Patent ID: 8068805

Claim:
A multiple-in multiple-output (MIMO) transceiver, comprising: a baseband processor having a communication port for communication signals, a first digital port and a second digital port, the baseband processor operable to transmit outgoing or receive ingoing communication signals through the communication port and further operable to transmit a digital data signal from the first digital port and to transmit a digital clock signal from the second digital port; a radio front end integrated circuit signal processor operable to produce first and second outgoing streams based upon the outgoing communication signals from the baseband processor and further operable to receive first and second ingoing streams to produce the ingoing communication signals to the baseband processor, the first and second outgoing streams for MIMO transmission and-the first and second ingoing streams for MIMO reception; first and second radio front ends operable to respectively produce first and second outgoing radio frequency (RF) signals based correspondingly on the first and second outgoing streams and further operable to produce first and second ingoing streams based correspondingly on first and second ingoing RF signals; a plurality of antennas radiating outgoing RF signals and for receiving ingoing RF signals; a first signal path to conduct the first outgoing RF signal and also coupled to conduct the digital data signal; a second signal path to conduct the second outgoing RF signal and also coupled to conduct the digital clock signal; and a switch fabric operably coupled to the plurality of antennas, the first signal path and the second signal path, the switch fabric operable to decouple the digital clock signal and the digital data signal for use in controlling logic circuitry within the switch fabric to switch the first signal path to a first selected antenna selected from the plurality of antennas and to switch the second signal path to a second selected antenna selected from the plurality of antennas for MIMO transmission and reception, wherein the switch fabric obtains operational power to power the logic circuitry within the switch fabric from the digital clock signal and the digital data signal.