METHOD FOR MIPI RFFE ADDRESS ASSIGNMENT AND MIPI RFFE DEVICE
20220269643 · 2022-08-25
Inventors
Cpc classification
H04B1/18
ELECTRICITY
G06F2213/0052
PHYSICS
H04L12/12
ELECTRICITY
Y02D10/00
GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
International classification
G01R19/00
PHYSICS
H04B1/18
ELECTRICITY
Abstract
A method includes detecting a voltage at a configuration terminal of a mobile industry processor interface (MIPI) radio frequency front end (RFFE) device with a timing based on a MIPI RFFE signal received by the MIPI RFFE device, and setting an address for the MIPI RFFE device based on the detected voltage.
Claims
1. A method of address assigning for a mobile industry processor interface (MIPI) radio frequency front end (RFFE) device, comprising: detecting a voltage at a configuration terminal of the MIPI RFFE device with a timing based on a MIPI RFFE signal received by the MIPI RFFE device, and setting the address of the MIPI RFFE device based on the detected voltage.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the voltage with a timing based on the MIPI RFFE signal includes starting a sense period for detecting the voltage based on a feature of the MIPI RFFE signal.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the feature comprises an SSC bit of the MIPI RFFE signal.
4. The method of claim 2, wherein the sense period ends based on a further feature of the MIPI RFFE signal.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the further feature comprises an n-th clock of a MIPI RFFE clock signal.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein n is smaller than a minimum length of a MIPI RFFE signal.
7. The method of claim 3, wherein the sense period ends a predefined time after the feature.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the voltage with a timing based on the MIPI RFFE signal includes detecting the voltage in a sense period, wherein the sense period ends at a feature of the MIPI RFFE signal.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the feature comprises an n-th clock period of the MIPI RFFE signal.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein n is smaller than a minimum length of a MIPI RFFE signal.
11. The method of claim 8, wherein a start of the sense period is based on a rising of a supply voltage at start-up of the MIPI RFFE device.
12. The method of claim 2, wherein the method comprises activating comparator thresholds at the start of the sense period, and enabling a comparator arrangement configured to compare the voltage with the comparator thresholds at the end of the sense period, wherein setting the address based on the detected voltage comprises setting the address based on one or more outputs of the comparator arrangement.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein the MIPI RFFE signal comprises a first MIPI RFFE signal after start-up of the MIPI RFFE device.
14. A mobile industry processor interface (MIPI) radio frequency front end (RFFE) device, comprising sense circuitry configured to: detect a voltage at a configuration terminal of the MIPI RFFE device with a timing based on a MIPI RFFE signal received by the MIPI RFFE device; and set an address of the MIPI RFFE device based on the detected voltage.
15. The device of claim 14, wherein detecting the voltage with a timing based on the MIPI RFFE signal includes starting a sense period for detecting the voltage based on a feature of the MIPI RFFE signal.
16. The device of claim 15, wherein the feature comprises an SSC bit of the MIPI RFFE signal.
17. The device of claim 15, wherein the sense period ends based on a further feature of the MIPI RFFE signal.
18. The device of claim 17, wherein the further feature comprises an n-th clock of a MIPI RFFE clock signal.
19. The device of claim 18, wherein n is smaller than a minimum length of a MIPI RFFE signal.
20. The device of claim 16, wherein the sense period ends a predefined time after the feature.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014]
[0015]
[0016]
[0017]
[0018]
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS
[0020] In the following, various embodiments will be described in detail referring to the attached drawings. These embodiments are given by way of example only and are not to be construed as limiting. For example, while embodiments may be described including a plurality of features (for example components, elements, acts, events, steps etc.), in other embodiments, some of these features may be omitted, and/or may be replaced by alternative features. In addition to the features explicitly shown and described, further features may be provided. For example, embodiments discussed herein relate to address assignment to MIPI RFFE devices. Apart from the address assignment described, the MIPI RFFE devices may be implemented in a conventional manner, for example for communication after the address has been assigned and for performing various functions conventionally performed using MIPI devices, for example as power amplifiers, low noise amplifiers, antenna tuners, filters, switches or any other radio frequency devices in case of MIPI RFFE devices.
[0021] Features from various embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments. Variations or modifications described with respect to one of the embodiments may also be applied to other embodiments unless noted otherwise.
[0022] Connections or couplings described herein relate to electrical connections or couplings unless noted otherwise. Such connections or couplings may be modified, for example by adding components or by removing components, as long as the general function of the connection or coupling, for example to provide a certain kind of information, to transmit a voltage and/or current or the like, is essentially maintained.
[0023]
[0024] MIPI device 10 includes a first terminal 13A configured to receive a supply voltage VIO, a fifth terminal 13E configured to receive VSS (or ground), VIO being a supply voltage with respect to VSS, a second terminal 13B configured to receive a MIPI RFFE clock signal SCLK, and a third terminal 13C configured to receive a MIPI RFFE data signal SDATA. Signals SDATA, SCLK are examples for MIPI RFFE signals as used herein.
[0025] Supply voltage VIO supplies components of device 10 with power. Clock signal SCLK and data signal SDATA serve for MIPI data communication, with a MIPI core ii of device 10. MIPI core 11 may receive and transmit data signals via terminal 13C, for example receive commands, clocked by clock signal SCLK, and perform any function device 10 is intended for, for example the functions discussed above like amplifier functions, tuning functions, switching functions etc. This may be implemented in any conventional manner. While MIPI core 11 is coupled to the three terminals 13A-13C, further terminals may be provided in device 10, depending on the function, for example terminals to be coupled to an antenna for tuning, terminals coupled to internal switches of MIPI core 11, terminals for receiving a signal and outputting an amplified signal etc.
[0026] Furthermore, device 10 includes a fourth terminal 13D, which is used for address configuration at start-up of MIPI RFFE device 10. A voltage VSENSE is applied to fourth terminal 13D in embodiments and detected by sense circuitry 12 to determine the address (USID) of device 10 to be used. In embodiments, as explained further below in more detail, VSENSE may take on more than two different levels, for example four different levels, to allow setting of four different addresses via a single terminal, namely fourth terminal 13D.
[0027] External parasitic capacitances C.sub.par and internal parasitic capacitances C.sub.pad related to terminal 13D may influence how far VSENSE reaches a sufficiently stable state at sense circuit 12 to allow reliable sensing. The time until VSENSE is sufficiently stable may also depend on how fast the supply voltage VIO rises at start-up. On the other hand, at start-up, according to the MIPI RFFE standard device 10 should be capable of receiving MIPI RFFE signals, already 120 ns after the supply voltage VIO has reached a predefined threshold value at start-up, such that a fast setting of the address of the device 10 is required. Embodiments as described below allow for a reliable detection and measurement of VSENSE at start-up of the device.
[0028] In embodiments, the timing for detecting voltage VSENSE is based on a MIPI RFFE signal, for example the first MIPI RFFE signal received at terminal 13C after start-up and/or clock signal SCLK received at terminal SCLK. For this timing, MIPI core 11 may give information about a MIPI RFFE signal (at terminal 13B and/or 13C) to sense circuitry 12, such that sense circuit 12 can base its sense timing thereon.
[0029] For example, the start of a sense period for detecting VSENSE, the end of the sense period for detecting VSENSE or both may be based on the MIPI RFFE signal. “Start of sense period” may refer to a point in time where internal nodes of sense circuit 12 are charged to threshold voltages for detecting VSENSE, while an internal sense node is charged to VSENSE. End of the sense period may refer to the point in time where the actual detecting occurs, for example where a voltage at the internal sense node is compared to the threshold voltages, based on which comparison then the address to be set is determined. Various examples for such a timing based on a MIPI RFFE signal received by MIPI RFFE device 10 or other devices according to embodiments will be discussed further below.
[0030]
[0031] At 20, the method includes detecting a voltage at a configuration terminal, like VSENSE at terminal 13D in
[0032] At 21, the method includes setting an address for a MIPI RFFE device like device 10 of
[0033] Next, the detection of VSENSE with a sense timing based on a MIPI RFFE signal according to various embodiments will be described referring to
[0034]
[0035] Sense timings according to different embodiments based on the MIPI RFFE signal including SCLK as illustrated by curve 41 will now be explained referring to
[0036]
[0037] In the embodiment of
[0038] A second sense timing usable in embodiments is shown in
[0039] In
[0040] A third sense timing usable in some embodiments is shown in
[0041] In
[0042] The above discussed sense timing based on the MIPI RFFE signal in
[0043]
[0044] A line 82 in
[0045] The embodiment of
[0046] The on-chip part of
[0047] ESD protection circuitry 81 may also contribute to the capacitance C.sub.pad, for example due to capacitances of diodes or other elements used in the ESD protection circuitry.
[0048] Other than from possibly providing a parasitic capacitance, ESD protection circuitry 81 does essentially not influence the behavior of the device shown in normal operation, i.e. outside ESD or other high voltage elements.
[0049] In the device of
[0050] At this time, transistors 88A, 88B are still switched off.
[0051] With the beginning of the sense period (for example at the SSC bit as indicated by lines 42 in
[0052] The voltage at internal sense node 87 is provided to first inputs of comparators 810A, 810B and 810C. Second inputs of comparators 810A, 810B and 810C are supplied with the threshold voltages VTHU, VTHM and VTHL, respectively. At the end of the sense period (for example at the n-th clock signal in case of
[0053] Decode/latch circuit 812 receives the outputs from comparators 810A, 810B and 810C and outputs an ID value, in this case a 2-bit value, indicating one of four addresses to be used. When the voltage at internal sense node 87 exceeds VTHU, a first value of ID is output, if the voltage is between VTHU and VTHM (for example corresponding to VIO being applied via RE), a second value of ID is output, when the voltage at internal sense node 87 is between VTHM and VTHL (for example configuration node 811 left floating), a third value of ID is output, and when the voltage is below VTHL (for example corresponding to configuration node 811 coupled to VSS), a fourth value of ID is output. In embodiments, this value is latched, i.e. it remains being output irrespective of any changes at the configuration node 811. Based on signal ID, then in this case one of four predefined addresses is used for the MIPI RFFE device 10 of
[0054] The configuration with three parallel comparators of
[0055] Some embodiments are defined by the following examples:
[0056] Example 1. A method of address assigning for a MIPI RFFE device, comprising:
[0057] detecting a voltage at a configuration terminal of the MIPI RFFE device with a timing based on a MIPI RFFE signal received by the MIPI RFFE device, and
[0058] setting the address of the MIPI RFFE device based on the detected voltage.
[0059] Example 2. The method of example 1, wherein detecting the voltage with a timing based on the MIPI RFFE signal includes starting a sense period for detecting the voltage based on a feature of the MIPI RFFE signal.
[0060] Example 3. The method of example 2, wherein the feature is an SSC bit of the MIPI RFFE signal.
[0061] Example 4. The method of example 2 or 3, wherein the sense period ends based on a further feature of the MIPI RFFE signal.
[0062] Example 5. The method of example 4, wherein the further feature is an n-th clock of a MIPI RFFE clock signal.
[0063] Example 6. The method of example 5, wherein “n” is smaller than a minimum length of a MIPI RFFE signal.
[0064] Example 7. The method of example 3 or 4, wherein the sense period ends a predefined time after the feature.
[0065] Example 8. The method of example 1 or 2, wherein detecting the voltage with a timing based on the MIPI RFFE signal includes detecting the voltage in a sense period, wherein the sense period ends at a feature of the MIPI RFFE signal.
[0066] Example 9. The method of example 8, wherein the feature is an n-th clock period of the MIPI RFFE signal.
[0067] Example 10. The method of example 9, wherein “n” is smaller than a minimum length of a MIPI RFFE signal.
[0068] Example 11. The method of any one of examples 8-10, wherein a start of the sense period is based on a rising of a supply voltage at start-up of the MIPI RFFE device.
[0069] Example 12. The method of any one of examples 2-11, wherein the method comprises activating comparator thresholds at the start of the sense period, and enabling a comparator arrangement configured to compare the voltage with the comparator thresholds at the end of the sense period, wherein setting the address based on the detected voltage comprises setting the address based on one or more outputs of the comparator arrangement.
[0070] Example 13. The method of any one of examples 1-12, wherein the MIPI RFFE signal is a first MIPI RFFE signal after start-up of the MIPI RFFE device.
[0071] Example 14. A MIPI RFFE device, including sense circuitry configured to:
[0072] detect a voltage at a configuration terminal of the MIPI RFFE device with a timing based on a MIPI RFFE signal received by the MIPI RFFE device,
[0073] set an address of the MIPI RFFE device based on the detected voltage.
[0074] Example 15. The device of example 14, wherein the device is configured to perform the method of any one of examples 1-13.
[0075] Example 16. The device of example 14 or 15, wherein the sense circuitry is configured to, for detecting the voltage with a timing based on the MIPI RFFE signal, to starting a sense period for detecting the voltage based on a feature of the MIPI RFFE signal.
[0076] Example 17. The device of example 16, wherein the feature is an SSC bit of the MIPI RFFE signal.
[0077] Example 18. The device of example 16 or 17, wherein the sense circuitry is configured to end the sense period based on a further feature of the MIPI RFFE signal.
[0078] Example 19. The device of example 18, wherein the further feature is an n-th clock of a MIPI RFFE clock signal.
[0079] Example 20. The device of example 19, wherein “n” is smaller than a minimum length of a MIPI RFFE signal.
[0080] Example 21. The device of example 16 or 17, wherein the sense circuitry is configured to end the sense period a predefined time after the feature.
[0081] Example 22. The device of any one of examples 14 to 16, wherein the sense circuitry is configured to, for detecting the voltage with a timing based on the MIPI RFFE signal, detect the voltage in a sense period, wherein the sense period ends at a feature of the MIPI RFFE signal.
[0082] Example 23. The device of example 22, wherein the feature is an n-th clock period of the MIPI RFFE signal.
[0083] Example 24. The device of example 23, wherein “n” is smaller than a minimum length of a MIPI RFFE signal.
[0084] Example 25. The device of any one of examples 22-24, wherein the sense circuitry is configured to start the sense period based on a rising of a supply voltage at start-up of the MIPI RFFE device.
[0085] Example 26. The device of any one of examples 16-25, wherein the sense circuitry comprises a comparator arrangement configured to compare the voltage to a plurality of comparator thresholds, wherein the sense circuitry is configured to activate the comparator thresholds at the start of the sense period, and to enable the comparator arrangement at the end of the sense period, and to set the address based on one or more outputs of the comparator arrangement.
[0086] Example 27. The device of any one of examples 14-26, wherein the MIPI RFFE signal is a first MIPI RFFE signal after start-up of the MIPI RFFE device.
[0087] Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a variety of alternate and/or equivalent implementations may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown and described without departing from the scope of the present invention. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the specific embodiments discussed herein. Therefore, it is intended that this invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.