Method and system for multi-band transceiver front-end architecture with reduced switch insertion loss

1. A method for communication, the method comprising:

in a transceiver comprising a first plurality of switches each with a separate input terminal and a common terminal coupled to a transmit signal path, a second plurality of switches each with a separate input terminal and a common terminal coupled to a receive signal path, and a plurality of communications links:

operatively coupling the transmit signal path to one of the plurality of communications links using one of the first plurality of switches when the transceiver is in a transmit mode; and

operatively coupling the receive signal path to one of the plurality of communications links using one of the second plurality of switches when the transceiver is in a receive mode.

2. The method according to claim 1 , comprising reducing an off capacitance of one or both of the first and second pluralities of switches utilizing an operatively coupled inductive element.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the inductive element comprises an inductor operatively coupled in series with the transmit signal path.

4. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the inductive element comprises an inductor operatively coupled between the coupled receive signal path and ground.

5. The method according to claim 2 , comprising coupling the inductive element to the one or both of the first and second pluralities of switches utilizing one of a third plurality of switches.

6. The method according to claim 1 , comprising tuning a bandwidth of one or both of the first and second pluralities of switches by operatively coupling at least one inductor to one or both of the first and second pluralities of switches.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the transceiver is a time division duplex (TDD) transceiver.

8. The method according to claim 1 , comprising receiving signals via one of said plurality of communications links when in said receive mode.

9. The method according to claim 1 , comprising transmitting signals over one of said plurality of communications links when in said transmit mode.

10. A transceiver for communicating signals, the transceiver comprising:

a first plurality of switches, each with a separate input terminal and a common terminal coupled to a transmit signal path;

a second plurality of switches, each with a separate input terminal and a common terminal coupled to a receive signal path;

a controller; and

a plurality of communications links, each coupled to one of the first plurality of switches and one of the second plurality of switches, wherein said controller:

operatively couples said transmit signal path to one of said plurality of communications links utilizing one of said first plurality of switches when in a transmit mode; and

operatively couples one of said plurality of communications links to said receive signal path utilizing one of said second plurality of switches when in a receive mode.

11. The transceiver according to claim 10 , wherein said controller reduces an off capacitance of one or both of the first and second pluralities of switches utilizing an operatively coupled inductive element.

12. The transceiver according to claim 11 , wherein the inductive element comprises an inductor operatively coupled in series with the transmit signal path.

13. The transceiver according to claim 11 , wherein the inductive element comprises an inductor operatively coupled between the coupled receive signal path and ground.

14. The transceiver according to claim 11 , wherein said controller operatively couples the inductive element to the one or both of the first and second pluralities of switches utilizing one of a third plurality of switches.

15. The transceiver according to claim 10 , wherein said controller tunes a bandwidth of one or both of the first and second pluralities of switches by operatively coupling at least one inductor to the one or both of the first and second pluralities of switches.

16. The transceiver according to claim 10 , wherein the transceiver is a time division duplex (TDD) transceiver.

17. The transceiver according to claim 10 , wherein said transceiver receives signals via one of said plurality of communications links when in said receive mode.

18. The transceiver according to claim 10 , wherein said transceiver transmits signals over one of said plurality of communications links when in said transmit mode.

19. A transceiver for communicating signals, the transceiver comprising:

a first plurality of switches, each with a separate input terminal and a common terminal coupled to a transmit signal path;

a second plurality of switches, each with a separate input terminal and a common terminal coupled to a receive signal path;

a controller; and

a plurality of communications links comprising at least one antenna, each link coupled to one of the first plurality of switches and one of the second plurality of switches, wherein said controller:

operatively couples said transmit signal path to one of said plurality of communications links utilizing one of said first plurality of switches when in a transmit mode, wherein only one of the first plurality of switches is present in an electrical path from the transmit signal path to the one of the plurality of communications links when in the transmit mode; and

operatively couples one of said plurality of communications links to said receive signal path utilizing one of said second plurality of switches when in a receive mode, wherein only one of the second plurality of switches is present in an electrical path from the receive signal path to the one of the plurality of communications links when in the receive mode.

20. The transceiver according to claim 19 , wherein said controller reduces an off capacitance of one or both of the first and second pluralities of switches utilizing an operatively coupled inductive element.