PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-8219157-B2
Application Number: US-41222809-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Electronic device with shared multiband antenna and antenna diversity circuitry

Abstract:
Electronic devices are provided that contain wireless communications circuitry. The wireless communications circuitry may have antenna diversity circuitry that allows an optimum antenna in an antenna structure to be switched into use during device operations. The antenna structure may be shared between multiple radio-frequency transceivers in a radio-frequency transceiver circuit. The radio-frequency transceiver circuit may be coupled to the antenna structure using switching and filtering circuitry. The filtering circuitry may include a diplexer that divides radio-frequency signals into a divided signal path based on frequency. The filtering circuitry may also include bandpass filters that are interposed in each branch of the divided signal path. Switching circuitry in the switching and filtering circuitry may be used to selectively configure the wireless communications circuitry in transmit and receive modes using multiple communications bands.

Claims:
1. Wireless communications circuitry comprising:
 a 5 GHz radio-frequency transceiver that operates in a 5 GHz communications band and a 2.4 GHz radio-frequency transceiver that operates in a 2.4 GHz band; 
 an antenna; and 
 circuitry that couples both the 5 GHz radio-frequency transceiver and the 2.4 GHz radio-frequency transceiver to the antenna and that routes transmitted 5 GHz signals from the 5 GHz radio-frequency transceiver to the antenna while simultaneously passing 2.4 GHz signals from the antenna to the 2.4 GHz radio-frequency transceiver. 
 
     
     
       2. The wireless communications circuitry defined in  claim 1  wherein the antenna comprises a first antenna and wherein the wireless communications circuitry further comprises a second antenna and an antenna diversity switch that selectively switches one of the first and second antennas into use in response to antenna diversity control signals. 
     
     
       3. The wireless communications circuitry defined in  claim 1  further comprises a cellular telephone transceiver. 
     
     
       4. The wireless communications circuitry defined in  claim 1  wherein the circuitry comprises a diplexer coupled to the antenna, wherein the diplexer has a bandpass filter interposed between the antenna and the 5 GHz radio-frequency transceiver and has a low-pass filter interposed between the antenna and the 2.4 GHz radio-frequency transceiver. 
     
     
       5. The wireless communications circuitry defined in  claim 4  further comprising:
 an input amplifier that receives the 2.4 GHz signals; and 
 a 2.4 GHz bandpass filter that is coupled between the diplexer and the input amplifier. 
 
     
     
       6. An electronic device comprising:
 a housing; 
 transceiver circuitry in the housing that handles wireless local area network radio-frequency signals at 5 GHz and radio-frequency signals at 2.4 GHz; 
 an antenna in the housing that is used to simultaneously receive 5 GHz radio-frequency signals for the transceiver circuitry and transmit 2.4 GHz radio-frequency signals from the transceiver circuitry; and 
 a cellular telephone transceiver and cellular telephone antenna in the housing. 
 
     
     
       7. The electronic device defined in  claim 6  wherein the antenna comprises a first antenna, wherein the electronic device further comprises a second antenna, wherein the first and second antennas each cover 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz communications bands, wherein the electronic device further comprises a switch having a control input that receives antenna diversity control signals, and wherein the antenna diversity control signals direct the switch to switch either the first antenna or the second antenna into use. 
     
     
       8. The electronic device defined in  claim 6  further comprising a diplexer interposed between the transceiver circuitry and the antenna. 
     
     
       9. The electronic device defined in  claim 8  wherein the diplexer has terminals connected to:
 a 5 GHz path that conveys the 5 GHz radio-frequency signals; 
 a 2.4 GHz path that conveys the 2.4 GHz radio-frequency signals; and 
 an antenna path coupled to the antenna. 
 
     
     
       10. The electronic device defined in  claim 9  further comprising a 5 GHz bandpass filter interposed in the 5 GHz path between the diplexer and the radio-frequency transceiver circuitry. 
     
     
       11. The electronic device defined in  claim 8  wherein the diplexer is connected to a 5 GHz path that conveys the 5 GHz radio-frequency signals, a 2.4 GHz path that conveys the 2.4 GHz radio-frequency signals, and an antenna path coupled to the antenna and wherein the electronic device further comprises a 2.4 GHz bandpass filter interposed in the 2.4 GHz path and a 5 GHz bandpass filter interposed in the 5 GHz path. 
     
     
       12. The electronic device defined in  claim 11  further comprising a two-position switch connected to 5 GHz bandpass filter and a three-position switch connected to the 2.4 GHz bandpass filter. 
     
     
       13. An electronic device comprising:
 an antenna; 
 wireless communications circuitry that transmits and receives radio-frequency signals with the antenna, wherein the radio-frequency signals include radio-frequency signals in a first communications band and radio-frequency signals in a second communications band; 
 a diplexer coupled between the antenna and the wireless communications circuitry, wherein the diplexer has terminals respectively connected to:
 a first path that conveys the radio-frequency signals in the first communications band; 
 a second path that conveys the radio-frequency signals in the second communications band; and 
 an antenna path coupled to the antenna; 
 
 bandpass filter circuitry that is coupled between the diplexer and the wireless communications circuitry; and 
 switching circuitry configurable in a first configuration in which the radio-frequency signals in the first communications band are transmitted by the wireless communications circuitry using the first antenna while the radio-frequency signals in the second communications band are received by the wireless communications circuitry using the first antenna. 
 
     
     
       14. The electronic device defined in  claim 13  wherein the bandpass filter circuitry includes a first bandpass filter that passes radio-frequency signals in the first communications band and a second bandpass filter that passes radio-frequency signals in the second communications band. 
     
     
       15. The electronic device defined in  claim 13  wherein the switching circuitry is operable to selectively route transmitted and received signals from the wireless communications circuitry to the diplexer. 
     
     
       16. The electronic device defined in  claim 13  further comprising:
 a first switch that is coupled to the transceiver circuitry and that conveys signals in the first communications band; and 
 a second switch that is coupled to the transceiver circuitry and that conveys signals in the second communications band, wherein the bandpass filter circuitry comprises:
 a first bandpass filter coupled between the diplexer and the first switch; and 
 a second bandpass filter coupled between the diplexer and the second switch. 
 
 
     
     
       17. The electronic device defined in  claim 16  wherein the diplexer comprises a diplexer bandpass filter that passes signals in the second communications band. 
     
     
       18. The electronic device defined in  claim 17  wherein the diplexer comprises a low pass filter that passes signals in the first communications band. 
     
     
       19. The electronic device defined in  claim 18  wherein the first communications band comprises a 2.4 GHz communications band, wherein the second communications band comprises a 5 GHz communications band, and wherein the switching circuitry is configurable in:
 the first configuration in which 2.4 GHz signals are transmitted by the wireless communications circuitry through the first bandpass filter and the low pass filter while 5 GHz signals are received by the wireless communications circuitry through the diplexer bandpass filter and the second bandpass filter; and
 a second configuration in which 2.4 GHz signals are received by the wireless communications circuitry while 5 GHz signals are received by the wireless communications circuitry. 
 
 
     
     
       20. A portable electronic device, comprising:
 an antenna structure having a first antenna and a second antenna; 
 an antenna diversity switch that selectively switches the first and second antennas into use in response to antenna diversity control signals; 
 radio-frequency transceiver circuitry that transmits and receives radio-frequency signals through the antenna diversity switch, wherein the radio-frequency signals include radio-frequency signals in a first communications band and radio-frequency signals in a second communications band; 
 a diplexer coupled between the antenna structure and the radio-frequency transceiver circuitry, wherein the diplexer has terminals respectively connected to:
 a first path that conveys the radio-frequency signals in the first communications band; 
 a second path that conveys the radio-frequency signals in the second communications band; and 
 an antenna path coupled to the antenna diversity switch; 
 
 a first bandpass filter that is interposed in the first path between the diplexer and the radio-frequency transceiver circuitry; 
 a second bandpass filter that is interposed in the second path between the diplexer and the radio-frequency transceiver circuitry; 
 a first switch that is interposed in the first path and that has at least three switch positions; and 
 a second switch that is interposed in the second path. 
 
     
     
       21. The portable electronic device defined in  claim 20  wherein the first bandpass filter comprises a 2.4 GHz bandpass filter. 
     
     
       22. The portable electronic device defined in  claim 21  wherein the second bandpass filter comprises a 5 GHz bandpass filter. 
     
     
       23. The portable electronic device defined in  claim 22  wherein the radio-frequency transceiver circuitry is configured to simultaneously receive 5 GHz signals through the second bandpass filter and transmit 2.4 GHz signals through the first bandpass filter. 
     
     
       24. The portable electronic device defined in  claim 20  wherein the portable electronic device comprises a handheld electronic device that supports cellular telephone communications, the portable electronic device further comprising:
 a cellular telephone transceiver.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     This relates generally to wireless communications circuitry, and more particularly, to electronic devices that support wireless communications in multiple communications bands. 
     Electronic devices such as handheld electronic devices are becoming increasingly popular. Examples of handheld devices include handheld computers, cellular telephones, media players, and hybrid devices that include the functionality of multiple devices of this type. 
     Devices such as these are often provided with wireless communications capabilities. For example, electronic devices may use long-range wireless communications circuitry such as cellular telephone circuitry to communicate using cellular telephone bands at 850 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, and 1900 MHz (e.g., the main Global System for Mobile Communications or GSM cellular telephone bands). Long-range wireless communications circuitry may also handle the 2100 MHz band. Electronic devices may use short-range wireless communications links to handle communications with nearby equipment. For example, electronic devices may communicate using the WiFi® (IEEE 802.11) bands at 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz and the Bluetooth® band at 2.4 GHz. 
     To satisfy consumer demand for small form factor wireless devices, manufacturers are continually striving to reduce the number of components that are used. For example, in some wireless designs a single antenna is shared by two transceivers. Because there is only a single antenna with this type of approach, device size is minimized. 
     It can be difficult to share an antenna in a wireless device, however, because transceivers compete with each other for use of the antenna. This may lead to conflicts when both transceivers are being used. 
     It would therefore be desirable to be able to provide improved wireless communications circuitry for wireless electronic devices. 
     SUMMARY 
     Electronic devices such as handheld electronic devices and other portable electronic devices may be provided with wireless communications circuitry. The wireless communications circuitry may include transceiver circuitry such as transceivers operating at 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. The wireless communications circuitry may also include cellular telephone transceivers and other radio-frequency transceivers. 
     An electronic device may be provided with an antenna structure for handling transmitted and received radio-frequency signals. The antenna structure may have multiple antennas. Each of the antennas in the antenna structure may cover multiple communications bands such as the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. An antenna diversity switch may be controlled in real time to switch one of the antennas in the antenna structure into use. For example, if a first of the antennas is receiving signals more effectively than a second of the antennas, the antenna diversity switch may be used to switch the first antenna in to use, thereby optimizing wireless performance. 
     The antenna structure may be shared between 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz transceivers using filter and switching circuitry. The filter and switching circuitry may include a diplexer that is coupled between first and second communications paths and the antenna diversity switch. The first path may be used to convey radio-frequency signals in a first communications band such as the 2.4 GHz communications band. The second path may be used to convey radio-frequency signals in a second communications band such as the 5 GHz communications band. The diplexer may be formed from a bandpass filter and a low pass filter. For example, the diplexer may have a 5 GHz bandpass filter that is coupled to the second path and a 2.4 GHz low pass filter that is coupled to the first path. 
     Bandpass filtering circuitry in the filter and switching circuitry may be interposed in the first and second paths. For example, a 2.4 GHz bandpass filter may be interposed in the first path between the transceiver circuitry and the diplexer, whereas a 5 GHz bandpass filter may be interposed in the second path between the transceiver circuitry and the diplexer. 
     Switching circuitry such as a two-position switch interposed in the second path and a three-position switch in the first path may be used to configure the device for various 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz transmission and reception modes. For example, the switching circuitry may be configured to support simultaneous signal transmission at 5 GHz and signal reception at 2.4 GHz or may be configured to support simultaneous signal reception at 5 GHz and signal transmission at 2.4 GHz (as examples). 
     Further features of the invention, its nature and various advantages will be more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an illustrative electronic device with wireless communications circuitry in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of an illustrative electronic device with wireless communications circuitry in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of wireless communications circuitry for a wireless electronic device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a detailed schematic diagram of wireless communications circuitry for a wireless electronic device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Electronic devices may be provided with wireless communications circuitry. The wireless communications circuitry may be used to support wireless communications in multiple wireless communications bands. Antenna resources in an electronic device may be shared between multiple transceivers. For example, a transceiver circuit that is operating in first and second communications bands may share an antenna. More than one antenna may be shared in this way. For example, multiple antennas may be used to implement an antenna diversity scheme in which switching circuitry continuously switches an optimum antenna into use depending on factors such as antenna signal strength. In an antenna diversity arrangement, multiple antennas are used to form a set of antennas. This antenna structure may be shared between multiple transceivers. 
     An electronic device may therefore be provided with an antenna structure and multiple transceivers that share the antenna structure. In the same electronic device, additional transceivers may be provided that use separate antennas. For example, an electronic device may contain antenna sharing circuitry that allows IEEE 802.11 (WiFi®) and Bluetooth® transceivers to share antenna resources. The same device may also be provided with additional transceivers such as a cellular telephone transceiver. The antenna sharing circuitry may contain filters that help block cross-talk from the cellular telephone transceiver and from leaked versions of transmitted signals while supporting antenna sharing operations between the WiFi and Bluetooth transceivers (as an example). 
     Any suitable electronic devices may be provided with wireless circuitry that supports antenna resource sharing. As an example, antenna sharing may be supported in electronic devices such as desktop computers, game consoles, routers, laptop computers, etc. With one suitable configuration, antenna sharing circuitry is provided in relatively compact electronic devices in which interior space is relatively valuable such as portable electronic devices. 
     An illustrative portable electronic device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 1 . Portable electronic devices such as illustrative portable electronic device  10  may be laptop computers or small portable computers such as ultraportable computers, netbook computers, and tablet computers. Portable electronic devices may also be somewhat smaller devices. Examples of smaller portable electronic devices include wrist-watch devices, pendant devices, headphone and earpiece devices, and other wearable and miniature devices. With one suitable arrangement, the portable electronic devices are handheld electronic devices such as cellular telephones. 
     Space is at a premium in portable electronic devices, so antenna-sharing arrangements for portable electronic devices can be particularly advantageous. The use of portable devices such as handheld devices is therefore sometimes described herein as an example, although any suitable electronic device may be provided with antenna resource sharing circuitry if desired. 
     Handheld devices may be, for example, cellular telephones, media players with wireless communications capabilities, handheld computers (also sometimes called personal digital assistants), remote controllers, global positioning system (GPS) devices, and handheld gaming devices. Handheld devices and other portable devices may be hybrid devices that combine the functionality of multiple conventional devices. Examples of hybrid devices include a cellular telephone that includes media player functionality, a gaming device that includes a wireless communications capability, a cellular telephone that includes game and email functions, and a handheld device that receives email, supports mobile telephone calls, and supports web browsing. These are merely illustrative examples. Device  10  may be any suitable portable or handheld electronic device. 
     Device  10  includes housing  12  and includes at least one antenna for handling wireless communications. Housing  12 , which is sometimes referred to as a case, may be formed of any suitable materials including, plastic, wood, glass, ceramics, metal, or other suitable materials, or a combination of these materials. In some situations, case  12  may be a dielectric or other low-conductivity material, so that the operation of conductive antenna elements that are located in proximity to case  12  is not disrupted. In other situations, case  12  may be formed from metal elements. 
     Any suitable type of antenna may be used to support wireless communications in device  10 . Examples of suitable antenna types include antennas with resonating elements that are formed from a patch antenna structure, a planar inverted-F antenna structure, a helical antenna structure, etc. To minimize device volume, at least one of the antennas in device  10  may be shared between two transceiver circuits. 
     Handheld electronic device  10  may have input-output circuitry  14 . Circuitry  14  may include devices such as a display screen, buttons, alphanumeric keys, touch pads, pointing sticks, and other user input control devices for receiving user input, and input-output components such as input-output ports. Device  10  may use any suitable type of display such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display, a plasma display, or multiple displays that use one or more different display technologies. Display screens can be mounted on the front face of handheld electronic device  10  as shown by circuitry  14  in  FIG. 1 . If desired, displays can be mounted on the rear face of handheld electronic device  10 , on a side of device  10 , on a flip-up portion of device  10  that is attached to a main body portion of device  10  by a hinge (for example), or using any other suitable mounting arrangement. 
     Device  10  may interact with external equipment wirelessly. If desired, antenna diversity arrangements may be implemented in device  10  in which multiple redundant antennas are used to transmit and receive signals. The antennas in an antenna diversity arrangement may be located in different portions of device  10 . For example, a first antenna may be located in region  15 , whereas a second antenna may be located in region  17 . During operation of the wireless antennas, antenna diversity circuitry in device  10  may make signal strength readings or other appropriate readings in real time to continuously determine which antenna is performing best. The antenna diversity circuitry can then ensure that the optimum antenna is switched into use, maximizing wireless performance in device  10 . 
     A schematic diagram of an embodiment of an illustrative handheld electronic device is shown in  FIG. 2 . Handheld device  10  may be a portable computer such as a portable tablet computer, a mobile telephone, a mobile telephone with media player capabilities, a handheld computer, a remote control, a game player, a global positioning system (GPS) device, a combination of such devices, or any other suitable portable electronic device. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , handheld device  10  may include storage and processing circuitry  16 . Storage and processing circuitry  16  may include one or more different types of storage such as hard disk drive storage, nonvolatile memory (e.g., flash memory or other electrically-programmable-read-only memory), volatile memory (e.g., static or dynamic random-access-memory), etc. Processing circuitry in storage and processing circuitry  16  may be used to control the operation of device  10 . Processing circuitry  16  may be based on a processor such as a microprocessor and other suitable integrated circuits. With one suitable arrangement, storage and processing circuitry  16  may be used to run software on device  10 , such as internet browsing applications, voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) telephone call applications, email applications, media playback applications, operating system functions, etc. Storage and processing circuitry  16  may be used in implementing suitable communications protocols. Communications protocols that may be implemented using storage and processing circuitry  16  include internet protocols, wireless local area network protocols (e.g., IEEE 802.11 protocols—sometimes referred to as WiFi®), protocols for other short-range wireless communications links such as the Bluetooth® protocol, etc. 
     Input-output devices circuitry  14  may be used to allow data to be supplied to device  10  and to allow data to be provided from device  10  to external devices. Input-output devices  18  such as touch screens and other user input interface are examples of input-output circuitry  14 . Input-output devices  18  may also include user input-output devices such as buttons, joysticks, click wheels, scrolling wheels, touch pads, key pads, keyboards, microphones, cameras, etc. A user can control the operation of device  10  by supplying commands through such user input devices. Display and audio devices may be included in devices  18  such as liquid-crystal display (LCD) screens, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), and other components that present visual information and status data. Display and audio components in input-output devices  18  may also include audio equipment such as speakers and other devices for creating sound. If desired, input-output devices  18  may contain audio-video interface equipment such as jacks and other connectors for external headphones and monitors. 
     Wireless communications circuitry  20  may include radio-frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry formed from one or more integrated circuits, power amplifier circuitry, low-noise input amplifiers, passive RF components, one or more antennas, and other circuitry for handling RF wireless signals. Wireless signals can also be sent using light (e.g., using infrared communications). Wireless communications circuitry  20  may include radio-frequency transceiver circuits for handling multiple radio-frequency communications bands. For example, circuitry  20  may include transceiver circuitry  22  that handles 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands for WiFi (IEEE 802.11) communications and the 2.4 GHz Bluetooth communications band. Circuitry  20  may also include cellular telephone transceiver circuitry  24  for handling wireless communications in cellular telephone bands such as the GSM bands at 850 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, and 1900 MHz, and the 2100 MHz data band (as examples). Wireless communications circuitry  20  can include circuitry for other short-range and long-range wireless links if desired. For example, wireless communications circuitry  20  may include global positioning system (GPS) receiver equipment, wireless circuitry for receiving radio and television signals, paging circuits, etc. In WiFi and Bluetooth links and other short-range wireless links, wireless signals are typically used to convey data over tens or hundreds of feet. In cellular telephone links and other long-range links, wireless signals are typically used to convey data over thousands of feet or miles. 
     Wireless communications circuitry  20  may include antennas  26 . Antennas  26  may be formed using any suitable antenna types. Examples of suitable antenna types for antennas  26  include antennas with resonating elements that are formed from patch antenna structures, inverted-F antenna structures, slot antenna structures, planar inverted-F antenna structures, helical antenna structures, hybrids of these designs, etc. Different types of antennas may be used for different bands and combinations of bands. For example, one type of antenna may be used in forming a local wireless link antenna and another type of antenna may be used in forming a remote wireless link. 
     Examples of local wireless links include WiFi and Bluetooth links and wireless universal serial bus (USB) links. Because WiFi links are typically used to establish data links with local area networks, links such as WiFi links are sometimes referred to as WLAN links. 
     Local wireless links may operate in any suitable frequency band. For example, WLAN links may operate at 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz (as examples), whereas Bluetooth links may operate at 2.4 GHz. The frequencies of the WLAN channels that are used in supporting these local links in device  10  may depend on the country in which device  10  is being deployed (e.g., to comply with local regulations), the available hardware of the WLAN or other equipment with which device  10  is connecting, and other factors. 
     With one suitable arrangement, which is sometimes described herein as an example, device  10  includes long-range wireless circuitry such as cellular telephone transceiver circuitry  24  and short-range circuitry such as transceiver circuits  22 . Circuitry  24  may operate with a single long-range link antenna (e.g., a multiband cellular telephone antenna). Circuitry  22  may support communications in both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz WiFi bands and in the 2.4 GHz Bluetooth band using a shared antenna or shared antennas. 
     In devices that do not have multiple antennas for implementing an antenna diversity scheme, circuitry  22  may include sharing circuitry that allows multiple transceiver circuits to share a single multiband antenna. For example, sharing circuitry may be used to allow a WiFi transceiver that operates at 2.4 GHz and at 5 GHz to share the same antenna as a Bluetooth transceiver that operates at 2.4 GHz. 
     The same type of sharing scheme may be implemented in devices  10  that have multiple antennas arranged to support an antenna diversity scheme. To support antenna diversity, multiple antennas are provided each of which may cover the same communications bands (e.g., bands at 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz). Antenna diversity switching circuitry may be used to switch an optimum one of the antennas into use at a given time. In a typical scenario, signal strength monitoring circuitry or other control circuitry may make measurements in real time to determine which of the antennas is providing the best performance (e.g., maximum signal strength) in the current environment for device  10 . Based on these measurements, the control circuitry may direct the antenna diversity switching circuitry to switch the optimum antenna into use. As a user moves device  10  and covers various parts of device  10  with the user&#39;s hands, antenna performance may be degraded. With the antenna diversity scheme, the unblocked antenna (if available) is switched into use. 
     Device  10  may include sharing circuitry that allows multiple transceivers to share a single antenna or that allows multiple transceivers to share a single antenna structure containing multiple subantennas in a diversity arrangement. For clarity, the antenna sharing operations of device  10  are sometimes described in connection with arrangements in which the shared antenna structures include multiple antennas arranged in an antenna diversity configuration. This is, however, merely illustrative. Antenna sharing circuitry in device  10  may be used to allow any suitable transceivers to share any suitable antenna structures if desired. 
     With an illustrative antenna sharing arrangement, the shared antenna structures may be designed to operate at frequencies of both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, so the shared antenna structures are suitable for use with both the 2.4 GHz radio-frequency signals that are used in connection with both the WiFi and Bluetooth communications protocols and the 5 GHz radio-frequency signals that are used in connection with WiFi communications protocols. 
       FIG. 3  shows how wireless communications circuitry  20  may have switching and filtering circuitry  28 . Switching and filtering circuitry  28  may include antenna sharing circuitry that selectively couples multiple transceivers in radio-frequency transceiver circuitry  22  to antennas  26 . Radio-frequency transceiver circuitry  22  may include a WiFi transceiver (radio) for handling WiFi signals at 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz and a Bluetooth transceiver (radio) for handling Bluetooth signals at 2.4 GHz. These radios may be provided using a single integrated circuit or using two or more integrated circuits. Antennas  26  may include multiple antennas arranged in an antenna diversity configuration. Each of the multiple antennas may be configured to handle signals at 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. Circuitry  28  may include switches such as transistor-based switches, amplifiers such as power amplifiers and low-noise amplifiers, discrete components such as inductors, capacitors, and resistors, etc. 
     Illustrative wireless communications circuitry  20  is shown in  FIG. 4 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , circuitry  20  may include radio-frequency transceiver circuitry  22 . Radio-frequency transceiver circuitry  22  may include WiFi and Bluetooth transceivers (as an example). The WiFi transceiver may operate in the 2.4 GHz WiFi communications band and the 5 GHz WiFi communications band. The Bluetooth transceiver may operate in the 2.4 GHz band. These transceiver circuits may be provided using one, two, three, or more than three transceiver circuits. In the example of  FIG. 4 , circuitry  22  is shown as containing a WiFi transceiver for 5 GHz operation (transceiver  106 ), a WiFi transceiver for 2.4 GHz operation (transceiver  108 ), and a Bluetooth transceiver for 2.4 GHz operation (transceiver  110 ). These circuits may be implemented using different portions of one or more integrated circuits and may be organized in a variety of configurations. For example, circuitry  22  may have a WiFi block or chip that serves to implement both 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz WiFi transceiver functions in a single transceiver circuit (as an example). 
     Circuitry  20  may also include other radio-frequency transceiver circuitry such as illustrative cellular telephone transceiver circuitry  98 . Radio-frequency receivers and other circuits may be used to receive GPS signals, radio and video signals, other communications signals, etc. In the illustrative example of  FIG. 4 , circuitry  20  is depicted as containing radio-frequency transceiver circuitry  22  and radio-frequency transceiver circuitry  98 . This is, however, merely illustrative. Wireless communications circuitry  20  may include any suitable wireless circuitry if desired. 
     Circuitry  22  and circuitry  98  may include resources that serve as control circuits and may therefore be considered to serve as some of the storage and processing circuitry that is depicted as storage and processing circuitry  16  of  FIG. 2 . Wireless communications circuitry  20  may also be interconnected with other storage and processing circuits. 
     For example, conductive paths  96  may be used to interconnect radio-frequency transceiver circuitry  22  and radio-frequency transceiver circuitry  98  to control circuitry in device  10  (e.g., storage and processing circuitry  16  of  FIG. 2 ). Paths  96  may be used for power supply signals (e.g., one or more positive power supply voltages and one or more ground voltages), input and output data signals (e.g., general purpose input-output or GPIO signals), serial and parallel port signals (e.g., universal asynchronous receiver transmitter or UART signals), testing signals (e.g., testing signals compliant with Joint Test Action Group or JTAG protocols), pulse-code-modulation (PCM) signals (e.g., audio signals), WLAN data and Bluetooth data, clock signals, power management signals, other control and data signals, etc. 
     Radio-frequency transceiver circuitry  22  may transmit and receive radio-frequency signals using antennas  26 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , circuitry  20  may include multiple antennas  26  that are arranged to implement an antenna diversity scheme. In the example of  FIG. 4 , antennas  26  include a first antenna such as antenna  26 A and a second antenna such as antenna  26 B. These antennas are connected to switching circuitry  72 . Switching circuitry  72  may be controlled in real time to ensure that antenna performance is maximized. When, for example, antenna  26 A is performing better than antenna  26 B, switching circuitry  72  may be used to switch antenna  26 A into use by radio-frequency transceiver circuitry  22 . When antenna  26 B is performing better than antenna  26 A, antenna  26 B can be used by radio-transceiver circuitry  22 . Antennas  26 A and  26 B work together to handle signals for radio-frequency transceiver circuitry  22  and are sometimes collectively referred to as an antenna or antenna structure. 
     Radio-frequency transceiver circuitry  98  may transmit and receive radio-frequency signals using one or more antennas such as antenna  100 . Particularly in compact electronic devices such as handheld electronic devices and other portable electronic devices, there is a relatively short distance between antenna  100  and antennas  26 . This can result in potential cross-talk signals (e.g., when transmitted radio-frequency signals from antenna  100  are coupled to antennas  26  via free space path  102 ). Circuitry  20  may include switching and filter circuitry that effectively suppresses these sources of undesirable crosstalk and thereby ensures proper operation of radio-frequency transceiver circuitry  22  even when radio-frequency transceiver circuitry  98  is operated simultaneously. 
     Wireless communications circuitry  20  may include antenna sharing circuitry that allows antennas  26  to be shared by the WiFi and Bluetooth transceivers of circuitry  22 . Circuitry  20  may include switching circuitry such as switches  84  and  50 . The states of these switches may be adjusted during operation of circuitry  20  to route transmitted and received radio-frequency signals to appropriate locations. 
     Radio-frequency transceiver circuitry  22  may transmit signals in the 5 GHz WiFi band using output path  30 . Path  30  may be connected to terminal  86  of switch  84 . Terminal  88  of switch  84  may used to route incoming WiFi signals at 5 GHz to circuitry  22 . These received WiFi signals may be routed to 5 GHz input path  32  of radio-frequency transceiver circuitry  22  via filter  90 , path  94 , and low-noise input amplifier  92 . Low-noise amplifier  92  may be controlled by circuitry  22  using an enable signal “ENABLE” on line  34 . When the signal ENABLE on line  34  is asserted by radio-frequency transceiver circuitry  22 , low-noise amplifier  92  will be turned on. When not required to amplify incoming 5 GHz signals, low-noise amplifier  92  can be disabled to conserve power by deasserting the ENABLE signal. Bandpass filter  90  may pass frequencies in a band that overlaps the 5 GHz WiFi band. Bandpass filter  90  may, for example, pass frequencies that lie in a range of 4.9 GHz to 6 GHz. 
     Switch  84  may be used to connect path  82  to either terminal  86  or terminal  88  depending on the state of one or more control signals. These control signals may be provided to switch  84  from radio-frequency transceiver circuitry  22  over one or more control lines. These control lines and associated control signals are shown as control path  36  and control signal HCONTROL in  FIG. 4 . When path  82  is connected to terminal  86 , 5 GHz WiFi signals can be transmitted from radio-frequency transceiver circuitry  22  using one of antennas  26 . When path  82  is connected to terminal  88 , 5 GHz WiFi signals that have been received using antennas  26  can be routed to radio-frequency transceiver circuitry  22 . 
     Diplexer  64  serves as a frequency-dependent multiplexing element. Antennas  26  may receive signals at 2.4 and 5 GHz. The 5 GHz WiFi signals may be routed to path  82  by diplexer  64 . The 2.4 GHz Bluetooth and WiFi signals may be routed to path  62  by diplexer  64 . 
     Diplexer  64  may be implemented using any suitable radio-frequency components. With one suitable arrangement, diplexer  64  may be implemented using filters  68  and  66 . Filter  68  may be a 5 GHz bandpass filter that passes radio-frequency signals in the range of 4.9 GHz to 6 GHz (as an example). Filter  66  may be a 2.4 GHz low-pass filter that passes radio-frequency signals at frequencies below 2.5 GHz (as an example). More extensive filtering may be performed using filter  60 , which is connected to filter  66  by path  62 . Filter  60  may be a 2.4 GHz bandpass filter that passes frequencies in the range of 2.4 GHz to 2.5 GHz (as an example). By using both filter  66  and filter  60  together, filtering for the 2.4 GHz signal path in circuitry  20  can be enhanced, without incurring large insertion losses. If desired, the filtering circuitry of bandpass filter  60  and low-pass filter  66  may be implemented using a unitary device, although this will typically result in a somewhat increased insertion loss penalty. In addition to exhibiting low insertion losses, the use of bandpass filter  60  may help to reduce leaked 5 GHz signals in diplexer  64  from propagating to the input of the 2.4 GHz receiver circuitry in circuitry  22  during 5 GHz transmission operations. The bulk (e.g., 90%) of the filtering performed by filters  60  and  66  with the  FIG. 4  arrangement, will generally be provided by filter  60 . 
     Filter  60  may be coupled to path  58 . Path  58  may be used to route signals between filter  60  and switch  50 . Switch  50  may be controlled by control signals LCONTROL on control path  104 . Path  104  may include one or more control lines and may be used to route control signals to switch  50  from radio-frequency transceiver circuitry  22 . These control signals can be used to adjust the position of switch  50  during operation of circuitry  22 . 
     Switch  50  may be implemented as part of a larger circuit such as circuit  46 . Circuit  46  may be, for example, an integrated circuit that contains an integrated low-noise radio-frequency input amplifier such as amplifier  48 . Components such as these may also be provided using one or more separate devices. The arrangement of  FIG. 4 , in which low-noise amplifier  48  and switch  50  are implemented as parts of a common integrated circuit  46  is merely illustrative. 
     Switch  50  may be a three-position switch (as example). With a three-position configuration, switch  50  may be used to connect path  58  to terminal  56 , terminal  54 , or terminal  52 . Control signals LCONTROL may be provided to switch  50  from radio-frequency transceiver  22  to select which of the three positions is used. 
     When it is desired to transmit 2.4 GHz WiFi signals, control signals LCONTROL on path  104  may be used to direct switch  50  to connect path  58  to terminal  56 . In this configuration, 2.4 GHz WiFi signals that are transmitted on output path  40  by radio-frequency transceiver circuitry  22  may be routed to path  58 . Signals at 2.4 GHz may be routed from antennas  26  to 2.4 GHz input path  42  by placing switch  50  in position  54  and routing incoming signals to path  42  through low-noise amplifier  48 . Transceiver circuitry  22  (e.g., circuitry  22  and the code running on transceiver circuitry  22 ) may be used to process simultaneously received 2.4 GHz Bluetooth signals and 2.4 GHz WiFi signals on path  42 . Transceiver circuitry  22  may, for example, separately process Bluetooth and WiFi signals, allowing for simultaneous receive operations. Bluetooth signals at 2.4 GHz may be transmitted from circuitry  22  by connecting path  58  to terminal  52  and Bluetooth output path  44 . If desired, circuitry  20  may support simultaneous Bluetooth and WiFi transmission at 2.4 GHz (e.g., using a single output path and associated terminal in switch  50 . This simultaneous transmission capability may be implemented by using radio-frequency transceiver circuitry that is capable of transmitting both 2.4 GHz WiFi and Bluetooth signals on the same output. 
     Antenna diversity switching circuitry  72  may be used to implement an antenna diversity scheme with multiple antennas  26 . There may, in general, be any suitable number of antennas  26  coupled to diplexer  64  (e.g., one antenna, two antennas, three antennas, more than three antennas, etc.). In the example of  FIG. 4 , there are two antennas  26  that are coupled to diplexer  64 . Antenna  26 A is coupled to terminal  74  of switch  72  using path  78 . Antenna  26 B is coupled to terminal  76  of switch  72  using path  80 . Switch  72  may be connected to diplexer  64  using path  70 . 
     During operation, the control circuitry of transceiver circuitry  22  may produce control signals DCONTROL on one or more lines in control path  38 . The control signals DCONTROL may be routed to the control input of switch  72  and may be used to control whether path  70  is connected to terminal  74  and path  78  or to terminal  76  and path  80 . Antenna selection decisions may be based on received signal quality measurements (e.g., on a packet-by-packet basis) or any other suitable input. Based on this input, circuitry  22  may generate control signals DCONTROL that place switch  72  in a state that switches an optimum antenna into use (i.e., antenna  26 A or  26 B in the  FIG. 4  example). 
     The illustrative architecture of  FIG. 4  can be used to simultaneously implement antenna diversity and antenna sharing functions. Antenna diversity may be implemented by using switching circuitry  72  to switch either antenna  26 A or  26 B into use as appropriate to optimize signals strength. Antenna sharing may be implemented by using switching circuitry  84  and  50  and associated filter circuitry to selectively route 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz signals between the input-output ports associated with circuitry  22  and antennas  26 . The use of this antenna sharing circuitry allows a single antenna structure (i.e., the diversity antenna implemented using antennas  26 A and  26 B) to be used for both 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz signals and to be used for both WiFi and Bluetooth traffic. Antennas  26 A and  26 B may each be implemented using multiband designs that cover both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. 
     Because of the potential close proximity of other wireless components in housing  12  of device  10  such as cellular telephone transceiver  98  and cellular telephone antenna  100 , there is a potential for undesirable radio-frequency interference with the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz operations of circuitry  22 . In particular, when a user is operating device  10  so that cellular telephone transceiver  98  is active, radio-frequency telephone signals from transceiver  98  may be coupled into antennas  26  via path  102 . Even though antennas  26  are not nominally designed to handle cellular telephone frequencies, the close proximity of antenna  100  to antennas  26  may allow a non-zero amount of cellular telephone signals to be introduced onto path  70 . These signals may be effectively eliminated using filtering circuitry such as the filtering circuitry of diplexer  64  and filtering circuitry  90  and  60 . In particular, the use of bandpass filters  90  and  60  may reduce cellular crosstalk by 10-20 dB (for signals at frequencies from about 1800 MHz to 2100 MHz) to 50 dB (for signals at frequencies of about 850 MHz to 900 MHz). 
     Another source of crosstalk relates to the simultaneous presence of signals in both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. When both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands are being used, there is a potential for a fraction of the transmitted signals to leak back to the input of circuitry  22 . 
     For example, consider a scenario in which it is desired to transmit 2.4 GHz signals from circuitry  22  while receiving 5 GHz signals with circuitry  22 . In this situation, 2.4 GHz signals will be transmitted to diplexer  64  via path  62 , while switch  84  routes 5 GHz signals from diplexer  64  to path  32 . During 2.4 GHz signal transmission operations such as these, there is a potential for a small amount of the transmitted 2.4 GHz signal to leak into the 5 GHz receive path. As when eliminating cellular telephone cross-talk, these crosstalk signals may be effectively eliminated using the bandpass filtering circuitry of  FIG. 4 . If, for example, there is −10 dBm of undesired 2.4 GHz leakage signal passed from diplexer  64  to switch  84 , this leaked signal can be reduced in magnitude by filter  90  to a signal strength in the range of −20 dBm to −40 dBm at the output of filter  90  on path  94 . This reduction in leaked signal magnitude will ensure that the 5 GHz receiver in circuitry  22  will not be overwhelmed with leaked 2.4 GHz signals when the 2.4 GHz transmitter is active during 5 GHz signal reception operations. Bandpass filter  60  is similarly used to reduce leakage at 5 GHz from overwhelming the 2.4 GHz signals that are received by transceiver circuitry  22  during 5 GHz transceiver operations. 
     Device  10  can therefore use circuitry  20  to support various operating modes in which 5 GHz WiFi signals are conveyed over antennas  26  while simultaneously handling 2.4 GHz signals. For example, 5 GHz WiFi signals may be transmitted by connecting switch  84  to terminal  86 , while simultaneously receiving 2.4 GHz signals (e.g., for Bluetooth and/or WiFi) by connecting switch  50  to terminal  54 . WiFi signals at 5 GHz may be received by connecting switch  84  to terminal  88 , while simultaneously receiving 2.4 GHz signals (e.g., for Bluetooth and/or WiFi) by connecting switch  50  to terminal  54 . WiFi operations at 5 GHz may also be supported simultaneously with 2.4 GHz WiFi transmission and 2.4 GHz Bluetooth transmission operations. For example, 5 GHz WiFi signals may be transmitted by connecting switch  84  to terminal  86 , while simultaneously transmitting 2.4 GHz WiFi signals by connecting switch  50  to terminal  56 . WiFi signals at 5 GHz may also be transmitted by connecting switch  84  to terminal  86 , while simultaneously transmitting 2.4 GHz Bluetooth signals by connecting switch  50  to terminal  52 . WiFi 5 GHz signals may be received by connecting switch  84  to terminal  88 , while simultaneously transmitting 2.4 GHz WiFi signals by connecting switch  50  to terminal  56 . WiFi signals at 5 GHz may also be received by connecting switch  84  to terminal  88 , while simultaneously transmitting 2.4 GHz Bluetooth signals by connecting switch  50  to terminal  52 . If desired, radio-frequency transceiver circuitry  22  with different input and output ports may be used to support additional operating modes. The arrangement of  FIG. 4  is shown as an example. During all of these modes, circuitry  22  may control antenna diversity switching circuitry  72  in real time to implement an antenna diversity scheme using antennas  26 A and  26 B. 
     The foregoing is merely illustrative of the principles of this invention and various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20090326
Publication Date: 20120710
Grant Date: 20120710
Priority Date: 20090326
Inventors: LUM NICHOLAS W.
SANGUINETTI LOUIE J.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H01Q5/50", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q21/28", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q21/28", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B1/0057", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q5/50", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q1/243", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B1/0057", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01Q1/243", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 42784946