FRONT END MODULE FOR CARRIER AGGREGATION OPERATION
For improved band separation in a front-end module, it is proposed to extract an extractor band using an extractor arrangement comprising a notch filter and an extractor path including bandpass filters. The front-end module further has a diplexer that separates a first and a second frequency range with a diplexer spacing. The extractor band lies between the two frequency ranges such that it does not overlap with any of the two frequency ranges. In this way, the distance between the two frequency ranges is increased beyond the actual diplexer spacing.
1 . Front-end module that is equipped for carrier aggregation mode,
with a first signal path (SP) that connects a first antenna connection (AT) to a first diplexer (DPX 1 ) or a higher multiplexer,
with a notch filter (NF) that is connected to the diplexer and has a first stopband,
with a first extractor path (EP) that can be connected at a node arranged in the signal path between the antenna connection and the first notch filter,
with a bandpass filter (BP) for a first extractor band, which is arranged in the first extractor path (EP), wherein the notch filter and the bandpass filter form an extractor arrangement (EA),
wherein the diplexer separates a first and a second frequency range, which are separated by a first diplexer spacing, and respectively assigns them to a first partial path (TP 1 ) or a second partial path (TP 2 ),
wherein the stopband of the notch filter and the first extractor band overlap at least partially,
wherein the stopband is arranged between the first and second frequency ranges such that it does not overlap with any of the frequency ranges.
2 . Front-end module according to claim 1 ,
in which a second diplexer (DPX 2 ) or a higher multiplexer that separates at least a third frequency range from the first signal path and feeds it into a third partial path (TP 3 ) is arranged in the first signal path (SP) between the first antenna connection (AT) and the notch filter (NF).
3 . Front-end module according to one of the preceding claims,
in which the stopband completely overlaps the Rx band of band 66, or band 1, or band 4,
in which the bandpass filter (BP) is designed for the Rx band of band 66, or band 1, or band 4, or band 65,
in which the first frequency range comprises frequencies up to 1995 MHz or up to 2025 MHz,
in which the second frequency range comprises frequencies of higher than or equal to 2300 MHz,
so that the extractor path (EP) is designed to separate the Rx frequencies of band 66, or band 1, or band 4, or band 65.
4 . Front-end module according to one of claims 1 - 3 ,
in which the stopband completely overlaps band 30 Rx and Tx and/or band 40,
in which the bandpass filter (BP) is designed for band 30 Rx and Tx and/or band 40,
in which the first frequency range comprises frequencies up to 2170 MHz or up to 2200 MHz,
in which the second frequency range comprises frequencies of higher than or equal to 2496 MHz,
in which the extractor path (EP) is designed to separate the Rx frequencies of band 30 and/or band 40.
5 . Front-end module according to one of the preceding claims,
in which a second notch filter (NF) is arranged in the first signal path (SP) or in a partial path (TP) selected from the first, second, and third partial paths, wherein the notch filter has a second stopband,
in which an extractor path (EP) branches off from the first signal path or the respective partial path between the antenna connection (AT) and the at least one additional notch filter (NF), in which extractor path is arranged a bandpass filter (BP), the passband of which corresponds to a second extractor band, wherein the second stopband and the second extractor band at least partially overlap.
6 . Front-end module according to one of the preceding claims,
in which two extractor arrangements (EA) are provided, which are designed to respectively extract one extractor band,
in which the first extractor band comprises the Rx band of band 66, or band 1, or band 4, or band 65,
in which the second extractor band is designed for frequencies that are selected from GNSS, WLAN 2.4, band 40, band 30, band 32, and LMB, wherein LMB comprises frequencies of 1425 to 1511 MHz.
7 . Front-end module according to the preceding claim,
in which three extractor arrangements (EA 1 , EA 2 , EA 3 ) are provided, which are designed to, together, extract three different extractor bands,
in which the first extractor band comprises the Rx band of band 66, or band 1, or band 4, or band 65,
in which the second and the third extractor bands are designed for different frequencies that are selected independently of each other from GNSS, WLAN 2.4, band 40, band 30, band 32, and LMB.
8 . Front-end module according to one of the preceding claims,
in which each notch filter (NF) and each bandpass filter (BP) arranged in one of the extractor paths comprises micro-acoustic resonators that realize a SAW filter, a temperature-compensated SAW filter, or a BAW filter.
9 . Front-end module according to one of the preceding claims,
in which diplexers (DPX) comprise low-pass, high-pass, or bandpass filters that are realized from L and C elements that are integrated into an LTCC ceramic or a laminate or realized as discrete L and C elements that are mounted on a carrier.
10 . Front-end module according to one of the preceding claims,
in which each of the extractor arrangements (EA) can be bypassed using a bypass path (UEP),
in which a switch (SW) for opening or closing the bypass path is arranged in each bypass path.
11 . Front-end module according to one of the preceding claims,
in which one of the partial paths (TP) is connected to the input of an antenna switch (AS),
in which an output of the antenna switch can optionally be connected via a corresponding switch position to a series of duplexers,
in which the duplexers comprise a mixed duplexer that combines an Rx filter for a first band and a Tx filter for a different second band,
in which an extractor band comprises Rx frequencies of the second band,
in which another duplexer is a pure duplexer that comprises a Tx filter and an associated Rx filter for the first band.
12 . Front-end module according to the preceding claim,
in which a first mixed duplexer combines filters for B1 Tx with B3 Rx or B4 Tx with B2 Rx,
in which an extractor band is assigned to B4 Rx or B1 Rx.
13 . Front-end module according to claim 11 or 12 ,
in which a mixed duplexer combines
B1 Tx with B3 Rx, or
B65 Tx with B3 Rx, or
B4 Tx with B2 Rx, or
B4 Tx with B25 Rx, or
B66 Tx with B2 Rx, or
B66 Tx with B25 Rx,
in which an extractor band is assigned to B4 Rx or B1 Rx or B66 Rx, in which pure duplexers are additionally provided, which combine the Rx band of the mixed duplexers listed above with the corresponding Tx band and which are selected from the duplexers for B3 Tx/B3 Rx, B2 Tx/B2 Rx, and B25 Tx and B25 Rx.
14 . Front-end module according to one of claims 11 - 13 ,
in which an output of the antenna switch (AS) can be connected via a corresponding switch position to two triplexers,
in which one of the triplexers comprises a filter combination for B1 Tx/B3 Rx/B32 Rx or B65 Tx/B3 Rx/B32 Rx or a filter combination for B3 Tx/B3 Rx/B32 Rx,
in which an extractor band is assigned to B4 Rx or B1 Rx or B65 Rx.
15 . Front-end module according to one of claims 11 - 14 ,
comprising a mixed duplexer that combines
B1 Tx/B(11+21)Rx, or
B1 Tx/B11 Rx, or
B1 Tx/B21 Rx,
in which an extractor band is assigned to B4 Rx or B1 Rx or B66 Rx,
in which a pure duplexer for B11 or B21 is also provided.
16 . Front-end module according to one of claims 11 - 15 ,
in which the output of the antenna switch (AS) can be connected via a corresponding switch position to a triplexer and a duplexer,
in which the triplexer comprises a filter combination for B1 or B65 Tx/B3 Tx/B3 Rx or a filter combination for B2 or B25 Tx/B4 or B66 Rx/B2 or B25 Rx,
in which an extractor band is assigned to B4 Rx or B Rx or B66 Rx or B65 Rx.
17 . Front-end module according to one of claims 11 - 16 ,
in which one of the outputs of the antenna switch (AS) can be connected via a corresponding switch position to a triplexer and/or a duplexer and a quadplexer,
in which the quadplexer comprises a filter combination for B1 or B65 Tx/B3 Tx/B3 Rx/B32 Rx,
in which an extractor band is assigned to B4 Rx or B1 Rx or B66 Rx.
18 . Front-end module according to one of claims 11 - 17 ,
with a pure receive path that can be connected to a diversity antenna (DAT), with an extractor arrangement (EA), which branches off an extractor path (EP) from a pure receive path, wherein the extractor band is assigned to B4 Rx, B1 Rx, B65 Rx, or B66 Rx,
in which a diplexer (DPX) is arranged in the pure receive path, which diplexer divides the pure receive path into two pure partial receive paths, which are respectively assigned to a mid-band (MB) and a high-band (HB) range, in which a mixed diversity diplexer that has a filter combination for B3 Rx/B21 Rx or B3 Rx/B32 Rx is arranged in the partial receive path for mid-band.
19 . Front-end module according to the preceding claim,
in which another diplexer (DPX) or higher multiplexer that branches another partial path (TP) for a frequency range off from the pure receive path is arranged between the diversity antenna (DAT) and the extractor arrangement (EA).
20 . Front-end module according to one of the preceding claims,
with a pure receive path that can be connected to a diversity antenna (DAT),
with an extractor arrangement (EA), which branches off an extractor path (EP) from a pure receive path, wherein the extractor band is assigned to B4 Rx, B1 Rx, B65 Rx, or B66 Rx,
in which a diplexer (DPX) is arranged in the pure receive path, which diplexer divides the pure receive path into two pure partial receive paths, which are respectively assigned to a mid-band and a high-band range,
in which a mixed diversity triplexer that comprises a filter combination for B32 Rx/B21 Rx/B3 Rx is arranged in the partial receive path for mid-band.
21 . Front-end module according to one of the preceding claims,
in which two extractor arrangements (EA) are provided, which are designed to respectively extract one extractor band,
in which the first extractor band comprises band 30 Rx and Tx and/or band 40,
in which the second extractor band is designed for frequencies that are selected from GNSS, WLAN 2.4, band 66 Rx, band 32 Rx, and LMB,
wherein LMB comprises frequencies of 1425 to 1511 MHz.
22 . Front-end module according to one of the preceding claims,
comprising three extractor arrangements (EA), wherein one of the extractor arrangements (EA) is designed for band 30 and/or band 40.
23 . Front-end module according to one of the preceding claims,
in which a mixed duplexer with a filter combination for bands B1 or B65 Tx/B(11+21+32) Rx is provided.
24 . Front-end module according to one of the preceding claims,
in which a mixed triplexer that can separate bands B1 or B65 Tx/B3 Rx/B(11+21+32) Rx and respectively assign them to a band channel is provided.