Wireless communications systems using multiple radios

Abstract

The present invention relates to a communication system and methods of use thereof. The system includes sets of complementary radios for transmitting and receiving signals to achieve high reliability and reduced costs. The sets of complementary radios are in wireless communication with each other. A new connection is made by selecting from amongst the complementary radios. Switching between complementary radios during a connection is also permitted. Optimized protocols and hardware for implementing the system are disclosed.

1 .- 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . A reconfigurable transceiver configured to operate in a first mode and a second mode, comprising:
 an antenna;   a reconfigurable amplifier coupled to the antenna configured to operate in the first mode and the second mode;   a plurality of mixers coupled to the reconfigurable amplifier; and   an oscillator configured to drive the plurality of mixers.   
     
     
         33 . The reconfigurable transceiver of  claim 32 , wherein the reconfigurable amplifier is configured to operate in the first mode or the second mode according to a desired performance objective. 
     
     
         34 . The reconfigurable transceiver of  claim 33 , wherein the desired performance objective comprises reduced power consumption, reduced interference to other devices, increased channel capacity to support many parallel connections, or increased reliability of new connection 
     
     
         35 . The reconfigurable transceiver of  claim 32 , wherein the amplifier comprises an inductor configured to form a load of the amplifier. 
     
     
         36 . The reconfigurable transceiver of  claim 35 , wherein the inductor comprises a plurality of connected layers stacked in series. 
     
     
         37 . The reconfigurable transceiver of  claim 36 , wherein each layer of the plurality comprises spirals. 
     
     
         38 . The reconfigurable transceiver of  claim 36 , wherein the inductor comprises lower metal layers. 
     
     
         39 . The reconfigurable transceiver of  claim 38 , wherein the lower metal layers are thinner than other layers of the plurality of connected layers. 
     
     
         40 . The reconfigurable transceiver of  claim 32 , wherein the amplifier comprises one or more transistors. 
     
     
         41 . The reconfigurable transceiver of  claim 40 , wherein the one or more transistors comprise a programmable current source. 
     
     
         42 . The reconfigurable transceiver of  claim 40 , wherein the amplifier comprises one or more alternating current capacitors configured to couple alternating current signals from a first of the one or more transistors to a second of the one or more transistors. 
     
     
         43 . The reconfigurable transceiver of  claim 32 , further comprising a power source and a switch coupled to the power source. 
     
     
         44 . The reconfigurable transceiver of  claim 43 , wherein the switch is configured to provide a periodic signal to the antenna in the first mode. 
     
     
         45 . The reconfigurable transceiver of  claim 43 , wherein the switch is configured to provide a single pulse to the antenna in the second mode. 
     
     
         46 . The reconfigurable transceiver of  claim 32 , wherein the first mode is a wideband mode and the second mode is a narrowband mode. 
     
     
         47 . The reconfigurable transceiver of  claim 32 , wherein the amplifier is a low-noise amplifier. 
     
     
         48 . The reconfigurable transceiver of  claim 32 , wherein each of the plurality of mixers is driven with different phases of the oscillator. 
     
     
         49 . The reconfigurable transceiver of  claim 32 , further comprising an analog-to-digital converter configured to sample the output of the plurality of mixers. 
     
     
         50 . The reconfigurable transceiver of  claim 32 , further comprising a plurality of analog-to-digital converters each coupled to the plurality of mixers. 
     
     
         51 . The reconfigurable transceiver of  claim 32 , wherein the reconfigurable amplifier comprises a reconfigurable bandpass filter.