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Mobile Phone Patent Abstract
A method and apparatus is provided to simultaneously perform a TV
reception function and a calling function in a multimode mobile
phone supporting two or more communication services. The apparatus
comprises a first RF switch separating a received signal into N
communication services; M diplexers associated with the communication
services, for separating a signal received from the first RF switch
into a call signal and a TV signal; a second RF switch for applying
the TV signal received from the diplexers to a TV tuner; and a controller
for controlling an overall operation of the multimode mobile phone
and controlling the first RF switch and the second RF switch according
to the received signal.
Mobile Phone Patent Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An apparatus for simultaneously performing a TV reception function
and a calling function in a multimode mobile phone supporting two
or more communication services, comprising: a first Radio Frequency
(RF) switch for separating a received signal into N communication
services, where N.gtoreq.3; M diplexers associated with the communication
services, for separating a signal received from the first RF switch
into a call signal and a TV signal, where M.gtoreq.2; a second RF
switch for applying the TV signal received from the diplexers to
a TV tuner; and a controller for controlling an overall operation
of the multimode mobile phone and controlling the first RF switch
and the second RF switch according to the received signal.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first RF switch includes
one input port, N output ports, and N control ports.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second RF switch includes
one input port, M output ports associated with the diplexers, and
M control ports.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication services
comprises at least one of a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA)
service, a Personal Communications Service (PCS) service and a Global
Positioning System (GPS) service.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the TV signal comprises an
audio and video signal.
6. An apparatus for simultaneously performing a TV reception function
and a calling function in a tri-mode mobile phone capable of supporting
a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) service, a Personal Communications
Service (PCS) service and a Global Positioning System (GPS) service,
the apparatus comprising: a first Radio Frequency (RF) switch for
switching a received signal to a first diplexer, a second diplexer
or a GPS RF switch; the first diplexer for separating a signal received
via the first RF switch into a PCS signal and a TV signal; the second
diplexer for separating a signal received via the first RF switch
into a CDMA signal and a TV signal; and a second RF switch for switching
the TV signal from the first diplexer and the second diplexer to
a TV tuner.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first RF switch includes
one input port, three output ports, and three control ports.
8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the second RF switch includes
one input port, two output ports, and two control ports.
9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein in a PCS mode, the first RF
switch is switched to the first diplexer; the first diplexer applies
a signal received from the first RF switch to a PCS duplexer if
the received signal is a PCS signal, and applies the received signal
to a TV tuner via the second RF switch if the received signal is
a TV signal; and the second RF switch is switched to the first diplexer
and applies the received TV signal to the TV tuner.
10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein in a CDMA mode, the first
RF switch is switched to the second diplexer; the second diplexer
applies a signal received from the first RF switch to a CDMA duplexer
if the received signal is a CDMA signal, and applies the received
signal to a TV tuner via the second RF switch if the received signal
is a TV signal; and the second RF switch is switched to the second
diplexer and applies the received TV signal to the TV tuner.
11. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein in a GPS mode, the first
RF switch is switched to a GPS RF switch.
12. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the TV signal comprises a
video signal and an audio signal.
13. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the TV signal can be viewed
and listened to via a screen and speaker of the tri-mode mobile
phone.
14. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the tuner selectively selects
a channel from the TV signal.
15. A method for simultaneously performing a TV reception function
and a calling function in a multimode mobile phone supporting two
or more communication services, comprising the steps of: separating
a received signal into a corresponding communication services using
a Radio Frequency (RF) switch; separating the communication services
using diplexers into a call signal and a TV signal, and performing
at least one of a calling function and a TV reception function.
16. The method of claim 15, further comprising: enabling watching
of TV on the multimode mobile phone when a phone call is not in
session.
17. The method of claim 15, wherein the calling function and the
TV reception function are simultaneously performed by receiving
the call signal and the TV signal.
18. A method for simultaneously performing a TV reception function
and a calling function in a tri-mode mobile phone including a first
Radio Frequency (RF) switch for switching a received signal to a
first diplexer, a second diplexer or a GPS RF switch, the first
diplexer for separating a signal received from the first RF switch
into a PCS signal and a TV signal, the second diplexer for separating
a signal received from the first RF switch into a CDMA signal and
a TV signal, and a second RF switch for switching the TV signal
from the first and second diplexers to a TV tuner, the tri-mode
mobile phone being capable of supporting a Code Division Multiple
Access (CCDMA) service, a Personal Communications Service (PCS)
service and a Global Positioning System (GPS) service, the method
comprising the steps of: receiving a signal in a PCS mode of the
tri-mode mobile phone; if the received signal is a PCS signal, applying
the PCS signal to a PCS duplexer via the first diplexer to perform
a calling function; and if the received signal is a TV signal, applying
the TV signal to the TV tuner via the first diplexer and the second
RF switch to perform a TV reception function.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein in a PCS mode, the first and
second RF switches are switched to the first diplexer.
20. The method of claim 18, wherein the calling function and the
TV reception functions are simultaneously performed by receiving
the PCS signal and the TV signal.
21. A method for simultaneously performing a TV reception function
and a calling function in a tri-mode mobile phone including a first
Radio Frequency (RF) switch for switching a received signal to a
first diplexer, a second diplexer or a GPS RF switch, the first
diplexer for separating a signal received from the first RF switch
into a PCS signal and a TV signal, the second diplexer for separating
a signal received from the first RF switch into a CDMA signal and
a TV signal, and a second RF switch for switching the TV signal
from the first and second diplexers to a TV tuner, the tri-mode
mobile phone being capable of supporting a Code Division Multiple
Access (CDMA) service, a Personal Communications Service (PCS) service
and a Global Positioning System (GPS) service, the method comprising
the steps of: receiving a signal in a CDMA mode of the tri-mode
mobile phone; if the received signal is a CDMA signal, applying
the CDMA signal to a CDMA duplexer via the second diplexer to perform
a calling function; and if the received signal is a TV signal, applying
the TV signal to the TV tuner via the second diplexer and the second
RF switch to perform a TV reception function.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein in a CDMA mode, the first and
second RF switches are switched to the second diplexer.
23. The method of claim 21, wherein the calling function and the
TV reception functions are simultaneously performed by receiving
the CDMA signal and the TV signal.
24. The method of claim 21, wherein the TV signal comprises an
audio and video signal.
Mobile Phone Patent Description
PRIORITY
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 119 to
an application entitled "Apparatus and Method for Simultaneously
Performing TV Reception Function and Calling Function in a Mobile
Phone" filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on
Apr. 22, 2003 and assigned Ser. No. 2003-25429, the contents of
which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a mobile terminal such
as a mobile phone, and in particular, to an apparatus and method
for simultaneously performing a Television (TV) reception function
and a calling function in a mobile phone capable of supporting two
or more communication services.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a mobile phone supporting Personal Communications Service
(PCS) technology, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) technology
and Global Positioning System (GPS) is called a "tri-mode phone,"
and can provide a mobile communication service in different modes.
In the tri-mode phone, currently available communication services
are classified into a CDMA service having a frequency band of 824
MHz to 894 MHz, a GPS service having a frequency band of 1575.42
MHz, and a PCS service having a frequency band of 1851 MHz to 1989
MHz. A transceiver circuit is included in the tri-mode phone to
provide these services.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a transceiver
circuit of a conventional tri-mode phone, which separates a GPS
signal and a CDMA signal using a diplexer. As illustrated in FIG.
1, the transceiver circuit of a tri-mode phone supporting the CDMA,
GPS and PCS services includes first and second GPS band filters
1a and 1b for filtering a GPS band frequency, a GPS band low-nose-amplifier
2 for amplifying the filtered GPS band frequency, a GPS band frequency-down
mixer 3, a digital demodulation Integrated Circuit (IC) 4 for reception,
a duplexer 5 for separation of a transmission signal and a reception
signal, a CDMA band low-noise amplifier 6, a CDMA reception band
filter 7, a CDMA band frequency-down mixer 8, a phase locked loop
(PLL) circuit 9 for synthesis of a GPS band local frequency signal
and a CDMA band local frequency signal, a digital modulation IC
10 for transmission, a CDMA band frequency-up mixer 11, a CDMA band
output amplifier 12, a CDMA transmission band filter 13, and a CDMA
band high-power amplifier 14. In addition, the tri-mode phone includes
a diplexer 31, an antenna matching circuit 32, and an antenna 20
having two frequency band characteristics of GPS and CDMA. A separate
antenna must be added to the tri-mode phone in order to enable the
phone to perform a TV reception function. However, the addition
of a separate antenna increases a size of the product and impairs
its external appearance. Accordingly, there is a demand for a tri-mode
phone capable of enabling a user to talk on the phone while watching
TV without the addition of a separate antenna.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide
an apparatus and method for simultaneously performing a TV reception
function and a calling function in a mobile phone providing two
or more communication services.
To achieve the above and other objects, there is provided an apparatus
for simultaneously performing a TV reception function and a calling
function in a multimode mobile phone supporting two or more communication
services. The apparatus comprises a first Radio Frequency (RF) switch
for separating a received signal into N communication services;
M diplexers associated with the communication services, for separating
a signal received from the first RF switch into a call signal and
a TV signal; a second RF switch for applying the TV signal received
from the diplexers to a TV tuner; and a controller for controlling
an overall operation of the multimode mobile phone and controlling
the first RF switch and the second RF switch according to the received
signal.
To achieve the above and other objects, there is provided a method
for simultaneously performing a TV reception function and a calling
function in a multimode mobile phone supporting two or more communication
services. The method comprises the steps of separating a received
signal into a corresponding communication service; separating the
communication service into a call signal and a TV signal, and performing
a calling function or a TV reception function.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present
invention will become more apparent from the following detailed
description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings
in which:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a tri-mode
phone according to the prior art;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a tri-mode
phone according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3A is a block diagram illustrating an example of a detailed
structure of the first RF switch in FIG. 2 according to an embodiment
of the present invention;
FIG. 3B is a block diagram illustrating an example of a detailed
structure of the second RF switch in FIG. 2 according to an embodiment
of the present invention;
FIG. 4A is a graph illustrating an example of insertion loss of
the first diplexer in FIG. 2 according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
FIG. 4B is a graph illustrating an example of insertion loss of
the second diplexer in FIG. 2 according to an embodiment of the
present invention;
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure for
simultaneously performing a TV reception function and a calling
function in a PCS mode in a tri-mode phone according to an embodiment
of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure for
simultaneously performing a TV reception function and a calling
function in a CDMA mode in a tri-mode phone according to an embodiment
of the present invention;
FIG. 7A is a graph illustrating an example of insertion loss occurring
in a PCS mode of FIG. 5 according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
FIG. 7B is a graph illustrating an example of insertion loss occurring
in a CDMA mode of FIG. 6 according to an embodiment of the present
invention; and
FIG. 7C is a graph illustrating an example of insertion loss occurring
in a GPS mode according to an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
An embodiment of the present invention will now be described in
detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following
description, a detailed description of known functions and configurations
has been omitted for conciseness.
In the following description, specific details such as the type
of RF switch and a signal separated by a diplexer are provided to
give a better understanding of the invention. However, the embodiment
of the present invention should not be limited to the specific examples
disclosed herein. Thus, it would be apparent to those skilled in
the art that the invention can be implemented without the specific
details or through a modification thereof.
Although an embodiment of the present invention will be described
herein with reference to a tri-mode phone capable of supporting
Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Personal Communications Service
(PCS), and Global Positioning System (GPS) services, the embodiments
of the invention can be applied to a multimode mobile phone supporting
various communication services including a Global System for Mobile
communication (GSM) service as well as the CDMA, PCS and GPS services.
In the embodiment of the present invention, it will be assumed that
a calling function is performed when a PCS signal is received at
a PCS duplexer in a PCS mode, and also the calling function is performed
when a CDMA signal is received at a CDMA duplexer in a CDMA mode.
In addition, it will be assumed that a GPS function is performed
when a GPS signal is received at a GPS RF switch in a GPS mode,
and a TV reception function is performed when a TV signal is received
at a TV tuner. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the
art that the TV signal comprises an audio and video signal, and
a tuner which will be described below can selectively tune to a
particular channel.
An embodiment of the present invention will now be described in
detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a structure
of a tri-mode phone according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIGS. 4A and 4B are graphs illustrating examples of insertion losses
of the first and second diplexers in FIG. 2, respectively according
to embodiments of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 2, a first Radio Frequency (RF) switch 110 is
a single-pole-three-throw (SP3T) type switching circuit having one
input port P1, three output ports P2, P3 and P4, and three control
ports Vc1, Vc2 and Vc3. In the first RF switch 110, the input port
P1 is connected to an antenna 100, and the output ports P2, P3 and
P4 are connected to a first diplexer 120, a second diplexer 130,
and a GPS RF switch 140, respectively. The control ports Vc1, Vc2
and Vc3 are controlled by a controller 190. When only the control
port Vc1 is provided with a `High` signal while the other control
ports Vc2 and Vc3 are provided with a `Low` signal, the input port
P1 is switched to the output port P2 connected to the first diplexer
120. When only the control port Vc2 is provided with a `High` signal
while the other control ports Vc1 and Vc3 are provided with a `Low`
signal, the input port P1 is switched to the output port P3 connected
to the second diplexer 130. In addition, when only the control port
Vc3 is provided with a `High` signal while the other control ports
Vc1 and Vc2 are provided with a `Low` signal, the input port P1
is switched to the output port P4 connected to the GPS RF switch
140.
An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with
reference to FIG. 3A. FIG. 3A is a block diagram illustrating an
example of a detailed structure of the first RF switch in FIG. 2
according to an embodiment of the present invention Specifically,
FIG. 3A shows a detailed structure of the SP3T-type first RF switch
110 having one input port P1, three output ports P2 to P4, and three
control ports Vc1, Vc2 and Vc3.
Referring to FIG. 2, the first diplexer 120 separates a received
RF signal. Specifically, in an embodiment of the present invention,
the first diplexer 120 separates a PCS signal assigned a frequency
of 1851 to 1989 MHz and a TV signal assigned a frequency of 50 to
700 MHz, and is comprised of a low-pass filter and a high-pass filter.
When the tri-mode phone is set to a PCS mode, a signal received
from the antenna 100 is switched to the first diplexer 120 by the
first RF switch 110 and then separated by the first diplexer 120.
If the separated signal is a PCS signal, the PCS signal is applied
to a PCS duplexer 150 to perform a calling function, and if the
separated signal is a TV signal, the TV signal is applied to a TV
tuner 180 via a second RF switch 160 to perform a TV reception function.
The TV reception function can include enabling black and white or
color TV viewing on a mobile phone. As is known, the tuner 180 is
used to select a desired channel and to scan channels. Referring
to FIG. 4A, insertion loss occurring in the first diplexer 120 is
used to separate a PCS signal and a TV signal. As shown in FIG.
4A m1 and m2 represent insertion loss of a TV band signal, and m3
and m4 represent insertion loss of a PCS band signal. It is noted
from FIG. 4A that the first diplexer 120 used for separation of
a PCS signal and a TV signal has low insertion loss.
Referring to FIG. 2, the second diplexer 130 separates a received
RF signal. In the embodiment of the present invention, the second
diplexer 130 separates a CDMA signal assigned a frequency of 824
to 894 MHz and a TV signal assigned a frequency of 50 to 700 MHz,
and is comprised of a low-pass filter and a high-pass filter. When
the tri-mode phone is set to a CDMA mode, a signal received from
the antenna 100 is switched to the second diplexer 130 by the first
RF switch 110, and the second diplexer 130 separates the received
signal and the received signal is then separated by the second diplexer
130. If the separated signal is a CDMA signal, the CDMA signal is
applied to a CDMA duplexer 170 for separation of a transmission
signal and a reception signal to perform a calling function. If
the separated signal is a TV signal, the TV signal is applied to
the TV tuner 180 via the second RF switch 160 to perform a TV reception
function. Shown in FIG. 4B is insertion loss occurring in the second
diplexer 130 used for separation of a CDMA signal and a TV signal.
In FIG. 4B, M1 represents insertion loss of a TV band signal, and
M2 represents insertion loss of a CDMA band signal. It is noted
from FIG. 4B that the second diplexer 130 used for separation of
a CDMA signal, and a TV signal has low insertion loss.
The second RF switch 160 is a single-pole-double-throw (SPDT) type
switching circuit having one input port P5, two output ports P6
and P7, and two control ports Vctrl1 and Vctrl2. In the second RF
switch 160, the input port P5 is connected to the TV tuner 180,
and the output ports P6 and P7 are connected to the first diplexer
120 and the second diplexer 130, respectively. The control ports
Vctrl1 and Vctrl2 are controlled by the controller 190. When the
control port Vctrl1 is provided with a `High` signal while the other
control port Vctrl2 is provided with a `Low` signal, the input port
P5 is switched to the output port P6 connected to the first diplexer
120. In contrast, when the control port Vctrl2 is provided with
a `High` signal while the other control port Vctrl1 is provided
with a `Low` signal, the input port P5 is switched to the output
port P7 connected to the second diplexer 130.
An embodiment of the invention will now be discussed with reference
to FIG. 3B. FIG. 3B is a block diagram illustrating an example of
a detailed structure of the second RF switch in FIG. 2 according
to an embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, FIG. 3B
is a detailed structure of the SPDT-type second RF switch 160 having
one input port P5, two output ports P6 and P7, and two control ports
Vctrl1 and Vctrl2.
Referring to FIG. 2, the controller 190 controls the overall operation
of the tri-mode phone. According to an embodiment of the present
invention, if the tri-mode phone is set to a PCS mode, the controller
190 sets the control port Vc1 of the first RF switch 110 to `High`
and sets the other control ports Vc2 and Vc3 to `Low` so that the
first RF switch 110 is switched to the first diplexer 120. In addition,
the controller 190 sets the control port Vctrl1 of the second RF
switch 160 to `High` and sets the other control port Vctrl2 to `Low`
so that the second RF switch 160 is switched to the first diplexer
120.
If the tri-mode phone is set to a CDMA mode, the controller 190
sets the control port Vc2 of the first RF switch 110 to `High` and
sets the other control ports Vc1 and Vc3 to `Low` so that the first
RF switch 110 is switched to the second diplexer 130. In addition,
the controller 190 sets the control port Vctrl2 of the second RF
switch 160 to `High` and sets the other control port Vctrl1 to `Low`
so that the second RF switch 160 is switched to the second diplexer
130. If the tri-mode phone is set to a GPS mode, the controller
190 sets the control port Vc3 of the first RF switch 110 to `High`
and sets the other control ports Vc1 and Vc2 to `Low` so that the
first RF switch 110 is switched to the GPS RF switch 140.
An operation of the tri-mode phone will now be described with reference
to FIG. 2. When the tri-mode phone is set to a PCS mode, the first
RF switch 110 and the second RF switch 160 are switched to the first
diplexer 120 under the control of the controller 190. In this case,
a signal received via the antenna 100 is applied to the first diplexer
120 via the first RF switch 110, and then separated by the first
diplexer 120. If the signal separated by the first diplexer 120
is a PCS signal, the PCS signal is applied to the PCS duplexer 150
to perform a calling function. If the signal separated by the first
diplexer 120 is a TV signal, the TV signal is applied to the TV
tuner 180 via the second RF switch 160 to perform a TV reception
function. Meanwhile, if the tri-mode phone is set to a CDMA mode,
the first RF switch 110 and the second RF switch 160 are switched
to the second diplexer 130 under the control of the controller 190.
In this case, a signal received via the antenna 100 is applied to
the second diplexer 130 via the first RF switch 110 and then separated
by the second diplexer 130. If the signal separated by the second
diplexer 130 is a CDMA signal, the CDMA signal is applied to the
CDMA duplexer 170 to perform a calling function. If the signal separated
by the second diplexer 130 is a TV signal, the TV signal is applied
to the TV tuner 180 via the second RF switch 160 to perform a TV
reception function. In addition, if the tri-mode phone is set to
a GPS mode, the first RF switch 110 is switched to the GPS RF switch
140 under the control of the controller 190. In this case, if a
signal received via the antenna 100 is a GPS signal, the GPS signal
is applied to the GPS RF switch 140 via the first RF switch 110
to perform a corresponding GPS function.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure for
simultaneously performing a TV reception function and a calling
function in a PCS mode in a tri-mode phone according to an embodiment
of the present invention.
An embodiment of the present invention will now be described in
detail with reference to FIGS. 2 and 5.
If the tri-mode phone is set to a PCS mode in step 301, the controller
190 proceeds to step 302 where it sets the control ports Vc1, Vc2
and Vc3 of the first RF switch 110 to `High`, `Low` and `Low`, respectively
so that the input port P1 of the first RF switch 110 is switched
to the output port P2 connected to the first diplexer 120. Thereafter,
in step 303, the controller 190 sets the control ports Vctrl1 and
Vctrl2 of the second RF switch 160 to `Low` and `High`, respectively
so that the input port P5 of the second RF switch 160, connected
to the TV tuner 180, is switched to the output port P6 which is
connected to the first diplexer 120.
If a user of the tri-mode phone sets a TV reception mode through
key manipulation, the controller 190 detects a TV signal received
from the antenna 100 in step 304. In step 305, the TV signal is
applied to the first diplexer 120 via the first RF switch 110, and
the first diplexer 120 separates the TV signal and provides the
separated TV signal to the second RF switch 160. In step 306, the
TV signal applied to the second RF switch 160 is provided to the
TV tuner 180. In step 307, the TV tuner 180 enables the user to
watch TV.
If a PCS signal is received while the user is watching TV in step
307, the controller 190 perceives this in step 308, and then proceeds
to step 309. In step 309, the PCS signal is applied to the first
diplexer 120 via the first RF switch 110, and in step 310, the first
diplexer 120 separates the PCS signal and provides the separated
PCS signal to the PCS duplexer 150. In step 311, the PCS duplexer
150 performs a calling function with the received PCS signal. If
a call is ended, the controller 190 perceives this in step 312,
and then returns to step 307 to enable the user to continuously
watch TV.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure for
simultaneously performing a TV reception function and a calling
function in a CDMA mode in a tri-mode phone according to an embodiment
of the present invention.
An embodiment of the present invention will now be described in
detail with reference to FIGS. 2 and 6.
If the tri-mode phone is set to a CDMA mode in step 401, the controller
190 proceeds to step 402 where it sets the control ports Vc1, Vc2
and Vc3 of the first RF switch 110 to `Low`, `High` and `Low`, respectively
so that the input port P1 of the first RF switch 110 is switched
to the output port P3 connected to the second diplexer 130. Thereafter,
in step 403, the controller 190 sets the control ports Vctrl1 and
Vctrl2 of the second RF switch 160 to `Low` and `High`, respectively
so that the input port P5 of the second RF switch 160, connected
to the TV tuner 180, is switched to the output port P7 which is
connected to the second diplexer 130.
If the user of the tri-mode phone sets a TV reception mode through
key manipulation, the controller 190 detects a TV signal received
from the antenna 100 in step 404. In step 405, the TV signal is
applied to the second diplexer 130 via the first RF switch 110 and
the second diplexer 130 separates the TV signal and provides the
separated TV signal to the second RF switch 160. In step 406, the
TV signal applied to the second RF switch 160 is provided to the
TV tuner 180. In step 407, the TV tuner 180 enables the user to
watch TV.
If a CDMA signal is received while the user is watching TV in step
407, the controller 190 perceives this in step 408, and then proceeds
to step 409. In step 409, the CDMA signal is applied to the second
diplexer 130 via the first RF switch 110, and in step 410, the second
diplexer 130 separates the CDMA signal and provides the separated
CDMA signal to the CDMA duplexer 170. In step 411, the CDMA duplexer
170 performs a calling function with the received CDMA signal. If
the user ends a call, the controller 190 perceives this in step
412, and then returns to step 407 to enable the user to continuously
watch TV.
In the embodiment of the present invention, when the tri-mode phone
is set to a GPS mode, the controller 190 sets the control ports
Vc1, Vc2 and Vc3 of the first RF switch 110 to `Low`, `Low` and
`High`, respectively so that the input port P1 of the first RF switch
110 is switched to the output port P4 which is connected to the
GPS RF switch 140. In this case, if a signal received from the antenna
100 is a GPS signal, the GPS signal is applied to the GPS RF switch
140 via the first RF switch 110 to perform a corresponding GPS function.
FIG. 7A is a graph illustrating an example of insertion loss occurring
in a PCS mode of FIG. 5 according to an embodiment of the present
invention. Specifically, FIG. 7A illustrates insertion loss occurring
where the input port P1 of the first RF switch 110 is switched to
the output port P2. FIG. 7B is a graph illustrating an example of
insertion loss occurring in a CDMA mode of FIG. 6 according to an
embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, FIG. 7B illustrates
insertion loss occurring where the input port P1 of the first RF
switch 110 is switched to the output port P3. FIG. 7C is a graph
illustrating an example of insertion loss occurring in a GPS mode
6 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Specifically,
FIG. 7C illustrates insertion loss occurring where the input port
P1 of the first RF switch is switched to the output port P4. It
can be understood from FIGS. 7A to 7C that the insertion loss is
not high, i.e., 0.25 dB at the minimum.
As described above, the tri-mode phone capable of supporting two
or more communication services employs RF switches for separating
the communication services and diplexers for separating a telephone
call signal and a TV signal, thereby simultaneously performing a
TV reception function and a calling function with a single antenna.
As a result, the invention contributes to a reduction in size and
cost of the products.
While the invention has been shown and described with reference
to a certain embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those
skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may
be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention as defined by the appended claims.
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