Field
This invention relates generally to transceivers, and more specifically, to a reconfigurable multi-mode transceiver.
Background
A transceiver in a communication system may transmit data using a transmitter and receive data using a receiver for two-way communication. The transceiver may also support carrier aggregation (CA), which is simultaneous operation on multiple carriers. Multi-mode transceivers including Long Term Evolution (LTE)/Frequency Division Duplex (FDD). LTE/Time Division Duplex (TDD). Circuit-Switched FallBack (CSFB), Simultaneous Voice and LTE (SVLTE), Simultaneous GSM and LTE (SGLTE), Dual SIM Dual Standby (DSDS), and other similarly-configured devices co-exist in several different combinations in different regions of the world. Further, LTE carrier aggregation with 2, 3, and 4 downlinks is already out or will soon be available. Thus, a device that can handle multiple modes and bands while providing seamless FDD and TDD interoperability is needed in order to meet the growing demands for wireless data. However, the support of both FDD and TDD operations complicates the local oscillator LO and synthesizer connections to the receive (RX) and transmit (TX) links in the multi-mode transceiver.
To address the issues connected with a need for multi-band, multi-mode devices, a two-chip configuration in which one transceiver (e.g., an FDD transceiver) resides on a first chip and another transceiver (e.g., a TDD transceiver supporting LTE-CA and other technologies) resides on a second chip can be used. Although this configuration may provide the needed features, it will occupy more chip area, consume more current, and support less number of combinations of CA than a single-chip solution. Accordingly, a need exists for reconfiguring and reusing the transceiver flexibly with minimum hardware to provide a single-chip solution for improving the FDD and TDD interoperability and better spectrum utilization.