as) United States
`a2) Patent Application Publication (0) Pub. No.: US 2006/0141950 Al
`(43) Pub. Date: Jun. 29, 2006
`
`Kim etal.
`
`US 20060141950A1
`
`(54) METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
`CONTROLLING MIMO SYSTEM USING
`SINGLE SERIAL PROGRAMMING
`INTERFACE
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Hee-seung Kim, Suwon-si (KR);
`Dae-yeon Kim, Suwon-si (KR);
`Weon-kyo Jung, Anyang-si (KR);
`Chong-ouk Kim, Goyang-si (KR)
`
`Correspondence Address:
`SUGHRUE MION, PLLC
`2100 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, N.W.
`SUITE 800
`WASHINGTON, DC 20037 (US)
`
`(73) Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS Co.,
`LTD.
`
`(21) Appl. No.:
`
`11/311,396
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Dec. 20, 2005
`
`(30)
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`Publication Classification
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`HO4B 1/02
`(2006.01)
`HO4AM 1/00
`(2006.01)
`HO4B 7/02
`(52) US. C0.
`cecsccssscsscsssecsteeestensseeee 455/101; 455/550.1
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A methodand apparatus for controlling a multi-input multi-
`output (MIMO)radio frequency (RF) transceiver having a
`plurality of RF blocks using a single serial programming
`interface (SPI) are provided. The MIMOsystem includes: a
`MIMOtransceiver, having one or more input and output
`units and a serial interface conversion unit controlling the
`input and output units; and a controller, which controls the
`MIMOtransceiver. The serial
`interface conversion unit
`
`receives control data from the controller via a serial pro-
`gramming interface (SPI), decodes the received control data
`to have a format appropriate for controlling the input and
`output units, and encodes data received from the input and
`output units to be compatible with the SPI. Accordingly, it
`is possible to realize a small-sized MIMO system having a
`simple structure and to reduce the probability of errors
`occurring in the process of controlling a plurality of RF
`
`Dec. 24, 2004
`
`(KR) vnc eeceeceesseecenes 10-2004-0112240
`
`blocks of the MIMOsystem.
`
`APPLE 1028
`APPLE 1028
`
`1
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Jun. 29
`
`, 2006 Sheet 1 of 3
`
`US 2006/0141950 Al
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`Patent Application Publication Jun. 29,2006 Sheet 2 of 3
`
`US 2006/0141950 Al
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`

`Patent Application Publication Jun. 29,2006 Sheet 3 of 3
`
`US 2006/0141950 Al
`
`FIG. 4
`
`RECEIVE CONTROL SIGNALS VIA SERIAL |
`PROGRAMMING INTERFACE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`DECODE RECEIVED CONTROL SIGNALS
`
`TRANSMIT DECODED CONTROL SIGNALS
`IN MIMO CONTROL SIGNAL FORMAT
`
`
`
`$410
`
`$420
`
`$430
`
`4
`
`

`

`US 2006/0141950 Al
`
`Jun. 29, 2006
`
`METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING
`MIMO SYSTEM USING SINGLE SERIAL
`PROGRAMMING INTERFACE
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean
`Patent Application No. 10-2004-0112240, filed on Dec. 24,
`2004, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclo-
`sure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by
`reference.
`
`[0002]
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`
`invention relates to a multi-input
`[0003] The present
`multi-output (MIMO) system, and more particularly, to a
`method and apparatus for controlling each radio frequency
`(RF) block of a MIMO RFtransceiver, which is used in
`wireless communications, using a single serial programming
`interface (SPI).
`
`[0004]
`
`2. Description of the Related Art
`
`[0005] The commercialization of wireless communica-
`tions has enabled wireless transmissions of multimedia data
`as well as audio data. Since multimedia data is much larger
`than audio data, the transmission of multimedia data in real
`time requires a transceiver to have a sufficiently high effec-
`tive data throughput. In order to improve effective data
`throughputs, multi-input multi-output (MIMO)radio fre-
`quency (RF) systems have been developed.
`
`[0006] A conventional MIMO RFsystem includes a plu-
`rality of RF blocks respectively corresponding to pairs of
`input and output ports. Each of the RF blocks includes a
`serial programming interface (SPI) and thus is controllable
`by an external central processing unit (CPU)or a controller
`using the SPI.
`
`In order to control the RF blocks, however, even
`[0007]
`the same commandshould be separately transmitted to all of
`the RF blocks via the respective SPIs. Thus, the conven-
`tional MIMO RFsystem unnecessarily occupies a large area
`and has a considerable numberofsignal lines.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0008] The present invention provides a method and appa-
`ratus for controlling a multi-input multi-output (MIMO)
`system using a single serial programming interface (SPI),
`into which a plurality of SPIs for controlling a plurality of
`radio frequency (RF) blocks of the MIMO system are
`integrated. The method and apparatus can controlall of the
`RFblocksat the same time or can separately control the RF
`blocks from one another using the single SPI.
`
`[0009] According to an aspect of the present invention,
`there is provided a multi-input multi-output (MIMO)sys-
`tem. The MIMO system includes: a MIMOtransceiver,
`which comprises one or more input and output units and a
`serial interface conversion unit controlling the input and
`output units; and a controller, which controls the MIMO
`transceiver. The serial
`interface conversion unit receives
`control data from the controller via a serial programming
`interface (SPI), decodes the received control data to have a
`format appropriate for controlling the input and output units,
`and encodes data received from the input and outputunits to
`be compatible with the SPI.
`
`[0010] The format into which theserial interface conver-
`sion unit decodes the control data received from the con-
`
`troller, may include: a data field, which contains data nec-
`essary for controlling the input and output units; an address
`field, which contains a plurality of addresses allotted to a
`plurality of registers for controlling the input and output
`units; a device identification (ID) field, which identifies the
`input and output units; and a read or write (R/W)flag, which
`specifies whether the MIMOtransceiveris in a read mode or
`in a write mode.
`
`[0011] The device ID field may be comprised of as many
`bits as there are input and output units in the MIMO
`transceiver, the bits may respectively correspondto the input
`and output units of the MIMOtransceiver, and thus, if the
`bits of the device ID field are activated, data may be
`transmitted to the respective input and output units.
`
`[0012] According to another aspect of the present inven-
`tion, there is provided a method of controlling a MIMO
`system having one or more input and output units. The
`method includes: receiving control data via a serial pro-
`gramminginterface (SPI); and decoding the received control
`data to have a format appropriate for controlling the input
`and output units.
`
`[0013] According to another aspect of the present inven-
`tion,
`there is provided a data storage medium storing a
`format of control data used for controlling a plurality of
`input and output units of a MIMOsystem. The control data
`format includes: a data field, which contains data necessary
`for controlling the input and output units; an address field,
`which contains a plurality of addresses allotted to a plurality
`of registers for controlling the input and output units; a
`device identification (ID) field, which identifies the input
`and output units; and a read or write (R/W) flag, which
`specifies whether the MIMOsystem is in a read mode or in
`a write mode.
`
`[0014] The device ID field may be comprised of as many
`bits as there are input and output units in the MIMOsystem,
`the bits may respectively correspondto the input and output
`units of the MIMOsystem, and thus, if the bits of the device
`ID field are activated, data may be transmitted to the
`respective input and output units.
`
`{0015] The input and output units may be radio frequency
`(RF) blocks, and the MIMO system may be an RFtrans-
`ceiver having a plurality of RF blocks.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`[0016] The above and other features and advantagesof the
`present invention will become more apparent by describing
`in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to
`the attached drawings in which:
`
`[0017] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a multi-input multi-
`output (MIMO)radio frequency (RF) transceiver having a
`single serial programming interface (SPI) unit, according to
`an exemplary embodimentof the present invention;
`
`[0018] FIG.2 is a diagram illustrating the format of serial
`data used for controlling a plurality of RF blocks of the
`MIMORFtransceiver of FIG. 1;
`
`[0019] FIG.3 is a timing diagram illustrating serial inter-
`face signals used for controlling the MIMO RF transceiver
`of FIG. 1; and
`
`5
`
`

`

`US 2006/0141950 Al
`
`Jun. 29, 2006
`
`FIG.4 is a flowchart of a method of controlling a
`[0020]
`MIMO RFtransceiver according to an exemplary embodi-
`ment of the present invention.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY
`EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0021] The present invention will now be described more
`fully with reference to the accompanying drawings in which
`exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown.
`
`FIG.1 is a block diagram of a multi-input multi-
`[0022]
`output radio frequency (RF) transceiver 100 having a single
`serial programming interface (SPI) unit, according to an
`exemplary embodimentof the present invention. Referring
`to FIG. 1, the MIMO RF transceiver 100 includesa plurality
`of transmitters and receivers having NxN or (N-1)xN
`transmission and reception channels.
`
`[0023] The MIMO RFtransceiver 100 is controlled by a
`controller 110. The controller 110 transmits a command used
`
`for controlling the MIMO RFtransceiver 100 to the MIMO
`RFtransceiver 100 via a single SPI. The single SPI is an
`interface, such as 12C or RS232, which transmits data in
`series in synchronization with a clock signal. The format of
`the commandusedfor controlling the MIMO RFtransceiver
`100 will be described in detail later with reference to FIG.
`2. The controller 110 and the MIMORFtransceiver 100 are
`
`
`
`connected to each other by a clock signal (Clock), data
`(Data), and a serial enable signal (SEN). Specifically, a serial
`interface conversion unit 102 included in the MIMO RF
`
`transceiver 100 decodes the clock signal (Clock), the data
`(Data), and the serial enable signal (SEN)received from the
`controller 110 into Address[1:0], Data[m:0], and Enable,
`respectively, which are used for controlling a plurality of RF
`blocks 106-1 through 106-7 of the MIMO RFtransceiver
`100, and encodes signals received from the RF blocks 106-1
`through 106-7 and then transmits the encodedsignals to the
`controller 110. The serial interface conversion unit 102 is
`also called an SPI decoder/encoder.
`
`[0024] The SPI decoder/encoder 102 outputs enable sig-
`nals enable-1 through enable-n, which are used for deter-
`mining to which one of the RF blocks 106-1 through 106-z
`the data (Data) received from the controller 110 is to be
`transmitted. In addition, the SPI decoder/encoder 102 out-
`puts Address[1:0] and Data[m:0] in order to transmit the
`received data to a plurality of RF registers 104-1 through
`104-7. The RF registers 104-1 through 104-z store register
`values used for controlling the respective RF blocks 106-1
`through 106-7.
`
`[0025] The RFregisters 104-1 through 104-n receive the
`data (Data) from the SPI decoder/encoder 102 andstore the
`received data (Data) therein and transmit a control command
`to the respective RF blocks 106-1 through 106-n if the
`enable signals enable-1 through enable-n allotted thereto are
`activated. The RF blocks 106-1 through 106-72 may be
`typical RF blocks comprised of analog circuits. The present
`invention has been described above as being applicable to a
`MIMO RFtransceiver having a plurality of RF blocks.
`However, the present invention is also applicable to a MIMO
`multimedia data processor having a plurality of audio or
`video processors by installing theserial interface conversion
`unit 102 in the MIMO multimedia processor.
`
`FIG.2 is a diagram illustrating the format ofserial
`[0026]
`data used for controlling the RF blocks 106-1 through 106-7
`
`of the MIMO FFtransceiver 100 of FIG.1, and particularly,
`the format of the data (Data) of FIG. 1. Referring to FIG.
`2, the data (Data) is serial data and includes a data field 210,
`an address field 220, a device identification (ID) field 230,
`and a read or write (R/W) flag 240. The data field 210
`contains data used for controlling the RF blocks 106-1
`through 106-2 of the MIMO RFtransceiver 100. The
`address field 220 contains a plurality of addresses allocated
`to the RF registers 104-1 through 104- for controlling the
`RF blocks 106-1 through 106-7.
`[0027] The device ID field 230 contains data designating
`one of the RF blocks 106-1 through 106-2 to which the data
`(Data) is to be transmitted. For example, if the MIMO RF
`transceiver 100 has a 3x3 structure and the device ID field
`230 is set to a value of ‘101’, the first and third RF blocks
`106-1 and 106-3 are activated, and the data (Data)
`is
`transmitted to the activated first and third RF blocks 106-1
`and 106-3. The R/W flag 240 specifies whether the MIMO
`RFtransceiver 100 is in a read modeorin a write mode. For
`example, if the R/W flag 240 specifies that the MIMO RF
`transceiver 100 is in a read mode,
`the data (Data) is
`transmitted from the controller 110 to the MIMO RFtrans-
`
`ceiver 100. If the R/W flag 240 specifies that the MIMO RF
`transceiver 100 is in a write mode,
`the data (Data) is
`transmitted from the MIMO RFtransceiver 100 to the
`controller 110.
`
`[0028] FIG.3 is a timing diagram illustrating serial inter-
`face signals used for controlling the MIMO RF transceiver
`100 of FIG.1, i.¢., data (Data) (310), a clock signal (Clock)
`(320), and a serial enable signal (SEN) (330). Referring to
`FIG.3, the data (Data) (310) is output in synchronization
`with the clock signal (Clock) (320). If the serial enable
`signal
`(SEN)
`(330)
`is enabled,
`the data (Data)
`(310)
`becomes valid. In other words, if the serial enable signal
`(SEN) (330) is enabled, the SPI decoder/encoder 102 reads
`the data (Data) (310) in synchronization with the clock
`signal (Clock) (320) and then decodes the read data (Data)
`(310) to have the format of FIG.2.
`[0029] FIG.4 is a flowchart of a method of controlling a
`MIMORFtransceiver according to an exemplary embodi-
`ment of the present invention. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4,
`in operation S410, control signals, 1.e., the data (Data) (310),
`the clock signal (Clock) (320), and the serial enable signal
`(SEN) (330) of FIG.3, are received from the controller 110
`via an SPI. In operation S420, the received control signals
`are decodedinto a plurality of signals for controlling the RF
`blocks 106-1 through 106-7,
`i.c., control data having the
`format of FIG.2, and a plurality of addresses allotted to the
`RFregisters 104-1 through 104-7 and data are transmitted in
`response to an enable signal (operation S430). In a case
`where there is data to be transmitted from the RF blocks
`
`106-1 through 106-7 to the controller 110, the SPI decoder/
`encoder 102 receives the data from the RF blocks 106-1
`
`through 106-7 and encodes the received data as data (Data),
`a clock signal (Clock), and a serial enable signal (SEN) and
`then transmits the data (Data), the clock signal (Clock), and
`the serial enable signal (SEN)to the controller 110. Various
`types of MIMOsystems other than a MIMO RFtransceiver
`having a plurality of RF blocks can also be controlled using
`the method of controlling a MIMO RFtransceiver according
`to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
`[0030] The methodof controlling a MIMO RFtransceiver
`according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
`
`6
`
`

`

`US 2006/0141950 Al
`
`Jun. 29, 2006
`
`invention can be written as a computer program. Codes and
`code segments of the computer program are deductible by
`one of ordinary skill in the art. In addition, the computer
`program is stored in a computer-readable storage medium
`and is readable and executable by a computer in such a
`mannerthat realizes the method of controlling a MIMO RF
`transceiver according to an exemplary embodiment of the
`present invention. Examples of the computer-readable stor-
`age medium include a magnetic recording medium, an
`optical recording medium, and a carrier wave medium.
`
`[0031] As described above, according to the present
`invention, it is possible to control all of a plurality of RF
`blocks of a MIMO RFtransceiverat the same time or control
`
`the RF blocks separately from one another by using a single
`SPI decoder/encoder. In addition, it is possible to realize
`various types of MIMO RFtransceivers, e.g., 2x3, 3x3, or
`3x4 MIMOtransceivers. Moreover, it is possible to realize
`small-sized MIMOtransceivers having a simple structure
`and to reduce the probability of errors occurring in the
`process of controlling the RF blocks by using the single SPI
`decoder/encoder.
`
`[0032] While the present invention has been particularly
`shown and described with reference to exemplary embodi-
`ments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary
`skill in the art that various changes in form and details may
`be madetherein without departing from the spirit and scope
`of the present invention as defined by the following claims.
`
`Whatis claimed is:
`
`1. A multi-input multi-output (MIMO) system compris-
`ing:
`
`a MIMOtransceiver, which comprises one or more input
`and output units and a serial interface conversion unit
`controlling the input and output units; and
`
`a controller, which controls the MIMOtransceiver,
`wherein theserial interface conversion unit receives con-
`
`trol data from the controller via a serial programming
`interface (SPI), decodes the received control data to
`comprise a format appropriate for controlling the input
`and output units, and encodes data received from the
`input and output units to be compatible with the SPI.
`2. The MIMOsystem of claim 1, wherein the input and
`output units are radio frequency (RF) blocks, and the MIMO
`transceiver is an RF transceiver comprising a plurality of RF
`blocks.
`
`3. The MIMOsystemof claim 1, wherein the input and
`output units are audio processors or video processors, and
`the MIMOtransceiver is a multimedia data processor com-
`prising a plurality of audio processors or a plurality of video
`processors.
`4. The MIMOsystem of claim 1, wherein the format into
`which the serial interface conversion unit decodes the con-
`trol data received from the controller, comprises:
`
`a read or write (R/W) flag, which specifies whether the
`MIMOtransceiveris in a read modeorin a write mode.
`
`5. The MIMOsystem of claim 4, wherein the device ID
`field is comprised of as many bits as there are input and
`output units in the MIMOtransceiver, the bits respectively
`correspond to the input and output units of the MIMO
`transceiver, and if the bits of the device ID field are
`activated, data is transmitted to the respective input and
`output units.
`6. The MIMOsystem of claim 1, wherein the control data
`received by the SPI comprises a clock signal, a data signal,
`which is transmitted from the controller to the MIMO
`
`transceiver in synchronization with the clock signal, and an
`enable signal, which is used for determining to which input
`and output units of the MIMOtransceiver the data signalis
`to be transmitted.
`
`7. A methodof controlling a MIMOsystem having one or
`more input and output units, the method comprising:
`
`receiving control data via a serial programming interface
`(SPI); and
`
`decoding the received control data to comprise a format
`appropriate for controlling the input and output units.
`8. The method of claim 7, further comprising encoding
`data received from one of the input and output units to be
`compatible with the SPI.
`9. The method of claim 7, wherein the control data
`received by the SPI comprises a clock signal, a data signal,
`which is transmitted in synchronization with the clock
`signal, and an enable signal, which is used for determining
`to which input and output units of the MIMOtransceiver the
`data signal is to be transmitted.
`10. The method of claim 7, wherein the format into which
`the received control data is decoded, comprises:
`
`a data field, which comprises data necessary for control-
`ling the input and output units;
`
`an address field, which comprises a plurality of addresses
`allotted to a plurality of registers for controlling the
`input and output units;
`
`a device identification (ID) field, which identifies the
`input and output units; and
`
`a read or write (R/W) flag, which specifies whether the
`MIMOtransceiveris in a read modeorin a write mode.
`
`11. The method of claim 10, wherein the device ID field
`is comprised of as many bits as there are input and output
`units in the MIMOtransceiver, the bits respectively corre-
`spondto the input and output units of the MIMOtransceiver,
`and if the bits of the device ID field are activated, data is
`transmitted to the respective input and output units.
`12. A data storage medium storing a format of control data
`used for controlling one or more input and output units of a
`MIMOsystem, the control data format comprising:
`
`a data field, which comprises data necessary for control-
`ling the input and output units;
`
`a data field, which comprises data necessary for control-
`ling the input and output units;
`
`an address field, which comprisesa plurality of addresses
`allotted to a plurality of registers for controlling the
`input and output units;
`
`an address field, which comprises a plurality of addresses
`allotted to a plurality of registers for controlling the
`input and output units;
`
`a device identification (ID) field, which identifies the
`input and output units; and
`
`a device identification (ID) field, which identifies the
`input and output units; and
`
`7
`
`

`

`US 2006/0141950 Al
`
`Jun. 29, 2006
`
`a read or write (R/W) flag, which specifies whether the
`MIMOsystem is in a read mode or in a write mode.
`13. The data storage medium of claim 12, wherein the
`device ID field is comprised of as many bits as there are
`input and output units in the MIMO system,the bits respec-
`tively correspondto the input and output units of the MIMO
`system, and if the bits of the device ID field are activated,
`data is transmitted to the respective input and output units.
`
`14. The data storage medium of claim 12, wherein the
`input and output units are radio frequency (RF) blocks, and
`the MIMOsystem is an RF transceiver comprising a plu-
`rality of RF blocks.
`15. A computer-readable data storage medium storing a
`computer program for executing the method of claim 7.
`*
`*
`*
`*
`*
`
`8
`
`