Front end module comprising an antenna switch

1. A front-end module for use with at least three radio frequency bands, the front-end module comprising:

at least five signal paths;

an antenna switch to electrically connect an antenna to one of the signal paths;

wherein at least one of the signal paths comprises subpaths, a frequency separating network interfacing the at least one signal path to the subpaths;

wherein the subpaths are for use in passing different radio frequency bands, the different radio frequency bands having frequency ranges that do not overlap;

wherein the frequency separating network comprises a high-pass filter in a first subpath and a low-pass filter in a second subpath;

wherein a center frequency of a first radio frequency band is lower, by approximately one octave or more, than a center frequency of a second radio frequency band;

wherein the first subpath is a transmit path of the second radio frequency band; and

wherein the second subpath is a transmit path of the first radio frequency band.

2. The front-end module of claim 1 , wherein a second one of the signal paths comprises third and fourth subpaths, the front end-module further comprising:

a low-pass filter in the third subpath; and

a bandpass filter in the fourth subpath.

3. The front-end module of claim 2 , further comprising:

a shunt path with a protective element to protect the antenna switch against electrostatic discharges, the shunt path being electrically connected to a signal line connecting the antenna and the antenna switch.

4. The front-end module of claim 2 , wherein there are five signal paths; and

wherein the antenna switch comprises an SP5T switch.

5. The front-end module of claim 1 , wherein the first subpath is for use in passing signals an FDD mode, and the second subpath is for use in passing signals a TDD mode.

6. The front-end module of claim 5 , further comprising:

a shunt path with a protective element to protect the antenna switch against electrostatic discharges, the shunt path being electrically connected to a signal line connecting the antenna and the antenna switch.

7. The front-end module of claim 5 , wherein there are six signal paths; and

wherein the antenna switch is an SP6T switch.

8. The front-end module of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the subpaths is a receive path.

9. The front-end module of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the subpaths is a transmit path.

10. The front-end module of claim 1 , wherein the center frequency of the first radio frequency band is lower by more than one octave than the center frequency of the second radio frequency band.

11. The front-end module of claim 10 , further comprising:

a shunt path with a protective element to protect the antenna switch against electrostatic discharges, the shunt path being electrically connected to a signal line connecting the antenna and the antenna switch.

12. The front-end module of claim 1 , wherein the first subpath is for use in passing signals in two directions.

13. The front-end module of claim 1 , further comprising:

a shunt path with a protective element to protect the antenna switch against electrostatic discharges, the shunt path being electrically connected to a signal line connecting the antenna and the antenna switch.

14. The front-end module of claim 1 , wherein there are five signal paths; and

wherein the antenna switch comprises an SP5T switch.

15. The front-end module of claim 1 , wherein there are six signal paths; and

wherein the antenna switch is an SP6T switch.

16. An apparatus comprising:

the front-end module of claim 1 ; and

a carrier substrate comprising ceramic on which the front-end module is disposed.