KR20160052361A - Diversity receiver front end system with post-amplifier filters - Google Patents

Abstract

A diversity receiver front end system with post-amplifier filters is disclosed. A receiving system can include a controller for selectively activating at least one of a plurality of paths between an input of a first multiplexer and an output of a second multiplexer. The receiving system can further include a plurality of amplifiers. Each of the plurality of amplifiers can be disposed along a corresponding one of the paths, and can amplify a signal received in the amplifier. The receiving system can include a plurality of first bandpass filters. Each of the first bandpass filters can be disposed along a corresponding one of the paths in an output of a corresponding one of the amplifiers, and can filter a signal received in the bandpass filter to each frequency band.

Description

[0001] DIVERSITY RECEIVER FRONT END SYSTEM WITH POST-AMPLIFIER FILTERS WITH POST-AMPLIFIER FILTERS [0002]

relation Cross reference to application

This application claims the benefit of U. S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 073,043, filed October 31, 2014, entitled " DIVERSITY RECEIVER FRONT END SYSTEM ", which is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 077,894, entitled " DIVERSITY FRONT END SYSTEM WITH VARIABLE-GAIN AMPLIFIERS "filed November 10, 2014, entitled " DIVERSITY RECEIVER ARCHITECTURE HAVING PRE AND POST LNA FILTERS FOR SUPPORTING CARRIER AGGREGATION & No. 14 / 727,739, filed June 1, 2015, entitled " DIVERSITY RECEIVER FRONT END SYSTEM WITH POST-AMPLIFIER FILTERS ", filed June 10, 2015, Claim priority.

Technical field

The present disclosure relates generally to wireless communication systems having one or more diversity receiving antennas.

In wireless communication applications, size, cost, and performance are examples of factors that may be important for a given product. For example, to increase performance, wireless components such as diversity receive antennas and associated circuits are becoming more and more popular.

In many wireless-frequency (RF) applications, the diversity receive antenna is physically located away from the main antenna. Once both antennas are used, the transceiver can process signals from both antennas to increase data throughput.

According to some implementations, the present disclosure is directed to a receiving system including a controller configured to selectively activate one or more of a plurality of paths between an input of a first multiplexer and an output of a second multiplexer. The receiving system may include a plurality of amplifiers. Each of the plurality of amplifiers may be arranged along a corresponding one of the plurality of paths and configured to amplify the signal received at the amplifier. The receiving system may comprise a first plurality of bandpass filters. Each of the first plurality of bandpass filters may be arranged along a corresponding one of a plurality of paths at the output of a corresponding one of the plurality of amplifiers and the received signal at the bandpass filter is filtered .

In some embodiments, the receiving system may further comprise a second plurality of bandpass filters. Each of the second plurality of bandpass filters may be arranged along a corresponding one of the plurality of paths at the input of the corresponding one of the plurality of amplifiers and the received signal at the bandpass filter is filtered .

In some embodiments, one of the first plurality of bandpass filters disposed along the first path and one of the second plurality of bandpass filters disposed along the first path may be complementary. In some embodiments, one of the bandpass filters disposed along the first path may attenuate frequencies below each frequency band more than frequencies above each respective frequency band, Another of the pass filters can attenuate frequencies above each frequency band more than frequencies below each respective frequency band.

In some embodiments, the receiving system may further include a transmission line coupled to the output of the second multiplexer and coupled to a downstream module comprising a downstream multiplexer. In some embodiments, the downstream module does not include a downstream bandpass filter. In some embodiments, the downstream multiplexer includes a sample switch. In some embodiments, the downstream module may include one or more downstream amplifiers. In some embodiments, the number of one or more downstream amplifiers may be less than the number of the plurality of amplifiers.

In some embodiments, at least one of the plurality of amplifiers may comprise a low noise amplifier.

In some embodiments, the receiving system may further include one or more tunable matching circuits disposed at one or more of the input of the first multiplexer and the output of the second multiplexer.

In some embodiments, the controller may be configured to selectively activate one or more of the plurality of paths based on the band selection signal received by the controller. In some embodiments, the controller can be configured to selectively activate one or more of the plurality of paths by sending a splitter control signal to the first multiplexer and a combiner control signal to the second multiplexer.

In some implementations, this disclosure is directed to a wireless-frequency (RF) module that includes a packaging substrate configured to accommodate a plurality of components. The RF module further includes a receiving system implemented on a packaging substrate. The receiving system includes a controller configured to selectively activate one or more of a plurality of paths between an input of the first multiplexer and an output of the second multiplexer. The receiving system further includes a plurality of amplifiers. Each of the plurality of amplifiers may be arranged along a corresponding one of the plurality of paths and configured to amplify the signal received at the amplifier. The receiving system further comprises a first plurality of bandpass filters. Each of the first plurality of bandpass filters may be arranged along a corresponding one of a plurality of paths at the output of a corresponding one of the plurality of amplifiers and the received signal at the bandpass filter is filtered .

In some embodiments, the RF module may be a diversity receiver front-end module (FEM).

In some embodiments, the receiving system may further comprise a second plurality of bandpass filters. Each of the second plurality of bandpass filters may be arranged along a corresponding one of the plurality of paths at the input of the corresponding one of the plurality of amplifiers and the received signal at the bandpass filter is filtered .

In some embodiments, the plurality of paths may include an off-module passband path that includes an off-module bandpass filter and one of a plurality of amplifiers.

According to some teachings, the present disclosure is directed to a wireless device including a first antenna configured to receive a first radio-frequency (RF) signal. The wireless device further includes a first front-end module (FEM) in communication with the first antenna. The first FEM includes a packaging substrate configured to receive a plurality of components. The first FEM further comprises a receiving system implemented on a packaging substrate. The receiving system includes a controller configured to selectively activate one or more of a plurality of paths between an input of the first multiplexer and an output of the second multiplexer. The receiving system further includes a plurality of amplifiers. Each of the plurality of amplifiers may be arranged along a corresponding one of the plurality of paths and configured to amplify the signal received at the amplifier. The receiving system further comprises a first plurality of bandpass filters. Each of the first plurality of bandpass filters may be arranged along a corresponding one of a plurality of paths at the output of a corresponding one of the plurality of amplifiers and the received signal at the bandpass filter is filtered . The wireless device further comprises a communication module configured to receive the processed version of the first RF signal from the output via the transmission line and to generate data bits based on the processed version of the first RF signal.

In some embodiments, the wireless device further comprises a second antenna configured to receive a second radio-frequency (RF) signal and a second FEM in communication with the second antenna. The communication module may also be configured to receive the processed version of the second RF signal from the output of the second FEM and generate a data bit based on the processed version of the second RF signal.

In some embodiments, the receiving system further comprises a second plurality of bandpass filters. Each of the second plurality of bandpass filters may be arranged along a corresponding one of the plurality of paths at the input of the corresponding one of the plurality of amplifiers and the received signal at the bandpass filter is filtered .

1 shows a wireless device having a communication module coupled to a primary antenna and a diversity antenna.
Figure 2 shows a diversity receiver (DRx) configuration including a DRx front-end module (FEM).
Figure 3 illustrates, in some embodiments, that a diversity receiver (DRx) configuration may include a DRx module having a plurality of paths corresponding to a plurality of frequency bands.
4A illustrates that, in some embodiments, the diversity receiver configuration may include a diversity receiver (DRx) module having a plurality of bandpass filters disposed at the outputs of the plurality of amplifiers.
4B illustrates that, in some embodiments, the diversity receiver configuration may include a diversity RF module with fewer amplifiers than the diversity receiver (DRx) module.
FIG. 5 illustrates that, in some embodiments, the diversity receiver configuration may include a DRx module coupled to an off-module filter.
6 illustrates that, in some embodiments, the diversity receiver configuration may include a DRx module with a tunable matching circuit.
Figure 7 illustrates a module having one or more features described herein.
Figure 8 illustrates a wireless device having one or more features described herein.

The introduction provided herein, if any, is merely for convenience and does not necessarily affect the scope or meaning of the claimed invention.

Figure 1 illustrates a wireless device 100 having a communication module 110 coupled to a primary antenna 130 and a diversity antenna 140. [ The communication module 110 (and its constituent components) may be controlled by the controller 120. The communication module 110 includes a transceiver 112 configured to convert between an analog radio-frequency (RF) signal and a digital data signal. For that purpose, the transceiver 112 may be a digital-to-analog converter, an analog-to-digital converter, a local oscillator for modulating a baseband analog signal to a carrier frequency or demodulating a baseband analog signal from a carrier frequency, A baseband processor that converts between samples and data bits (e.g., voice or other types of data), or other components.

The communication module 110 further includes an RF module 114 coupled between the primary antenna 130 and the transceiver 112. The RF module 114 may be referred to as a front-end module (FEM) because the RF module 114 may physically be proximate to the primary antenna 130 to reduce attenuation due to cable loss . The RF module 114 may perform processing on an analog signal received from the transceiver 112 for transmission via the primary antenna 130 or received from the primary antenna 130 for the transceiver 112. [ For this purpose, the RF module 114 may include a filter, a power amplifier, a band selection switch, a matching circuit, and other components. Similarly, communication module 110 includes a diversity RF module 116 coupled between a transceiver 112 and a diversity antenna 140 that perform similar processing.

When a signal is transmitted to the wireless device, the signal may be received at both the primary antenna 130 and the diversity antenna 140. The primary antenna 130 and the diversity antenna 140 are physically spaced apart so that the signals at the primary antenna 130 and the diversity antenna 140 are received with different characteristics. For example, in one embodiment, the primary antenna 130 and the diversity antenna 140 may receive signals having different attenuation, noise, frequency response, or phase shifts. The transceiver 112 may utilize both signals having different characteristics to determine the data bits corresponding to the signals. In some implementations, the transceiver 112 selects between the primary antenna 130 and the diversity antenna 140 based on the characteristics, such as selecting the antenna with the highest signal-to-noise ratio. In some implementations, transceiver 112 combines the signals from primary antenna 130 and diversity antenna 140 to increase the signal-to-noise ratio of the combined signal. In some implementations, the transceiver 112 processes signals to perform multiple-input / multiple-output (MIMO) communications.

Because the diversity antenna 140 is physically spaced from the primary antenna 130, the diversity antenna 140 may be coupled to the communication module (not shown) by a transmission line 135, such as a cable or a printed circuit board 110). In some implementations, the transmission line 135 has a loss and attenuates the signal received at the diversity antenna 140 before it reaches the communication module 110. Thus, in some implementations, gain is applied to the signal received at the diversity antenna 140, as described below. The gain (and other analog processing, such as filtering) may be applied by a diversity receiver module. Such a diversity receiver module may be physically located in proximity to the diversity antenna 140, and thus may be referred to as a diversity receiver front-end module. In contrast, the diversity RF module 116 coupled to the diversity antenna 140 via the transmission line 135 may be referred to as a back-end module or a downstream module.

2 shows a diversity receiver (DRx) configuration 200 that includes a DRx front-end module (FEM) The DRx configuration 200 includes a diversity antenna 140 configured to receive a diversity signal and provide a diversity signal to the DRx FEM 210. [ The DRx FEM 210 is configured to perform processing relating to the diversity signal received from the diversity antenna 140. [ For example, the DRx FEM 210 may be configured to filter the diversity signal into one or more active frequency bands, for example, as indicated by the controller 120. As another example, the DRx FEM 210 may be configured to amplify the diversity signal. For this purpose, the DRx FEM 210 may include filters, low-noise amplifiers, band selection switches, matching circuits, and other components.

The DRx FEM 210 sends the processed diversity signal to the Diversity RF (D-RF) module 116 that provides additional processed diversity signals to the transceiver 112 over the transmission line 135 do. The diversity RF module 116 (and, in some implementations, the transceiver 112) is controlled by the controller 120. In some implementations, the controller 120 may be implemented within the transceiver 112.

3 illustrates that, in some embodiments, the diversity receiver (DRx) configuration 300 may include a DRx module 310 having a plurality of paths corresponding to a plurality of frequency bands. The DRX configuration 300 includes a diversity antenna 140 configured to receive a diversity signal. In some implementations, the diversity signal may be a single-band signal comprising data modulated in a single frequency band. In some implementations, the diversity signal may be a multi-band signal (also referred to as an inter-band carrier aggregation signal) comprising data modulated in a plurality of frequency bands.

The DRx module 310 provides an input for receiving a diversity signal from the diversity antenna 140 and a processed diversity signal to the transceiver 330 (via the transmission line 135 and the diversity RF module 320) Lt; / RTI > The input of the DRx module 310 is provided as an input to a first multiplexer (MUX) 311. The first multiplexer 311 includes a plurality of multiplexer outputs, each of which corresponds to a path between the input and the output of the DRx module 310. Each of the paths may correspond to each frequency band. The output of the DRx module 310 is provided by the output of the second multiplexer 312. The second multiplexer 312 includes a plurality of multiplexer inputs, each of which corresponds to one of the paths between the input and the output of the DRx module 310.

The frequency bands may be cellular frequency bands, such as Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) frequency bands. For example, the first frequency band may be a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) downlink or "Rx" band 2 between 1930 megahertz (MHZ) and 1990 MHz, the second frequency band may be 869 MHz and 894 MHz Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 > "Rx" Other downlink frequency bands may be used, such as those described in Table 1 below or other non-UMTS frequency bands.

In some implementations, the DRx module 310 includes a DRx controller 302 that receives signals from a controller 120 (also referred to as a communications controller), and based on the received signals, Or < / RTI > In some implementations, the DRx module 310 does not include the DRx controller 302 and the controller 120 selectively activates one or more of the plurality of paths directly.

As noted above, in some implementations, the diversity signal is a single-band signal. Thus, in some implementations, the first multiplexer 311 may be configured to receive a signal from the DRX controller 302, such as a single signal that routes the diversity signal to one of a plurality of paths corresponding to the frequency band of the single- Pole / multiple-throw (SPMT) switch. The DRx controller 302 may generate a signal based on the band selection signal received by the DRx controller 302 from the communications controller 120. [ Similarly, in some implementations, the second multiplexer 312 receives a signal from the corresponding one of the plurality of paths corresponding to the frequency band of the single-band signal based on the signal received from the DRx controller 302 It is an SPMT switch that routes.

As noted above, in some implementations, the diversity signal is a multi-band signal. Thus, in some implementations, the first multiplexer 311 is operable to receive at least two of the plurality of paths corresponding to two or more frequency bands of the multi-band signal based on the splitter control signal received from the DRx controller 302 Is a band splitter that routes diversity signals. The function of the band splitter may be implemented as an SPMT switch, a diplexer filter, or some combination thereof. The diplexer may be any of a triplexer, a quadruplexer, or any other device configured to divide an input signal received at the input of the DRx module 310 into a plurality of signals in each of a plurality of frequency bands propagated along a plurality of paths It can be replaced with another multiplexer.

Similarly, in some implementations, the second multiplexer 312 may select one or more of a plurality of paths corresponding to two or more frequency bands of the multi-band signal based on the combiner control signal received from the DRx controller 302 Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 > a < / RTI > The function of the band combiner may be implemented as an SPMT switch, a diplexer filter, or some combination thereof. The DRX controller 302 may generate a splitter control signal and a combiner control signal based on the band selection signal received by the DRx controller 302 from the communication controller 120. [

Thus, in some implementations, the DRx controller 302 may selectively enable one or more of the plurality of paths based on the band selection signal received by the DRx controller 302 (e.g., from the communications controller 120) . In some implementations, the DRX controller 302 is configured to selectively enable one or more of the plurality of paths by sending a splitter control signal to the band splitter and transmitting a combiner control signal to the band combiner.

The DRx module 310 includes a plurality of bandpass filters 313a-313d. Each of the bandpass filters 313a-313d is arranged to correspond to one of the plurality of paths and is configured to filter the signal received at the bandpass filter into a respective one of the plurality of paths . In some implementations, the bandpass filters 313a-313d may also filter the received signal at the bandpass filter into a downlink frequency sub-band of the respective one of the plurality of paths . The DRx module 310 includes a plurality of amplifiers 314a-314d. Each of the amplifiers 314a-314d is arranged to correspond to one of the plurality of paths and is configured to amplify the signal received at the amplifier.

In some implementations, amplifiers 314a-314d are narrowband amplifiers configured to amplify signals within the respective frequency bands of the path in which the amplifiers are located. In some implementations, the amplifiers 314a-314d are controllable by the DRx controller 302. For example, in some implementations, each of the amplifiers 314a-314d includes an enable / disable input and is enabled (or disabled) based on an amplifier enable signal received at a received enable / )do. The amplifier enable signal may be transmitted by the DRX controller 302. Thus, in some implementations, the DRX controller 302 may transmit one or more of the plurality of paths by sending an amplifier enable signal to one or more of the amplifiers 314a-314d, respectively, disposed along one or more of the plurality of paths Lt; / RTI > In this implementation, rather than being controlled by the DRX controller 302, the first multiplexer 311 may be a band-splitter that routes the diversity signal to each of the plurality of paths and the second multiplexer 312 may be a multiple- Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 > a < / RTI > However, in an implementation in which the DRX controller 302 controls the first multiplexer 311 and the second multiplexer 312, the DRx controller 302 may also be coupled to a particular amplifier 314a-314d Can be enabled (or disabled).

In some implementations, the amplifiers 314a-314d are variable-gain amplifiers (VGAs). Thus, in some implementations, the DRx module 310 includes a plurality of variable-gain amplifiers (VGAs), each of which is arranged along a corresponding one of a plurality of paths and receives signals received at the VGA, Amplified by a gain controlled by an amplifier control signal received from the amplifier 302.

The gain of the VGA may be bypassable, step-variable, or continuously-variable. In some implementations, at least one of the VGAs includes a fixed-gain amplifier and a bypass switch that can be controlled by an amplifier control signal. The bypass switch closes the line from the input of the fixed-gain amplifier (at the first position) to the output of the fixed-gain amplifier, allowing the signal to bypass the fixed-gain amplifier. The bypass switch opens the line between the input and the output (in the second position) and passes the signal through the fixed-gain amplifier. In some implementations, when the bypass switch is in the first position, the fixed-gain amplifier is disabled or otherwise reconfigured to accommodate the bypass mode.

In some implementations, at least one of the VGAs includes a step-variable gain amplifier configured to amplify the signal received at the VGA with one of a plurality of configured quantities indicated by the amplifier control signal. In some implementations, at least one of the VGAs includes a continuous-variable gain amplifier configured to amplify the signal received at the VGA with a gain proportional to the amplifier control signal.

In some implementations, the amplifiers 314a-314d are variable-current amplifiers (VCAs). The current drawn by the VCA may be bypassable, step-variable, or continuous-variable. In some implementations, at least one of the VCAs includes a fixed-current amplifier and a bypass switch controllable by the amplifier control signal. The bypass switch closes the line between the input of the fixed-current amplifier (at the first position) and the output of the fixed-current amplifier, allowing the signal to bypass the fixed-current amplifier. The bypass switch opens the line between the input (at the second position) and the output, allowing the signal to pass through the fixed-current amplifier. In some implementations, when the bypass switch is in the first position, the fixed-current amplifier is disabled or otherwise reconfigured to accommodate the bypass mode.

In some implementations, at least one of the VCAs includes a step-variable current amplifier configured to amplify a signal received at the VCA by pulling one of a plurality of configured quantities indicated by the amplifier control signal. In some implementations, at least one of the VCAs includes a continuous-variable current amplifier configured to amplify the signal received at the VCA by drawing a current proportional to the amplifier control signal.

In some implementations, amplifiers 314a-314d are fixed-gain, fixed-current amplifiers. In some implementations, the amplifiers 314a-314d are fixed-gain, variable-current amplifiers. In some implementations, amplifiers 314a-314d are variable-gain, fixed-current amplifiers. In some implementations, the amplifiers 314a-314d are variable-gain, variable-current amplifiers.

In some implementations, the DRX controller 302 generates the amplifier control signal (s) based on the quality of service metric of the input signal received at the input of the first multiplexer 311. In some implementations, the DRx controller 302 is operable to receive the amplifier control signal (s) based on a signal received from the communication controller 120 that may eventually be based on a quality of service (QoS) metric of the received signal. . The QoS metric of the received signal may be based, at least in part, on the diversity signal received at the diversity antenna 140 (e.g., the input signal received at the input). The QoS metric of the received signal may be further based on the signal received at the primary antenna. In some implementations, the DRX controller 302 generates the amplifier control signal (s) based on the QoS metric of the diversity signal without receiving a signal from the communication controller 120.

In some implementations, the QoS metric includes signal strength. As another example, the QoS metric may include a bit error rate, data throughput, transmission delay, or any other QoS metric.

The DRx module 310 receives the diversity signal from the diversity antenna 140 and the processed diversity signal (via the transmission line 135 and the diversity RF module 320) And provides the output to the transceiver 330. Diversity RF module 320 receives the processed diversity signal on transmission line 135 and performs further processing. In particular, the processed diversity signal is split by a diversity RF multiplexer 321 (also referred to as a downstream multiplexer), or a divided or routed signal is provided to a corresponding bandpass filter 323a-323d (Referred to as a downstream bandpass filter) and routed to one or more paths that are amplified by corresponding amplifiers 324a-324d (also referred to as downstream amplifiers). The output of each of the amplifiers 324a-324d is provided to the transceiver 330. [

The diversity RF multiplexer 321 may be controlled by the controller 120 (either directly or through an on-chip diversity RF controller) to selectively activate one or more of the paths. Similarly, the amplifiers 324a-324d may be controlled by the controller 120. [ For example, in some implementations, each of the amplifiers 324a-324d includes an enable / disable input and is enabled (or disabled) based on the amplifier enable signal. In some implementations, amplifiers 324a-324d are controlled by an amplifier control signal received from controller 120 (or an on-chip diversity RF controller controlled by controller 120) Gain amplifier (VGA) that amplifies the signal to gain. In some implementations, the amplifiers 324a-324d are variable-current amplifiers (VCAs).

The number of bandpass filters in the DRx configuration 300 is doubled by the DRx module 310 that is added to the receiver chain that already includes the diversity RF module 320. Thus, in some implementations as described below, bandpass filters 323a-323d are not included in the diversity RF module 320. [ In some implementations, bandpass filters 323a-323d (e.g., described below with respect to Figures 4a and 4b) are relocated to DRx module 310. [ In some implementations, bandpass filters 313a-313d alone in the DRx module 310 are used to reduce the strength of the out-of-band blockers. The automatic gain control (AGC) table of the diversity RF module 320 also indicates the amount of gain provided by the amplifiers 324a-324d of the diversity RF module 320 to the DRx module By the amount of gain provided by the amplifiers 314a-314d of the amplifier 310. [

For example, if the DRx module gain is 15 dB and the receiver sensitivity is -100 dBm, the diversity RF module 320 will see a sensitivity of -85 dBm. If the closed loop AGC of the diversity RF module 320 is active, the gain will automatically drop by 15 dB. However, both the signal components and the out-of-band blockers are amplified and received by 15 dB. Thus, in some implementations, the 15 dB gain drop of the diversity RF module 320 is also accompanied by a 15 dB increase in its linearity. In particular, the amplifiers 324a-324d of the diversity RF module 320 may be designed such that the linearity of the amplifiers increases with a gain reduction (or current increase).

In some implementations, the controller 120 controls the gains (and / or current) of the amplifiers 314a-314d of the DRx module 310 and the amplifiers 324a-324d of the diversity RF module 320. Controller 120 is responsive to increasing the amount of gain provided by amplifiers 314a-314d of the DRx module 310, as in the example above, to amplifiers 324a-324d Can be reduced. Thus, in some implementations, the controller 120 may control the amplifiers 324a-324d of the diversity RF module 320 based on the amplifier control signals (for the amplifiers 314a-314d of the DRx module 310) To control the gain of one or more downstream amplifiers 324a-324d coupled to the output (via the transmission line 135) (of the DRx module 310) to generate a downstream amplifier control signal. In some implementations, the controller 120 also controls the gain of other components of the wireless device, such as amplifiers in the main front-end module (FEM), based on the amplifier control signals.

As noted above, in some implementations, bandpass filters 323a-323d are not included. Thus, in some implementations, at least one of the downstream amplifiers 324a-324d is coupled to the output (via the transmission line 135) (of the DRx module 310) without passing through a downstream bandpass filter.

4A shows that in some embodiments the diversity receiver configuration 400 includes a diversity receiver DRx having a plurality of bandpass filters 423a through 423d disposed at outputs of the plurality of amplifiers 314a through 314d, Module 410, as shown in FIG. The diversity receiver configuration 400 includes a DRx module 410 having an input coupled to the antenna 140 and an output coupled to the transmission line 135. The DRx module 410 includes a number of paths between the input and output of the DRx module 410. Each of the paths includes an input multiplexer 311, preamplifier bandpass filters 413a-413d, amplifiers 314a-314d, post-amplifier bandpass filters 423a-423d, and an output multiplexer 312 do.

The DRX controller 302 is configured to selectively activate one or more of a plurality of paths between an input and an output. In some implementations, the DRx controller 302 may be configured to selectively enable one or more of the plurality of paths based on the band selection signal received by the DRx controller 302 (e.g., from the communications controller 120) do. The DRX controller 302 may enable or disable the amplifiers 314a-314d, for example, control the multiplexers 311 and 312, or selectively activate the path through other mechanisms.

The output of the DRx module 410 may be a diversity RF module 420 that is different from the diversity RF module 320 of Figure 3A in that the diversity RF module 420 of Figure 4A does not include a downstream bandpass filter. ) Via transmission line 135. [ In some implementations (e.g., as shown in FIG. 4A), the downstream multiplexer 321 may be implemented as a sample switch.

Including post-amplifier bandpass filters 423a-423d in DRx module 410 rather than diversity RF module 420 may provide a number of advantages. For example, as described in detail below, this configuration can improve the noise figure of the DRx module 410, streamline filter design, and / or improve path isolation.

Each of the paths of the DRx module 410 may be characterized by a noise figure. The noise figure of each path is a representation of the deterioration of the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) caused by propagation along the path. In particular, the noise figure of each path is the difference in decibels (dB) between the SNR at the input of the pre-amplifier bandpass filters 413a-413d and the SNR at the output of the post-amplifier bandpass filters 423a-4234b Can be expressed. The noise figure of each path may be different for each frequency band. For example, the first path may have an in-band noise figure for the first frequency band and an out-of-band noise figure for the second frequency band. Similarly, the second path may have an in-band noise figure for the second frequency band and an out-of-band noise figure for the first frequency band.

The DRx module 410 may also be characterized by a noise figure, which may differ for each frequency band. In particular, the noise figure of the DRx module 410 is the difference in decibels (dB) between the SNR at the input of the DRx module 410 and the SNR at the output of the DRx module 410.

Since the signals propagating along the two paths are combined by the output multiplexer 312, the out-of-band noise generated or amplified by the amplifier may negatively affect the combined signal. For example, the out-of-band noise generated or amplified by the first amplifier 314a may increase the noise figure of the DRx module 410 at the second frequency. Thus, the post-amplifier bandpass filter 423a disposed along the path can reduce this out-of-band noise figure and reduce the noise figure of the DRx module 410 at the second frequency.

In some implementations, the pre-amplifier bandpass filters 413a-413d and the post-amplifier bandpass filters 423a-423d are designed to be complementary, thereby simplifying the filter design and / Similar performance can be achieved with components. For example, the post-amplifier bandpass filter 423a disposed along the first path may more dampen the frequencies to which the pre-amplifier bandpass filter 413a disposed along the first path is more weakly attenuated . By way of example, the pre-amplifier bandpass filter 413a may attenuate frequencies below the first frequency band more than frequencies above the first frequency band. Complementarily, the post-amplifier bandpass filter 423a may attenuate frequencies above the first frequency band more than frequencies below the first frequency band. Together, therefore, the pre-amplifier bandpass filter 413a and the post-amplifier bandpass filter 423a attenuate all out-of-band frequencies using fewer components. In general, one of the bandpass filters arranged along the path can attenuate frequencies below each frequency band of the path more than frequencies above each frequency band, Another can attenuate frequencies above each frequency band more than frequencies below each frequency band. The pre-amplifier bandpass filters 413a-413d and the post-amplifier bandpass filters 423a-423d may be reciprocal in different ways. For example, the pre-amplifier bandpass filter 413a disposed along the first path may phase-shift the signal by a predetermined angle and the post-amplifier bandpass filter 423a disposed along the first path may phase- Can be phase-shifted in opposite directions at a predetermined angle.

In some implementations, post-amplifier bandpass filters 423a-423d may improve isolation of paths. For example, if there is no post-amplifier bandpass filter, the signal propagating along the first path may be filtered at a first frequency by the pre-amplifier bandpass filter 413a and amplified by the amplifier 314a. The signal leaks through the output multiplexer 312 and propagates backward along the second path and is reflected from the amplifier 314b, the pre-amplifier bandpass filter 413b, or other components disposed along the second path. If this reflected signal is out-of-phase with the initial signal, it may result in attenuation of the signal when coupled by the output multiplexer 312. In contrast, the leaky signal (mainly in the first frequency band) is attenuated by the post-amplifier band-pass filter by the post-amplifier band-pass filter 423b disposed along the second path and associated with the second frequency band , Reducing the effect of any reflected signal.

Thus, the DRx module 410 may include one or more of a plurality of paths between an input of a first multiplexer (e.g., input multiplexer 311) and an output of a second multiplexer (e.g., an output multiplexer 312) Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 > a < / RTI > The DRx module 410 further includes a plurality of amplifiers 314a-314d, each of the plurality of amplifiers 314a-314d being arranged along a corresponding one of the plurality of paths, . The DRx module 410 includes a first plurality of bandpass filters (e.g., post-amplifier bandpass filters 423a-423d), each of the first plurality of bandpass filters comprising a plurality of amplifiers Are arranged along a corresponding one of a plurality of paths at an output of a corresponding one of the plurality of filters 314a-314d, and are configured to filter the received signal in a bandpass filter into respective frequency bands. 4A, in some implementations, the DRx module 410 further includes a second plurality of bandpass filters (e.g., preamplifier bandpass filters 413a-413d), and a second plurality Each of which is arranged along a corresponding one of a plurality of paths at the input of a corresponding one of the plurality of amplifiers 314a-314d and filters the received signal at the band pass filter into respective frequency bands .

4B illustrates that, in some embodiments, the diversity receiver configuration 450 may include a diversity RF module 460 having fewer amplifiers than the diversity receiver (DRx) module 410. As noted above, in some implementations, the diversity RF module 460 may not include a bandpass filter. Thus, in some implementations, one or more of the amplifiers 424 of the diversity RF module 460 need not be band-specific. In particular, the diversity RF module 460 may include one or more paths, each path including an amplifier 424 that is not 1-to-1 mapped to the paths of the DRx module 410. This mapping of paths (or a corresponding amplifier) may be stored in the controller 120.

Accordingly, the DRx module 410 includes a plurality of paths, each path corresponding to a frequency band, while the diversity RF module 460 is a module that does not correspond to a single frequency band From the input to the input of the multiplexer 321).

In some implementations (shown in FIG. 4B), the diversity RF module 460 includes a single wideband or tunable amplifier 424 that amplifies the signal received from the transmission line 135 and outputs the amplified signal to a multiplexer 321. Multiplexer 321 includes a plurality of multiplexer outputs, each output corresponding to a respective frequency band. In some implementations, the multiplexer 321 may be implemented as a sample switch. In some implementations, the diversity RF module 460 does not include any amplifiers.

In some implementations, the diversity signal is a single-band signal. Thus, in some implementations, the multiplexer 321 may include a single-band (SPMT) circuit that routes the diversity signal to one of a plurality of outputs corresponding to a frequency band of the single- pole / multiple-throw switch. In some implementations, the diversity signal is a multi-band signal. Thus, in some implementations, the multiplexer 421 may multiplex the diversity signal (s) to two or more of the plurality of outputs corresponding to two or more frequency bands of the multi-band signal based on the splitter control signal received from the controller 120 Lt; / RTI > In some implementations, the diversity RF module 460 may be combined with the transceiver 330 as a single module.

In some implementations, the diversity RF module 460 includes a plurality of amplifiers, each of which corresponds to a set of frequency bands. The signal from the transmission line 135 may be transmitted in a band splitter that outputs a high frequency to the high frequency amplifier along the first path and a low frequency to the low frequency amplifier along the second path. The output of each of the amplifiers may be provided to a multiplexer 321 configured to route the signal to a corresponding input of the transceiver 330.

Figure 5 illustrates that, in some embodiments, the diversity receiver configuration 500 may include a DRx module 510 coupled to one or more off-module filters 513 and 523. [ The DRx module 510 may include a packaging substrate 501 configured to accommodate a plurality of components and a receiving system implemented on a packaging substrate 501. The DRx module 510 may include one or more signal paths that are routed from the DRx module 510 and made available to a system integrator, designer, or manufacturer to support filters for any desired band.

The DRx module 510 includes a number of paths between the input and the output of the DRx module 510. The DRx module 510 includes a bypass path between an input and an output that is activated by a bypass switch 519 controlled by the DRx controller 502. Although FIG. 5 shows a single bypass switch 519, in some implementations, the bypass switch 519 may comprise a plurality of switches (e. G., A first switch physically proximate the input and a second switch physically proximate the output And a second switch disposed therein). As shown in FIG. 5, the bypass path does not include a filter or an amplifier.

The DRx module 510 includes a plurality of multiplexer paths including a first multiplexer 511 and a second multiplexer 512. The multiplexer path includes a first multiplexer 511, preamplifier bandpass filters 413a-413d implemented on a packaging substrate 501, amplifiers 314a-314d implemented on a packaging substrate 501, Amplifier passband filters 423a-423d implemented on a second input stage 501 and a second multiplexer 512. The second multiplexer 512 includes a plurality of on- The multiplexer path includes a first multiplexer 511, a pre-amplifier bandpass filter 513 implemented separately from the packaging substrate 501, an amplifier 514, a post-amplifier bandpass filter 513 implemented separately from the packaging substrate 501, An amplifier bandpass filter 523, and a second multiplexer 512, which may include one or more off-module paths. The amplifier 514 may be a wide band amplifier implemented on the packaging substrate 501, or may be implemented separately from the packaging substrate 501. In some implementations, the one or more off-module paths do not include a pre-amplifier bandpass filter 513, but include a post-amplifier bandpass filter 523. As described above, the amplifiers 314a-314d, 514 may be variable-gain amplifiers and / or variable-current amplifiers.

The DRX controller 502 is configured to selectively activate one or more of a plurality of paths between an input and an output. In some implementations, the DRx controller 502 is configured to selectively enable one or more of the plurality of paths based on the band selection signal received by the DRx controller 502 (e.g., from a communications controller). The DRx controller 502 may control the multiplexers 511 and 512 or may control the operation of the multiplexers 511 and 512 by, for example, opening or closing the bypass switch 519, enabling or disabling the amplifiers 314a-314d and 514, The path can be selectively activated through the mechanism of. For example, the DRx controller 502 may be coupled to the amplifier 314a-314d, 514 along a path (e.g., between filters 313a-313d, 513 and amplifiers 314a-314d, 514) The switches can be opened or closed by setting the gain of the switch to substantially zero.

6 illustrates that, in some embodiments, the diversity receiver configuration 600 may include a DRx module 610 with tunable matching circuitry. In particular, the DRx module 610 may include one or more tunable matching circuits disposed in one or more of the input and the output of the DRx module 610.

The plurality of frequency bands received on the same diversity antenna 140 are all less likely to experience ideal impedance matching. To match each frequency band using a compact matching circuit, a tunable input matching circuit 616 may be implemented at the input of the DRx module 610 (e. G., To the band select signal from the communications controller) DRX < / RTI > controller 602). The DRX controller 602 may tune the tunable input matching circuit 616 based on a look-up table that associates the frequency band (or set of frequency bands) with the tuning parameters. The tunable input matching circuit 616 may be a tunable T-circuit, a tunable PI-circuit, or any other tunable matching circuit. In particular, the tunable input matching circuit 616 may include one or more variable components, such as resistors, inductors, and capacitors. The variable component may be connected in parallel and / or in series and may be connected between the input of the DRx module 610 and the input of the first multiplexer 311 or connected between the input of the DRx module 610 and the ground voltage.

Likewise, it is unlikely that a single transmission line 135 (or at least a small number of cables) carrying signals in many frequency bands will all experience ideal impedance matching in multiple frequency bands. To match each frequency band using a compact matching circuit, a tunable output matching circuit 617 may be implemented at the output of the DRx module 610 (e. G., To the band select signal from the communications controller) DRX < / RTI > controller 602). The DRX controller 602 may tune the tunable output matching circuit 618 based on a lookup table that associates a frequency band (or set of frequency bands) with a tuning parameter. The tunable output matching circuit 617 may be a tunable T-circuit, a tunable PI-circuit, or any other tunable matching circuit. In particular, the tunable output matching circuit 617 may include one or more variable components, such as resistors, inductors, and capacitors. The variable component may be connected in parallel and / or in series and connected between the output of the DRx module 610 and the output of the second multiplexer 312 or may be connected between the output of the DRx module 610 and the ground voltage.

7 illustrates that in some embodiments, some or all of the diversity receiver configurations (e.g., those shown in Figures 3, 4a, 4b, 5, and 6) may be implemented in whole or in part, Lt; / RTI > Such a module may be, for example, a front-end module (FEM). Such a module may be, for example, a diversity receiver (DRx) FEM. In the example of FIG. 7, the module 700 may include a packaging substrate 702, and multiple components may be mounted on such a packaging substrate 702. For example, a controller 704 (which may include a front-end power management integrated circuit [FE-PIMC]), a low noise amplifier assembly 706 (which may include one or more variable- gain amplifiers) (One or more post-amplifier bandpass filters 713 and / or one or more post-amplifier bandpass filters 723), which may include a tunable matching circuit, such as a tunable matching circuit 708, a multiplexer assembly 710, May be mounted and / or implemented on the packaging substrate 702 and / or within it. Other components, such as a plurality of SMT devices 714, may also be mounted on the packaging substrate 702. While all of the various components are shown as being laid out on the packaging substrate 702, it will be understood that some component (s) may be implemented on top of the other component (s).

In some implementations, devices and / or circuits having one or more of the features described herein may be included in an RF electronic device, such as a wireless device. Such devices and / or circuits may be implemented directly in a wireless device, in a modular fashion as described herein, or in some combination thereof. In some embodiments, such a wireless device may include, for example, a cellular telephone, a smart phone, a handheld wireless device with or without telephone capability, a wireless tablet, and the like.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example wireless device 800 having one or more beneficial features described herein. In the context of one or more modules having one or more of the features described herein, such modules generally include a dashed box 801 (e.g., which may be implemented as a front-end module), a downstream module And a diversity receiver (DRx) module 700 (which may be implemented as a front-end module, for example).

8, a power amplifier (PA) 820 receives their respective RF signals from a transceiver 810 that can be configured and operated in a known manner to generate RF signals to be amplified and transmitted, Lt; / RTI > signals. The transceiver 810 is shown to interact with a baseband subsystem 808 that is configured to provide a conversion between a suitable data and / or voice signal for the user and an RF signal suitable for the transceiver 810. The transceiver 810 may also communicate with a power management component 806 that is configured to manage power for operation of the wireless device 800. [ This power management may also control the operation of baseband subsystem 808 and modules 801, 811, and 900.

The baseband subsystem 808 is shown connected to the user interface 802 to facilitate the various inputs and outputs of voice and / or data provided to or received from the user. The baseband subsystem 808 may also be connected to a memory 804 that is configured to facilitate the operation of the wireless device to store data and / or instructions and / or provide a storage of information to a user.

In the example wireless device 800, the outputs of PAs 820 are shown to be matched (via respective matching circuits 822) and routed to their respective duplexers 824. These amplified and filtered signals may be routed to the primary antenna 816 via an antenna switch 814 for transmission. In some embodiments, duplexer 824 may allow transmit and receive operations to be performed concurrently using a common antenna (e. G., Main antenna 816). In Figure 8, the received signal is shown to be routed to the "Rx" path, which may include, for example, a low-noise amplifier (LNA).

The wireless device also includes a diversity receiver module 700 that receives signals from a diversity antenna 826 and a diversity antenna 826. The diversity receiver module 700 processes the received signal and transmits the processed signal to the diversity RF module 811 which further processes the signal prior to feeding the processed signal to the transceiver 810 via a transmission line 835 send.

One or more features of the present disclosure may be implemented in the various cellular frequency bands described herein. Examples of these bands are listed in Table 1. It will be appreciated that at least some of the bands may be divided into sub-bands. It will also be appreciated that one or more features of the present disclosure may be implemented in a frequency range that does not have the same designation as the example in Table 1.

It is to be understood that the words "comprises", "including", etc., unless the context clearly dictates otherwise throughout the description and claims, should be interpreted as an inclusive sense, not an exclusive or exhaustive sense do; That is, "including, but not limited to," The term "coupled" as used herein generally refers to two or more elements that can be directly connected or connected through one or more intermediate elements. In addition, the words "herein "," above ", "below ", and similar terms, when used in this application, refer to this application as a whole, rather than any particular portion of the present application. The words of the above description using singular or plural, as the context allows, may also include a plurality or a singular number, respectively. The word "or" when referring to a list of two or more items encompasses all of the following interpretations: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list, and any combination of items in the list.

The above detailed description of embodiments of the present invention is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed above. Although specific embodiments and examples of the present invention have been described above for purposes of illustration, various equivalents of modifications are possible within the scope of the present invention, as ordinary skill in the pertinent art will recognize. For example, although processes or blocks are presented in a given order, alternative embodiments may use routines with steps in different orders or may use systems with blocks, and some processes or blocks may be deleted, moved, Added, subdivided, combined and / or modified. Each of these processes or blocks may be implemented in a variety of different ways. Also, although processes or blocks are sometimes depicted as being performed continuously, these processes or blocks may instead be performed in parallel, or may be performed at different times.

The teachings of the present invention provided herein may not necessarily be applied to the systems described above but also to other systems. The elements and operations of the various embodiments described above may be combined to provide further embodiments.

While some embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Indeed, the novel methods and systems described herein may be implemented in various other forms; In addition, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of methods and systems described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the disclosure. The appended claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as fall within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.

Claims (20)

A receiving system comprising:
A controller configured to selectively enable one or more paths of a plurality of paths between an input of the first multiplexer and an output of the second multiplexer;
A plurality of amplifiers, each of the plurality of amplifiers being arranged along a corresponding one of the plurality of paths and configured to amplify a signal received at the amplifier; And
A first plurality of bandpass filters each of which is disposed along a corresponding one of said plurality of paths at an output of a corresponding one of said plurality of amplifiers and which receives a signal To each of the frequency bands.
. 2. The amplifier of claim 1, further comprising a second plurality of bandpass filters, each of the second plurality of bandpass filters being coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of paths at an input of a corresponding one of the plurality of amplifiers And configured to filter signals received in the bandpass filter into respective frequency bands. 3. The band pass filter according to claim 2, further comprising: a band-pass filter of the first plurality of band-pass filters disposed along a first path and a band-pass filter of one of the second plurality of band- A complementary, receiving system. 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein one of the band-pass filters disposed along the first path attenuates frequencies below the first frequency band more than frequencies above the first frequency band, One of the bandpass filters disposed along a path attenuates frequencies on the first frequency band more than frequencies below the first frequency band. 2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a transmission line coupled to the output of the second multiplexer and coupled to a downstream module comprising a downstream multiplexer. 6. The receiving system of claim 5, wherein the downstream module does not include a downstream bandpass filter. 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the downstream multiplexer comprises a sample switch. 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the downstream module comprises one or more downstream amplifiers. 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the number of the one or more downstream amplifiers is less than the number of the plurality of amplifiers. 2. The receiving system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of amplifiers comprises a low noise amplifier. 2. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one tunable matching circuit disposed at one or more of an input of the first multiplexer and an output of the second multiplexer. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to selectively enable one or more of the plurality of paths based on a band selection signal received by the controller. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to selectively activate one or more of the plurality of paths by sending a splitter control signal to the first multiplexer and a combiner control signal to the second multiplexer, . As a radio frequency (RF) module,
A packaging substrate configured to receive a plurality of components; And
A receiving system implemented on the packaging substrate
/ RTI >
The receiving system comprising: a controller configured to selectively activate one or more paths of a plurality of paths between an input of the first multiplexer and an output of the second multiplexer; A plurality of amplifiers, each of the plurality of amplifiers being arranged along a corresponding one of the plurality of paths and configured to amplify a signal received at the amplifier; And a first plurality of bandpass filters each of which is disposed along a corresponding one of said plurality of paths at an output of a corresponding one of said plurality of amplifiers and which receives And to filter the signal in each frequency band. 15. The RF module of claim 14, wherein the RF module is a diversity receiver front-end module (FEM). 15. The receiver of claim 14, wherein the receiving system further comprises a second plurality of bandpass filters, each of the second plurality of bandpass filters comprising one of the plurality of paths at an input of a corresponding one of the plurality of amplifiers (RF) module disposed along a corresponding path and configured to filter signals received in the bandpass filter into respective frequency bands. 15. The RF module of claim 14, wherein the plurality of paths comprise an off-module path comprising an off-module bandpass filter and one of the plurality of amplifiers. A wireless device,
A first antenna configured to receive a first radio-frequency (RF) signal;
A first front end module (FEM) in communication with the first antenna, the first FEM comprising a packaging substrate configured to accommodate a plurality of components, the first FEM comprising a receiving system implemented on the packaging substrate Further comprising: a controller configured to selectively enable one or more of a plurality of paths between an input of the first multiplexer and an output of the second multiplexer; A plurality of amplifiers, each of the plurality of amplifiers being arranged along a corresponding one of the plurality of paths and configured to amplify a signal received at the amplifier; And a first plurality of bandpass filters each of which is disposed along a corresponding one of said plurality of paths at an output of a corresponding one of said plurality of amplifiers and which receives Configured to filter the signal into respective frequency bands; And
A communication module configured to receive a processed version of the first RF signal from the output via a transmission line and to generate a data bit based on the processed version of the first RF signal;
Lt; / RTI > 19. The communications device of claim 18, further comprising: a second antenna configured to receive a second radio-frequency (RF) signal and a second FEM in communication with the second antenna, Receive a processed version of the second RF signal and generate a data bit based on the processed version of the second RF signal. 19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the receiving system further comprises a second plurality of bandpass filters, each of the second plurality of bandpass filters comprising one of the plurality of paths at an input of a corresponding one of the plurality of amplifiers And to filter the received signals in the bandpass filter into respective frequency bands along a corresponding path.

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