Description:[0001] This disclosure may generally relate to the field of wireless communications.

Background
[0002] Wireless wide area network (WWAN) fifth generation (5G) support is in two frequency bands. Namely frequency range (FR)1(sub6GHz) and FR2 (mmW 30GHz). At present the entire FR1 solution is available on a single M.2 module according to the M.2 specification. However, the FR2 solution needs an additional mmW front end module along with the M.2 module. The WWAN support in client PC system is mostly through M.2 modules. In other words, in order to provide a solution for FR2 on client PC systems, the design should accommodate an M.2 module and a mmW front end module. It may be challenging to accommodate an mmW front end module in thin and light form factor devices. An additional challenge may be the increase in cost of the PC systems due to addition of mmW front end modules. Future PC systems, such as laptops, may not offer the choice of mmW 5G upgrades. Instead choosing to not include mmW 5G circuitry on the PC system for the above mentioned reasons.
[0003] It may be desirable to develop a mechanism to transfer the mmW signal through USB Type C connector and have 5G mmW front end modules on a universal serial bus (USB) Type C dongle and transfer mmW signals through USB type C connectors.

Brief Description of the Drawings
[0004] In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the exemplary principles of the disclosure. In the following description, the disclosure may be described with reference to the following drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary radio communication network.
FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary internal configuration of a terminal device.
FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary USB Type C receptacle.
FIG. 4 and 5 illustrate exemplary tables describing the pin lay out of a USB Type C receptacle.
FIG. 6, 7A, and 7B illustrate exemplary multiplexors for mmW signals with a USB Type C receptacle.
FIG. 8-14 illustrate a simulation of mmW signal transfer over USB Type C.

Detailed Description
[0005] In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of some examples. However, it will be understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art that some examples may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, units and/or circuits have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the discussion.
[0006] Antenna integrated modules or remote front-end modules (RFEM)s are needed along with M.2 modules to support mmW in user equipment such as PCs and mobile devices. Usually, RFEMs come as separate radio frequency (RF) modules and will be integrated with the transceiver and modem to provide a complete mmW solution. There may be two implementations of mmW transceivers. First, a mmW transceiver which provides intermediate frequency (IF) output. Second, a mmW transceiver which operates at the direct radio RF of the mmW signal.
[0007] The first type of mmW transceiver may generate an IF output at a frequency within the range of 10GHz. The second type of mmW transceiver may generate output in the frequency range of the channel frequency.
[0008] 5G UE systems which support FR2 include two modules. For example, modem and a transceiver may be on a M.2 module and a RFEM/antenna in module (AiM) on another module. The AiM or RFEM may be on a customized module. The output from mmW transceiver is routed to RFEM modules either through a flex printed circuit board (PCB) or cable. The RFEM/AiM modules would require separate power and cabling to intferface with M.2 modules.
[0009] In this disclosure, we propose a technique to multiplex a mmW signal with a USB-C signal. For example, a mmW signal is multiplexed with a USB2 signals. However, the same technique can be used to multiplex a mmW signal with other USB-C signal lanes.
[0010] Multiplexing a mmW signal with a USB-C signal, allows incorporating AiM or RFEM modules within a USB-C module. Multiplexing a mmW signal with a USB-C signal, also allows the customized mmW RFEM or AiM to interface with a M.2 WWAN solution. Self-calibrated AiM or RFEM modules do not degrade performance, which provides a better user experience. A USB-C port may be incorporated into a UE and properly marked with a WWAN symbol to identify the support of mmW WWAN communication.
[0011] FIG. 1 shows exemplary radio communication network 100, which may include terminal devices 102 and 104 and network access nodes 110 and 120. Radio communication network 100 may communicate with terminal devices 102 and 104 via network access nodes 110 and 120 over a radio access network. Although certain examples described herein may refer to a particular radio access network context (e.g., LTE, UMTS, GSM, other 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) networks, WLAN/Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 5G NR, mmWave, WiGig, etc.), these examples are illustrative and may be readily applied to any other type or configuration of radio access network. The number of network access nodes and terminal devices in radio communication network 100 is exemplary and is scalable to any amount.
[0012] In an exemplary cellular context, network access nodes 110 and 120 may be base stations (e.g., eNodeBs, NodeBs, Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs), gNodeBs, or any other type of base station), while terminal devices 102 and 104 may be cellular terminal devices (e.g., Mobile Stations (MSs), User Equipments (UEs), or any type of cellular terminal device). Network access nodes 110 and 120 may therefore interface (e.g., via backhaul interfaces) with a cellular core network such as an Evolved Packet Core (EPC, for LTE), Core Network (CN, for UMTS), or other cellular core networks, which may also be considered part of radio communication network 100. The cellular core network may interface with one or more external data networks. In an exemplary short-range context, network access node 110 and 120 may be access points (APs, e.g., WLAN or Wi-Fi APs), while terminal device 102 and 104 may be short range terminal devices (e.g., stations (STAs)). Network access nodes 110 and 120 may interface (e.g., via an internal or external router) with one or more external data networks.
[0013] Network access nodes 110 and 120 (and, optionally, other network access nodes of radio communication network 100 not explicitly shown in FIG. 1) may accordingly provide a radio access network to terminal devices 102 and 104 (and, optionally, other terminal devices of radio communication network 100 not explicitly shown in FIG. 1). In an exemplary cellular context, the radio access network provided by network access nodes 110 and 120 may enable terminal devices 102 and 104 to wirelessly access the core network via radio communications. The core network may provide switching, routing, and transmission, for traffic data related to terminal devices 102 and 104, and may further provide access to various internal data networks (e.g., control nodes, routing nodes that transfer information between other terminal devices on radio communication network 100, etc.) and external data networks (e.g., data networks providing voice, text, multimedia (audio, video, image), and other Internet and application data). In an exemplary short-range context, the radio access network provided by network access nodes 110 and 120 may provide access to internal data networks (e.g., for transferring data between terminal devices connected to radio communication network 100) and external data networks (e.g., data networks providing voice, text, multimedia (audio, video, image), and other Internet and application data).
[0014] The radio access network and core network of radio communication network 100 may be governed by communication protocols that can vary depending on the specifics of radio communication network 100. Such communication protocols may define the scheduling, formatting, and routing of both user and control data traffic through radio communication network 100, which includes the transmission and reception of such data through both the radio access and core network domains of radio communication network 100. Accordingly, terminal devices 102 and 104 and network access nodes 110 and 120 may follow the defined communication protocols to transmit and receive data over the radio access network domain of radio communication network 100, while the core network may follow the defined communication protocols to route data within and outside of the core network. Exemplary communication protocols include LTE, UMTS, GSM, WiMAX, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, mmWave, 5G NR, and the like, any of which may be applicable to radio communication network 100.
[0015] FIG. 2 shows an exemplary internal configuration of terminal device 102, which may include antenna system 202, radio frequency (RF) transceiver 204, baseband modem 206 (including digital signal processor 208 and protocol controller 210), application processor 212, and memory 214. Although not explicitly shown in FIG. 2, terminal device 102 may include one or more additional hardware and/or software components, such as processors/microprocessors, controllers/microcontrollers, other specialty or generic hardware/processors/circuits, peripheral device(s), memory, power supply, external device interface(s), subscriber identity module(s) (SIMs), user input/output devices (display(s), keypad(s), touchscreen(s), speaker(s), external button(s), camera(s), microphone(s), etc.), or other related components.
[0016] Terminal device 102 may transmit and receive radio signals on one or more radio access networks. Baseband modem 206 may direct such communication functionality of terminal device 102 according to the communication protocols associated with each radio access network, and may execute control over antenna system 202 and RF transceiver 204 to transmit and receive radio signals according to the formatting and scheduling parameters defined by each communication protocol. Although various practical designs may include separate communication components for each supported radio communication technology (e.g., a separate antenna, RF transceiver, digital signal processor, and controller), for purposes of conciseness the configuration of terminal device 102 shown in FIG. 2 depicts only a single instance of such components.
[0017] Terminal device 102 may transmit and receive wireless signals with antenna system 202. Antenna system 202 may be a single antenna or may include one or more antenna arrays that each include multiple antenna elements. For example, antenna system 202 may include an antenna array at the top of terminal device 102 and a second antenna array at the bottom of terminal device 102. Antenna system 202 may additionally include analog antenna combination and/or beamforming circuitry. In the receive (RX) path, RF transceiver 204 may receive analog radio frequency signals from antenna system 202 and perform analog and digital RF front-end processing on the analog radio frequency signals to produce digital baseband samples (e.g., In-Phase/Quadrature (IQ) samples) to provide to baseband modem 206. RF transceiver 204 may include analog and digital reception components including amplifiers (e.g., Low Noise Amplifiers (LNAs)), filters, RF demodulators (e.g., RF IQ demodulators)), and analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), which RF transceiver 204 may utilize to convert the received radio frequency signals to digital baseband samples. In the transmit (TX) path, RF transceiver 204 may receive digital baseband samples from baseband modem 206 and perform analog and digital RF front-end processing on the digital baseband samples to produce analog radio frequency signals to provide to antenna system 202 for wireless transmission. RF transceiver 204 may thus include analog and digital transmission components including amplifiers (e.g., Power Amplifiers (PAs), filters, RF modulators (e.g., RF IQ modulators), and digital-to-analog converters (DACs), which RF transceiver 204 may utilize to mix the digital baseband samples received from baseband modem 206 and produce the analog radio frequency signals for wireless transmission by antenna system 202. Baseband modem 206 may control the radio transmission and reception of RF transceiver 204, including specifying the transmit and receive radio frequencies for operation of RF transceiver 204.
[0018] As shown in FIG. 2, baseband modem 206 may include digital signal processor 208, which may perform physical layer (PHY, Layer 1) transmission and reception processing to, in the transmit path, prepare outgoing transmit data provided by protocol controller 210 for transmission via RF transceiver 204, and, in the receive path, prepare incoming received data provided by RF transceiver 204 for processing by protocol controller 210. Digital signal processor 208 may be configured to perform one or more of error detection, forward error correction encoding/decoding, channel coding and interleaving, channel modulation/demodulation, physical channel mapping, radio measurement and search, frequency and time synchronization, antenna diversity processing, power control and weighting, rate matching/de-matching, retransmission processing, interference cancelation, and any other physical layer processing functions. Digital signal processor 208 may be structurally realized as hardware components (e.g., as one or more digitally-configured hardware circuits or FPGAs), software-defined components (e.g., one or more processors configured to execute program code defining arithmetic, control, and I/O (input/output) instructions (e.g., software and/or firmware) stored in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium), or as a combination of hardware and software components. Digital signal processor 208 may include one or more processors configured to retrieve and execute program code that defines control and processing logic for physical layer processing operations. Digital signal processor 208 may execute processing functions with software via the execution of executable instructions. Digital signal processor 208 may include one or more dedicated hardware circuits (e.g., ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuits), FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Arrays), and other hardware) that are digitally configured to specific execute processing functions, where the one or more processors of digital signal processor 208 may offload certain processing tasks to these dedicated hardware circuits, which are known as hardware accelerators. Exemplary hardware accelerators can include Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) circuits and encoder/decoder circuits. The processor and hardware accelerator components of digital signal processor 208 may be realized as a coupled integrated circuit.
[0019] Terminal device 102 may be configured to operate according to one or more radio communication technologies. Digital signal processor 208 may be responsible for lower-layer processing functions (e.g., Layer 1/PHY) of the radio communication technologies, while protocol controller 210 may be responsible for upper-layer protocol stack functions (e.g., Data Link Layer/Layer 2 and/or Network Layer/Layer 3). Protocol controller 210 may thus be responsible for controlling the radio communication components of terminal device 102 (antenna system 202, RF transceiver 204, and digital signal processor 208) in accordance with the communication protocols of each supported radio communication technology, and accordingly may represent the Access Stratum and Non-Access Stratum (NAS) (also encompassing Layer 2 and Layer 3) of each supported radio communication technology. Protocol controller 210 may be structurally embodied as a protocol processor configured to execute protocol stack software (retrieved from a controller memory) and subsequently control the radio communication components of terminal device 102 to transmit and receive communication signals in accordance with the corresponding protocol stack control logic defined in the protocol software. Protocol controller 210 may include one or more processors configured to retrieve and execute program code that defines the upper-layer protocol stack logic for one or more radio communication technologies, which can include Data Link Layer/Layer 2 and Network Layer/Layer 3 functions. Protocol controller 210 may be configured to perform both user-plane and control-plane functions to facilitate the transfer of application layer data to and from radio terminal device 102 according to the specific protocols of the supported radio communication technology. User-plane functions can include header compression and encapsulation, security, error checking and correction, channel multiplexing, scheduling and priority, while control-plane functions may include setup and maintenance of radio bearers. The program code retrieved and executed by protocol controller 210 may include executable instructions that define the logic of such functions.
[0020] Terminal device 102 may also include application processor 212 and memory 214. Application processor 212 may be a CPU, and may be configured to handle the layers above the protocol stack, including the transport and application layers. Application processor 212 may be configured to execute various applications and/or programs of terminal device 102 at an application layer of terminal device 102, such as an operating system (OS), a user interface (UI) for supporting user interaction with terminal device 102, and/or various user applications. The application processor may interface with baseband modem 206 and act as a source (in the transmit path) and a sink (in the receive path) for user data, such as voice data, audio/video/image data, messaging data, application data, basic Internet/web access data, etc. In the transmit path, protocol controller 210 may therefore receive and process outgoing data provided by application processor 212 according to the layer-specific functions of the protocol stack, and provide the resulting data to digital signal processor 208. Digital signal processor 208 may then perform physical layer processing on the received data to produce digital baseband samples, which digital signal processor may provide to RF transceiver 204. RF transceiver 204 may then process the digital baseband samples to convert the digital baseband samples to analog RF signals, which RF transceiver 204 may wirelessly transmit via antenna system 202. In the receive path, RF transceiver 204 may receive analog RF signals from antenna system 202 and process the analog RF signals to obtain digital baseband samples. RF transceiver 204 may provide the digital baseband samples to digital signal processor 208, which may perform physical layer processing on the digital baseband samples. Digital signal processor 208 may then provide the resulting data to protocol controller 210, which may process the resulting data according to the layer-specific functions of the protocol stack and provide the resulting incoming data to application processor 212. Application processor 212 may then handle the incoming data at the application layer, which can include execution of one or more application programs with the data and/or presentation of the data to a user via a user interface.
[0021] Memory 214 may be a memory component of terminal device 102, such as a hard drive or another such permanent memory device. Although not explicitly depicted in FIG. 2, the various other components of terminal device 102 shown in FIG. 2 may additionally each include integrated permanent and non-permanent memory components, such as for storing software program code, buffering data, etc.
[0022] In accordance with some radio communication networks, terminal devices 102 and 104 may execute mobility procedures to connect to, disconnect from, and switch between available network access nodes of the radio access network of radio communication network 100. As each network access node of radio communication network 100 may have a specific coverage area, terminal devices 102 and 104 may be configured to select and re-select available network access nodes in order to maintain a strong radio access connection with the radio access network of radio communication network 100. For example, terminal device 102 may establish a radio access connection with network access node 110 while terminal device 104 may establish a radio access connection with network access node 112. If the current radio access connection degrades, terminal devices 102 or 104 may seek a new radio access connection with another network access node of radio communication network 100; for example, terminal device 104 may move from the coverage area of network access node 112 into the coverage area of network access node 110. As a result, the radio access connection with network access node 112 may degrade, which terminal device 104 may detect via radio measurements such as signal strength or signal quality measurements of network access node 112. Depending on the mobility procedures defined in the appropriate network protocols for radio communication network 100, terminal device 104 may seek a new radio access connection (which may be, for example, triggered at terminal device 104 or by the radio access network), such as by performing radio measurements on neighboring network access nodes to determine whether any neighboring network access nodes can provide a suitable radio access connection. As terminal device 104 may have moved into the coverage area of network access node 110, terminal device 104 may identify network access node 110 (which may be selected by terminal device 104 or selected by the radio access network) and transfer to a new radio access connection with network access node 110. Such mobility procedures, including radio measurements, cell selection/reselection, and handover are established in the various network protocols and may be employed by terminal devices and the radio access network in order to maintain strong radio access connections between each terminal device and the radio access network across any number of different radio access network scenarios.
[0023] FIG. 3 shows a pin layout of a USB-C receptacle 300. UE 102 may include a USB-C port configured to receive USB-C receptacle 300. The A-Pins 302 and the B-Pins 304 are similar, allowing the receptacle 300 to be inserted into a port of UE 102 in both directions.
[0024] FIG. 4 shows the description of the A-Pins 302 layout. Layout 302 shows: Row 401 describes Pin A1 as a ground return; Row 402 describes Pin A2 as a SuperSpeed differential pair #1, TX, positive; Row 403 describes Pin A3 as a SuperSpeed differential pair #1, TX, negative; Row 404 describes Pin A4 as a Bus power; Row 405 describes Pin A5 as a Configuration channel; Row 406 describes Pin A6 as a USB 2.0 differential pair, position 1, positive; Row 407 describes Pin A7 as a USB 2.0 differential pair, position 1, negative; Row 408 describes Pin A8 as a Sideband use (SBU); Row 409 describes Pin A9 as a Bus power; Row 410 describes Pin A10 as a SuperSpeed differential pair #4, RX, negative; Row 411 describes Pin A11 as a SuperSpeed differential pair #4, RX, positive; Row 412 describes Pin A12 as a Ground return.
[0025] FIG. 5 shows the description of the B-Pins 304 layout. Layout 304 shows: Row 501 describes Pin B12 as a ground return; Row 502 describes Pin B11 as a SuperSpeed differential pair #2, RX, positive; Row 503 describes Pin B10 as a SuperSpeed differential pair #2, RX, negative; Row 504 describes Pin B9 as a Bus power; Row 505 describes Pin B8 as a Sideband use (SBU); Row 506 describes Pin B7 as a USB 2.0 differential pair, position 2, negative; Row 507 describes Pin B6 as a USB 2.0 differential pair, position 2, positive; Row 508 describes Pin B5 as a Configuration channel; Row 509 describes Pin B4 as a Bus power; Row 510 describes Pin B3 as a SuperSpeed differential pair #3, TX, negative; Row 511 describes Pin B2 as a SuperSpeed differential pair #3, TX, positive; Row 512 describes Pin B1 as a Ground return.
[0026] An AiM or RFEM can be designed for a USB-C form factor and can connect to a USB-C port of a UE such as a personal computer (PC). The UE may include a WWAN M.2 module. USB-C devices may be plug and play, enabling a user to upgrade a non mmW WWAN UE to a mmW WWAN device. USB AiM or RFEM may reduce the complexity of a UE system design because the modules may be plugged externally.
[0027] For example, designing WWAN modules as a system on chip (SoC) solution allows the entire RF solution as a USB-C module to be plugged into a UE. Similar to a mechanism for plugging in a WLAN connectivity integrated solution into a client PC system. For example the integrated wireless internet protocol (IP) portion of a processor along with a RF module in M.2 form factor. Additionally, having the AiM or RFEM on a USB-C dongle may reduce overall costs of having a mmW WWAN system.
[0028] Multiplexing RF mmW signal with USB-C signals allows a WWAN M.2 card design to omit a front end. Instead, the front end can be developed on a USB-C dongle and connected to a UE through a USB-C port. This may allow a UE with a USB-C port to plug it on to the computer and user gets a complete WWAN solution. A UE form factor may omit the mmW WWAN M.2 and reduce its overall form factor. Thin and light system designs may include a USB-C port for mmW WWAN communication. A region specific front end RF card design, configured for mmW WWAN communication, may be incorporated on a USB-C device. Having a separate USB-C device for mmW WWAN communication may reduce the overall price of a complete WWAN solution. Additionally, this may offer a user with more flexibility to choose a region specific front end card based on the user’s location.
[0029] As previously stated, 5G systems include two frequency bands, FR1 and FR2. The FR1 frequency bands include Sub 6GHz bands and the FR2 frequency bands include frequency bands higher than 24GHz. A 5G system supporting only the FR1 frequency bands will have only one module consisting of a modem, a transceiver, and a RF front end. In contrast, a 5G system supporting both the FR1 and FR2 frequency bands will have two separate modules. The first module consisting of a modem, a transceiver, and a RF front end. The second module consisting of a mmW front end and an antenna. The second module may be an antenna integrated module (AiM), remote front-end module (RFEM), or a remote radio head. In client PC systems, an AiM or RFEM along with a M.2 module are needed to support mmW. Usually, RFEMs come as separate RF modules and will be integrated with the transceiver and modem on the M.2 module to provide a complete mmW solution.
[0030] For example, a mmW transceiver may provide IF output or may provide output at the direct RF of the mmW signal. In the case of IF output, the frequency of the IF output from a mmW transceiver will be in the range of 10GHz. In the case of output at the direct RF of the mmW signal, the frequency range will be same as the channel frequency of the mmW signal.
[0031] In client PC systems, the 5G intercept may be through M.2 modules. In this case, the complete 5G solutions comes in two modules. The modem along with transceiver portion on M.2 and the Aim or RFEM on another customized module. The system may be route the output from the mmW transceiver to the RFEM module through a flex PCB or other type of cable. These modules need higher power and additional cabling to interface with transceiver.
[0032] Alternatively, an AiM on a USB-C dongle may not require additional cabling for power. The USB-C port of a wireless communication device, or host device, would be able to supply the required power to a module on the USB-C dongle. AiMs are self-calibrated modules, and when interfaced with a modem, an AiM on a USB-C dongle may operate as a plug and play device on a PC with an M.2 module to upgrade the PC to a complete 5G solution which supports FR1 and FR2. However, this requires routing mmW signals from the device mother board to the USB-C dongle with the AiM. This is because the modem and transceiver are still on the M.2 module or on the motherboard of the device. For example, a PC may include a modem and transceiver on a M.2 module and include a USB-C port to connect to a USB-C dongle with an AiM.
[0033] To route the mmW signal from a device to a connected USB-C dongle, the mmW signal may be multiplexed with the USB-C signal. The scope and functionality of each USB-C connector may be as shown in FIGS. 3 -5. A USB-C connector has twenty-four pins in two rows, as shown in FIG. 3. A wireless communication device may use any of the twenty-four signals, associated with the twenty-four pins. The device may use any of the data or sideband signals of the mmW signal and transfer them along with alternate mode and power delivery feature support of the USB-C connector. USB-C standards mandate backwards compatibility for USB 2.0. Based on the standards, the A pin layout as shown in FIG. 4 and B pin layout as shown in FIG. 5 may make up a USB-C connector.
[0034] In the case of WWAN, USB 2.0 signals may be used during debugging and calibration. In normal operation USB 2.0 is unused. Therefore, in normal operation the USB 2.0 pins are available to use for multiplexing the mmW signals with USB-C signals. For example, pins 406 and 407 of FIG. 4 and pins 506 and 507 of FIG. 5. A 5G device supporting FR2 through a USB-C dongle may use pins 406, 407, 506, and 507 to multiplex the mmW signals with USB-C signals. The same technique may be used to multiplex mmW signals with other USB-C lanes also.
[0035] FIG. 6 shows a configuration 600 for a wireless communication device 602 connected to a USB-C dongle 604 with a mmW front end module 606. Wireless communication device 602 may be a PC and USB-C dongle 604 may include a RFEM or AiM as the mmW front end module 606. Wireless communication device 602 may include modem 608. 5G modem 608 in wireless communication device 602, such as a client PC system, may be a M.2 form factor or as a mother board down solution.
[0036] In configuration 600, different manufacturers may develop wireless communication device 602, such a host device or laptop, and USB-C dongle 604. USB-C dongle 604 may include mmW front end module 606, which may also be an AiM Module. The mmW front end module may multiplex the mmW IF signals with a USB 2.0 signal of USB Type-C connector. When a non-WWAN USB-C dongle is plugged into a USB port of host device 602, device 602 may detect it as a non-WWAN device and route the USB 2.0 signals from the platform controller hub (PCH) to the non-WWAN device. When a WWAN USB-C dongle 604 is plugged into a USB port of host device 602, device 602 may detect it as a WWAN device and connect 5G modem 608 to the USB-C dongle 604. The switches 612 enable wireless communication device 602 to switch between PCH 610 and 5G modem 608.
[0037] To route 5G modem 608 output to USB-C dongle 604, wireless communication device 602 may include one or more switches 612. Switches 612 may be cross bar switches or double-pole four-throw (DP4T) switches on motherboard side to multiplex USB 2.0 and mmW signals. After connecting USB-C dongle 604 to wireless communication device 602, device 602 may initialize and link train dongle 604. During this stage, device 602 may detect dongle 604 as a WWAN device. If dongle 604 is detected as a WWAN device, switches 612 will connect the 5G modem 608 path to USB 2.0 of dongle 604. If the connected device is detected as a non WWAN device, switches 612 will connect PCH 610 path to USB 2.0 to the Type-C connector. A USB-C port or connector which supports WWAN may be marked appropriately on the chassis, similar to other USB cable markings to indicate that the port supports WWAN.
[0038] By multiplexing mmW signals with USB 2.0 lane of a USB-C dongle, a wireless communication device may interface mmW RFEM or AiM modules developed for the USB-C dongle with the M.2 module of a WWAN solution. Since the AiM or RFEM modules are self-calibrated, the RF front end modules may interface with the modem and/or transceiver available in the M.2 or on mother board solution of a wireless communication device.
[0039] FIGS. 7A and 7B show configurations 700A and 700B respectively where a 5G WWAN is on USB-C device and the mmW RF front end module is on the wireless communication device.
[0040] For example, configuration 700A may include wireless communication device 702 and USB-C dongle 704. Wireless communication device 702 may include mmW RF front end modules 706. For example, modules 706 may be AiMs. A multiplexing configuration as shown in FIG. 7A may include RFEMs 706 on a wireless communication device 702, such as a PC. The 5G system may include a PC 702 and a 5G dongle 704. USB-C dongle 704 may include 5G modem 708.
[0041] To route 5G modem 708 output to remote radio heads (RRH) 706, wireless communication device 702 may include one or more switches 712. Switches 712 may be cross bar switches or double-pole four-throw (DP4T) switches on motherboard side to multiplex USB 2.0 and mmW signals. After connecting USB-C dongle 704 to wireless communication device 702, device 702 may initialize and link train dongle 704. During this stage, device 702 may detect dongle 704 as a WWAN device. If dongle 704 is detected as a WWAN device, switches 712 will connect the RRH 706 path to USB 2.0 of device 702. If the connected device is detected as a non WWAN device, switches 712 will connect PCH 714 path to USB 2.0 to the Type-C connector. If dongle 704 is detected as a WWAN device, switches 712 will connect the RRH 706 path to USB 2.0 of device 702. If the connected device is detected as a non WWAN device, switches 712 will connect PCH 714 path to USB 2.0 to the Type-C connector. Dongle 704 may include DP4T switches 710 and mmW transceiver 716. Switches 710 may connect transceiver 716 path to USB 2.0 to transmit and/or receive a signal when the RRH 706 path is connected USB 2.0. Switches 710 may connect 5G modem 708 path to USB 2.0 to modulate or demodulate a signal when the RRH 706 path is connected USB 2.0.
[0042] FIG. 7B shows an alternative configuration for having a 5G modem on a USB-C dongle. Configuration 700B includes wireless communication device 702 and USB-C dongle 720. USB-C dongle 720 may include integrated 5G modem and transceiver 722. USB-C dongle 720 may include single-pole double-throw (DPDT) switches 724. Switches 724 may connect combined 5G modem and transceiver 722 path USB 2.0 to RRH 706 of wireless communication device 702. For example combined 5G modem and transceiver 722 may include 4 antennas, where the switches 724 connect the antennas to the USB 2.0 path to transmit and/or receive a signal or connect the modem to the USB 2.0 path to modulate or demodulate a signal.
[0043] FIG. 8 shows a simulation 800 USB path setup. The simulation is performed to see the impedance mismatch and loss due to the mismatch because the USB-C signals are 85 or 90 ohm differential signals and mmW IF signals are 50ohm signals. The result 900, as shown in FIG. 9, shows good data. Even in the case where there is a slight deviation in results, the dongle mismatch may be alleviated by having a impedance matching circuit on board a host wireless communication device.
[0044] FIG. 10 shows a simulation RRH path setup 1000 and FIG. 11 shows the results 1100 for the RRH path of the simulation described with respect to FIG. 8.
[0045] FIG. 12 shows Type-C signal lines 1200 are all differential signals. Therefore, the signal lines are tightly coupled. However, the mmW signal requires 50ohm single ended signals and there shouldn’t be any coupling between signal traces. This can be achieved with suitable placement of the multiplex switches. These switches may be placed as close as possible to the USB Type-C connector.
[0046] FIG. 13 shows simulation results 1300 with a 20mm spacing between a connector and a switch.
[0047] FIG. 14 shows simulation results 1400 with a 5mm spacing between a connector and a switch.
[0048] While the above descriptions and connected figures may depict electronic device components as separate elements, skilled persons will appreciate the various possibilities to combine or integrate discrete elements into a single element. Such may include combining two or more circuits for form a single circuit, mounting two or more circuits onto a common chip or chassis to form an integrated element, executing discrete software components on a common processor core, etc. Conversely, skilled persons will recognize the possibility to separate a single element into two or more discrete elements, such as splitting a single circuit into two or more separate circuits, separating a chip or chassis into discrete elements originally provided thereon, separating a software component into two or more sections and executing each on a separate processor core, etc.
[0049] It is appreciated that implementations of methods detailed herein are demonstrative in nature, and are thus understood as capable of being implemented in a corresponding device. Likewise, it is appreciated that implementations of devices detailed herein are understood as capable of being implemented as a corresponding method. It is thus understood that a device corresponding to a method detailed herein may include one or more components configured to perform each aspect of the related method.
[0050] All acronyms defined in the above description additionally hold in all claims included herein.
[0051] Discussions herein utilizing terms such as, for example, “processing”, “computing”, “calculating”, “determining”, “establishing”, “analyzing”, “checking”, or the like, may refer to operation(s) and/or process(es) of a computer, a computing platform, a computing system, or other electronic computing device, that manipulate and/or transform data represented as physical (e.g., electronic) quantities within the computer’s registers and/or memories into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within the computer’s registers and/or memories or other information storage medium that may store instructions to perform operations and/or processes.
[0052] The terms “plurality” and “a plurality”, as used herein, include, for example, “multiple” or “two or more”. For example, “a plurality of items” includes two or more items.
[0053] The terms “group,” “set”, “sequence,” and the like refer to a quantity equal to or greater than one.
[0054] Any term expressed in plural form that does not expressly state “plurality” or “multiple” similarly refers to a quantity equal to or greater than one.
[0055] The term “lesser subset” refers to a subset of a set that contains less than all elements of the set.
[0056] Any vector and/or matrix notation utilized herein is exemplary in nature and is employed for purposes of explanation. This disclosure may be described with vector and/or matrix notation are not limited to being implemented with vectors and/or matrices and the associated processes and computations may be performed in an equivalent manner with sets or sequences of data or other information.
[0057] The words "exemplary" and “demonstrative” are used herein to mean "serving as an example, instance, demonstration, or illustration". Any aspect, embodiment, or design described herein as "exemplary" or “demonstrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects, embodiments, or designs.
[0058] As used herein, unless otherwise specified the use of the ordinal adjectives “first”, “second”, “third” etc., to describe a common object, merely indicate that different instances of like objects are being referred to, and are not intended to imply that the objects so described must be in a given sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking, or in any other manner.
[0059] The phrases “at least one” and “one or more” may be understood to include a numerical quantity greater than or equal to one, e.g., one, two, three, four, [...], etc. The phrase "at least one of with regard to a group of elements may be used herein to mean at least one element from the group consisting of the elements. For example, the phrase "at least one of with regard to a group of elements may be used herein to mean one of the listed elements, a plurality of one of the listed elements, a plurality of individual listed elements, or a plurality of a multiple of individual listed elements.
[0060] The term “data” as used herein may be understood to include information in any suitable analog or digital form, e.g., provided as a file, a portion of a file, a set of files, a signal or stream, a portion of a signal or stream, a set of signals or streams, and the like. Further, the term “data” may also be used to mean a reference to information, e.g., in form of a pointer. The term “data”, however, is not limited to the aforementioned examples and may take various forms and/or may represent any information as understood in the art.
[0061] The terms “processor” or “controller” may be understood to include any kind of technological entity that allows handling of any suitable type of data and/or information. The data and/or information may be handled according to one or more specific functions executed by the processor or controller. Further, a processor or a controller may be understood as any kind of circuit, e.g., any kind of analog or digital circuit. A processor or a controller may thus be or include an analog circuit, digital circuit, mixed-signal circuit, logic circuit, processor, microprocessor, Central Processing Unit (CPU), Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), Digital Signal Processor (DSP), Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), integrated circuit, Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), and the like, or any combination thereof. Any other kind of implementation of the respective functions, which will be described below in further detail, may also be understood as a processor, controller, or logic circuit. It is understood that any two (or more) processors, controllers, or logic circuits detailed herein may be realized as a single entity with equivalent functionality or the like, and conversely that any single processor, controller, or logic circuit detailed herein may be realized as two (or more) separate entities with equivalent functionality or the like.
[0062] The term “memory” is understood as a computer-readable medium (e.g., a non-transitory computer-readable medium) in which data or information can be stored for retrieval. References to “memory” may thus be understood as referring to volatile or non-volatile memory, including random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, solid-state storage, magnetic tape, hard disk drive, optical drive, among others, or any combination thereof. Registers, shift registers, processor registers, data buffers, among others, are also embraced herein by the term memory. The term “software” may be used to refer to any type of executable instruction and/or logic, including firmware.
[0063] The term “terminal device” utilized herein refers to user-side devices (both portable and fixed) that can connect to a core network and/or external data networks via a radio access network. “Terminal device” can include any mobile or immobile wireless communication device, including User Equipments (UEs), Mobile Stations (MSs), Stations (STAs), cellular phones, tablets, laptops, personal computers, wearables, multimedia playback and other handheld or body-mounted electronic devices, consumer/home/office/commercial appliances, vehicles, and any other electronic device capable of user-side wireless communications.
[0064] The term “network access node” as utilized herein refers to a network-side device that provides a radio access network with which terminal devices can connect and exchange information with a core network and/or external data networks through the network access node. “Network access nodes” can include any type of base station or access point, including macro base stations, micro base stations, NodeBs, evolved NodeBs (eNBs), gNodeBs, Home base stations, Remote Radio Heads (RRHs), relay points, Wi-Fi/WLAN Access Points (APs), Bluetooth master devices, DSRC RSUs, terminal devices acting as network access nodes, and any other electronic device capable of network-side wireless communications, including both immobile and mobile devices (e.g., vehicular network access nodes, moving cells, and other movable network access nodes). As used herein, a “cell” in the context of telecommunications may be understood as a sector served by a network access node. Accordingly, a cell may be a set of geographically co-located antennas that correspond to a particular sectorization of a network access node. A network access node can thus serve one or more cells (or sectors), where the cells are characterized by distinct communication channels.
[0065] As used herein, the term "circuitry" may refer to, be part of, or include, an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), an integrated circuit, an electronic circuit, a processor (shared, dedicated, or group), and/or memory (shared, dedicated, or group), that execute one or more software or firmware programs, a combinational logic circuit, and/or other suitable hardware components that provide the described functionality. The circuitry may be implemented in, or functions associated with the circuitry may be implemented by, one or more software or firmware modules. Circuitry may include logic, at least partially operable in hardware.
[0066] The term “logic” may refer, for example, to computing logic embedded in circuitry of a computing apparatus and/or computing logic stored in a memory of a computing apparatus. For example, the logic may be accessible by a processor of the computing apparatus to execute the computing logic to perform computing functions and/or operations. In one example, logic may be embedded in various types of memory and/or firmware, e.g., silicon blocks of various chips and/or processors. Logic may be included in, and/or implemented as part of, various circuitry, e.g., radio circuitry, receiver circuitry, control circuitry, transmitter circuitry, transceiver circuitry, processor circuitry, and/or the like. In one example, logic may be embedded in volatile memory and/or non-volatile memory, including random access memory, read only memory, programmable memory, magnetic memory, flash memory, persistent memory, and/or the like. Logic may be executed by one or more processors using memory, e.g., registers, buffers, stacks, and the like, coupled to the one or more processors, e.g., as necessary to execute the logic.
[0067] The terms “communicate” and “communicating” as used herein with respect to a signal includes transmitting the signal and/or receiving the signal. For example, an apparatus, which is capable of communicating a signal, may include a transmitter to transmit the signal, and/or a receiver to receive the signal. The verb communicating may be used to refer to the action of transmitting or the action of receiving. In one example, the phrase “communicating a signal” may refer to the action of transmitting the signal by a transmitter, and may not necessarily include the action of receiving the signal by a receiver. In another example, the phrase “communicating a signal” may refer to the action of receiving the signal by a receiver, and may not necessarily include the action of transmitting the signal by a transmitter.
[0068] The term “antenna”, as used herein, may include any suitable configuration, structure and/or arrangement of one or more antenna elements, components, units, assemblies and/or arrays. The antenna may implement transmit and receive functionalities using separate transmit and receive antenna elements. The antenna may implement transmit and receive functionalities using common and/or integrated transmit/receive elements. The antenna may include, for example, a phased array antenna, a single element antenna, a set of switched beam antennas, and/or the like. In one example, an antenna may be implemented as a separate element or an integrated element, for example, as an on-module antenna, an on-chip antenna, or according to any other antenna architecture.
[0069] Any of the radio links described herein may operate according to any one or more of the following radio communication technologies and/or standards including but not limited to: a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) radio communication technology, a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) radio communication technology, an Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) radio communication technology, and/or a Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) radio communication technology, for example Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), Freedom of Multimedia Access (FOMA), 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE), 3GPP Long Term Evolution Advanced (LTE Advanced), Code division multiple access 2000 (CDMA2000), Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD), Mobitex, Third Generation (3G), Circuit Switched Data (CSD), High-Speed Circuit-Switched Data (HSCSD), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (Third Generation) (UMTS (3G)), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) (W-CDMA (UMTS)), High Speed Packet Access (HSPA), High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA), High-Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA), High Speed Packet Access Plus (HSPA+), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System-Time-Division Duplex (UMTS-TDD), Time Division-Code Division Multiple Access (TD-CDMA), Time Division-Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (TD-CDMA), 3rd Generation Partnership Project Release 8 (Pre-4th Generation) (3GPP Rel. 8 (Pre-4G)), 3GPP Rel. 9 (3rd Generation Partnership Project Release 9), 3GPP Rel. 10 (3rd Generation Partnership Project Release 10) , 3GPP Rel. 11 (3rd Generation Partnership Project Release 11), 3GPP Rel. 12 (3rd Generation Partnership Project Release 12), 3GPP Rel. 13 (3rd Generation Partnership Project Release 13), 3GPP Rel. 14 (3rd Generation Partnership Project Release 14), 3GPP Rel. 15 (3rd Generation Partnership Project Release 15), 3GPP Rel. 16 (3rd Generation Partnership Project Release 16), 3GPP Rel. 17 (3rd Generation Partnership Project Release 17) and subsequent Releases (such as Rel. 18, Rel. 19, etc.), 3GPP 5G, 5G, 5G New Radio (5G NR), 3GPP 5G New Radio, 3GPP LTE Extra, LTE-Advanced Pro, LTE Licensed-Assisted Access (LAA), MuLTEfire, UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA), Evolved UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA), Long Term Evolution Advanced (4th Generation) (LTE Advanced (4G)), cdmaOne (2G), Code division multiple access 2000 (Third generation) (CDMA2000 (3G)), Evolution-Data Optimized or Evolution-Data Only (EV-DO), Advanced Mobile Phone System (1st Generation) (AMPS (1G)), Total Access Communication System/Extended Total Access Communication System (TACS/ETACS), Digital AMPS (2nd Generation) (D-AMPS (2G)), Push-to-talk (PTT), Mobile Telephone System (MTS), Improved Mobile Telephone System (IMTS), Advanced Mobile Telephone System (AMTS), OLT (Norwegian for Offentlig Landmobil Telefoni, Public Land Mobile Telephony), MTD (Swedish abbreviation for Mobiltelefonisystem D, or Mobile telephony system D), Public Automated Land Mobile (Autotel/PALM), ARP (Finnish for Autoradiopuhelin, "car radio phone"), NMT (Nordic Mobile Telephony), High capacity version of NTT (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone) (Hicap), Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD), Mobitex, DataTAC, Integrated Digital Enhanced Network (iDEN), Personal Digital Cellular (PDC), Circuit Switched Data (CSD), Personal Handy-phone System (PHS), Wideband Integrated Digital Enhanced Network (WiDEN), iBurst, Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA), also referred to as also referred to as 3GPP Generic Access Network, or GAN standard), Zigbee, Bluetooth(r), Wireless Gigabit Alliance (WiGig) standard, mmWave standards in general (wireless systems operating at 10-300 GHz and above such as WiGig, IEEE 802.11ad, IEEE 802.11ay, etc.), technologies operating above 300 GHz and THz bands, (3GPP/LTE based or IEEE 802.11p or IEEE 802.11bd and other) Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) and Vehicle-to-X (V2X) and Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) and Infrastructure-to-Vehicle (I2V) communication technologies, 3GPP cellular V2X, DSRC (Dedicated Short Range Communications) communication systems such as Intelligent-Transport-Systems and others (typically operating in 5850 MHz to 5925 MHz or above (typically up to 5935 MHz following change proposals in CEPT Report 71)), the European ITS-G5 system (i.e. the European flavor of IEEE 802.11p based DSRC, including ITS-G5A (i.e., Operation of ITS-G5 in European ITS frequency bands dedicated to ITS for safety related applications in the frequency range 5,875 GHz to 5,905 GHz), ITS-G5B (i.e., Operation in European ITS frequency bands dedicated to ITS non- safety applications in the frequency range 5,855 GHz to 5,875 GHz), ITS-G5C (i.e., Operation of ITS applications in the frequency range 5,470 GHz to 5,725 GHz)), DSRC in Japan in the 700MHz band (including 715 MHz to 725 MHz), IEEE 802.11bd based systems, etc.
[0070] Examples described herein can be used in the context of any spectrum management scheme including dedicated licensed spectrum, unlicensed spectrum, license exempt spectrum, (licensed) shared spectrum (such as LSA = Licensed Shared Access in 2.3-2.4 GHz, 3.4-3.6 GHz, 3.6-3.8 GHz and further frequencies and SAS = Spectrum Access System / CBRS = Citizen Broadband Radio System in 3.55-3.7 GHz and further frequencies). Applicable spectrum bands include IMT (International Mobile Telecommunications) spectrum as well as other types of spectrum/bands, such as bands with national allocation (including 450 - 470 MHz, 902-928 MHz (note: allocated for example in US (FCC Part 15)), 863-868.6 MHz (note: allocated for example in European Union (ETSI EN 300 220)), 915.9-929.7 MHz (note: allocated for example in Japan), 917-923.5 MHz (note: allocated for example in South Korea), 755-779 MHz and 779-787 MHz (note: allocated for example in China), 790 - 960 MHz, 1710 - 2025 MHz, 2110 - 2200 MHz, 2300 - 2400 MHz, 2.4-2.4835 GHz (note: it is an ISM band with global availability and it is used by Wi-Fi technology family (11b/g/n/ax) and also by Bluetooth), 2500 - 2690 MHz, 698-790 MHz, 610 - 790 MHz, 3400 - 3600 MHz, 3400 – 3800 MHz, 3800 – 4200 MHz, 3.55-3.7 GHz (note: allocated for example in the US for Citizen Broadband Radio Service), 5.15-5.25 GHz and 5.25-5.35 GHz and 5.47-5.725 GHz and 5.725-5.85 GHz bands (note: allocated for example in the US (FCC part 15), consists four U-NII bands in total 500 MHz spectrum), 5.725-5.875 GHz (note: allocated for example in EU (ETSI EN 301 893)), 5.47-5.65 GHz (note: allocated for example in South Korea, 5925-7125 MHz and 5925-6425MHz band (note: under consideration in US and EU, respectively. Next generation Wi-Fi system is expected to include the 6 GHz spectrum as operating band but it is noted that, as of December 2017, Wi-Fi system is not yet allowed in this band. Regulation is expected to be finished in 2019-2020 time frame), IMT-advanced spectrum, IMT-2020 spectrum (expected to include 3600-3800 MHz, 3800 – 4200 MHz, 3.5 GHz bands, 700 MHz bands, bands within the 24.25-86 GHz range, etc.), spectrum made available under FCC's "Spectrum Frontier" 5G initiative (including 27.5 - 28.35 GHz, 29.1 - 29.25 GHz, 31 - 31.3 GHz, 37 - 38.6 GHz, 38.6 - 40 GHz, 42 - 42.5 GHz, 57 - 64 GHz, 71 - 76 GHz, 81 - 86 GHz and 92 - 94 GHz, etc.), the ITS (Intelligent Transport Systems) band of 5.9 GHz (typically 5.85-5.925 GHz) and 63-64 GHz, bands currently allocated to WiGig such as WiGig Band 1 (57.24-59.40 GHz), WiGig Band 2 (59.40-61.56 GHz) and WiGig Band 3 (61.56-63.72 GHz) and WiGig Band 4 (63.72-65.88 GHz), 57-64/66 GHz (note: this band has near-global designation for Multi-Gigabit Wireless Systems (MGWS)/WiGig . In US (FCC part 15) allocates total 14 GHz spectrum, while EU (ETSI EN 302 567 and ETSI EN 301 217-2 for fixed P2P) allocates total 9 GHz spectrum), the 70.2 GHz - 71 GHz band, any band between 65.88 GHz and 71 GHz, bands currently allocated to automotive radar applications such as 76-81 GHz, and future bands including 94-300 GHz and above. Furthermore, the scheme can be used on a secondary basis on bands such as the TV White Space bands (typically below 790 MHz) where e.g. the 400 MHz and 700 MHz bands are promising candidates. Besides cellular applications, specific applications for vertical markets may be addressed such as PMSE (Program Making and Special Events), medical, health, surgery, automotive, low-latency, drones, etc. applications.
[0071] Examples described herein can also implement a hierarchical application of the scheme , e.g. by introducing a hierarchical prioritization of usage for different types of users (e.g., low/medium/high priority, etc.), based on a prioritized access to the spectrum e.g. with highest priority to tier-1 users, followed by tier-2, then tier-3, etc. users, etc.
[0072] Some of the features in this document are defined for the network side, such as Access Points, eNodeBs, New Radio (NR) or next generation Node Bs (gNodeB or gNB – note that this term is typically used in the context of 3GPP fifth generation (5G) communication systems), etc. Still, a User Equipment (UE) may take this role as well and act as an Access Points, eNodeBs, gNodeBs, etc. i.e., some or all features defined for network equipment may be implemented by a UE.
[0073] Some examples may be used in conjunction with Radio Frequency (RF) systems, radar systems, vehicular radar systems, autonomous systems, robotic systems, detection systems, InfraRed (IR) systems, or the like. For example, with respect to systems, e.g., Light Detection Ranging (LiDAR) systems, and/or sonar systems, utilizing light and/or acoustic signals.
[0074] This disclosure may be used in conjunction with various devices and systems, for example, a radar sensor, a radar device, a radar system, a vehicle, a vehicular system, an autonomous vehicular system, a vehicular communication system, a vehicular device, an airborne platform, a waterborne platform, road infrastructure, sports-capture infrastructure, city monitoring infrastructure, static infrastructure platforms, indoor platforms, moving platforms, robot platforms, industrial platforms, a sensor device, a User Equipment (UE), a Mobile Device (MD), a wireless station (STA), a sensor device, a non-vehicular device, a mobile or portable device, and the like.
[0075] While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to specific embodiments, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. The scope of the invention is thus indicated by the appended claims and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced.
, Claims:1. A universal serial bus (USB) receptacle comprising a circuitry configured to:
connect to a USB port of a wireless communication device; and
send a millimeter wave (mmW) radio frequency (RF) signal to the USB port via a USB 2.0 pin of the USB receptacle, wherein the mmW RF signal is configured for a fifth generation (5G) modem of the wireless communication device.

2. The USB receptacle of claim 1, further comprising a remote radio head (RRH) configured to generate the mmW RF signal.

3. The USB receptacle of claim 2, wherein the RRH includes an antenna.

4. The USB receptacle of claim 3, wherein RRH includes an antenna in module (AiM).

5. The USB receptacle of claim 1, wherein the mmW RF signal is sent to the 5G modem of the wireless communication device.

6. A wireless communication device comprising:
a switch;
a platform controller hub (PCH);
a fifth generation (5G) modem;
a universal serial bus (USB) port configured to connect to a USB receptacle; and
a circuitry configured to:
detect the USB receptacle;
determine if the USB receptacle is configured for WWAN communication; and
switch a connection between the USB port and the USB receptacle between the 5G modem and the PCH based on the determination.

7. The wireless communication device of claim 6, wherein the determination is that the USB receptacle is configured for WWAN communication.

8. The wireless communication device of claim 7, wherein the switch connects the USB receptacle to the 5G modem.

9. The wireless communication device of claim 8, wherein the connection between the USB receptacle and the 5G modem is via a USB 2.0 pin of the USB port.

10. The wireless communication device of claim 6, further configured to receive a millimeter wave (mmW) radio frequency (RF) signal from the USB receptacle.

11. The wireless communication device of claim 10, further configured to send the mmW RF signal to the 5G modem.

12. The wireless communication device of claim 11, wherein the 5G modem is configured to return a modified mmW RF signal to the USB receptacle, wherein the modified mmW RF signal is a modulated mmW RF signal or a demodulated mmW RF signal.

13. A method comprising:
detecting a universal serial bus (USB) receptacle connected to a wireless communication device;
determining the USB is configured for WWAN communication; and
switching a connection of the USB receptacle based on the determination.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the USB receptacle is connected to a fifth generation (5G) modem of the wireless communication device.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the USB receptacle is connected to a platform controller hub (PCH) of the wireless communication device.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising sending a millimeter wave (mmW) radio frequency (RF) signal from the USB receptacle to the 5G modem.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising sending a millimeter wave (mmW) radio frequency (RF) signal from the 5G modem to the USB receptacle.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the USB receptacle is connected to a remote radio head (RRH) of the wireless communication device, wherein the RRH includes an antenna.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising sending a millimeter wave (mmW) radio frequency (RF) signal from the USB receptacle to the RRH.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising sending a millimeter wave (mmW) radio frequency (RF) signal from the RRH to the USB receptacle.