Shared antenna control

Abstract

A scheme for sharing antenna control pins in a wireless communications device implemented on a single CMOS integrated circuit is described. By providing a routing circuit for coupling the antenna control signal to the appropriate transceiver circuitry in a multi-transceiver system, antenna control signals may be efficiently processed using a minimum of pins on the wireless communication device.

1 . A wireless communication device comprising:
 first wireless transceiver circuitry operable to service communications in a first frequency band;   second wireless transceiver circuitry operable to service communications in a second frequency band;   wireless interface device circuitry operable to transmit shared control signals to both the first wireless transceiver circuitry and the second wireless transceiver circuitry; and   combined control signal routing circuitry operable to route the combined control signals to the first wireless transceiver circuitry in a first operating condition and to route the combined control signals to the second wireless transceiver circuitry in a second operating condition.   
     
     
         2 . The wireless communication device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first frequency band comprises a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) frequency band; and   the second frequency band comprises a cellular frequency band.   
     
     
         3 . The wireless communication device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first frequency band comprises a first Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) frequency band; and   the second frequency band comprises a second WLAN frequency band.   
     
     
         4 . The wireless communication device of  claim 1 , the combined control signal routing circuitry operable to route the combined control signals to both the first wireless transceiver circuitry and to the second wireless transceiver circuitry during a third operating condition. 
     
     
         5 . The wireless communication device of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the first operating condition comprises the first wireless transceiver circuitry servicing communications and the second wireless transceiver circuitry idle;   the second operating condition comprises the second wireless transceiver circuitry servicing communications and the first wireless transceiver circuitry idle; and   the third operating condition comprises the first wireless transceiver circuitry and the second wireless transceiver circuitry simultaneously servicing communications.   
     
     
         6 . The wireless communication device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 first antenna diversity circuitry coupled to the first wireless transceiver circuitry;   second antenna diversity circuitry coupled to the second wireless transceiver circuitry; and   the combined control signal routing circuitry operable to route diversity switching control signals to both the first antenna diversity circuitry and to the second antenna diversity circuitry.   
     
     
         7 . The wireless communication device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 first antenna diversity circuitry coupled to the first wireless transceiver circuitry;   first and second antennas coupled to the first antenna diversity circuitry; and   the combined control signal routing circuitry operable to route diversity switching control signals to the first antenna diversity circuitry to initiate diversity in the transmission or receipt of wireless communications serviced by the first wireless transceiver circuitry.   
     
     
         8 . The wireless communication device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first wireless transceiver circuitry supports a first communication interface protocol; and   the second wireless transceiver circuitry supports a second communication interface protocol.   
     
     
         9 . A wireless communication device comprising:
 first wireless transceiver circuitry operable to service communications according to a first communication interface protocol;   second wireless transceiver circuitry operable to service communications according to a second communication interface protocol;   wireless interface device circuitry operable to transmit shared control signals to both the first wireless transceiver circuitry and the second wireless transceiver circuitry; and   combined control signal routing circuitry operable to route the combined control signals to the first wireless transceiver circuitry in a first operating condition and to route the combined control signals to the second wireless transceiver circuitry in a second operating condition.   
     
     
         10 . The wireless communication device of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the first communication interface protocol comprises a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) communication interface protocol; and   the second communication interface protocol comprises a cellular communication interface protocol.   
     
     
         11 . The wireless communication device of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the first communication interface protocol comprises a first Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) communication interface protocol; and   the second communication interface protocol comprises a second WLAN communication interface protocol.   
     
     
         12 . The wireless communication device of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the first wireless transceiver circuitry operable to service communications in a first frequency band; and   the second wireless transceiver circuitry operable to service communications in a second frequency band that differs from the first frequency band.   
     
     
         13 . The wireless communication device of  claim 9 , the combined control signal routing circuitry operable to route the combined control signals to both the first wireless transceiver circuitry and to the second wireless transceiver circuitry during a third operating condition. 
     
     
         14 . The wireless communication device of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the first operating condition comprises the first wireless transceiver circuitry servicing communications and the second wireless transceiver circuitry idle;   the second operating condition comprises the second wireless transceiver circuitry servicing communications and the first wireless transceiver circuitry idle; and   the third operating condition comprises the first wireless transceiver circuitry and the second wireless transceiver circuitry simultaneously servicing communications.   
     
     
         15 . The wireless communication device of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 first antenna diversity circuitry coupled to the first wireless transceiver circuitry;   second antenna diversity circuitry coupled to the second wireless transceiver circuitry; and   the combined control signal routing circuitry operable to route diversity switching control signals to both the first antenna diversity circuitry and to the second antenna diversity circuitry.   
     
     
         16 . The wireless communication device of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 first antenna diversity circuitry coupled to the first wireless transceiver circuitry;   first and second antennas coupled to the first antenna diversity circuitry; and   the combined control signal routing circuitry operable to route diversity switching control signals to the first antenna diversity circuitry to initiate diversity in the transmission or receipt of wireless communications serviced by the first wireless transceiver circuitry.   
     
     
         17 . A wireless communication device comprising:
 first wireless transceiver circuitry operable to service communications according to a first communication interface protocol within a first frequency band;   second wireless transceiver circuitry operable to service communications according to a second communication interface protocol within a second frequency band;   wireless interface device circuitry operable to transmit shared control signals to both the first wireless transceiver circuitry and the second wireless transceiver circuitry; and   combined control signal routing circuitry operable to route the combined control signals to the first wireless transceiver circuitry in a first operating condition and to route the combined control signals to the second wireless transceiver circuitry in a second operating condition.   
     
     
         18 . The wireless communication device of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the first communication interface protocol comprises a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) communication interface protocol; and   the second communication interface protocol comprises a cellular communication interface protocol.   
     
     
         19 . The wireless communication device of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the first communication interface protocol comprises a first Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) communication interface protocol; and   the second communication interface protocol comprises a second WLAN communication interface protocol.   
     
     
         20 . The wireless communication device of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 first antenna diversity circuitry coupled to the first wireless transceiver circuitry;   second antenna diversity circuitry coupled to the second wireless transceiver circuitry; and   the combined control signal routing circuitry operable to route diversity switching control signals to both the first antenna diversity circuitry and to the second antenna diversity circuitry.