Multiple input and multiple output switch network

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9490852-B2
Application number	US-201414252322-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 14, 2014
Priority date	Apr 14, 2014
Publication date	Nov 8, 2016
Grant date	Nov 8, 2016

Abstract

According to an embodiment, a circuit package includes a programmable switch component having a plurality of input terminals arranged on the programmable switch component, a plurality of output terminals arranged on the programmable switch component and configured to be coupled to a plurality of amplifiers, and a plurality of switches. Each switch of the plurality of switches is coupled between an input terminal of the plurality of input terminals and an output terminal of the plurality of output terminals. Each switch of the plurality of switches includes a radio frequency (RF) switch and is configured to pass an RF signal when closed. Each input terminal of the plurality of input terminals is coupled to two switches of the plurality of switches.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A circuit package comprising:
a programmable switch component comprising:
a plurality of input pins arranged on the programmable switch component and externally accessible from outside the programmable switch component, each input pin of the plurality of input pins configured to receive signals in different bands from each other;
a plurality of output terminals arranged on the programmable switch component and configured to be coupled to a plurality of amplifiers; and
a plurality of switches, the plurality of switches comprising a plurality of switch sets, wherein
each switch of the plurality of switches is coupled between an input pin of the plurality of input pins and an output terminal of the plurality of output terminals,
each switch of the plurality of switches comprises a radio frequency (RF) switch and is configured to pass an RF signal when closed,
each input pin of the plurality of input pins is coupled to at least two output terminals of the plurality of output terminals through a switch or a subset of switches of the plurality of switches,
each switch of the plurality of switches is directly connected to an input pin of the plurality of input pins;
each switch set of the plurality of switch sets comprises a plurality of single switches coupled to a single input pin of the plurality of input pins;
each single switch of the plurality of single switches for each switch set is coupled to a separate output terminal of the plurality of output terminals; and
the plurality of amplifiers comprises a plurality of low noise amplifiers, wherein each low noise amplifier of the plurality of low noise amplifiers is coupled to a separate output terminal of the plurality of output terminals of the programmable switch component, the plurality of low noise amplifiers comprising a low-band low noise amplifier coupled to a first subset of the plurality of output terminals, a mid-band low noise amplifier coupled to a second subset of the plurality of output terminals, and a high-band low noise amplifier coupled to a third subset of the plurality of output terminals.

2. The circuit package of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of switches comprises digitally programmable switches.

3. The circuit package of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of switches comprises physically programmable switches comprising laser fuse switches or efuse switches.

4. The circuit package of claim 1 , wherein the programmable switch component and the plurality of low noise amplifiers are packaged together on a single chip.

5. The circuit package of claim 1 , wherein the programmable switch component and the plurality of low noise amplifiers are separately attached to a printed circuit board, and wherein
the plurality of output terminals of the programmable switch component consists of a plurality of output pins externally accessible from outside the programmable switch component, and
each low noise amplifier of the plurality of low noise amplifiers is coupled to a separate output pin of the plurality of output pins of the programmable switch component.

6. The circuit package of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of switches comprises a CMOS switch and each of the plurality of low noise amplifiers comprises a silicon-germanium amplifier or a gallium-arsenide amplifier.

7. The circuit package of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of input pins are arranged on a first external side of the programmable switch component and the plurality of output terminals are arranged on a second external side of the programmable switch component, the first external side different from the second external side.

8. The circuit package of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of input pins is greater in number than the plurality of output terminals.

9. The circuit package of claim 1 , further comprising a single low noise amplifier coupled to each output terminal of the plurality of output terminals of the programmable switch component.

10. The circuit package of claim 1 , wherein outputs of the low-band low noise amplifier, the mid-band low noise amplifier, and the high-band low noise amplifier are multiplexed together and supply a single output of the circuit package.

11. The circuit package of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of input pins comprises a ball grid array (BGA).

12. The circuit package of claim 1 , wherein the RF signal comprises a frequency above 700 MHz.

13. A wireless communications device comprising:
a printed circuit board (PCB);
a switch component attached to the PCB, the switch component comprising:
a plurality of input pins externally accessible at the PCB,
a plurality of outputs, and
a plurality of switches coupled between each input pin of the plurality of input pins and two outputs of the plurality of outputs of the switch component, wherein each respective switch of the plurality of switches is selectively programmed to couple or uncouple an input pin to an output, and wherein each respective switch of the plurality of switches is directly connected to an input pin of the plurality of input pins, wherein the plurality of switches comprises a plurality of switch sets, wherein each switch set of the plurality of switch sets comprises a plurality of single switches coupled to a single input pin of the plurality of input pins, and wherein each single switch of the plurality of single switches for each switch set is coupled to a separate output of the plurality of outputs;

a plurality of low noise amplifiers attached to the PCB, wherein each low noise amplifier of the plurality of low noise amplifiers is directly coupled to a separate output of the plurality of outputs of the switch component, wherein each of the plurality of low noise amplifiers operates in different frequency bands, wherein the plurality of low noise amplifiers comprises a low-band low noise amplifier coupled to a first subset of the plurality of outputs of the switch component, a mid-band low noise amplifier coupled to a second subset of the plurality of outputs of the switch component, and a high-band low noise amplifier coupled to a third subset of the plurality of outputs of the switch component; and
a filter coupled to an input pin of the plurality of input pins of the switch component.

14. The wireless communications device of claim 13 , wherein a subset of outputs of the plurality of low noise amplifiers is coupled together at an output line.

15. The wireless communications device of claim 14 , further comprising an application processor attached to the PCB, wherein the output line is coupled to the application processor through a coaxial cable.

16. The wireless communications device of claim 15 , wherein every output of the plurality of low noise amplifiers is coupled together at the output line.

17. The wireless communications device of claim 13 , further comprising a plurality of filters, wherein each input pin of the plurality of input pins of the switch component is coupled to a filter of the plurality of filters.

18. The wireless communications device of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of low noise amplifiers consists of a low-band low noise amplifier and a mid-band low noise amplifier.

19. The wireless communications device of claim 13 , further comprising an amplifier package attached to the PCB, wherein the amplifier package comprises the switch component and the plurality of low noise amplifiers.

20. The wireless communications device of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of input pins are arranged on a first external side of the switch

Assignees

• Infineon Technologies Ag

Inventors

• Kehrer Daniel

Classifications

• H04B7/0452

  Multi-user MIMO systems · CPC title

• H04B1/1027

  assessing signal quality or detecting noise/interference for the received signal · CPC title

• H04B1/006 Primary

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