Versatile system for transceiver noise reduction in a time-division duplexing wireless network

Abstract

A system for suppressing transmission channel noise in a signal transmission/reception device—particularly a time division duplex (TDD) wireless communications device—is provided. The system provides one or more shunt elements, instantiated at some point along the device's signal transmission channel. One or more attenuation elements are also instantiated at some point along the signal transmission channel, as are one or more disabling elements. A trigger signal indicates when the device is shifting from signal transmission operation (or mode) to signal reception operation. Responsive to assertion of the trigger signal, the shunt, attenuation and disabling elements are activated.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A method of suppressing transmission channel noise in a signal transmission/reception device, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a shunt construct instantiated at a first point along a signal transmission channel;   providing an attenuation construct instantiated at a second point along the signal transmission channel;   providing a disabling construct instantiated at a third point along the signal transmission channel;   providing a trigger signal indicating a shift to signal reception; and   activating the shunt, attenuation and disabling constructs responsive to assertion of the trigger signal.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of providing a disabling construct further comprises providing a disabling construct adapted to disable a digital to analog converter responsive to assertion of the trigger signal. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of providing a disabling construct further comprises providing a disabling construct adapted to disable a local oscillator responsive to assertion of the trigger signal. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of providing an attenuation construct further comprises providing a construct adapted to provide attenuation at a nominal level during signal transmission and at a maximum level during signal reception. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the construct comprises an attenuator incumbent in the signal transmission/reception device. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of providing a shunt construct further comprises providing a switch element that couples the signal transmission path to ground responsive to assertion of the trigger signal. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of providing an attenuation construct further comprises providing a construct adapted to enable an amplification output stage during signal transmission and disable the amplification output stage during signal reception. 
     
     
         17 . A method of improving signal reception in a wireless communications system having a time division duplex transceiver device operating therein, the method comprising the steps of:
 instantiating a plurality of attenuation elements along a signal transmission path of the time division duplex transceiver device;   maintaining the plurality of attenuation elements in a passive state during signal transmissions;   providing a trigger signal indicative of a shift by the time division duplex transceiver device from signal transmission to signal reception; and   activating the attenuation elements responsive to assertion of the trigger signal.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the step of instantiating a plurality of attenuation elements further comprises instantiating shunt, attenuator or disabling constructs. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  where the step of instantiating a plurality of attenuation elements further comprises instantiating a construct adapted to enable an amplification output stage of the signal transmission path during signal transmission and disable the amplification output stage during signal reception. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  where the step of instantiating a plurality of attenuation elements further comprises instantiating a construct adapted to enable a digital to analog converter at an input of the signal transmission path during signal transmission and disable the digital to analog converter during signal reception.