Abstract:
Circuits, methods, and apparatus incorporate both a wireless physical interface and audio processing unit on a single integrated circuit. The wireless physical interface may include a receiver, transmitter, or a complete transceiver. The audio processing unit is typically in communication with both the wireless interface and one or more wired physical interfaces. The integrated circuit may be as simple as a wireless physical interface and audio processing unit, or it may include other circuits such as graphics processors, networking interfaces, memories, or other circuits.

Description:
[0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/987,020, filed Nov. 11, 2004, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to audio and wireless integrated circuits and more specifically to integrated circuits including both wireless transceivers and audio processors. 
         [0003]    Computers are leaving the confines of the office and are heading to our family rooms. Once there, they are taking on the role of a provider of entertainment including video and audio information. This means that computer systems need to be designed to handle and process audio data in new and more efficient ways—systems designed for spread sheets and silent web pages could likely be improved. 
         [0004]    NVIDIA Corporation of Santa Clara, Calif., has recently developed a breakthrough technology known as distributed processing. NVIDIA is currently applying the principles and benefits of distributed processing to various computational tasks such as graphics, networking, and other functions. Simply put, distributed processing allocates the computational load of an electronic system to the circuits in the system that are best able to efficiently handle the individual tasks. 
         [0005]    Accordingly, NVIDIA has been applying the benefits of distributed processing to audio information. By off-loading audio processing from a central processing unit to a more specialized audio processing unit, the CPU is freed to perform other tasks and the audio related tasks are completed more efficiently by the specialized APU. 
         [0006]    At the same time, as our computers join us in the family room, we would appreciate it if they left their tangled and unsightly wires behind. The fun of having a nice surround sound system is somewhat diminished if wires are spread around in a spider-web fashion. This cabling can be discarded by using one or more of the various wireless technologies that are currently available or that will be developed in the future. 
         [0007]    Thus, what is needed are circuits, methods, and apparatus that make use of the concept of distributed processing in order to spread the computational workload, while at the same time incorporating wireless technology to ease the clutter that would otherwise be created. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention provide circuits, methods, and apparatus that incorporate both a wireless physical interface and audio processing unit on a single integrated circuit. The wireless physical interface may include a receiver, transmitter, or a complete transceiver. The audio processing unit is typically in communication with both the wireless interface and one or more wired physical interfaces. The integrated circuit may be as simple as a wireless physical interface and audio processing unit, or it may include other circuits such as graphics processors, networking interfaces, memories, memory interfaces, or other circuits. Various embodiments of the present invention may make use of one or more of these or the other features described herein. 
         [0009]    An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides an integrated circuit. This integrated circuit includes a wireless receiver configured to receive audio information in the form of a first RF signal consistent with a wireless standard or protocol, an audio processor coupled to the wireless transceiver configured to process the audio information, and an output cell configured to provide the processed audio information. 
         [0010]    A further exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides another integrated circuit. This integrated circuit includes an input cell configured to receive audio information, an audio processor coupled to the input cell and configured to process the audio information, and a wireless transmitter configured to receive the processed audio information and transmit it in the form of an RF signal consistent with a wireless standard or protocol. 
         [0011]    Yet a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a method of receiving and processing audio information. This method includes establishing a wireless communication link, receiving audio information over the communication link using a receiver on the integrated circuit, processing the audio information using a processor on the integrated circuit, and outputting the processed audio information. 
         [0012]    Still another further exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a method of transmitting processed audio information. This method includes receiving audio information with a processing circuit on an integrated circuit, processing the audio information with the processing circuit, establishing a wireless communication link, and transmitting the processed audio information over the wireless communication link using a wireless transmitter on the integrated circuit. 
         [0013]    A better understanding of the nature and advantages of the present invention may be gained with reference to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an integrated circuit consistent with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a system including an integrated circuit consistent with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart of a method of receiving and processing audio information consistent with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a flow chart of a method of processing and transmitting audio information consistent with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram of another system including an integrated circuit consistent with an embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram of another system including an integrated circuit consistent with an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       [0020]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an integrated circuit consistent with an embodiment of the present invention. This block diagram includes an integrated circuit  110 , which further includes a radio  120  and audio processing unit  130 . The radio  120  may include a transmitter, a receiver, or both a transmitter and receiver, that is, a transceiver. The radio  120  transmits or receives radio frequency signals via antenna  140 . The audio processing unit  130  receives audio information via input port  150 , and provides audio information via output port  160 . Various embodiments of the present invention may not include the audio input port  150  or audio output port  160 . 
         [0021]    The radio  120  may be connected to the antenna  140  through a radio frequency choke, filter, matching impedance, or other circuitry. This circuitry may be on or off-chip depending on the exact implementation. The audio processing unit  130  may receive audio information on ports  150  via an input cell or cells (not shown). Similarly, the audio processing unit  130  may provide audio information on output ports  160  via an output cell or cells (also not shown). The integrated circuit  110  may include other functional blocks, such as a graphics processing unit, general processing units, memories, or other circuits. 
         [0022]    The radio  120 , as well as the other radios, transceivers, receivers, and transmitters included in these examples, may be consistent with one or more standards or protocols, or proprietary signaling conventions. These standards or protocols may be, for example, long range or short range RF standards or protocols. The radio  120  may be consistent with a short range standard or protocol such as Bluetooth, 802.11a, b, or g, or FM or AM standards. Similarly, the audio input port  150  and output port  160 , as well as the other ports included in these examples, may be consistent with one or more standards or protocols, or proprietary signaling conventions. For example, the audio input port  150  and output port  160  may be consistent with SPDIF, RCA, or other audio connection standards. These wireless, input, and output circuits may be compatible with existing standards or protocols and proprietary signaling conventions. Further, in the future, new standards or protocols and proprietary signaling conventions will be developed and these may be used by embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0023]    Combining the radio  120  and audio processing unit  130  on the integrated circuit  110  provides several benefits. For example, some of the functions of the radio of  120  may be incorporated into the audio processing unit  130 . The interface between the radio  120  and audio processing unit  130  may be very sophisticated since interface signals are not driven off chip. Also, since the signals are not driven off-chip, the electrical switching noise and coupling that would otherwise result is reduced, thus improving radio performance. Further, the audio processing unit  130  can be custom tailored to process signals received from the radio  120  and to provide signals to the radio  120  for transmission. 
         [0024]    Previous CMOS solutions for radio frequency circuits have been somewhat lacking in performance. Recent developments have made CMOS a much more viable technology for these receivers and transmitters. By incorporating both a radio and audio processing unit on a single chip, the advantages of CMOS may be realized for the processor without severely compromising radio performance. The use of CMOS allows the manufacture of these integrated circuits using well known low cost processes, thus reducing overall system costs. Further, the low power of CMOS allows these devices to be incorporated in portable, battery powered devices. 
         [0025]    Integration of the radio and audio processing unit into a signal chip means that the processor is under the same temperature, process, and voltage conditions as the radio. This awareness means that the processor can better compensate for these effects on radio performance. 
         [0026]    While advantages of an all CMOS device have been outlined, one skilled in the art will appreciate that other processes, such as group III-V processes, BiCMOS, bipolar, SiGe, or other process could be used, and that each of these would bring its own advantages. 
         [0027]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a system including an integrated circuit consistent with an embodiment of the present invention. This block diagram includes an integrated circuit  210 , which further includes radio  220  and audio processing unit  230 . The radio  220  transmits and receives radio frequency signals via antenna  240 . The audio processing unit  230  receives audio input signals via input port  250 , and provides audio output signals via output port  260 . 
         [0028]    The radio  220  transmits signals to a receiver  270  and receives signals from a transmitter  280 . The radio  220  also sends signals to or receives signals from a computer  290 . The audio processing unit  230  receives signals via an input port  250 , typically using an input cell, which is not shown for clarity. The audio processing unit  230  also provides output signals via output port  260 , again typically using an output cell or cells, which are also not shown for clarity. 
         [0029]    The receiver  270  receives signals on its antenna  276  from the radio  220  via its antenna  240 . The receiver  270  in turn provides audio signals to a storage device  272  and speaker  274 . The storage device  272  may be a memory, disk drive, or other storage device. The speaker  274  may be a set of headphones, or other type of speaker or speakers. 
         [0030]    The radio  220  also receives signals from transmitter  280  via its antenna  288 . The transmitter  280 , in this particular example, receives signals from a generator  282 , media player  284 , and microphone  286 . The generator  282  may be a computer or computer network, electronic music instrument, or other circuit capable of generating audio signals. The audio signals may also be received from a microphone  254 . This microphone or transducer  254  converts physical signals such as sound to electronic signals for processing by the audio processing unit  230 . In this particular example, signals may also be received from a media player  256 . This media player may be a CD player, a DVD player, digital audiotape player, or other type of media player. 
         [0031]    In this particular embodiment, the audio processing unit  230  receives signals from an audio signal generator  252 , microphone  254 , and media player  256 . The generator  252  may be a computer or computer network, electronic music instrument, or other circuit capable of generating audio signals. The audio signals may also be received from a microphone  254 . This microphone or transducer  254  converts physical signals such as sound to electronic signals for processing by the audio processing unit  230 . In this particular example, signals may also be received from a media player  256 . This media player may be a CD player, DVD player, digital audiotape player, satellite radio receiver, or other type of media player. 
         [0032]    Also in this particular example, audio signals are provided via output port  260  to a speaker  262  and storage device  264 . The speaker  262  may be a set of headphones, or other type of speaker or speakers. The storage circuit  264  may be a memory, a hard drive, a CD or DVD recorder, or other storage device. 
         [0033]    In this exemplary block diagram, the radio  220  is shown as communicating with a receiver  270 , transmitter  280 , and computer  290 . It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that in other embodiments of the present invention, the radio  220  may be in communication with either fewer or more devices than those illustrated. Further, the receiver  270 , transmitter  280 , and computer  290 , are shown connected to a number of exemplary devices. It will also be appreciated by one skilled in the art that the receiver  270 , transmitter  280 , and computer  290  may be connected to fewer or more than the devices illustrated. Also, input port  250  and output port  260  are shown as connected to a number of exemplary devices. Again, it will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that the input port  250  and output port  260  may be connected to fewer or more devices than those illustrated. 
         [0034]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart of a method of receiving and processing audio information consistent with an embodiment of the present invention. In act  310 , a wireless communications link is established. It act  320 , audio information is received over the communications link using a receiver on an integrated circuit. The audio information is processed using a processor, which is also on the integrated circuit, in act  330 . It act  340 , the processed audio information is output. 
         [0035]      FIG. 4  is a flow chart of a method of processing and transmitting audio information consistent with an embodiment of the present invention. In act  410 , audio information is received by a processing circuit on an integrated circuit. In act  420 , the audio information is processed using the processing circuit on the integrated circuit. In act  430 , a wireless communications link is established. The processed audio information is transmitted over the communications link using a transmitter that is on the integrated circuit, in act  440 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram of another system including an integrated circuit consistent with an embodiment of the present invention. This block diagram includes an integrated circuit  510 , which further includes a radio  520  and audio processing unit  530 . The radio  520  sends signals to and receives signals from a computer  590 . The audio processing unit  530  provides an audio output signal to one or more speakers  562 . 
         [0037]    In this particular example, the computer  590  receives signals from a microphone  592 , media player  596 , and the Internet  598 . The computer  590  also provides signals to a recorder  594  as well as to the Internet  598 . 
         [0038]    In this particular embodiment, the computer  590  is able to receive signals from a number of sources, and provide them the radio  520  via its antenna  540 . The radio  520  in turn provides the signals to the audio processing unit  530 . The audio processing unit can be used to mix, overlay, or combine the signals from these various sources. Also, the audio processing unit is able to perform other functions, such as pre-programmed functions that are available on the integrated circuit  510 . Also, the integrated circuit  510  may include memory circuits which can provide audio signals that may be used instead of or in combination with the other signals provided by the computer  590 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram of another system including an integrated circuit consistent with an embodiment of the present invention. This block diagram includes an integrated circuit  610 , which further includes a receiver  620  and audio processing unit  630 . The receiver  620  receives audio signals from a number of transmitters TX 0   670  through TXN  680 . 
         [0040]    In this particular example, transmitter TX 0   670  receives a signal from source  672  and provides an output signal on its antenna  674 . The integrated circuit  610  receives the signal via antenna  640  using receiver  620 . Similarly, transmitter TXN  680  receives an audio signal from source  682  and provides an output signal via its antenna  684 . The integrated circuit  610  receives this audio signal via its antenna  640  using the receiver  620 . The audio processing unit  630  processes the received audio signals from the various sources and provides outputs to speaker  662  and storage unit  664 . 
         [0041]    In this specific embodiment, the audio processing unit  630  receives input data from a number of sources  672  through  682  via receiver  620 . The audio processing unit  630  may then blend, overlay, mix, synthesize, or otherwise process the signals to generate one or more outputs. These outputs may then be listened to, for example over speakers  662 , or stored, for example, by storage device  664 . 
         [0042]    In the above examples, particular equipment devices were shown for exemplary purposes. In other systems consistent with embodiments of the present invention, other devices may be included. Some of these devices may be currently known or available, but not listed for reasons of expediency. Other devices will surely be developed and then may be incorporated by embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0043]    The above description of exemplary embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form described, and many modifications and variations are possible in light of the teaching above. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.