Receive LVDS Signal Buffer Signal 1 Convert Voltage
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US 20130090148A1 (19) United States (12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2013/0090148 A1 KETTUNEN et al. (43) Pub. Date: Apr. 11, 2013 (54) CIRCUIT COUPLING (52) US. Cl. USPC ................... .. 455/5521; 333/24 R; 333/24 C (75) Inventors: Arttu Aukusti KETTUNEN, Oulu (Fl); Marko Johannes VIITALA, Kontio (Fl) (57) ABSTRACT (73) Asslgneei Renesas Moblle corporatlon An apparatus for coupling a baseband integrated circuit that _ uses a ?rst signalling standard to a radio frequency integrated (21) Appl' NO" 13/268,295 circuit that uses a second signalling standard includes a buffer (22) Filed: Oct 7’ 2011 coupled to the baseband integrated circuit and a resistor net Work coupled between the buffer and the radio frequency Publication Classi?cation integrated circuit. The resistor network implements a voltage divider so as to convert a ?rst voltage used by the baseband (51) Int. Cl. integrated circuit to a second voltage used by the radio fre H04 W 88/06 (2009.01) quency integrated circuit. The apparatus may be used in a H03H 7/06 (2006.01) mobile telecommunications device. 410 1 Receive LVDS signal 420 I Buffer Signal 430 1 Convert voltage 440 1 Pass to SLVS Input Patent Application Publication Apr. 11, 2013 Sheet 1 0f 6 US 2013/0090148 A1 _ _ _I IIilIII __"H .... _ "0E19mm _/ L1_J/_.1xk ON?_Q:OS 02 \+_\Jqfmmv__ n_nW_NE_X: MM_??a; Fl|3;|| xmi.xh. _ n __o2_ IIN_.I|IIlIiI i lI l I Ii ||l <_\.0_"_ Q2 xm_ Patent Application Publication Apr. 11, 2013 Sheet 2 0f 6 US 2013/0090148 A1 ~ _ r|l|||I | |.. u+~ _~ _ _ -+ II_1IIllI|l | l |.|_1|Illl.Il|l _i.~ 1 Vnxlllllllll,mt09 _ _ v2_ Om?v_\ U\Ll ?llllllldOD_\ _x: El"_vmwwwv ,02_ N l3_F “2:N2 9n N9 _NE‘ %WILAIJ_ E1%_~ mFdE M_ M_F 2I: Patent Application Publication Apr. 11, 2013 Sheet 3 0f 6 US 2013/0090148 A1 120 230 :222 A 2AFIG. \ 210 182 Patent Application Publication Apr. 11, 2013 Sheet 4 0f 6 US 2013/0090148 A1 2BFIG. 180 Patent Application Publication Apr. 11, 2013 Sheet 5 0f 6 US 2013/0090148 A1 120 if 7\ Patent Application Publication Apr. 11, 2013 Sheet 6 0f 6 US 2013/0090148 A1 410 1 Receive LVDS signal 420 l I Buffer Signal 430 i 1 Convert voltage 440 \l/ 1 Pass to SLVS Input FIG. 4 US 2013/0090148 A1 Apr. 11, 2013 CIRCUIT COUPLING frequency integrated circuit, the resistor netWork implement ing a voltage divider so as to convert a ?rst voltage used by the TECHNICAL FIELD baseband integrated circuit to a second voltage used by the [0001] The present invention relates to a coupling for inte radio frequency integrated circuit, the resistor netWork com grated circuits. In particular, but not exclusively, the present prising a ?rst resistor coupled betWeen a voltage source and a invention relates to an apparatus and a method for coupling a ?rst node, the ?rst node being arranged to receive a signal baseband integrated circuit to a radio frequency integrated from the baseband integrated circuit, a second resistor circuit Wherein the tWo integrated circuits use different sig coupled betWeen the ?rst node and a second node, the second nalling standards. Apparatus according to the present inven node being coupled to an input of the second integrated circuit tion may be used in mobile telecommunications devices. and a third resistor coupled betWeen the second node and ground. A coupling capacitor is coupled betWeen the voltage BACKGROUND source and the ?rst resistor. [0002] Within mobile communications netWorks there is a [0008] In accordance With an exemplary embodiment, trend toWards ever faster over-the-air data rates. For example, there is provided a mobile communications device compris General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) offers data rates of ing a baseband integrated circuit for performing baseband around 56 to 114 kilobits per second over the Global System processing of a signal, the baseband integrated circuit using a for Mobile Communications (GSM), Whereas next genera ?rst signalling standard, a radio frequency integrated circuit tion mobile broadband technologies such as Long Term Evo for performing radio frequency processing of a signal, the lution (LTE) and Mobile WorldWide Interoperability for radio frequency integrated circuit using a second signalling MicroWave Access (WiMAX) and their descendants offer standard and an interface for coupling the baseband inte data rates of around 1 gigabit per second and higher. grated circuit and the radio frequency integrated circuit. The [0003] Typically, higher data rates are enabled by develop interface comprises a buffer and a resistor netWork coupled to ments in radio frequency signalling technology. For example, the output of the buffer, the resistor netWork implementing a these developments may be embodied in neW radio frequency voltage divider so as to convert a ?rst voltage used by one of integrated circuits that provide the necessary radio frequency the baseband integrated circuit and the radio frequency inte signal processing. These neW radio frequency integrated cir grated circuit to a second voltage used by the other of the cuits may use neWer physical interface standards, such as the baseband integrated circuit and the radio frequency integrated fourth revision of the DigRF standard adopted by the MIPI circuit. Alliance. This in turn requires integrated circuits that inter [0009] In accordance With an exemplary embodiment, face With the neW radio frequency integrated circuits to also there is provided a method for communicating a data signal be revised to use the neWer physical interface standards. betWeen a baseband integrated circuit that uses a ?rst signal These may include baseband integrated circuits. This requires ling standard and a radio frequency integrated circuit that uses revisions to the manufacturing of mobile device integrated a second signalling standard comprising receiving a data circuits and results in higher costs. signal produced by one of the baseband integrated circuit and [0004] “Implementing an SLVS Transceiver” as published the radio frequency integrated circuit, buffering the data sig in issue 10 of EDN Magazine on 26 May 201 1 describes Field nal, adjusting a voltage of the data signal from a ?rst voltage Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) adaptations to provide an used by said one of the baseband integrated circuit and the SLVS-compatible interface. A bespoke FPGA generates a radio frequency integrated circuit to a second voltage used by modi?ed LoW-Voltage Differential Signalling (LVDS) signal the other of the baseband integrated circuit and the radio that can be received by a Scalable LoW-Voltage Signalling frequency integrated circuit, and pas sing the data signal to an (SLVS) peer device. input of said other of the baseband integrated circuit and the [0005] It is thus desirable to be able to support higher data radio frequency integrated circuit. rates in mobile communications devices Without complex components and at a loW cost. [0010] In accordance With an exemplary embodiment, there is provided an apparatus for coupling a baseband inte SUMMARY grated circuit that uses a ?rst signalling standard to a radio frequency integrated circuit that uses a second signalling [0006] In accordance With an exemplary embodiment, standard, the apparatus comprising a buffer coupled to the there is provided apparatus for coupling a baseband inte radio frequency integrated circuit, the buffer being arranged grated circuit that uses a ?rst signalling standard to a radio to adjust a voltage of the data signal from a ?rst voltage frequency integrated circuit that uses a second signalling speci?ed by the second signalling standard to a second volt standard, the apparatus comprising a buffer coupled to the age speci?ed by the ?rst signalling standard baseband integrated circuit and a resistor netWork coupled betWeen the buffer and the radio frequency integrated circuit, [0011] Further features and advantages of the invention the resistor netWork implementing a voltage divider so as to Will become apparent from the folloWing description of pre convert a ?rst voltage used by the baseband integrated circuit ferred embodiments of the invention, given by Way of to a second voltage used by the radio frequency integrated example only, Which is made With reference to the accompa circuit. nying draWings. [0007] In accordance With an exemplary embodiment, there is provided apparatus for coupling a baseband inte BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS grated circuit that uses a ?rst signalling standard to a radio frequency integrated circuit that uses a second signalling [0012] FIG. 1A is a simpli?ed schematic diagram shoWing standard, the apparatus comprising a resistor netWork a baseband integrated circuit coupled to a radio frequency coupled betWeen the baseband integrated circuit and the radio integrated circuit; US 2013/0090148 A1 Apr. 11, 2013 [0013] FIG. 1B is a simpli?ed schematic diagram showing high data rates With loW poWer consumption making it espe an apparatus for coupling a baseband integrated circuit to a cially attractive for use in mobile devices. Certain embodi radio frequency integrated circuit according to an embodi ments thus offer a fast and cost-ef?cient physical DigRFv4 ment; interface betWeen radio frequency and baseband integrated [0014] FIG. 2A is a simpli?ed schematic diagram shoWing circuit that may be implemented With general components. a number of components that implement a single-ended cou Without the apparatus the radio frequency integrated circuit pling for the apparatus of FIG. 1B; cannot be connected to existing LVDS hardWare. This in turn [0015] FIG. 2B is a simpli?ed schematic diagram shoWing means that existing baseband processing hardWare can be an exemplary differential coupling for the apparatus of FIG. reused With neWer radio frequency signalling technologies, 1B; reducing Waste and costs. [0016] FIG.