Systems and methods for minimizing insertion loss in a multi-mode communications system

1. A circuital arrangement comprising a multifunctional filter, wherein:

the circuital arrangement is configurable to operate in a first mode based on a first filtering function of the multifunctional filter for propagation of a first type of signal through the circuital arrangement,

the circuital arrangement is configurable to operate in a second mode based on a second filtering function of the multifunctional filter for propagation of a second type of signal through the circuital arrangement, the second mode providing a lower insertion loss upon the second type of signal than the first mode, and

configuration of the circuital arrangement to operate in one of the first mode and the second mode is respectively based on a configuration of the multifunctional filter to operate according to the first filtering function and the second filtering function,

wherein the multifunctional filter comprises:

a plurality of independently selectable serial filter components, a plurality of independently selectable shunt filter components, a plurality of parallel switches connected in parallel with the plurality of independently selectable serial filter components and a plurality of serial switches connected in serial with the plurality of independently selectable shunt filter components.

2. The circuital arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the first filtering function is a bandpass filter and the second filtering function is a lowpass filter.

3. The circuital arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the first filtering function is a bandpass filter and the second filtering function is a notch filter.

4. The circuital arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the first filtering function is a bandpass filter and the second filtering function is a bandpass filter.

5. The circuital arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the first filtering function is a bandpass filter and the second filtering function is a highpass filter.

6. The circuital arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the first filtering function is a lowpass filter and the second filtering function is a notch filter.

7. The circuital arrangement according to claim 6 , wherein the circuital arrangement is a duplexer.

8. The circuital arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein:

during operation in the first mode, the multifunctional filter provides a first propagation path of the first type of signal by inclusion of the plurality of independently selectable serial and shunt filter components in the first propagation path, and

during operation in the second mode, the multifunctional filter provides a second propagation path of the second type of signal by removal of at least one filter component of the plurality of independently selectable serial and shunt filter components from the second propagation path.

9. The circuital arrangement according to claim 8 , wherein inclusion of the plurality of independently selectable serial and shunt filter components in the first propagation path comprises placing the plurality of parallel switches in an open position such that no serial switch is present in the first propagation path and placing the plurality of serial switches in a closed position.

10. The circuital arrangement according to claim 9 , wherein the removal of at least one filter component of the plurality of independently selectable serial and shunt filter components from the second propagation path comprises placing one of a corresponding parallel switch of the plurality of parallel switches in a closed position, and a corresponding serial switch of the plurality of serial switches in an open position.

11. The circuital arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the first type of signal is a frequency division duplex signal and the second type signal is a time division duplex signal.

12. The circuital arrangement according to claim 11 , wherein the multifunctional filter is configured to provide a notch-type attenuation upon at least one harmonic component of the time division duplex signal.

13. The circuital arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the multifunctional filter comprises at least one variable impedance device for configuring the multifunctional filter to operate according to the first functional filter or the second functional filter.

14. A communication system comprising a receiver unit coupled to the circuital arrangement of claim 1 .

15. The communication system according to claim 14 , wherein the duplexer provides a propagation path of a receive signal received at the duplexer to the receiver unit, the receive signal being one of the first type of signal and the second type of signal.

16. The communication system according to claim 15 , wherein the configurable filter comprises a plurality of parallel switches and a plurality of serial switches, and wherein the propagation path of the second type of signal is provided by closing said plurality of parallel switches and opening said plurality of serial switches.

17. A multifunctional filter, comprising:

a first filtering function for propagation of a first type of signal through the multifunctional filter during a first mode of operation of the multifunctional filter,

a second filtering function for propagation of a second type of signal through the multifunctional filter during a second mode of operation of the multifunctional filter, the second filtering function providing a lower insertion loss upon the second type of signal than the first filtering function,

wherein the multifunctional filter comprises:

a plurality of independently selectable serial filter components, a plurality of independently selectable shunt filter components, a plurality of parallel switches connected in parallel with the plurality of independently selectable serial filter components and a plurality of serial switches connected in serial with the plurality of independently selectable shunt filter components.