Patent Description:
Attention is drawn to <CIT>, which discloses amplifiers with configurable mutually-coupled source degeneration inductors. An apparatus including a gain transistor and a plurality of inductors, which implement an amplifier, is described. The gain transistor receives an input signal and provides an amplified signal. The plurality of inductors are mutually coupled, are coupled to the gain transistors, and provide a programmable source degeneration inductance for the gain transistor. If the inductors have a positive coupling coefficient, they provide larger source degeneration inductance. If the inductors have a negative coupling coefficient, they provide a smaller source degeneration inductance.

Further attention is drawn to document <CIT>, which relates to techniques for calibrating a receiver based on a local oscillator (LO) signal from another receiver. A described apparatus includes first and second LO generators. The first LO generator generates a first LO signal used by a first receiver for frequency downconversion. The second LO generator generates a second LO signal used by a second receiver for frequency downconversion in a first operating mode. The second LO signal is used to generate a test signal for the first receiver in a second operating mode. The second LO signal may be provided as the test signal or may be amplitude modulated with a modulating signal to generate the test signal. The test signal may be used to calibrate residual sideband (RSB), second order input intercept point (IIP2), or receive path gain.

Attention is also drawn to <NPL>, which describes that carrier aggregation uses several carriers with narrow bandwidth which will be combined in the upper layer for high data rate transmission. These carriers can be either adjacent to each other or in different bands. The document describes a transceiver architecture which adopts router structure in the RF path. In this architecture, each RF path can be assigned with different number of carriers according to the corresponding requirements for each band to reduce hardware overhead. The architecture is simulated with Agilent ADS and emulated with hardware for further validation.

Further attention is drawn to <CIT>, which describes a microwave common source bi-directional amplifier including a first amplification path and a second amplification path wherein the signal directional flow is controlled through selective biasing. During a receive mode, a receiver amplifier directionally couples a signal from a second port to a first port during a receive mode, and the transmitter amplifier is biased off during that mode. During the transmit mode the transmitter amplifier directionally couples a signal between the first port and the second port, and the receiver amplifier is off during that mode.

Further attention is drawn to <CIT>, relating to a transmitting apparatus which transmits a signal independently in a multi-antenna.

A wireless device (e.g., a cellular phone or a smartphone) in a wireless communication system may transmit and receive data for two-way communication. The wireless device may include a transmitter for data transmission and a receiver for data reception. For data transmission, the transmitter may modulate a radio frequency (RF) carrier signal with data to generate a modulated RF signal, amplify the modulated RF signal to generate a transmit RF signal having the proper output power level, and transmit the transmit RF signal via an antenna to another device such as, for example, a base station. For data reception, the receiver may obtain a received RF signal via the antenna and may amplify and process the received RF signal to recover data sent by the other device.

The wireless device may operate within multiple frequency bands. For example, the wireless device may transmit and/or receive an RF signal within a first frequency band and/or within a second frequency band. To support multiple frequency bands and/or diversity operation, the wireless device may include a plurality of transceivers. Each transceiver may include an independent transmitter and receiver that may be tuned to operate within different frequency bands through independent local oscillators.

Calibration of the receivers may require one or more calibration signals with characteristics (e.g., frequencies) similar to local oscillator frequencies of one or more nearby receivers. Implementing signal generators to generate the calibration signals may increase a die size (and therefore the cost) of an associated integrated circuit and introduce complex calibration signal circuit routing to the receiver design.

Thus, there is a need for a low cost, die efficient approach to provide calibration signals to calibrate the receivers of a wireless device.

The present embodiments are illustrated by way of example and are not intended to be limited by the figures of the accompanying drawings. Like numbers reference like elements throughout the drawings and specification.

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, circuits, and processes to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. The term "coupled" as used herein means coupled directly to or coupled through one or more intervening components or circuits. Also, in the following description and for purposes of explanation, specific nomenclature and/or details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that these specific details may not be required to practice the present embodiments. In other instances, well-known circuits and devices are shown in block diagram form to avoid obscuring the present disclosure. Any of the signals provided over various buses described herein may be time-multiplexed with other signals and provided over one or more common buses. Additionally, the interconnection between circuit elements or software blocks may be shown as buses or as single signal lines. Each of the buses may alternatively be a single signal line, and each of the single signal lines may alternatively be buses, and a single line or bus might represent any one or more of a myriad of physical or logical mechanisms for communication between components. The present embodiments are not to be construed as limited to specific examples described herein but rather to include within their scope all embodiments defined by the appended claims.

In addition, the detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and is not intended to represent the only embodiments in which the present disclosure may be practiced. The term "exemplary" used throughout this description means "serving as an example, instance, or illustration," and should not necessarily be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments.

<FIG> shows a wireless device <NUM> communicating with a wireless communication system <NUM>. Wireless communication system <NUM> may be a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, an LTE Advanced (LTE-A) system, a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) system, a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) system, a wireless local area network (WLAN) system, or some other wireless system. A CDMA system may implement Wideband CDMA (WCDMA), CDMA 1X, Evolution-Data Optimized (EVDO), Time Division Synchronous CDMA (TD-SCDMA), or some other version of CDMA. For simplicity, <FIG> shows wireless communication system <NUM> including two base stations <NUM> and <NUM> and one system controller <NUM>. In general, a wireless system may include any number of base stations and any set of network entities.

Wireless device <NUM> may also be referred to as user equipment (UE), a mobile station, a terminal, an access terminal, a subscriber unit, a station, etc. Wireless device <NUM> may be a cellular phone, a smartphone, a tablet, a wireless modem, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a handheld device, a laptop computer, a smartbook, a netbook, a cordless phone, a wireless local loop (WLL) station, a Bluetooth device, etc. Wireless device <NUM> may communicate with wireless communication system <NUM>. Wireless device <NUM> may also receive signals from broadcast stations (e.g., a broadcast station <NUM>), signals from satellites (e.g., a satellite <NUM>) in one or more global navigation satellite systems (GNSS), etc. Wireless device <NUM> may support one or more radio technologies for wireless communication such as LTE, LTE-A, WCDMA, CDMA 1X, EVDO, TD-SCDMA, GSM, <NUM>, etc..

<FIG> shows a block diagram of an exemplary design of wireless device <NUM> in <FIG>. In this exemplary design, wireless device <NUM> includes a primary transceiver <NUM> coupled to a primary antenna <NUM>, a secondary transceiver <NUM> coupled to a secondary antenna <NUM>, and a data processor/controller <NUM>. Primary transceiver <NUM> includes a number (K) of primary receivers 230pa to 230pk and a number (K) of primary transmitters 250pa to 250pk to support multiple frequency bands, multiple radio technologies, carrier aggregation, etc. Secondary transceiver <NUM> includes a number (L) of secondary receivers 230sa to 230sl and a number (L) of secondary transmitters 250sa to 250sl to support multiple frequency bands, multiple radio technologies, carrier aggregation, receive diversity, multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) transmission from multiple transmit antennas to multiple receive antennas, etc..

In the exemplary design shown in <FIG>, primary receivers 230pa to 230pk may be coupled to a primary low noise amplifier (LNA) module 240p and primary receive circuits 242pa to 242pk. Primary LNA module 240p may include LNAs 240pa to 240pk and secondary LNA module <NUM> may include LNAs 240sa to 240sl. For data reception, primary antenna <NUM> receives signals from base stations and/or other transmitter stations and provides a received radio frequency (RF) signal, which is routed through a primary antenna interface circuit <NUM> and presented as an input RF signal to a selected receiver. Primary antenna interface circuit <NUM> may include switches, duplexers, transmit filters, receive filters, matching circuits, etc. The description below assumes that primary receiver 230pa is the selected receiver. Within primary receiver 230pa, LNA 240pa amplifies the input RF signal and provides an output RF signal. Primary receive circuits 242pa downconvert the output RF signal from RF to baseband, amplify and filter the downconverted signal, and provide an analog input signal to data processor/controller <NUM>. Primary receive circuits 242pa may include mixers, filters, amplifiers, matching circuits, an oscillator, a local oscillator (LO) generator, a phase locked loop (PLL), etc. Each remaining primary receiver 230pa to 230pk and secondary receivers 230sa to 230sl in primary transceiver <NUM> and secondary transceiver <NUM> may operate in similar manner as primary receiver 230pa.

In the exemplary design shown in <FIG>, each primary transmitter 250pa to 250pk includes primary transmit circuits 252pa to 252pk and is coupled to a primary power amplifier module (PA) 254p. Primary PA module 254p may include primary power amplifiers 254pa to 254pk and secondary PA module <NUM> may include secondary power amplifiers 254sa to 254sl. For data transmission, data processor/controller <NUM> processes (e.g., encodes and modulates) data to be transmitted and provides an analog output signal to a selected transmitter. The description below assumes that primary transmitter 250pa is the selected transmitter. Within primary transmitter 250pa, primary transmit circuits 252pa amplify, filter, and upconvert the analog output signal from baseband to RF and provide a modulated RF signal. Primary transmit circuits 252pa may include amplifiers, filters, mixers, matching circuits, an oscillator, an LO generator, a PLL, etc. A primary PA 254pa receives and amplifies the modulated RF signal and provides a transmit RF signal having the proper output power level. The transmit RF signal is routed through primary antenna interface circuit <NUM> and transmitted via primary antenna <NUM>. Each remaining primary transmitter 250pa to 250pk in primary transceiver <NUM> and secondary transmitters 250sa to 250sl in second transceiver <NUM> may operate in similar manner as transmitter 250pa. In a similar manner, secondary antenna interface circuit <NUM> may route RF signals between secondary antenna <NUM> and secondary LNA module <NUM> and/or secondary power amplifier module <NUM>.

Each primary and secondary receiver <NUM> (e.g., 230pa-230pk and 230sa-230sl) and primary and secondary transmitter <NUM> (e.g., 250pa-250pk and 250sa-250sl) may also include other circuits not shown in <FIG>, such as filters, matching circuits, etc. All or a portion of primary transceiver <NUM> and secondary transceiver <NUM> may be implemented on one or more analog integrated circuits (ICs), RF ICs (RFICs), mixed-signal ICs, etc. For example, LNAs <NUM> and receive circuits <NUM> within transceivers <NUM> and <NUM> may be implemented on multiple IC chips, as described below. The circuits in transceivers <NUM> and <NUM> may also be implemented in other manners. In some embodiments, primary and secondary receiver <NUM> may support carrier aggregation and may receive two or more concurrent signals with different carrier frequencies.

Data processor/controller <NUM> may perform various functions for wireless device <NUM>. For example, data processor/controller <NUM> may perform processing for data being received via receivers <NUM> and data being transmitted via transmitters <NUM>. Data processor/controller <NUM> may control the operation of the various circuits within transceivers <NUM> and <NUM>. A memory <NUM> may store program codes and data for data processor/controller <NUM>. Data processor/controller <NUM> may be implemented on one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) and/or other ICs.

<FIG> is a band diagram <NUM> depicting three exemplary band groups that may be supported by wireless device <NUM>. In some implementations, wireless device <NUM> may operate in a low-band (LB) including RF signals having frequencies lower than <NUM> megahertz (MHz), a mid-band (MB) including RF signals having frequencies from <NUM> to <NUM>, a high-band (HB) including RF signals having frequencies from <NUM> to <NUM>, and/or an ultra-high-band (UHB) including RF signals having frequencies higher than <NUM>. For example, low-band RF signals may cover from <NUM> to <NUM>, mid-band RF signals may cover from <NUM> to <NUM>, and high-band RF signals may cover from <NUM> to <NUM> and ultra-high-band RF signals may cover from <NUM> to <NUM> and <NUM> to <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. Low-band, mid-band, and high-band, and ultra-high band refer to four groups of bands (or band groups), with each band group including a number of frequency bands (or simply, "bands"). LTE Release <NUM> supports <NUM> bands, which are referred to as LTE/UMTS bands and are listed in 3GPP TS <NUM>.

In general, any number of band groups may be defined. Each band group may cover any range of frequencies, which may or may not match any of the frequency ranges shown in <FIG>. Each band group may also include any number of bands.

<FIG> shows a wireless device <NUM> that is another implementation of the wireless device <NUM> of <FIG>. Wireless device <NUM> includes a first antenna <NUM>, a second antenna <NUM>, a first LNA module <NUM>, a second LNA module <NUM>, a transceiver <NUM>, a processor <NUM>, and a memory <NUM>. First LNA module <NUM> may be another implementation of LNA module 240p or LNA module <NUM>. In a similar manner, second LNA module <NUM> may be another implementation of LNA module <NUM> or LNA module <NUM>. First antenna <NUM> may be another implementation of primary antenna <NUM>, and second antenna <NUM> may be another implementation of secondary antenna <NUM>. In some implementations, transceiver <NUM> may include transmitters to transmit communication signals and receivers to receive communication signals from other wireless devices. Additionally, first LNA module <NUM> and second LNA module <NUM> may receive communication signals through first antenna <NUM> and second antenna <NUM>, respectively. Although only two antennas and two LNA modules are shown in <FIG>, other implementations may include other numbers of antennas and/or LNA modules.

Memory <NUM> may include a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium (e.g., one or more nonvolatile memory elements, such as EPROM, EEPROM, Flash memory, a hard drive, etc.) that may store the following software modules:.

Each software module includes program instructions that, when executed by processor <NUM>, may cause wireless device <NUM> to perform the corresponding function(s). Thus, the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of memory <NUM> may include instructions for performing all or a portion of the operations of <FIG>.

Processor <NUM>, which is coupled to transceiver <NUM>, first LNA module <NUM>, second LNA module <NUM>, and memory <NUM>, may be any one or more suitable processors capable of executing scripts or instructions of one or more software programs stored in wireless device <NUM> (e.g., within memory <NUM>).

Processor <NUM> may execute transceiver control module <NUM> to configure transceiver <NUM> to receive and/or transmit communication signals in accordance with a communication protocol. In some embodiments, transceiver control module <NUM> may determine an operating frequency (e.g., carrier frequency and/or local oscillator frequency) for transceiver <NUM>. Transceiver control module <NUM> may control one or more local oscillators within transceiver <NUM> that may be used to generate a calibration signal. Transceiver control module <NUM> may also calibrate one or more receivers within transceiver <NUM> by analyzing an output signal of the receiver and modifying one or more settings associated with the receiver, based on a received calibration signal.

Processor <NUM> may execute LNA control software module <NUM> to control first LNA module <NUM> and/or second LNA module <NUM>. In some embodiments, LNA control software module <NUM> may select a normal operating mode or an output coupling operating mode for first LNA module <NUM> and/or second LNA module <NUM>. For example, LNA control software module <NUM> may operate first LNA module <NUM> and/or second LNA module <NUM> in the output coupling operating mode to provide a calibration signal to a receiver within transceiver <NUM>.

<FIG> is a block diagram <NUM> showing an LNA module <NUM> and a transceiver module <NUM> of wireless device <NUM>. LNA module <NUM> may be another implementation of primary LNA module 240p and/or secondary LNA module <NUM> of <FIG>. In some implementations, LNA module <NUM> may receive RF signals in different frequency bands, including LB, MB, HB and/or UHB. In a similar manner, transceiver module <NUM> may be another implementation of primary transceiver <NUM> and/or secondary transceiver <NUM> of <FIG>.

In some implementations, LNA module <NUM> may include a plurality of LNA module input terminals <NUM>, a first LNA module output terminal <NUM>, a second LNA module output terminal <NUM>, and a plurality of LNAs. As shown, LNA module <NUM> may include a first LNA <NUM> and a second LNA <NUM>. In other implementations, LNA module <NUM> may include more than two LNAs. Although shown as LNAs, in other implementations, first LNA <NUM> and second LNA <NUM> may be any technically feasible amplifier. In some embodiments, each LNA within LNA module <NUM> may be coupled to a corresponding LNA module input terminal (e.g., a dedicated input terminal within LNA module input terminals <NUM>).

Although only first LNA module output terminal <NUM> and second LNA module output terminal <NUM> are shown, in other implementations, LNA module <NUM> may include other numbers of LNA module output terminals. In some implementations, each LNA module output terminal may be coupled to two or more LNA outputs. For example, first LNA module output terminal <NUM> may be coupled to an output from first LNA <NUM> and an output from second LNA <NUM>. In a similar manner, second LNA module output terminal <NUM> may also be coupled to the output from first LNA <NUM> and the output from second LNA <NUM>. In other implementations, outputs from each LNA may be routed to a subset of all LNA module output terminals. In some implementations, the number of LNA module output terminals may be less than the number of LNA module input terminals. For example, LNA module may include a number M of LNA module input terminals and a number N of LNA module output terminals, where M > N.

Transceiver module <NUM> may include a plurality of receivers and transmitters. As shown in <FIG>, transceiver module <NUM> may include a first receiver <NUM>, a second receiver <NUM>, a third receiver <NUM>, and a fourth receiver <NUM>. In other implementations, transceiver module <NUM> may include other numbers of receivers. Transceiver module <NUM> may include one or more transmitters (not shown for simplicity). For example, each receiver within transceiver module <NUM> may be associated with a corresponding transmitter. Each receiver may include a buffer and a mixer. For example, first receiver <NUM> may include a first buffer <NUM> and a first mixer <NUM>, second receiver <NUM> may include a second buffer <NUM> and a second mixer <NUM>, third receiver <NUM> may include a third buffer <NUM> and a third mixer <NUM>, and fourth receiver <NUM> may include a fourth buffer <NUM> and a fourth mixer <NUM>. In other implementations, each receiver may include different numbers of buffers, different numbers of mixers, additional components, and/or fewer components.

In some implementations, each receiver may be associated with an input terminal to receive an input signal. For example, first receiver <NUM> may include a first receiver input terminal <NUM> coupled to first buffer <NUM>. In a similar manner, second receiver <NUM> may include a second receiver input terminal <NUM> coupled to second buffer <NUM>, third receiver <NUM> may include a third receiver input terminal <NUM> coupled to third buffer <NUM>, and fourth receiver <NUM> may include a fourth receiver input terminal <NUM> coupled to fourth buffer <NUM>.

In some implementations, each receiver may operate with a different local oscillator (LO) signal (e.g., a different LO frequency). For example, first receiver <NUM> may operate with an LOCA1 signal, second receiver <NUM> may operate with an LOCA2 signal, third receiver <NUM> may operate with an LOCA3 signal, and fourth receiver <NUM> may operate with an LOCA4 signal.

In some implementations, first mixer <NUM> may generate a first mixer output signal <NUM> based on an output signal from first buffer <NUM> and LOCA1. In a similar manner, second mixer <NUM> may generate a second mixer output signal <NUM> based on an output signal from second buffer <NUM> and LOCA2, third mixer <NUM> may generate a third mixer output signal <NUM> based on an output signal from third buffer <NUM> and LOCA3, and fourth mixer <NUM> may generate a fourth mixer output signal <NUM> based on an output signal from fourth buffer <NUM> and LOCA4. Each mixer output signal may be coupled to additional components within each respective receiver (not shown for simplicity) to decode and recover data transmitted from other wireless devices.

LNA module <NUM> may be coupled to transceiver module <NUM> through a plurality of circuits to couple LNA module output terminals <NUM> and <NUM> to receiver input terminals <NUM> - <NUM>. Circuits may be conductive traces disposed on a circuit board, wires between LNA module <NUM> and transceiver module <NUM>, or any other technically feasible conductive coupling. In some embodiments, LNA module <NUM> and transceiver module <NUM> may be co-located on a common integrated circuit. Thus, in some implementations, circuits may be conductive routes (e.g., metal layers, doped silicon, etc.), bond wires, or other on-chip conductive connection. In some implementations, an LNA module output terminal may be coupled to two or more input terminals of transceiver module <NUM>. For example, first LNA module output terminal <NUM> may be coupled to first receiver input terminal <NUM> via a first circuit <NUM> and to second receiver input terminal <NUM> via a second circuit <NUM>. In a similar manner, second LNA module output terminal <NUM> may be coupled to third receiver input terminal <NUM> via a third circuit <NUM> and to fourth receiver input terminal <NUM> via a fourth circuit <NUM>. In other embodiments, other circuit connections between LNA module <NUM> and transceiver module <NUM> may be implemented.

In some implementations, a receiver may be calibrated to improve receiver performance. For example, first receiver <NUM> may be a quadrature receiver receiving an in-phase (I) input signal and a quadrature (Q) input signal through first receiver input terminal <NUM>. First receiver <NUM> may include two signal processing pathways: a first processing pathway to process the in-phase input signal and a second processing pathway to process the quadrature input signal (processing pathways not shown for simplicity). If signal processing is not balanced (i.e., substantially similar) within the two signal processing pathways, an I/Q mismatch may occur. The I/Q mismatch may reduce an associated signal to noise ratio measurement and may also cause decoding errors associated with a received signal. In some implementations, a receiver may be calibrated by receiving and processing a known (e.g., calibration) signal. An output of the receiver may then be examined and adjustments may be made within the two signal processing pathways to correct any signal processing imbalance.

In some implementations, a signal provided by one receiver within transceiver module <NUM> may be used as a calibration signal for another receiver within transceiver module <NUM>. Receiver input terminals <NUM> - <NUM> may typically receive input signals. In some implementations, a receiver input terminal may also generate an output signal. For example, as described above, first receiver <NUM> may mix LOCA1 with an input signal to generate first mixer output signal <NUM>. While in operation, LOCA1 may leak through first mixer <NUM> and buffer <NUM> to first receiver input terminal <NUM>. In other words, LOCA1 may be coupled to first receiver input terminal <NUM>. In some implementations, LOCA1 may be used as a calibration signal for receivers other than first receiver <NUM>. For example, as shown in <FIG>, second receiver <NUM> may receive LOCA1 from first receiver <NUM> through first circuit <NUM> and second circuit <NUM> (e.g., via LNA module output terminal <NUM>).

Other receivers within transceiver module <NUM> may not be coupled via circuits to first receiver input terminal <NUM>. For example, third receiver input terminal <NUM> and fourth receiver input terminal <NUM>, while coupled to each other, may not be coupled to first receiver input terminal <NUM>. Thus, third receiver <NUM> and fourth receiver <NUM> may be unable to receive LOCA1. In some embodiments corresponding to the claimed invention, LNA module <NUM> includes a configurable coupler to selectively couple two or more LNA module output terminals together. Accordingly, a signal received at a first module output terminal of LNA module <NUM> (e.g., a leakage signal from a receiver) may be coupled to a second module output terminal of LNA module <NUM>. For example, this allows third receiver <NUM> and fourth receiver <NUM> to receive LOCA1 and/or LOCA2. The configurable coupler is described in more detail below in conjunction with <FIG> and <FIG>.

<FIG> is a block diagram of an LNA module <NUM>, in accordance with embodiments corresponding to the claimed invention. LNA module <NUM> may be another embodiment of LNA module <NUM> of <FIG>. LNA module <NUM> may include LNA module input terminals <NUM> - <NUM>, LNA module output terminals <NUM> and <NUM>, LNAs <NUM> - <NUM>, a control signal generator <NUM>, a control block <NUM>, and a coupler <NUM>. In other embodiments, other numbers of LNA module input terminals, LNA module output terminals, and LNAs may be used.

Each LNA <NUM> - <NUM> may be associated with one of LNA module input terminals <NUM> - <NUM>. For example, a first LNA module input terminal <NUM> may be coupled to an input of a first LNA <NUM>. In a similar manner, LNA module input terminals <NUM> - <NUM> may be coupled to LNAs <NUM> - <NUM>, respectively. Outputs from LNAs <NUM> - <NUM> (e.g., amplifier output terminals) may be coupled together and also coupled to LNA module output terminals <NUM> and <NUM>. For example, as shown in <FIG>, an output from each of LNAs <NUM> - <NUM> may be coupled to a first LNA module output terminal <NUM> and second LNA module output terminal <NUM>. In some embodiments, the number of LNA module output terminals may be less than the number of LNA module input terminals.

In some embodiments, LNAs <NUM> - <NUM> may be controlled via independent LNA control signals <NUM> - <NUM>, respectively. For example, each LNA <NUM> - <NUM> may have an independent gain control and/or an independent mode control (e.g., operating mode or inactive mode) through LNA control signals <NUM> - <NUM>.

Coupler <NUM> selectively couples two LNA module output terminals together. In all the embodiments corresponding to the claimed invention, coupler <NUM> amplifies a signal received at a first module output terminal to be output by a second module output terminal. For example, coupler <NUM> may amplify a signal received at first LNA module output terminal <NUM> to be provided to second LNA module output terminal <NUM>. In another example, coupler <NUM> may amplify a signal received at second LNA module output terminal <NUM> to be provided to first LNA module output terminal <NUM>. In some embodiments according to the claimed invention, when coupler <NUM> is active (e.g., coupling a first module output terminal to a second module output terminal), LNAs <NUM> - <NUM> may be inactive or operating in a minimum gain configuration. In still other embodiments according to the claimed invention, coupler <NUM> may isolate the first module output terminal from the second module output terminal.

In some embodiments which are not corresponding to the claimed invention, coupler <NUM> may be implemented with a switch unit that may include a mechanical and/or an electrical switch to couple first LNA module output terminal <NUM> to second LNA module output terminal <NUM>. Exemplary electrical switches may be a relay, and/or a transistor (e.g., a bipolar transistor or a MOSFET). In the embodiments which are corresponding to the claimed invention, coupler <NUM> includes a bidirectional amplifier. The bidirectional amplifier is configured to receive and amplify signals from a first LNA output terminal and provide them to a second LNA output terminal. Coupler <NUM> is controlled by a coupler control signal <NUM>. Coupler <NUM> is described in more detail below in conjunction with <FIG>.

Control block <NUM> may receive a module control signal <NUM> and, in response thereto, drive a mode control signal <NUM> to a state that may cause LNA module <NUM> to operate in a normal operating mode or an output coupling operating mode. Module control signal <NUM> may be provided by data processor/controller <NUM>, another device within wireless device <NUM>, a separate processor, or any other technically feasible device. When LNA module <NUM> operates in the normal operating mode, coupler <NUM> may be disabled, and at least one LNA from LNAs <NUM> - <NUM> may be enabled to provide an LNA output signal to first LNA module output terminal <NUM> and/or second LNA module output terminal <NUM>. When LNA module <NUM> operates in the output coupling operating mode, LNAs <NUM> - <NUM> may be inactive or operate in a minimum gain configuration. In addition, coupler <NUM> couples and amplifies a signal from a first LNA module output terminal to a second LNA module output terminal.

Control signal generator <NUM> may receive mode control signal <NUM> and, in response thereto, may generate one or more LNA control signals <NUM> - <NUM> and coupler control signal <NUM>. In some embodiments, there may be five normal operating modes and two output coupling operating modes. For example, when LNA module <NUM> operates in one of the normal operating modes, control signal generator <NUM> may receive mode control signal <NUM> and assert one or more LNA control signals <NUM> - <NUM> to operate one of LNAs <NUM> - <NUM>, respectively, in a normal mode of operation. Additionally, control signal generator <NUM> may assert coupler control signal <NUM> to disable coupler <NUM>. When LNA module <NUM> operates in one of the output coupling operating modes, control signal generator <NUM> may assert LNA control signals <NUM> - <NUM> to cause respective LNAs <NUM> - <NUM> to be inactive or operate them in a minimum gain configuration. Additionally, control signal generator <NUM> may assert coupler control signal <NUM> to enable coupler <NUM>, to determine a signal flow direction for coupler <NUM>, and/or to determine an amount of gain that may be provided by coupler <NUM>. Example modes and control signals are shown below in Table <NUM>. For simplicity, table entries associated with variable gain control for coupler <NUM> have been omitted.

Thus, when LNA module <NUM> operates in the output coupling operating mode, a signal provided by a first receiver may be used by a second receiver to perform calibration and/or testing. Dedicated test signal generators may be eliminated from the receiver design, and LO signal generators from other receivers may be used to provide a calibration and/or test signal.

<FIG> is a block diagram of coupler <NUM> of <FIG>, in accordance with example embodiments which are corresponding to the claimed invention. Coupler <NUM> includes a bidirectional amplifier <NUM> (shown within dashed lines). Bidirectional amplifier <NUM> couples LNA module output terminal <NUM> to LNA module output terminal <NUM>.

For example, bidirectional amplifier <NUM> may receive an LO (leakage) signal as an amplifier input signal through LNA module output terminal <NUM>. Bidirectional amplifier <NUM> may amplify the LO signal, and couple the amplified LO signal to LNA module output terminal <NUM>. In some embodiments, bidirectional amplifier <NUM> may also provide selectable amounts of gain, such as between <NUM> to <NUM> dB of gain to the received signal.

In some embodiments which are corresponding to the claimed invention, coupler control signal <NUM> may enable (make active) coupler <NUM>, disable (make inactive and/or isolate) coupler <NUM>, determine gain amounts of bidirectional amplifier <NUM>, and/or determine bidirectional amplifier <NUM> signal flow direction (e.g., from first LNA module output terminal <NUM> to second LNA module output terminal <NUM> or from second LNA module output terminal <NUM> to first LNA module output terminal <NUM>). As described above with respect to <FIG>, coupler control signal <NUM> may be driven by control signal generator <NUM>.

<FIG> shows an illustrative flow chart depicting an exemplary operation <NUM> for operating LNA module <NUM>. Referring also to <FIG>, an operating mode of LNA module <NUM> is determined (<NUM>). For example, LNA module <NUM> may be operated in an output coupling operating mode to calibrate one or more receivers (e.g., receivers <NUM> - <NUM>) within wireless device <NUM>. In another example, LNA module <NUM> may be operated in a normal operating mode to receive communication signals through one or more receivers within wireless device <NUM>. In some implementations, the operating mode of LNA module <NUM> may be determined by a module control signal <NUM> received by LNA module <NUM>.

Next, LNA module <NUM> may be configured based on the determined operating mode (<NUM>). In some implementations, configuration of LNA module <NUM> may include configuring coupler <NUM> based on the determined operating mode of LNA module <NUM> (<NUM>). For example, coupler <NUM> may be configured based on the operating mode of LNA module <NUM> as described above with respect to Table <NUM>. In some implementations, configuration of LNA module <NUM> may include configuring one or more LNAs included within LNA module <NUM> based on the determined operating mode of LNA module <NUM> (<NUM>). For example, configuration of LNAs <NUM> - <NUM> may be based on the operating mode of LNA module <NUM> as described above with respect to Table <NUM>.

Next, LNA module <NUM> is operated (<NUM>). LNA module <NUM> may be operated based on the LNA module <NUM> configuration (as determined at <NUM>). Thus, communication signals may be amplified and/or routed between LNA output terminals based on the determined operating mode of LNA module <NUM>. In some cases, a calibration signal may be routed from a first LNA module output terminal to a second LNA module output terminal.

Next, a change of the operating mode is determined (<NUM>). If the operating mode is to change, then operations proceed to <NUM>. If the operating mode is to remain the same, then operations proceed to <NUM>.

The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and circuits described in connection with the implementations disclosed herein may be implemented or performed with a general purpose processor, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein.

In one or more implementations, the functions described may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. A storage media may be any available media that can be accessed by a computer. By way of example, and not limitation, such computer-readable media can comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a computer. Disk and disc, as used herein, includes compact disc (CD), laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk, and blu-ray disc where disks usually reproduce data magnetically, while discs reproduce data optically with lasers.

Claim 1:
An apparatus, wherein the apparatus is a LNA module, comprising:
a plurality of amplifiers (<NUM>-<NUM>), each amplifier having an input terminal (<NUM>-<NUM>);
a plurality of output terminals (<NUM>, <NUM>), each output terminal coupled to two or more amplifier outputs; and
a coupler (<NUM>) configured to selectively couple together at least two of the plurality of output terminals, wherein, in a normal operating mode of the apparatus (Normal <NUM>-<NUM>), the coupler is configured to be disabled, and at least one amplifier of the plurality of amplifiers is enabled to provide an amplifier output signal to at least one or two of the plurality of output terminals, wherein when the at least two of the plurality of output terminals are coupled together by the coupler in an output-coupling operating mode of the apparatus (Output couple <NUM>), the coupler is further configured to amplify a signal received at a first (<NUM>) of the plurality of output terminals and to provide the amplified signal to a second of the plurality of output terminals, wherein the plurality of amplifiers are configured to be inactive in the output-coupling operating mode of the apparatus (Output couple <NUM>) or wherein the plurality of amplifiers are configured in a minimum gain configuration in the output-coupling operating mode of the apparatus (Output couple <NUM>), wherein the coupler (<NUM>) includes a bidirectional amplifier (<NUM>) configured to be controlled by a coupler control signal (<NUM>) to determine a signal flow direction of the coupler (<NUM>) in the output-coupling operating mode of the apparatus (Output couple <NUM>).