Transceiver with selective beamforming antenna array

Abstract

A multiple mode RF transmitter a baseband section, a transmitter section, and a configurable antenna circuit. The transmitter section is couple to convert a first outbound symbol stream into first outbound RF beamforming signals in accordance with a first beamforming setting and convert a second outbound symbol stream into second outbound RF beamforming signals in accordance with a second beamforming setting. The configurable antenna circuit is coupled to provide a first antenna assembly for transmitting the first outbound RF beamforming signals and provide a second antenna assembly for transmitting the second outbound RF beamforming signals.

1 . A multiple mode radio frequency (RF) receiver, comprising:
 a baseband section operable to:
 convert a first inbound symbol stream into first inbound data in accordance with a first communication protocol when the first communication protocol is enabled; and 
 convert a second inbound symbol stream into second inbound data in accordance with a second communication protocol when a second communication protocol is enabled; 
   a receiver section operable to:
 convert first inbound beamformed RF signals into the first inbound symbol stream; and 
 convert second inbound beamformed RF signals into the second inbound symbol stream; and 
   a configurable antenna circuit operable to:
 provide a first antenna assembly for receiving the first inbound beamformed RF signals; and 
 provide a second antenna assembly for receiving the second inbound beamformed RF signals. 
   
     
     
         2 . The multiple mode RF receiver of  claim 1 , wherein the configurable antenna circuit includes:
 a first antenna interface module;   a second antenna interface module;   a first antenna structure coupled to the first antenna interface module; and   a second antenna structure coupled to the second antenna interface module.   
     
     
         3 . The multiple mode antenna of  claim 2 , wherein:
 when the first communication protocol is enabled, the first antenna interface module and the first antenna structure are configured to receive the first inbound beamformed RF signals; and   when the second communication protocol is enabled, the second antenna interface module and the second antenna structure are configured to receive the second inbound beamformed RF signals.   
     
     
         4 . The multiple mode antenna of  claim 2 , wherein:
 when the first communication protocol is enabled, the first antenna interface module and the first antenna structure are configured to receive the first inbound beamformed RF signals; and   when the second communication protocol is enabled, the first antenna interface module and the first antenna structure are configured to receive the second inbound beamformed RF signals.   
     
     
         5 . The multiple mode RF receiver of  claim 2 , wherein each of the first antenna structure and the second antenna structure includes one or more dipole antennas, monopole antennas, diversity antenna pairs, planar helical antennas or meandering trace antennas. 
     
     
         6 . The multiple mode RF receiver of  claim 2 , wherein each of the first antenna interface and the second antenna interface includes one or more of a transformer balun, an impedance matching circuit and a transmission line. 
     
     
         7 . The multiple mode RF receiver of  claim 1 , wherein the configurable antenna circuit further includes:
 a third antenna interface module;   a fourth antenna interface module;   a third antenna structure coupled to the third antenna interface module; and   a fourth antenna structure coupled to the fourth antenna interface module;   wherein, when the first communication protocol is enabled, at least one of the first antenna interface module and the first antenna structure, the second antenna interface module and the second antenna structure, the third antenna interface module and the third antenna structure and the fourth antenna interface module and the fourth antenna structure are configured to receive the first inbound beamformed RF signals; and   wherein, when the second communication protocol is enabled, at least one of the first antenna interface module and the first antenna structure, the second antenna interface module and the second antenna structure, the third antenna interface module and the third antenna structure and the fourth antenna interface module and the fourth antenna structure are configured to receive the second inbound beamformed RF signals.   
     
     
         8 . The multiple mode RF receiver of  claim 1 , wherein the receiver section includes:
 a hybrid section operable to convert at least one of:
 the first inbound beamformed RF signals into a first inbound RF signal; and 
 the second inbound beamformed RF signals into a second inbound RF signal. 
   
     
     
         9 . The multiple mode RF receiver of  claim 8 , wherein the receiver section further includes:
 a first low noise amplifier module coupled to amplify the first inbound RF signal to produce a first amplified inbound RF signal; and   a second low noise amplifier module coupled to amplify the second inbound RF signal to produce a second amplified inbound RF signal.   
     
     
         10 . The multiple mode RF receiver of  claim 9 , wherein the receiver section further includes:
 a first down conversion module coupled to convert the first amplified inbound RF signal into the first inbound symbol stream; and   a second down conversion module coupled to convert the second amplified inbound RF signal into the second inbound symbol stream.   
     
     
         11 . The multiple mode RF receiver of  claim 1 , wherein the first communication protocol and the second communication protocol are enabled simultaneously. 
     
     
         12 . A configurable antenna circuit for use in a multiple mode radio frequency (RF) transceiver, comprising:
 a first antenna assembly for transmitting first outbound RF beamforming signals generated in accordance with a first beamforming setting selected based on a first communication protocol and receiving first inbound beamformed RF signals; and   a second antenna assembly for transmitting second outbound RF beamforming signals generated in accordance with a second beamforming setting selected based on a second communication protocol and receiving second inbound beamformed RF signals.   
     
     
         13 . The configurable antenna circuit of  claim 12 , wherein the configurable antenna circuit includes:
 a first antenna interface module;   a second antenna interface module;   a first antenna structure coupled to the first antenna interface module; and   a second antenna structure coupled to the second antenna interface module.   
     
     
         14 . The configurable antenna circuit of  claim 13 , wherein:
 when the first communication protocol is enabled, the first antenna interface module and the first antenna structure are configured to receive the first inbound beamformed RF signals; and   when the second communication protocol is enabled, the second antenna interface module and the second antenna structure are configured to receive the second inbound beamformed RF signals.   
     
     
         15 . The configurable antenna circuit of  claim 13 , wherein:
 when the first communication protocol is enabled, the first antenna interface module and the first antenna structure are configured to receive the first inbound beamformed RF signals; and   when the second communication protocol is enabled, the first antenna interface module and the first antenna structure are configured to receive the second inbound beamformed RF signals.   
     
     
         16 . The configurable antenna circuit of  claim 13 , wherein each of the first antenna structure and the second antenna structure includes one or more dipole antennas, monopole antennas, diversity antenna pairs, planar helical antennas or meandering trace antennas. 
     
     
         17 . The configurable antenna circuit of  claim 13 , wherein each of the first antenna interface and the second antenna interface includes one or more of a transformer balun, an impedance matching circuit and a transmission line. 
     
     
         18 . The configurable antenna circuit of  claim 12 , wherein the configurable antenna circuit further includes:
 a third antenna interface module;   a fourth antenna interface module;   a third antenna structure coupled to the third antenna interface module; and   a fourth antenna structure coupled to the fourth antenna interface module.   
     
     
         19 . The configurable antenna circuit of  claim 18 , wherein, when the first communication protocol is enabled, at least one of the first antenna interface module and the first antenna structure, the second antenna interface module and the second antenna structure, the third antenna interface module and the third antenna structure and the fourth antenna interface module and the fourth antenna structure are configured to receive the first inbound beamformed RF signals. 
     
     
         20 . The configurable antenna circuit of  claim 18 , wherein, when the second communication protocol is enabled, at least one of the first antenna interface module and the first antenna structure, the second antenna interface module and the second antenna structure, the third antenna interface module and the third antenna structure and the fourth antenna interface module and the fourth antenna structure are configured to receive the second inbound beamformed RF signals.