Systems, devices, and methods related to RF front-end architectures for roaming support using filter bandwidth consolidation and reduced filter count
A system may include a multiplexer coupled to an antenna. The system may further include a combined band filter circuit coupled to the multiplexer and including a filter having a modified filter bandpass extent to include a frequency range of a roaming band, the combined band filter circuit configured to couple a signal associated with the roaming band to the filter.
1 . A system comprising:
a multiplexer coupled to an antenna; and
a combined band filter circuit coupled to the multiplexer, the combined band filter circuit including a first filter associated with a regional frequency band configured to operate in a first geographical area, the first filter having a modified filter bandpass extent from a frequency range associated with the regional frequency band to include a frequency range of a roaming frequency band configured to operate in a second geographical area, the combined band filter circuit configured to couple a signal associated with the roaming frequency band to the first filter, the first filter configured to process a transmit frequency range of the regional frequency band and to process a receive frequency range of the roaming frequency band, the modified filter bandpass extent of the first filter encompassing the receive frequency range of the roaming frequency band.
2 . The system of claim 1 wherein the combined band filter circuit further includes a second filter implemented in a ganged filter configuration with the first filter and supports carrier aggregation of a first band associated with the first filter and a second band associated with the second filter.
3 . The system of claim 1 wherein the combined band filter circuit further includes a band select switch, the band select switch including a plurality of arms that are configured to be controlled simultaneously to support a receive signal path and a transmit signal path of the roaming frequency band.
4 . The system of claim 1 wherein the combined band filter circuit further includes a band select switch, the band select switch including a plurality of arms that are configured to be controlled simultaneously to implement a switch-combined configuration that simultaneously couples an input node to a plurality of output nodes.
5 . The system of claim 4 wherein the switch-combined configuration combines signal paths from the plurality of output nodes at the input node and is configured to support carrier aggregation at the input node.
6 . The system of claim 5 wherein the switch-combined configuration supports carrier aggregation of B2 signals and B66 signals.
7 . The system of claim 1 wherein the modified filter bandpass extent passes B1 Tx signals and B2 Rx signals.
8 . The system of claim 1 wherein the modified filter bandpass extent passes B3 Rx signals and B2 Tx signals.
9 . The system of claim 1 wherein the modified filter bandpass extent passes B1 Rx signals and B66 Rx signals.
10 . The system of claim 1 wherein the modified filter bandpass extent passes B3 Tx signals and B66 Tx signals.
11 . A radio-frequency module comprising:
a packaging substrate;
a multiplexer implemented on the packaging substrate and coupled to at least one of a primary antenna or a diversity antenna; and
a filter system implemented on the packaging substrate and coupled to the multiplexer, the filter system including a first filter associated with a regional frequency band configured to operate in a first geographical area, the first filter having a modified filter bandpass extent from a frequency range associated with the regional frequency band, the modified filter bandpass extent including a frequency range of a roaming frequency band configured to operate in a second geographical area, the filter system configured to couple a signal associated with the roaming frequency band to the first filter, the first filter configured to process a transmit frequency range of the regional frequency band and to process a receive frequency range of the roaming frequency band, the modified filter bandpass extent of the first filter encompassing the receive frequency range of the roaming frequency band.
12 . The radio-frequency module of claim 11 wherein the filter system further includes a second filter implemented in a ganged filter configuration with the first filter and supports carrier aggregation of a first band associated with the first filter and a second band associated with the second filter.
13 . The radio-frequency module of claim 11 wherein the filter system further includes a band select switch, the band select switch including a plurality of arms that are configured to be controlled simultaneously to support a receive signal path and a transmit signal path of the roaming frequency band.
14 . The radio-frequency module of claim 11 wherein the filter system further includes a band select switch, the band select switch including a plurality of arms that are configured to be controlled simultaneously to implement a switch-combined configuration that simultaneously couples an input node to a plurality of output nodes to support carrier aggregation at the input node.
15 . The radio-frequency module of claim 11 wherein the modified filter bandpass extent passes B1 Tx signals and B2 Rx signals.
16 . The radio-frequency module of claim 11 wherein the modified filter bandpass extent passes B3 Rx signals and B2 Tx signals.
17 . The radio-frequency module of claim 11 wherein the modified filter bandpass extent passes B1 Rx signals and B66 Rx signals.
18 . The radio-frequency module of claim 11 wherein the modified filter bandpass extent passes B3 Tx signals and B66 Tx signals.
19 . A computer-implemented method comprising instructions that, when executed by a computing system, cause the computing system to perform steps comprising:
determining, by the computing system, filter bandpass extents of existing filters;
modifying, by the computing system, at least one filter bandpass extent of a first filter associated with a regional frequency band configured to operate in a first geographical area such that a modified filter bandpass extent is extended from a frequency range associated with the regional frequency band and includes a frequency range of a roaming frequency band configured to operate in a second geographical area, the first filter configured to process a transmit frequency range of the regional frequency band and to process a receive frequency range of the roaming frequency band, the modified filter bandpass extent of the first filter encompassing the receive frequency range of the roaming frequency band; and
configuring, by the computing system, a band select switch to couple a signal path for the roaming frequency band to the first filter having the modified filter bandpass extent.
20 . The computer-implemented method of claim 19 further comprising providing a hardware layout that includes the band select switch, the signal path, and the first filter.