Wireless transceiver device and method of wireless data transmission

Abstract

The invention relates to a wireless transceiver device and a wireless data transmission method. An example apparatus may include an antenna node configured to be coupled to an antenna element. The antenna node may be configured to communicate wireless communications over a plurality of frequency bands. The apparatus may also include a plurality of signal paths coupled to the antenna node. Each signal path of the plurality of signal paths may be configured to carry signals from a different frequency band of the plurality of frequency bands. The apparatus may also include a switching element coupled to the antenna node through a plurality of signal paths; and an amplifier circuit within the plurality of signal paths between the switching element and the antenna node. The amplifier circuit may be configured to amplify signals carried by the plurality of signal paths.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of an application with a filing date of July 22, 2020, application number 202010711909.3, and invention name “Wireless transceiver device and method for wireless data transmission”.

[0002] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0003] This application claims priority to U.S. Non-Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 877,757, filed on July 23, 2019, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0004] Specific implementations discussed herein relate to a wireless transceiver. Background Art

[0005] Unless otherwise indicated herein, the materials described herein are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.

[0006] A wireless local area network (WLAN) can be established using a device called a wireless access point (WAP). A WAP can wirelessly couple all devices of a local network (e.g., wireless stations such as digital devices) to each other and to other networks. A WAP can operate on a communication band such as a 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz communication band.

[0007] The claimed subject matter herein is not limited to implementations that solve any disadvantages or that operate only in environments such as those described above. Rather, this background is merely provided to illustrate one exemplary technology area in which some implementations described herein may be practiced. Summary of the invention

[0008] An exemplary device may include an antenna node configured to be coupled to an antenna element. The antenna node may be configured to transmit wireless communications over multiple frequency bands. The device may also include multiple signal paths coupled to the antenna node. Each of the multiple signal paths may be configured to carry signals from a different frequency band in the multiple frequency bands. The device may also include: a switch element coupled to the antenna node via the multiple signal paths; and an amplifier circuit within the multiple signal paths between the switch element and the antenna node. The amplifier circuit may be configured to amplify signals carried by the multiple signal paths. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Exemplary implementations will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0010] Figure 1An exemplary environment including a wireless transceiver is shown.

[0011] Figure 2 Another exemplary environment including a wireless transceiver is shown;

[0012] Figure 3 An exemplary transmit / receive chain is shown;

[0013] Figure 4 Another exemplary environment including a wireless transceiver is shown;

[0014] Figure 5 A flowchart illustrating an exemplary method of wireless data transmission; and

[0015] Figure 6 A diagrammatic schematic diagram of a machine in the exemplary form of a computing device that may include a wireless transceiver is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] Implementations described herein may generally include a wireless transceiver.

[0017] In some embodiments, the wireless transceiver described in the present disclosure may include multiple transmitter / receiver chains, each of which is configured to couple an antenna to a baseband circuit. Each transmitter / receiver chain in the transmitter / receiver chain may be configured to process signals from multiple different frequency bands, such as signals from 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and / or 6 GHz bands and other frequency bands. Therefore, the wireless transceiver can configure multiple transmitter / receiver chains in any number of different configurations. For example, any number of transmitter / receiver chains can be configured for a first frequency band, and the remaining transmitter / receiver chains can be configured for a second frequency band. For another example, all transmitter / receiver chains can be configured for a first frequency band. Alternatively or in addition, the transmitter / receiver chain can be divided between three or more frequency bands.

[0018] In some embodiments, the transmitter / receiver chain can be configured to process signals from multiple different frequency bands by including multiple signal paths that can be selected by the switch element. Each of the signal paths can be configured for one of the frequency bands supported by the transmitter / receiver chain. In these and other embodiments, the signal path can include an amplifier circuit between the antenna and the switch element, which can be configured to amplify the signal carried by the signal path.

[0019] Various aspects of exemplary implementations of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the drawings are diagrammatic and schematic representations of such exemplary implementations and are neither limiting of the present disclosure nor necessarily drawn to scale.

[0020] Figure 1 An exemplary environment 100 is shown that may include a wireless transceiver 140 according to one or more implementations of the present disclosure. The wireless transceiver 140 may be configured to operate in a first frequency band and a second frequency band different from the first frequency band. In some embodiments, the first frequency band may be used for a first wireless local area network (WLAN), and the second frequency band may be used for a second WLAN different from the first WLAN. The multiplexing element 104 may carry transmit and receive signals in both the first WLAN and the second WLAN.

[0021] The first WLAN and the second WLAN can be implemented using any one of the 802.11 protocols or other suitable wireless standards or protocols. In these and other embodiments, the first frequency band and the second frequency band can be different radio frequency ranges defined for wireless communication. For example, the first frequency band and the second frequency band can be selected from the frequency bands including 900MHz, 2.4GHz, 3.6GHz, 5.0GHz, 6GHz, 60GHz or other frequency bands. It should be noted that the frequency band can be extended within a range of frequencies. For example, the 5.0GHz frequency band may include frequencies between 5.150GHz and 5.85GHz. The frequencies within the frequency band may be defined by government agencies and / or protocols, and therefore may be different in different regions. Each frequency band in the frequency band may include multiple frequency channels. In these and other embodiments, the channels within the frequency band may include overlapping frequencies. However, the frequency bands discussed in the present disclosure may not have overlapping frequencies.

[0022] For example, the first WLAN may be configured to operate in the 5.0 GHz band and the second WLAN may be configured to operate in the 6.0 GHz band, as defined in the 802.11 protocol. For another example, the first WLAN may be configured to operate in the 5.0 GHz band and the second WLAN may be configured to operate in the 2.4 GHz band, as defined in the 802.11 protocol. The wireless transceiver 140 may be used for other frequency bands and protocols.

[0023] Wireless transceiver 140 may include a transmit / receive chain 142, which may be coupled between conversion circuit 130 and antenna element 102. Antenna element 102 may be configured to transmit and receive wireless signals transmitted over a first frequency band and a second frequency band.

[0024] During operation in the first and second frequency bands, wireless transceiver 140 may be configured to carry transmit signals from conversion circuitry 130 to antenna element 102 via transmit / receive chain 142 , and to carry receive signals from antenna element 102 to conversion circuitry 130 via transmit / receive chain 142 .

[0025] In some embodiments, the transmit / receive chain 142 may include an antenna node 103 , a multiplexing element 104 , a filter 106 , a first amplifier circuit 110 , a second amplifier circuit 112 , and a switch unit 120 , which may include a first switch element 122 and a second switch element 124 .

[0026] An antenna node 103 of the wireless transceiver 140 may be coupled to the antenna element 102. The antenna node 103 may be an electrical node configured to communicate electrical signals between the wireless transceiver 140 and the antenna element 102, such as transmit and receive signals.

[0027] Multiplexing element 104 may be coupled to antenna node 103. Multiplexing element 104 may be configured to multiplex transmit signals in a first frequency band and signals in a second frequency band to antenna element 102 via antenna node 103 on a single signal path. Multiplexing element 104 may also be configured to direct receive signals received at antenna node 103 in the first frequency band and receive signals received at the antenna node in the second frequency band into different signal paths. For example, multiplexing element 104 may direct receive signals in the first frequency band to filter 106 and direct receive signals in the second frequency band to second amplifier circuit 112. In some embodiments, multiplexing element 104 may include one or more filters to direct receive signals. For example, multiplexing element 104 may include a diplexer circuit including filters configured for the first frequency band and the second frequency band.

[0028] The filter 106 may be configured to pass frequencies in the first frequency band and filter frequencies in the second frequency band. The filter 106 may be configured to pass the filtered receive signal in the first frequency band to the first amplifier circuit 110. The filter 106 may also be configured to filter the transmit signal and pass the filtered transmit signal in the first frequency band to the multiplexing element 104.

[0029] The first amplifier circuit 110 may be configured to amplify a received signal obtained from the filter 106 in the first frequency band. The first amplifier circuit 110 may provide the amplified received signal to the second switch element 124. The first amplifier circuit 110 may also be configured to amplify a transmit signal obtained from the first switch element 122 in the first frequency band and provide the amplified transmit signal to the filter 106. For example, the first amplifier circuit 110 may include a power amplifier and a low noise amplifier configured for the first frequency band. Figure 3 An example of the configuration of the first amplifier circuit 110 is provided.

[0030] The second amplifier circuit 112 may be configured to amplify a received signal obtained from the multiplexing element 104 in the second frequency band. The second amplifier circuit 112 may provide the amplified received signal to the second switching element 124. The second amplifier circuit 112 may also be configured to amplify a transmit signal obtained from the first switching element 122 in the second frequency band and provide the amplified transmit signal to the multiplexing element 104. For example, the second amplifier circuit 112 may include a power amplifier and a low noise amplifier configured for the second frequency band.

[0031] The switch element 120 can be configured to pass transmit to select between a signal path for a first frequency band and a signal path for a second frequency band within the transmit / receive chain 142 for transmit and receive signals. In these and other embodiments, the first switch element 122 can be configured to pass transmit signals and the second switch element 124 can be configured to pass receive signals.

[0032] For example, the first switch element 122 may be configured to selectively couple the conversion circuit 130 to the antenna element 102 via a first transmit signal path traversing the first amplifier circuit 110, the filter 106, and the first port of the multiplexing element 104 for a first frequency band or via a second transmit signal path traversing the second amplifier circuit 112 and the second port of the multiplexing element 104 for a second frequency band.

[0033] The second switch element 124 may be configured to selectively couple the antenna element 102 to the conversion circuit 130 via a first receive signal path traversing the first amplifier circuit 110, the filter 106, and the first port of the multiplexing element 104 for a first frequency band or via a second receive signal path traversing the second amplifier circuit 112 and the second port of the multiplexing element 104 for a second frequency band.

[0034] The conversion circuit 130 may be configured to convert the frequency of a signal between a baseband frequency and a first frequency band and a second frequency band. For example, with respect to a transmit signal, the conversion circuit 130 may obtain the transmit signal at the baseband and up-convert the transmit signal to any one of the first frequency band and the second frequency band. The conversion circuit 130 may provide the transmit signal of the up-converted frequency to the switch unit 120. With respect to a receive signal, the conversion circuit 130 may obtain a receive signal of any one of the first frequency band and the second frequency band from the switch unit 120, and may down-convert the receive signal to the baseband frequency.

[0035] The conversion circuit 130 can up-convert the transmit signal of the baseband frequency by mixing the transmit signal with the conversion signal. The conversion signal can be a frequency within the first frequency band or the second frequency band. When the conversion signal has a frequency within the first frequency band, the first switch element 122 can include selecting a transmit signal path corresponding to the first frequency band through the transmit / receive chain 142. When the up-converted signal has a frequency within the second frequency band, the first switch element 122 can select a transmit signal path corresponding to the second frequency band through the transmit / receive chain 142.

[0036] The conversion circuit 130 may receive a received signal of a frequency within the first frequency band or the second frequency band from the second switching element 124 based on the configuration of the second switching element 124. For example, when the second switching element 124 selects a receive path corresponding to the first frequency band through the transmit / receive chain 142, the conversion circuit 130 may receive a received signal within the first frequency band. When the second switching element 124 selects a receive path corresponding to the second frequency through the transmit / receive chain 142, the conversion circuit 130 may receive a received signal within the second frequency band. Based on the frequency band of the receive frequency band, the conversion circuit 130 may mix the conversion signal with the receive signal to obtain the receive signal in the baseband. In some embodiments, a phase-locked loop or a voltage-controlled oscillator and other signal generators may be used to generate the conversion signal.

[0037] As described, the wireless transceiver 140 includes amplifying the transmit and receive signals in the signal path between the switch unit 120 and the multiplexing element 104. Amplifying the transmit and receive signals in the unique signals between the switch unit 120 and the multiplexing element 104 can reduce the noise figure of the receive signal in the wireless transceiver 140, and can reduce the insertion loss of the transmit signal in the wireless transceiver 140.

[0038] The selection of the frequency of the conversion signal by the first switch element 122 and the second switch element 124 and the selection of the transmission path and the reception path can be controlled by another processing circuit. Therefore, the wireless transceiver 140 can operate in any one of the first frequency band and the second frequency band, and can switch operation between the first frequency band and the second frequency band. For example, the wireless transceiver 140 can be configured to transmit a signal in the first frequency band, switch the configuration of the wireless transceiver 140, and receive a signal in the second frequency band, and then transmit the signal in the second frequency band. After receiving and transmitting in the second frequency band, the configuration of the wireless transceiver 140 can be switched to receive a signal in the second frequency band. As described in the present disclosure, any mode of transmitting and receiving signals in the first frequency band and the second frequency band can be used by changing the configuration of the wireless transceiver 140.

[0039] Environment 100 may be modified, added, or omitted without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, environment 100 may include any number of other elements, or may be implemented in other systems or environments other than those described. For example, wireless transceiver 140 may be included in an access point (AP) of a WLAN. The AP may include a gateway, a repeater, a mesh node, and / or any other suitable device configured to host or control access to the WLAN. Alternatively or in addition, wireless transceiver 140 may be included in a device (such as a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a mobile phone, a smart phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a smart device or appliance, an automobile or other type of personal transportation, or any other suitable wireless site).

[0040] As another example, the first amplifier circuit 110 and the second amplifier circuit 112 are shown as separate. However, in some embodiments, elements (such as one or more amplifiers) in the first amplifier circuit 110 and the second amplifier circuit 112 may be shared between the first amplifier circuit 110 and the second amplifier circuit 112.

[0041] As another example, the wireless transceiver 140 can be configured for more than two frequency bands. For example, the wireless transceiver 140 can be configured for three, four, five, six, seven or more frequency bands. In these and other embodiments, the wireless transceiver 140 can switch between frequency bands as described above.

[0042] Figure 2 An exemplary environment 200 including another wireless transceiver 240 that can be configured to switch between three frequency bands according to one or more implementations of the present disclosure is shown. The wireless transceiver 240 may include a first frequency band, a second frequency band, and a third frequency band that can be configured to operate in each different frequency band and each for a different WLAN. For example, the first frequency band, the second frequency band, and the third frequency band may be a 2.4 GHz frequency band, a 5 GHz frequency band, and a 6 GHz frequency band, respectively.

[0043] The wireless transceiver 240 may include a transmit / receive chain 242, which may be coupled between the conversion circuit 230 and the antenna element 202. In some embodiments, the transmit / receive chain 242 may include the antenna node 203, the multiplexing element 204, the first filter 206, the second filter 208, the first amplifier circuit 210, the second amplifier circuit 212, the third amplifier circuit 214, and the switch unit 220 which may include the first switch element 222 and the second switch element 224. The wireless transceiver 240 may be configured similar to Figure 1 Therefore, regarding Figure 2 , can only discuss Figure 1 The difference between the wireless transceiver 140 and the wireless transceiver 240 is shown in FIG.

[0044] The multiplexing element 204 may be similar to Figure 1 The multiplexing element 104 functions as described above, but may include a third port and a third filter configured for a third frequency band of the wireless transceiver 240. The first filter 206 and the second filter 208 may be similar to Figure 1 The first amplifier circuit 210, the second amplifier circuit 212, and the third amplifier circuit 214 may be similar to the first amplifier circuit 210, the second amplifier circuit 212, and the third amplifier circuit 214. Figure 1 The first amplifier circuit 110 and the second amplifier circuit 112 operate in the same manner as described above, but may be configured for the first frequency band, the second frequency band, and the third frequency band, respectively.

[0045] The switch unit 220 may be similar to Figure 1 The switch unit 120 is operated by the switch unit 220, and it is expected that the switch unit 220 can select between the signal paths for the first frequency band, the second frequency band, and the third frequency band. For example, the first switch element 222 can process the transmission signal and select between the first frequency band, the second frequency band, and the third frequency band for each of the transmission signals. The second switch element 224 can process the reception signal and select between the first frequency band, the second frequency band, and the third frequency band for each of the reception signals. The conversion circuit 230 can be similar to Figure 1 The conversion circuit 130 of FIG. 1 is expected that the conversion circuit 230 may apply a conversion signal based on the first frequency band, the second frequency band, and the third frequency band.

[0046] The wireless transceiver 240 can be connected to the wireless network by using a method similar to Figure 1 The wireless transceiver 140 selects a signal path corresponding to the selected frequency band in the transmit / receive chain 242 in a manner of selecting between the first frequency band and the second frequency band to switch between any one of the first frequency band, the second frequency band and the third frequency band for transmitting or receiving signals.

[0047] Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to environment 200 without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.For example, wireless transceiver 240 may be configured for more or less than three frequency bands.

[0048] Figure 3 An exemplary transmit / receive chain 300 is shown in accordance with one or more implementations of the present disclosure. The transmit / receive chain 300 may be configured to process transmit and receive signals in a first frequency band and a second frequency band. The transmit / receive chain 300 may include an antenna node 303, a multiplexing element 304, a filter 306, a first amplifier 310, a second amplifier 312, a third amplifier 314, a fourth amplifier 316, a first switch element 322, and a second switch element 324. The transmit / receive chain 300 may be configured similar to Figure 1 The transmit / receive chain 142. Therefore, Figure 3 , can only discuss Figure 1 The difference between the transmit / receive chain 142 and the transmit / receive chain 300.

[0049] The first amplifier 310 may be configured for transmit signals in a first frequency band. The second amplifier 312 may be configured for transmit signals in a second frequency band. The first amplifier 310 and the second amplifier 312 may be configured as power amplifiers configured to increase the power of the transmit signal provided to the antenna node 303 for antenna transmission. In some embodiments, the first amplifier 310 and the second amplifier 312 may include adjustable gains that may be configured by a control circuit (such as a processor circuit that controls the switching of the first switch element 322 and the second switch element 324).

[0050] The third amplifier 314 may be configured for receiving signals in the first frequency band. The fourth amplifier 316 may be configured for receiving signals in the second frequency band. The third amplifier 314 and the fourth amplifier 316 may be configured as low noise amplifiers configured to increase the power of the received signal obtained from the antenna node 303. In some embodiments, the third amplifier 314 and the fourth amplifier 316 may include an adjustable gain that can be configured by the control circuit.

[0051] Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to the transmit / receive chain 300 without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the first amplifier 310 and the second amplifier 312 may be a single amplifier. In these and other embodiments, the output of the first switching element 322 may feed the single amplifier, and the output of the single amplifier may be provided to the filter 306 and the multiplexing element 304.

[0052] As another example, the third amplifier 314 and the fourth amplifier 316 can be a single amplifier. In these and other embodiments, the outputs of the filter 306 and the multiplexing element 304 can both feed a single amplifier, and the output of the single amplifier can be provided to the input of the second switching element 324.

[0053] Figure 4Another exemplary environment 400 including a wireless transceiver 440 is shown in accordance with one or more implementations of the present disclosure. The wireless transceiver 440 may include a first transmit / receive chain 406a, a second transmit / receive chain 406b, a third transmit / receive chain 406c, a fourth transmit / receive chain 406d, a fifth transmit / receive chain 406e, a sixth transmit / receive chain 406f, a seventh transmit / receive chain 406g, and an eighth transmit / receive chain 406h (collectively, transmit / receive chains 406), a front end circuit 410, and a baseband circuit 420. The environment may additionally include a computational circuit 430 and a first antenna element 402a, a second antenna element 402b, a third antenna element 402c, a fourth antenna element 402d, a fifth antenna element 402e, a sixth antenna element 402f, a seventh antenna element 402g, and an eighth antenna element 402h (collectively, antenna elements 402). As shown, each of the transmit / receive chains 406 may be coupled to one of the antenna elements 402. Computation circuitry 430 may be coupled to baseband circuitry 420.

[0054] The wireless transceiver 440 may be configured to support any number of frequency bands. In these and other embodiments, the transmit / receive chain 406 may include signal paths for the supported frequency bands. The front end circuit 410 may include conversion circuitry configured for the supported frequency bands, similar to Figure 1 and Figure 2 The front-end circuit 410 may also include additional circuits (such as filters, amplifiers, and other circuits) that may be configured to further condition the transmit and receive signals of the supported frequency bands. Alternatively or in addition, the front-end circuit 410 may include an analog-to-digital converter and a digital-to-analog converter configured to change the transmit and receive signals between the analog domain and the digital domain. For example, the front-end circuit 410 may receive a digital signal from the baseband circuit 420 and provide an analog signal to the transmit / receive chain 406 based on the digital signal. Alternatively or in addition, the front-end circuit 410 may obtain an analog signal from the transmit / receive chain 406 and provide a digital signal to the baseband circuit 420 based on the analog signal.

[0055] Baseband circuitry 420 may be configured to construct a transmit signal for transmission by antenna element 402. Construction of the transmit signal may include one or more processes such as framing of data, encoding of data in a frame, interleaving of frames for multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) transmission using two or more of antenna elements 402, transforming the data between the time domain and the frequency domain, and / or applying weights to the transmit signal to form a beamforming pattern by antenna element 402, among other processes. Baseband circuitry 420 may also be configured to process a receive signal obtained by antenna element 402. The receive signal may be processed by applying weights to the receive signal for the beamforming pattern of antenna element 402, deinterleaving frames of the receive signal, deconstructing frames of the receive signal, decoding the receive signal, and / or transforming the receive signal between the time domain and the frequency domain, among other processes.

[0056] The computing circuit 430 may be configured to provide data to the baseband circuit 420 for transmission and to process data received by the computing circuit 430. For example, the computing circuit 430 may include computer-readable instructions that, when executed, comply with the protocols of one or more WLANs in which the wireless transceiver 440 operates. Examples of the computing circuit 430 may include Figure 6 The processing device 602, the main memory 604 and the data storage device 616.

[0057] In some embodiments, the wireless transceiver 440 may operate in any number of configurations based on the number of frequency bands supported by the wireless transceiver 440. For example, when the wireless transceiver 440 supports two frequency bands, the wireless transceiver 440 may be configured as two simultaneous radios for different WLANs, which may support any number of different MIMO configurations for different WLANs. For example, the configurations may include 0×8, 1×7, 2×6, 3×5, and 4×4 type configurations, among other permutations, where the first number represents the number of transmit / receive chains 406 configured for the first frequency band, and the second number represents the number of transmit / receive chains 406 configured for the second frequency band. Thus, the wireless transceiver 440 may be used to transmit / receive in a first frequency band in a first WLAN and transmit / receive in a second frequency band in a second WLAN, such as simultaneously, during substantially overlapping time periods.

[0058] As another example, for three frequency bands, the configuration may include 0×0×8, 0×2×6, 0×4×4, 1×3×4, 2×2×4, 4×2×2, 6×2×0, 8×0×0, and other possible arrangements, where the first number represents the number of transmit / receive chains 406 configured for the first frequency band, the second number represents the number of transmit / receive chains 406 configured for the second frequency band, and the third number represents the number of transmit / receive chains 406 for the third frequency band. Thus, the wireless transceiver 440 may be used to transmit / receive in the first frequency band, the second frequency band, and the third frequency band in the first WLAN, the second WLAN, and the third WLAN during substantially overlapping time periods, such as simultaneously.

[0059] In some embodiments, computation circuitry 430 may be configured to select and direct changes to the configuration of wireless transceiver 440. Thus, the configuration of wireless transceiver 440 may not be a static configuration that is maintained only after manufacture. Instead, the configuration of wireless transceiver 440 may change at random or set intervals based on an analysis of the performance of wireless transceiver 440 or other devices in a WLAN that wireless transceiver 440 participates in or hosts. To change the configuration, switching elements within transmit / receive chain 406 and switching signals applied by front end circuitry 410 may be changed in addition to other changes to wireless transceiver 440.

[0060] Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to environment 400 without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, wireless transceiver 440 may include more or less than eight transmit / receive chains 406, such as 4, 6, 10, 12, 16, 32, or 64 transmit / receive chains, as well as other numbers of transmit / receive chains.

[0061] Figure 5 1 is a flow chart showing an exemplary method 500 for wireless data transmission according to one or more specific implementations of the present disclosure. The method 500 may be performed in whole or in part by Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 4 The wireless transceiver may be implemented by one or more of the wireless transceivers 140, 240 or 440.

[0062] At block 502, a first antenna element node of a plurality of antenna element nodes may be selected. In some embodiments, the plurality of antenna element nodes may be configured to be coupled to a plurality of antenna elements of an antenna array to operate in a first frequency band of the plurality of frequency bands.

[0063] At block 504, a second antenna element node in the plurality of antenna element nodes may be selected to operate in a second frequency band in the plurality of frequency bands. In some embodiments, the first frequency band and the second frequency band may be different frequency bands defined according to the 802.11 protocol. The selection of the first antenna element node and the second antenna element node may be similar to the selection of antenna elements coupled to the first antenna element node and the second antenna element node.

[0064] At block 506, the switch unit may be directed to couple a first signal path of the plurality of first signal paths between the switch unit and the first antenna element node. In some embodiments, the first signal path may be configured to amplify and carry a first signal in a first frequency band.

[0065] At block 508, the switch unit may be directed to couple a second signal path of the plurality of second signal paths between the switch unit and the second antenna element node. In some embodiments, the second signal path may be configured to amplify and carry a second signal in a second frequency band.

[0066] At block 510, wireless communications may be communicated via a first signal path in a first frequency band and via a second signal path in a second frequency band during overlapping time periods.

[0067] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that, for this and other processes and methods disclosed herein, the functions performed in the processes and methods may be implemented in different orders, simultaneously, etc. In addition, the outlined steps and operations are provided only as examples, and some of the steps and operations may be optional, combined into fewer steps and operations, or expanded into additional steps and operations without departing from the essence of the specific implementations disclosed herein.

[0068] For example, method 500 may further include directing the switch unit to couple a third signal path of the plurality of third signal paths between the switch unit and the first antenna element node. In these and other embodiments, the third signal path is configured to amplify and carry a third signal in the first frequency band. Method 500 may further include transmitting wireless communication through the third signal path in the first frequency band and through the second signal path in the second frequency band during the overlapping time period. In these and other embodiments, the first signal path may be configured to transmit the first signal, and the third signal path may be configured to receive the third signal.

[0069] In some embodiments, the method 500 may further include, after passing the wireless communication through the first signal path in the first frequency band and through the second signal path in the second frequency band during the overlapping time period, directing the switch unit to couple a third signal path in the plurality of first signal paths between the switch unit and the first antenna element node. In some embodiments, the third signal path may be configured to amplify and carry a third signal in the second frequency band. The method 500 may further include passing the wireless communication through the third signal path in the second frequency band and through the second signal path in the second frequency band during the overlapping time period.

[0070] In some embodiments, method 500 may further include selecting a third antenna element node among the plurality of antenna element nodes to operate in a third frequency band among the plurality of frequency bands, and directing the switch unit to couple a third signal path among the plurality of third signal paths between the switch unit and the third antenna element node. In these and other embodiments, the third signal path may be configured to amplify and carry a third signal in the first frequency band. In these and other embodiments, method 500 may further include transmitting wireless communications during overlapping time periods through a first signal path in the first frequency band, through a second signal path in the second frequency band, and through a third signal path in the third frequency band.

[0071] Figure 6 A diagrammatic schematic diagram of a machine in an exemplary form of a computing device 600 is shown, in which an instruction set for causing the machine to perform any one or more of the methods discussed herein can be executed. The computing device 600 may include a mobile phone, a smart phone, a netbook computer, a rack server, a router computer, a server computer, a personal computer, a mainframe computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a desktop computer, or any computing device with at least one processor, etc., in which an instruction set for causing the machine to perform any one or more of the methods discussed herein can be executed. In an alternative specific implementation, the machine may be connected (e.g., networked) to other machines in a LAN, an intranet, an extranet, or the Internet. The machine may operate with the capabilities of a server machine in a client-server network environment. The machine may include a personal computer (PC), a set-top box (STB), a server, a network router, a switch, or a bridge, or any machine capable of (sequentially or otherwise) executing an instruction set specifying the action to be taken by the machine. In addition, although only a single machine is shown, the term "machine" may also include any machine collection that executes an instruction set (or multiple instruction sets) individually or jointly to perform any one or more of the methods discussed herein.

[0072] The exemplary computing device 600 includes a processing device (e.g., a processor) 602, a main memory 604 (e.g., a read-only memory (ROM), a flash memory, a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) such as a synchronous DRAM (SDRAM)), a static memory 606 (e.g., a flash memory, a static random access memory (SRAM)), and a data storage device 616 that communicate with each other via a bus 608.

[0073] The processing device 602 represents one or more general-purpose processing devices, such as a microprocessor, a central processing unit, etc. More specifically, the processing device 602 may include a complex instruction set computing (CISC) microprocessor, a reduced instruction set computing (RISC) microprocessor, a very long instruction word (VLIW) microprocessor, or a processor that implements other instruction sets or a processor that implements a combination of instruction sets. The processing device 602 may also include one or more special-purpose processing devices, such as an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a digital signal processor (DSP), a network processor, etc. The processing device 602 is configured to execute instructions 626 for performing the operations and steps discussed herein.

[0074] The computing device 600 may also include one or more network interface devices 622 that may communicate with one or more networks 618. The computing device 600 may also include a display device 610, an alphanumeric input device 612 (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor control device 614 (e.g., a mouse), and a signal generating device 620 (e.g., a speaker). In at least one implementation, the display device 610, the alphanumeric input device 612, and / or the cursor control device 614 may be combined into a single component or device.

[0075] The data storage device 616 may include a computer-readable storage medium 624 on which is stored one or more sets of instructions 626 embodying any one or more of the methods or functions described herein. The instructions 626 may also reside, completely or at least partially, within the main memory 604 and / or within the processing device 602 during execution of the instructions by the computing device 600, which may also constitute computer-readable media. The instructions may also be transmitted or received over the network 618 via the network interface device 622.

[0076] Although the computer-readable storage medium 624 is shown as a single medium in the exemplary implementation, the term "computer-readable storage medium" may include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database and / or associated caches and servers) that store one or more sets of instructions. The term "computer-readable storage medium" may also include any medium that is capable of storing, encoding, or carrying a set of instructions for execution by a machine and causing the machine to perform any one or more of the methods of the present disclosure. Therefore, the term "computer-readable storage medium" may be considered to include, but is not limited to, solid-state memories, optical media, and magnetic media.

[0077] Some portions of the detailed description are presented in terms of algorithms and symbolic representations of operations within a computer. These algorithmic descriptions and symbolic representations are a means for those skilled in the art of data processing to convey the essence of their innovations to others skilled in the art. An algorithm is a series of configured operations that produce a desired end state or result. In an exemplary implementation, the operations performed require physical manipulation of a tangible quantity to achieve a tangible result.

[0078] Unless otherwise specifically stated, it will be apparent from the discussion that it should be understood that throughout the description, discussions utilizing terms such as detecting, determining, analyzing, identifying, scanning, etc., may include actions and processes of a computer system or other information processing device that manipulates and transforms data represented as physical (electronic) quantities within the computer system's registers and memories into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within the computer system's memories or registers or other information storage, transmission, or display devices.

[0079] Example implementations may also involve an apparatus for performing the operations herein. This apparatus may be specially constructed for the desired purpose, or it may include one or more general-purpose computers selectively activated or reconfigured by one or more computer programs. Such computer programs may be stored in a computer-readable medium, such as a computer-readable storage medium or a computer-readable signal medium. Computer-executable instructions may include, for example, instructions and data that cause a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, or a special-purpose processing device (e.g., one or more processors) to perform or control the performance of certain functions or groups of functions.

[0080] Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and / or methodological acts, it should be understood that the subject matter configured in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as exemplary forms of implementing the claims.

[0081] An exemplary device may include a wireless access point (WAP) or site and incorporate a VLSI processor and program code for support. An exemplary transceiver is coupled to one of the cable, optical fiber or digital subscriber backbone connections that enter the Internet via an integrated modem to support wireless communications on a wireless local area network (WLAN), such as IEEE802.11 compatible communications. The WIFI stage includes a baseband stage, and an analog front end (AFE) and a radio frequency (RF) stage. In the baseband portion, wireless communications transmitted to or received from each user / client / site are processed. The AFE and RF portions process the upward conversion of each transmission path in the transmission path of the wireless transmission initiated in the baseband. The RF portion also processes the downward conversion of the signal received on the receiving path, and passes them to the baseband for further processing.

[0082] An exemplary device may be a MIMO device that supports up to N×N discrete communication streams via N antennas. In an example, the MIMO device signal processing unit may be implemented as N×N. In various implementations, the value of N may be 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, etc. Extended MIMO operation enables the use of up to 2N antennas for communication with another similarly equipped wireless system. It should be noted that an extended MIMO system may communicate with other wireless systems even if the systems do not have the same number of antennas, but some antennas of one of the sites may not be utilized, thereby reducing optimal performance.

[0083] Channel state information (CSI) from any device described herein may be extracted independent of changes associated with channel state parameters and used for spatial diagnostic services of the network, such as motion detection, proximity detection, and positioning which may be used, for example, for WLAN diagnostics, home security, healthcare monitoring, smart home facility control, advanced care, vehicle tracking and monitoring, home or mobile entertainment, automotive infotainment, and the like.

[0084] Unless the specific arrangements described herein are mutually exclusive, the various implementations described herein may be combined in whole or in part to enhance system functionality and / or produce complementary functions. Likewise, various aspects of the implementations may be implemented in independent arrangements. Therefore, the above description has been given by way of example only and may be modified in detail within the scope of the present invention.

[0085] The subject technology of the present invention is shown, for example, according to various aspects described below. For convenience, various examples of various aspects of the subject technology are described as numbered embodiments (1, 2, 3, etc.). These are provided as embodiments and do not limit the subject technology. Unless otherwise specified in the context, various aspects of various specific implementations described herein may be omitted, replaced by various aspects of other specific implementations, or combined with various aspects of other specific implementations. For example, one or more aspects of the following embodiment 1 may be omitted, replaced by one or more aspects of another embodiment (e.g., embodiment 2) or multiple embodiments, or combined with various aspects of another embodiment. The following is a non-limiting overview of some exemplary specific implementations presented herein.

[0086] Embodiment 1 may include a device comprising an antenna node configured to be coupled to an antenna element. The antenna node may be configured to transmit wireless communications over multiple frequency bands. The device may also include multiple signal paths coupled to the antenna node. Each of the multiple signal paths may be configured to carry signals from different frequency bands in the multiple frequency bands. The device may also include: a switch element coupled to the antenna node via the multiple signal paths; and an amplifier circuit within the multiple signal paths between the switch element and the antenna node. The amplifier circuit may be configured to amplify signals carried by the multiple signal paths.

[0087] The device in Example 1 may also include a second switch element, which is coupled to the antenna node through a plurality of second signal paths. Each second signal path in the plurality of second signal paths may be configured to carry a second signal from a different frequency band in a plurality of frequency bands. In these and other embodiments, the device in Example 1 may also include a conversion circuit, which is coupled to the switch element. The conversion circuit may be configured to adjust the frequency of the signal based on the frequency band in the plurality of frequency bands selected for the signal. Alternatively or in addition, the switch element may be configured to selectively couple any one of the plurality of signal paths to the conversion circuit. In these and other embodiments, the conversion circuit may be coupled to the second switch element, and the second switch element may be configured to selectively couple any one of the plurality of second signal paths to the conversion circuit. In some embodiments, the device in Example 1 may also include a filter element, which is between the antenna node and the switch element and between the antenna node and the second switch element. In these and other embodiments, a signal path in the plurality of signal paths and a second signal path in the plurality of second signal paths may both include a filter element.

[0088] Embodiment 2 may include a device comprising a plurality of antenna nodes, each of which is configured to be coupled to a different antenna element in a plurality of antenna elements. The plurality of antenna nodes may be configured to transmit wireless communications over a plurality of frequency bands. The device may also include: a plurality of signal paths coupled to the plurality of antenna nodes; and a switch unit coupled to the plurality of antenna nodes via a plurality of signal paths, such that each of the plurality of antenna nodes is coupled to the switch unit via a subset of the plurality of signal paths, and the subset includes four or more signal paths. The device may also include a plurality of amplifier circuits within the plurality of signal paths between the switch unit and the plurality of antenna nodes. The plurality of amplifier circuits may be configured to amplify signals carried by the plurality of signal paths. The device may also include a conversion circuit coupled to the switch unit. The conversion circuit can be configured to adjust the frequency of a first signal carried by a first signal path among the multiple signal paths based on a first frequency band among the multiple frequency bands, and to adjust the frequency of a second signal carried by a second signal path among the multiple signal paths based on a second frequency band among the multiple frequency bands, wherein during an overlapping time period, a first antenna node among the multiple antenna nodes is configured to transmit the first signal, and a second antenna node among the multiple antenna nodes is configured to transmit the second signal.

[0089] Example 3 may include information about Figure 5 The method. For example, the method may include selecting a first antenna element node among a plurality of antenna element nodes, the plurality of antenna element nodes being configured to be coupled to a plurality of antenna elements of an antenna array to operate in a first frequency band of a plurality of frequency bands. The method may also include selecting a second antenna element node among a plurality of antenna element nodes to operate in a second frequency band among a plurality of frequency bands, and directing the switch unit to couple a first signal path among a plurality of first signal paths between the switch unit and the first antenna element node, the first signal path being configured to amplify and carry a first signal in the first frequency band. The method may also include directing the switch unit to couple a second signal path among a plurality of second signal paths between the switch unit and the second antenna element node, the second signal path being configured to amplify and carry a second signal in the second frequency band, and during an overlapping time period, wireless communication is transmitted through the first signal path in the first frequency band and through the second signal path in the second frequency band. In some embodiments, in the method of Example 3, the first signal path may be configured to transmit a first signal, and the third signal path may be configured to receive a third signal.

[0090] With respect to the use of substantially any plural or singular terminology herein, one skilled in the art may convert from the plural to the singular or from the singular to the plural as applicable to the context or application. For clarity, various singular / plural arrangements may be expressly set forth herein. Unless otherwise specified, reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean "one and only one," but rather "one or more." Furthermore, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public, regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the above description.

[0091] Generally speaking, the terms used herein, especially in the appended claims (e.g., the bodies of the appended claims), are generally intended to be "open" terms (e.g., the term "including" should be interpreted as "including but not limited to", the term "having" should be interpreted as "having at least", the term "includes" should be interpreted as "including but not limited to", etc.). In addition, in those cases where a convention similar to "at least one of A, B, and C, etc." is used, generally speaking, the meaning of such construction is the convention that should be understood by those skilled in the art (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B, and C" will include but is not limited to a system including A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A, B, and C together, etc.). In addition, phrases presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the specification, claims, or drawings, should be understood to include one of the terms, any of the terms, or both of the terms. For example, the phrase "A or B" will be understood to include the possibility of "A" or "B" or "A and B".

[0092] In addition, the use of the terms "first," "second," "third," etc., are not necessarily used herein to imply a specific order or number of elements. In general, the terms "first," "second," "third," etc. are used to distinguish different elements as general identifiers. If it is not indicated that the terms "first," "second," "third," etc. imply a specific order, then these terms should not be understood to imply a specific order. In addition, if it is indicated that the terms "first," "second," "third," etc. imply a specific number of elements, then these terms should not be understood to imply a specific number of elements. For example, a first widget may be described as having a first side, and a second widget may be described as having a second side. The use of the term "second side" with respect to the second widget can be used to distinguish such side of the second widget from the "first side" of the first widget, and does not imply that the second widget has two sides.

[0093] The present disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essence or essential characteristics of the present disclosure. The specific implementation is considered in all respects to be exemplary and not restrictive. Therefore, the scope of the present disclosure is indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description. All changes within the meaning and scope of the equivalents of the claims are included within their scope.

Claims

1. A device comprising: an antenna node configured to be coupled to the antenna element, the antenna node configured to communicate wireless communications over a plurality of frequency bands; a plurality of signal paths coupled to the antenna node, each of the plurality of signal paths configured to carry signals from a different one of the plurality of frequency bands; a switch element, the switch element being coupled to the antenna node via the plurality of signal paths; and An amplifier circuit is within the plurality of signal paths between the switch element and the antenna node, the amplifier circuit being configured to amplify signals carried by the plurality of signal paths.

2. The device according to claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of antenna nodes, the plurality of antenna nodes including the antenna node, each antenna node in the plurality of antenna nodes being configured to couple to a different antenna element in a plurality of antenna elements including the antenna element; a second plurality of signal paths, the second plurality of signal paths comprising the plurality of signal paths, a switch unit, the switch unit including the switch element, the switch unit coupled to the plurality of antenna nodes via the second plurality of signal paths, such that each antenna node of the plurality of antenna nodes is coupled to the switch unit via a subset of the second plurality of signal paths, and the subset includes four or more signal paths; and A plurality of amplifier circuits including the amplifier circuit within the plurality of signal paths between the switch unit and the plurality of antenna nodes, the plurality of amplifier circuits being configured to amplify signals carried by the plurality of signal paths.

3. The device according to claim 2 further includes a conversion circuit, which is coupled to the switching unit, and the conversion circuit is configured to adjust the frequency of the first signal carried by the first signal path in the second plurality of signal paths based on the first frequency band in the multiple frequency bands, and adjust the frequency of the second signal carried by the second signal path in the second plurality of signal paths based on the second frequency band in the multiple frequency bands, wherein during an overlapping time period, the first antenna node in the multiple antenna nodes is configured to transmit the first signal, and the second antenna node in the multiple antenna nodes is configured to transmit the second signal. 4 . The device according to claim 3 , wherein the switch unit is configured to selectively couple any one of the plurality of signal paths to the conversion circuit.

5. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the plurality of signal paths are configured to carry transmit signals or the plurality of signal paths are configured to carry receive signals.

6. A method for wireless data transmission, the method comprising: selecting a first antenna element node of a plurality of antenna element nodes configured to be coupled to a plurality of antenna elements of an antenna array to operate in a first frequency band of a plurality of frequency bands; selecting a second antenna element node of the plurality of antenna element nodes to operate in a second frequency band of the plurality of frequency bands; directing the switch unit to couple a first signal path of a plurality of first signal paths between the switch unit and the first antenna element node, the first signal path being configured to amplify and carry a first signal in the first frequency band; directing the switch unit to couple a second signal path of a plurality of second signal paths between the switch unit and the second antenna element node, the second signal path being configured to amplify and carry a second signal in the second frequency band; as well as During the overlapping time period, wireless communications are communicated in the first frequency band via the first signal path and in the second frequency band via the second signal path.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising: directing the switch unit to couple a third signal path of a plurality of third signal paths between the switch unit and the first antenna element node, the third signal path being configured to amplify and carry a third signal in the first frequency band; as well as During the overlapping time period, wireless communications are communicated in the first frequency band via the third signal path and in the second frequency band via the second signal path.

8. The method according to claim 6, further comprising: after communicating wireless communications through the first signal path in the first frequency band and through the second signal path in the second frequency band during an overlapping period, directing the switch unit to couple a third signal path of the plurality of first signal paths between the switch unit and the first antenna element node, the third signal path being configured to amplify and carry a third signal in the second frequency band; as well as During the overlapping time period, wireless communications are communicated in the second frequency band via the third signal path and in the second frequency band via the second signal path.

9. The method according to claim 6, further comprising: selecting a third antenna element node of the plurality of antenna element nodes to operate in a third frequency band of the plurality of frequency bands; directing the switch unit to couple a third signal path of a plurality of third signal paths between the switch unit and the third antenna element node, the third signal path being configured to amplify and carry a third signal in the first frequency band; as well as During overlapping time periods, wireless communications are communicated in the first frequency band via the first signal path, in the second frequency band via the second signal path, and in the third frequency band via the third signal path.

10. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the first frequency band and the second frequency band are different frequency bands defined according to 802.11 protocol.

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