Search

EP-4740306-A1 - MULTI-RADIO INTEGRATED CIRCUIT ARCHITECTURE

EP4740306A1EP 4740306 A1EP4740306 A1EP 4740306A1EP-4740306-A1

Abstract

Various arrangements of a multi-radio integrated circuit system are detailed herein. Such a system can include an integrated circuit that includes a wireless local area network (WLAN) radio configured to be connected with an external antenna and a short-range wireless communication radio that is distinct from the WLAN radio. The system also includes a switching module through which the WLAN radio and the short-range wireless communication radio is configured to communicate with the external antenna.

Inventors

  • WU, DER-WOEI
  • BARNES, WADE

Assignees

  • Google LLC

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20240830

Claims (20)

  1. 1. A multi-radio integrated circuit system, comprising: a single integrated circuit, comprising: a wireless local area network (WLAN) radio configured to be connected with a plurality of external antennas including a first external antenna; a short-range wireless communication radio that is distinct from the WLAN radio; and a switching module through which the WLAN radio and the short-range wireless communication radio is configured to communicate with the first external antenna.
  2. 2. The multi -radio integrated circuit system of claim 1, further comprising: a low-rate wireless personal area network (LR-WPAN) radio distinct from the WLAN radio and the short-range wireless communication radio; and a second switching module through which the LR-WPAN radio is configured to communicate with a second external antenna.
  3. 3. The multi -radio integrated circuit system of claim 2, wherein the LR-WPAN radio further comprises a second short-range wireless communication radio.
  4. 4. The multi-radio integrated circuit system of claim 2, wherein the short-range wireless communication radio performs Bluetooth communications and the WLAN radio performs WiFi communications.
  5. 5. The multi -radio integrated circuit system of claim 4, wherein the WLAN radio is configured to communicate with a third external antenna used exclusively by the WLAN radio for 2.4 GHz band and 5 GHz band communications.
  6. 6. The multi-radio integrated circuit system of claim 5, further comprising a diplexer connected with the third external antenna and the single integrated circuit.
  7. 7. The multi-radio integrated circuit system of claim 5, further comprising the first external antenna, the second external antenna, and the third external antenna.
  8. 8. The multi -radio integrated circuit system of claim 7, wherein the single integrated circuit comprises a plurality of amplifiers connected between the switching module, the short-range wireless communication radio, and the WLAN radio.
  9. 9. The multi -radio integrated circuit system of claim 1, further comprising, as part of the single integrated circuit, an arbiter that resolves conflicts between the WLAN radio and the short-range wireless communication radio.
  10. 10. A multi-radio integrated circuit, comprising: a wireless local area network (WLAN) radio; a short-range wireless communication radio that is distinct from the WLAN radio; and a switching module through which the WLAN radio and the short-range wireless communication radio is configured to communicate with a first external antenna.
  11. 11. The multi -radio integrated circuit of claim 10, wherein the multi-radio integrated circuit further comprises: a low-rate wireless personal area network (LR-WPAN) radio distinct from the WLAN radio and the short-range wireless communication radio; and a second switching module through which the LR-WPAN radio is configured to communicate with a second external antenna.
  12. 12. The multi-radio integrated circuit of claim 11, wherein the LR-WPAN radio further comprises a second short-range wireless communication radio.
  13. 13. The multi -radio integrated circuit of claim 12, wherein the short-range wireless communication radio performs Bluetooth communications and the WLAN radio performs WiFi communications.
  14. 14. The multi-radio integrated circuit of claim 13, wherein the WLAN radio is configured to communicate with a third external antenna used exclusively by the WLAN radio for 2.4 GHz band and 5 GHz band communications.
  15. 15. The multi -radio integrated circuit of claim 7, wherein the single integrated circuit comprises a plurality of amplifiers connected between the switching module, the short- range wireless communication radio, and the WLAN radio.
  16. 16. The multi -radio integrated circuit of claim 10, further comprising an arbiter that resolves conflicts between the WLAN radio and the short-range wireless communication radio.
  17. 17. A method for using a multi-radio integrated circuit system, the method comprising: providing an integrated circuit, comprising: a wireless local area network (WLAN) radio configured to be connected with a plurality of external antennas including a first external antenna and a second external antenna; a short-range wireless communication radio that is distinct from the WLAN radio; and a switching module through which the WLAN radio and the short-range wireless communication radio is configured to communicate with the second external antenna; performing WLAN communications using the first external antenna; and performing WLAN communications and short-range device-to-device communications using the second external antenna.
  18. 18. The method for using the multi -radio integrated circuit system of claim 17, wherein the integrated circuit further comprises: a low-rate wireless personal area network (LR-WPAN) radio distinct from the WLAN radio and the short-range wireless communication radio; and a second switching module through which the LR-WPAN radio is configured to communicate with a third external antenna.
  19. 19. The method for using the multi -radio integrated circuit system of claim 18, further comprising: performing, by the integrated circuit, LR-WPAN communications and short-range device-to-device communications using the third external antenna.
  20. 20. The method for using the multi -radio integrated circuit system of claim 19, further comprising: performing arbitration on board the integrated circuit between the short-range wireless communication radio and the WLAN radio.

Description

Multi-Radio Integrated Circuit Architecture CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/537,141, filed September 7, 2023, entitled “Configurable Radio Architecture”, which is hereby incorporated by reference, as if set forth in full in this document, for all purposes. BACKGROUND [0002] Conventionally, coexistence architecture between wireless local area network (WLAN) hardware, such as WiFi™, Bluetooth™ (BT) and IEEE 802.15.4 (“15.4”), based protocols (such as Thread™ and Zigbee™), involves using at least two distinct integrated circuits (ICs) and an arbiter, which can be separate or integrated as part of one of the multiple ICs. Such an arrangement is not ideal in at least some situations. Using multiple radio ICs can involve a significant amount of dedicated printed circuit board (PCB) space, significant power consumption, or both. SUMMARY [0003] Various embodiments are described related to a multi-radio integrated circuit system. In some embodiments, a multi-radio integrated circuit system is described. The system may comprise a single integrated circuit. The single integrated circuit may comprise a wireless local area network (WLAN) radio configured to be connected with a plurality of external antennas including a first external antenna. The single integrated circuit may comprise a short-range wireless communication radio that may be distinct from the WLAN radio. The single integrated circuit may comprise a switching module through which the WLAN radio and the short-range wireless communication radio may be configured to communicate with the first external antenna. [0004] Embodiments of such a system may include one or more of the following features: a low- rate wireless personal area network (LR-WPAN) radio distinct from the WLAN radio and the short-range wireless communication radio. The system may further comprise a second switching module through which the LR-WPAN radio may be configured to communicate with a second external antenna. The LR-WPAN radio may further comprise a second short-range wireless communication radio. The short-range wireless communication radio may perform Bluetooth communications and the WLAN radio may perform WiFi communications. The WLAN radio may be configured to communicate with a third external antenna used exclusively by the WLAN radio for 2.4 GHz band and 5 GHz band communications. The system may further comprise a diplexer connected with the third external antenna and the single integrated circuit. The system may further comprise the first external antenna, the second external antenna, and the third external antenna. The single integrated circuit may comprise a plurality of amplifiers connected between the switching module, the short-range wireless communication radio, and the WLAN radio. The system may further comprise, as part of the single integrated circuit, an arbiter that may resolve conflicts between the WLAN radio and the short-range wireless communication radio. [0005] In some embodiments, a multi-radio integrated circuit is described. The circuit may comprise a wireless local area network (WLAN) radio. The circuit may comprise a short-range wireless communication radio that may be distinct from the WLAN radio. The circuit may comprise a switching module through which the WLAN radio and the short-range wireless communication radio may be configured to communicate with a first external antenna. [0006] Embodiments of such a circuit may include one or more of the following features: the multi-radio integrated circuit may further comprise a low-rate wireless personal area network (LR- WPAN) radio distinct from the WLAN radio and the short-range wireless communication radio. The circuit may further comprise a second switching module through which the LR-WPAN radio may be configured to communicate with a second external antenna. The LR-WPAN radio may further comprise a second short-range wireless communication radio. The short-range wireless communication radio may perform Bluetooth communications and the WLAN radio may perform WiFi communications. The WLAN radio may be configured to communicate with a third external antenna used exclusively by the WLAN radio for 2.4 GHz band and 5 GHz band communications. The single integrated circuit may comprise a plurality of amplifiers connected between the switching module, the short-range wireless communication radio, and the WLAN radio. The circuit may further comprise an arbiter that resolves conflicts between the WLAN radio and the short-range wireless communication radio. [0007] In some embodiments, a method for using a multi-radio integrated circuit system is described. The method may comprise providing an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit may comprise a wireless local area network (WLAN) radio configured to be connected with a plurality of external antennas including a first external antenna and a second external antenna. The