency bands. To provide diversity, the antenna switch connects to a receiver for each frequency division band standard.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Cellular phone systems operate in numerous frequencies and with numerous standards globally. Typically, each frequency band supports several standards. Service providers operate in multiple bands, use different standards, and require that the handsets that they support be usable through their system. Handset manufacturers make handsets for numerous service providers and want to minimize the number of radio types they offer. 
     The three major standards in use are: GSM, which is worldwide; CDMA which is mostly in North America, and is evolving into WCDMA; and WCDMA which is being deployed worldwide. There are six principal bands used in Europe, much of Asia, and/or North America. They are not exclusive of one another. These bands are also typical but not exclusively used elsewhere in the world, although the great bulk of the cell band communication occurs in these. Handsets currently in production support only some subset of these bands and standards. However, advanced designs are required to satisfy as many of these bands and standards as possible. 
                             TABLE 1               Nomenclature               GSM/WCDMA   Location   Frequencies                   Cellular   North America    824 to 849 MHz Transmit       Band/WCDMA V        869 to 894 MHz Receive       E-GSM/WCDMA   Europe and Asia    880 to 915 MHz Transmit       900        925 to 960 MHz Receive       none/WCDMA - IV   North America   1710 to 1770 MHz Transmit               2110 to 2170 MHz Receive       DCS/WCDMA - III   Europe and Asia   1710 to 1785 MHz Transmit               1805 to 1880 MHz Receive       PCS/WCDMA II   North America   1850 to 1910 MHz Transmit               1930 to 1990 MHz Receive       UMTS/WCDMA - I   Europe and Asia   1920 to 1980 MHz Transmit               2110 to 2170 MHz Receive                    
The standards have mutually incompatible requirements. One such is the multiple bands and standards. The GSM standard allows transmit and receive to alternate (half duplex). GSM also uses frequency division, with transmit and receive portions separated by frequency. CDMA and WCDMA use only frequency division, transmitting and receiving at the same time (full duplex). WCDMA, CDMA and GSM can also coexist within any particular band. In Europe, GSM and WCDMA are offered in the DCS band, GSM, and perhaps soon WCDMA, are offered in the E-GSM band. In North America, GSM, CDMA and WCDMA are offered in both the 850 and PCS bands. There is a new WCDMA only band rolling out in North America, WCDMA IV.
 
     The differences between the full duplex standards (CDMA and WCDMA) and the half duplex (GSM) are another constraint. These differences are such that the transmit portion of the handsets cannot be shared between half and full duplex. However, the Radio Frequency (RF) part of the receive portion of the full duplex portions could be utilized by the half duplex standards. Typically the full duplex path is more expensive and has performance higher than required for half duplex, but in a handset that supports both standards it may be economical to share. 
     There are numerous differences between CDMA and WCDMA. The important two are higher data rate and increased sensitivity to distortion on the part of WCDMA. The RF filters, RF power amplifiers and RF low noise amplifiers in a front end (the RF part) designed for WCDMA can also be used for CDMA. The base band portion of the handset would have different requirements. 
     Another constraint is that unless many more base stations are built than available today, WCDMA handsets require at least two receivers to achieve the required higher data rate. These multiple receivers require multiple antennas. 
     The more difficult interference specifications of WCDMA require a very non-distorting front end. Specifically, any active component between the antenna and the WCDMA power amplifiers will be a source of distortion. Switches in particular add loss and are a major source of distortion. 
     Another constraint is that the North America bands are not compatible with the European &amp; Asian bands. The Tx portion of the PCS band (1850 to 1910 MHz) overlaps with the Rx portion of the DCS band (1805 to 1880 MHz). The Rx portion of the PCS band (1930 to 1990 MHz) overlaps with the Tx portion of the WCDMA-I band (1920 to 1980 MHz). The Rx portion of the Cell band (869 to 894 MHz) overlaps with the Tx portion of the E-GSM band (880 to 915 MHz). As a consequence, these interfering bands cannot connect to the same antenna unless switching is utilized. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates prior art architecture. This architecture supports one WCDMA band along with the GSM, and so no longer solves the problem for the market.  FIG. 2  is closer to a solution, but offers limited WCDMA coverage worldwide. Additionally, there is a switch in the WCDMA-V Band. This switch is difficult and expensive to implement. 
     SUMMARY 
     A handset includes two antennae, wherein one antenna is solely dedicated to multi-band frequency division multiplexed signals. The first antenna connects to an antenna switch. The antenna switch further connects to receivers and transmitters of time division band standards. The second antenna transceives a multi-band frequency division multiplexed signal. A frequency division filter receives the multi-band frequency division multiplexed signal and separates the frequency bands. To provide diversity, the antenna switch further connects to a receiver for one or more of the frequency division band standard(s). 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a prior art multi-band handset. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a prior art multi-band handset principally for North America. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a multi-band handset of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a multi-band handset of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a multi-band handset of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a multi-band handset of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a multi-band handset of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a multi-band handset of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a multi-band handset of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a multi-band handset of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a multi-band handset of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  illustrates a multi-band handset of the present invention. 
         FIG. 13  illustrates a multi-band handset of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 3 through 13  illustrate techniques that allow these different communication standards to coexist, without introducing the switch complications, using only two antennae.  FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate an architecture that can be used globally, but is best suited for Europe and Asia.  FIGS. 5 through 10  similarly illustrate architectures that are best suited for North America, although they can also be used globally.  FIGS. 11 and 12  illustrate architectures that European centric.  FIG. 13  illustrates an architecture that is truly world wide, but supporting only WCDMA I and WCDMA IV, along with the four GSM standards. 
     In several embodiments, diversity is provided by receivers that support the GSM and WCDMA standards, as shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  5 ,  7 ,  9 , and  11 .  FIGS. 3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6 , and  13  illustrate embodiments where WCDMA-I and WCDMA-WV share the Rx band and thus one path of the RF portion of the handset. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an embodiment  10 A of the present invention. A first antenna  12  connects to an antenna switch  14 . The antenna switch  14  functions equivalently to a single pole, seven throw switch. The first throw  14   1  connects to an E-GSM/Cell transmitter  16 . The second throw  14   2  connects to a DCS/PCS transmitter  18 . The third throw  14   3  connects to a WCDMA-III receiver  20 . The WCDMA III receiver  20  also receives the DCS frequency band. The fourth throw  14   4  connects to a WCDMA-900 receiver  22 . The WCDMA-900 receiver  22  also receives the E-GSM frequency band. The fifth throw  14   5  connects to a WCDMA-V receiver  24 . The WCDMA-V receiver  24  also receives the Cell band. The sixth throw  14   6  connects to a PCS receiver  26 . The seventh throw  14   7  connects to a WCDMA-I &amp; IV receiver  28 . 
     A second antenna  30  connects to a frequency division filter  32 . The frequency division filter  32  connects to: a WCDMA I &amp; IV receiver  34 , a WCDMA-I transmitter  36 , a WCDMA-III receiver  38 , a WCDMA III &amp; IV transmitter  40 , a WCDMA  900  receiver  42 , a WCDMA  900  transmitter  44 , and a WCDMA-V transmitter  46 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an embodiment  10 B of present invention. A first antenna  12  connects to an antenna switch  14 . The antenna switch  14  functions equivalently to a single pole, ten throw switch. The first throw  14   1  connects to an E-GSM/Cell transmitter  16 . The second throw  14   2  connects to a DCS/PCS transmitter  18 . The third throw  14   3  connects to a DCS receiver  50 . The fourth throw  14   4  connects to an E-GSM receiver  48 . The fifth throw  14   5  connects to a Cell receiver  52 . The sixth throw  14   6  connects to a PCS receiver  26 . The seventh throw  14   7  connects to a WCDMA-I &amp; IV receiver  28 . The eighth throw  14   8  connects to a WCDMA-III receiver  20 . The ninth throw  14   9  connects to a WCDMA-900 receiver  22 . The tenth throw  14   10  connects to a WCDMA-V receiver  24 . 
     A second antenna  30  connects to a frequency division filter  32 . The frequency division filter  32  connects to: a WCDMA-I &amp; IV receiver  34 , a WCDMA-I transmitter  36 , a WCDMA-III receiver  38 , a WCDMA-III &amp; IV transmitter  40 , a WCDMA-900 receiver  42 , a WCDMA-900 transmitter  44 , and a WCDMA-V transmitter  46 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an embodiment of the present invention. A first antenna  12  connects to an antenna switch  14 . The antenna switch  14  functions equivalently to a single pole, seven throw switch. The first throw  14   1  connects to an E-GSM/Cell transmitter  16 . The second throw  14   2  connects to a DCS/PCS transmitter  18 . The third throw  14   3  connects to an E-GSM receiver  48 . The fourth throw  14   4  connects to a WCDMA-III receiver  20 . The WCDMA-III receiver  20  further receives the DCS frequency band. The fifth throw  14   5  connects to a WCDMA-II receiver  54 . The WCDMA-II receiver  54  further receives the PCS frequency band. The sixth throw  14   6  connects to a WCDMA-V receiver  24 . The WCDMA-V receiver  24  further receives the Cell band. The seventh throw  14   7  connects to a WCDMA-I &amp; IV receiver  28 . 
     A second antenna  30  connects to a frequency division filter  32 . The frequency division filter  32  connects to: a WCDMA-I &amp; IV receiver  34 , a WCDMA-I transmitter  36 , a WCDMA-IV transmitter  56 , a WCDMA-II transmitter  58 , a WCDMA-V receiver  60 , and a WCDMA-V transmitter  46 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates an embodiment  10 D of the present invention. A first antenna  12  connects to an antenna switch  14 . The antenna switch  14  functions equivalently to a single pole, nine throw switch. The first throw  14   1  connects to an E-GSM/Cell transmitter  16 . The second throw  14   2  connects to a DCS/PCS transmitter  18 . The third throw  14   3  connects to an E-GSM receiver  48 . The fourth throw  14   4  connects to a DCS receiver  50 . The fifth throw  14   5  connects to a Cell receiver  52 . The sixth throw  14   6  connects to a PCS receiver  26 . The seventh throw  14   7  connects to a WCDMA-I &amp; IV receiver  28 . The eighth throw  14   8  connects to a WCDMA-II receiver  54 . The ninth throw  14   9  connects to a WCDMA-V receiver  24 . 
     A second antenna  30  connects to a frequency division filter  32 . The frequency division filter  32  connects to: a WCDMA-I &amp; IV receiver  34 , a WCDMA-I transmitter  36 , a WCDMA-IV transmitter  56 , a WCDMA-II transmitter  58 , a WCDMA-V receiver  46 , and a WCDMA-V transmitter  60 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates an embodiment  10 E of the present invention. A first antenna  12  connects to an antenna switch  14 . The antenna switch  14  functions equivalently to a single pole, six throw switch. The first throw  14   1  connects to an E-GSM/Cell transmitter  16 . The second throw  14   2  connects to a DCS/PCS transmitter  18 . The third throw  14   3  connects to a DCS receiver  50 . The fourth throw  14   4  connects to an E-GSM receiver  48 . The fifth throw  14   5  connects to a WCDMA-V receiver  24 . The WCDMA-V receiver further receives the Cell band. The sixth throw  14   6  connects to a WCDMA-II receiver  54 . The WCDMA-II receiver  54  further receives the PCS band. 
     A second antenna  30  connects to a frequency division filter  32 . The frequency division filter  32  connects to: a WCDMA-II receiver  62 , a WCDMA-II transmitter  58 , a WCDMA-V receiver  46 , and a WCDMA-V transmitter  60 . 
       FIG. 8  illustrates an embodiment  10 F of the present invention. A first antenna  12  connects to an antenna switch  14 . The antenna switch  14  functions equivalently to a single pole, eight throw switch. The first throw  14   1  connects to an E-GSM/Cell transmitter  16 . The second throw  14   2  connects to a DCS/PCS transmitter  18 . The third throw  14   3  connects to a DCS receiver  50 . The fourth throw  14   4  connects to an E-GSM receiver  48 . The fifth throw  14   5  connects to a Cell receiver  52 . The sixth throw  14   6  connects to a PCS receiver  26 . The seventh throw  14   7  connects to WCDMA-V receiver  24 . The eighth throw  14   8  connects to a WCDMA-II receiver  54 . 
     A second antenna  30  connects to a frequency division filter  32 . The frequency division filter  32  connects to: a WCDMA-II receiver  62 , a WCDMA-II transmitter  58 , a WCDMA-V receiver  46 , and a WCDMA-V transmitter  60 . 
       FIG. 9  illustrates an embodiment  10 G of the present invention. A first antenna  12  connects to an antenna switch  14 . The antenna switch  14  functions equivalently to a single pole, seven throw switch. The first throw  14   1  connects to an E-GSM/Cell transmitter  16 . The second throw  14   2  connects to a DCS/PCS transmitter  18 . The third throw  14   3  connects to a DCS receiver  50 . The fourth throw  14   4  connects to a E-GSM receiver  48 . The fifth throw  14   5  connects to a WCDMA-V receiver  24 . The WCDMA-V receiver  24  further receives the Cell band. The sixth throw  14   6  connects to a WCDMA-II receiver  54 . The WCDMA-II receiver  54  further receives the PCS band. The seventh throw  14   7  connects to a WCDMA-IV receiver  64 . 
     A second antenna  30  connects to a frequency division filter  32 . The frequency division filter  32  connects to: a WCDMA-IV receiver  66 , a WCDMA-IV transmitter  56 , a WCDMA-II receiver  62 , a WCDMA-II transmitter  58 , a WCDMA-V receiver  46 , and a WCDMA-V transmitter  60 . 
       FIG. 10  illustrates an embodiment  10 H of the present invention. A first antenna  12  connects to an antenna switch  14 . The antenna switch  14  functions equivalently to a single pole, nine throw switch. The first throw  14   1  connects to an E-GSM/Cell transmitter  16 . The second throw  14   2  connects to a DCS/PCS transmitter  18 . The third throw  14   3  connects to a DCS receiver  50 . The fourth throw  14   4  connects to an E-GSM receiver  48 . The fifth throw  14   5  connects to a Cell receiver  52 . The sixth throw  14   6  connects to a PCS receiver  26 . The seventh throw  14   7  connects to a WCDMA-WV receiver  64 . The eighth throw  14   8  connects to a WCDMA-II receiver  54 . The ninth throw  14   9  connects to a WCDMA-V receiver  24 . 
     A second antenna  30  connects to a frequency division filter  32 . The frequency division filter  32  connects to: a WCDMA-IV receiver  66 , a WCDMA-IV transmitter  56 , a WCDMA-II receiver  62 , a WCDMA-I transmitter  58 , a WCDMA-V receiver  46 , and a WCDMA-V transmitter  60 . 
       FIG. 11  illustrates an embodiment  10 I of the present invention. A first antenna  12  connects to an antenna switch  14 . The antenna switch  14  functions equivalently to a single pole, seven throw switch. The first throw  14   1  connects to an E-GSM/Cell transmitter  16 . The second throw  14   2  connects to a DCS/PCS transmitter  18 . The third throw  14   3  connects to a PCS receiver  26 . The fourth throw  14   4  connects to a E-GSM receiver  48 . The fifth throw  14   5  connects to a Cell receiver  52 . The sixth throw  14   6  connects to a WCDMA-III receiver  20 . The WCDMA-III receiver  20  further receives the DCS band. The seventh throw  14   7  connects to a WCDMA-I receiver  68 . 
     A second antenna  30  connects to a frequency division filter  32 . The frequency division filter  32  connects to: a WCDMA-I receiver  38 , a WCDMA-I transmitter  70 , a WCDMA-III receiver  72 , and a WCDMA-Ill transmitter  36 . 
       FIG. 12  illustrates an embodiment  10  J of the present invention except the antenna switch  14  functions equivalently to a single pole, eight throw switch. The first throw  14   1  connects to an E-GSM/Cell transmitter  16 . The second throw  14   2  connects to a DCS/PCS transmitter  18 . The third throw  14   3  connects to a PCS receiver  26 . The fourth throw  14   4  connects to an E-GSM receiver  48 . The fifth throw  14   5  connects to a Cell receiver  52 . The sixth throw  14   6  connects to a DCS receiver  50 . The seventh throw  14   7  connects to a WCDMA-III receiver  20 . The eighth throw  14   8  connects to a WCDMA-I receiver  68 . 
     A second antenna  30  connects to a frequency division filter  32 . The frequency division filter  32  connects to: a WCDMA-I receiver  38 , a WCDMA-I transmitter  70 , a WCDMA-III receiver  72 , and a WCDMA-III transmitter  36 . 
       FIG. 13  illustrates an embodiment  10 K of the present invention. A first antenna  12  connects to an antenna switch  14 . The antenna switch  14  functions equivalently to a single pole, seven throw switch. The first throw  14   1  connects to an E-GSM/Cell transmitter  16 . The second throw  14   2  connects to a DCS/PCS transmitter  18 . The third throw  14   3  connects to a PCS receiver  26 . The fourth throw  14   4  connects to an E-GSM receiver  48 . The fifth throw  14   5  connects to a Cell receiver  52 . The sixth throw  14   6  connects to a DCS receiver  50 . The seventh throw  14   7  connects to a WCDMA-I and IV receiver  28 . 
     A second antenna  30  connects to a frequency division filter  32 . The frequency division filter  32  connects to: a WCDMA-I and IV receiver  34 , a WCDMA-I transmitter  56 , and a WCDMA-IV transmitter  36 . 
     In each embodiment disclosed, the second antenna is connected to a frequency division filter. One frequency division filter is disclosed by Bradley, et al., in U.S. application Ser. No. 10/899,556, “Modular Frequency Division Filter”, assigned to Agilent Technologies, filed 26 Jul. 2004. In the disclosed modular frequency division filter, each transmission path includes either a band pass filter or a duplexer to separate the received signal by frequency. Frequency phase shifters or shunt inductors may be included to further enhance the frequency separation. Following frequency separation, the separated signal is transceived by a device operating at the respective separated frequency.