Front-end modules with switched filter assemblies for carrier aggregation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017244538-A1
Application number	US-201715484043-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 10, 2017
Priority date	Sep 17, 2013
Publication date	Aug 24, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

Improved switched multiplexer architecture for supporting carrier aggregation in front-end applications. In some embodiments, an N-plexing system can include an assembly of filters configured to provide N filtered paths, and a switching circuit in communication with the assembly of filters. The switching circuit can be configured to provide a plurality of switchable paths between the assembly of filters and an antenna port to allow simultaneous operation between the N filtered paths and the antenna port. In some embodiments, N can be 4 for a quadruplexing system or 2 for a duplexing system, and such a system can be implemented in a front-end module (FEM) for wireless devices.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A front-end system comprising:
an assembly of filters configured to provide N filtered paths; and a switching circuit in communication with the assembly of filters, the switching circuit configured to provide a plurality of switchable paths between the assembly of filters and a signal port coupled to an antenna to allow simultaneous operation between 2 or more of the N filtered paths and the signal port, the assembly of filters and the switching circuit including a first switch between a first duplexer associated with a first cellular frequency band and the signal port, and a second switch between a second duplexer associated with a second cellular frequency band and the signal port, the first frequency band covering a frequency range that is exclusive of the frequency range covered by the second frequency band.

2 . The front-end system of claim 1 wherein the first cellular frequency band includes B1 and the second cellular frequency band includes B7.

3 . The front-end system of claim 1 wherein the first cellular frequency band includes B2 and the second cellular frequency band includes B4.

4 . The front-end system of claim 1 wherein the first cellular frequency band includes B5 and the second cellular frequency band includes B12.

5 . The front-end system of claim 1 wherein the first cellular frequency band includes B8 and the second cellular frequency band includes B17.

6 . The front-end system of claim 1 wherein the first cellular frequency band includes B8 and the second cellular frequency band includes B20.

7 . The front-end system of claim 1 wherein the first cellular frequency band includes B13 and the second cellular frequency band includes B5.

8 . The front-end system of claim 1 wherein the first cellular frequency band includes B13 and the second cellular frequency band includes B8.

9 . The front-end system of claim 1 wherein the first cellular frequency band includes B5 and the second cellular frequency band includes B28.

10 . The front-end system of claim 1 wherein the first cellular frequency band includes B8 and the second cellular frequency band includes B28.

11 . The front-end system of claim 1 wherein the switching circuit further includes a band selection switch in communication with the N filtered paths and the signal port, the switching circuit configured to select a duplex signal path for individual bands.

12 . The front-end system of claim 11 further comprising an assembly of phase delay components, the assembly of phase delay components configured to facilitate aggregation of signal paths resulting from operation of the assembly of filters.

13 . The front-end system of claim 1 wherein the switching circuit includes a field-effect transistor (FET) switch.

14 . The front-end system of claim 13 wherein the FET switch includes a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) FET.

15 . A radio-frequency (RF) module comprising:
a packaging substrate configured to receive a plurality of components; an assembly of filters implemented on the packaging substrate and configured to provide N filtered paths; and a switching circuit implemented on the packaging substrate and in communication with the assembly of filters, the switching circuit configured to provide a plurality of switchable paths between the assembly of filters and a signal port coupled to an antenna to allow simultaneous operation between 2 or more of the N filtered paths and the signal port, the assembly of filters and the switching circuit including a first switch between a first duplexer associated with a first cellular frequency band and the signal port, and a second switch between a second duplexer associated with a second cellular frequency band and the signal port, the first frequency band covering a frequency range that is exclusive of the frequency range covered by the second frequency band.

16 . The RF module of claim 15 wherein the RF module is a front-end module (FEM).

17 . The RF module of claim 16 wherein the FEM further includes a power amplifier module having a plurality of power amplifiers.

18 . The RF module of claim 16 wherein the switching circuit is implemented on an antenna switching module (ASM).

19 . The RF module of claim 16 wherein the switching circuit is implemented on a semiconductor die.

20 . A wireless device comprising:
a transceiver configured to process radio-frequency signals; a front-end module (FEM) in communication with the transceiver, the FEM including an assembly of filters implemented on the packaging substrate and configured to provide N filtered paths; the FEM also including a switching circuit implemented on the packaging substrate and in communication with the assembly of filters, the switching circuit configured to provide a plurality of switchable paths between the assembly of filters and a signal port coupled to an antenna to allow simultaneous operation between 2 or more of the N filtered paths and the signal port, the assembly of filters and the switching circuit including a first switch between a first duplexer associated with a first cellular frequency band and the signal port, and a second switch between a second duplexer associated with a second cellular frequency band and the signal port, the first frequency band covering a frequency range that is exclusive of the frequency range covered by the second frequency band; and an antenna in communication with the signal port, the antenna configured to facilitate either or both of transmission and receiving of RF signals.

Assignees

• Skyworks Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Chang Shiaw Wen
• Duverneay Brian Blu
• XU Sarah Shiui
• Pehlke David Richard

Classifications

• H04B1/48

  in circuits for connecting transmitter and receiver to a common transmission path, e.g. by energy of transmitter {(H04B1/46 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• H04L5/0041

  Frequency-non-contiguous · CPC title

• H04L25/02

  Details {; arrangements for supplying electrical power along data transmission lines (systems for transmitting signals via power distribution lines H04B3/54)} · CPC title

• H04B2001/0408

  with power amplifiers · CPC title

• H04B1/006 Primary

  using switches for selecting the desired band (H04B1/0057 takes precedence) · CPC title