Methods for providing carrier aggregation
Improved switched multiplexer architecture for supporting carrier aggregation in front-end applications. A method is disclosed for providing a plurality of switchable paths between an assembly of filters and an antenna port. The method includes connecting a first filter of the filter assembly to the antenna port using a first switch of a switching circuit. The method also includes connecting a second filter of the filter assembly to the antenna port using a second switch of the switching circuit, the second switch independently operated from the first switch. The method also includes passing a first frequency range associated with a first transmission frequency range of a first band using the first filter. The method also includes passing a second frequency range associated with a first receive frequency range of the first band and with a second receive frequency range of a second band using the second filter.
1. A method for providing uplink and downlink carrier aggregation, the method comprising:
connecting a first filter of a filter assembly to an antenna port using a first switch of a switching circuit;
connecting a second filter of the filter assembly to the antenna port using a second switch of the switching circuit, the second switch independently operated from the first switch;
connecting a first diplexer of the filter assembly to the antenna port using a third switch of the switching circuit, the third switch independently operated from the first switch and from the second switch;
passing, using the first filter, a first frequency range associated with a first transmission frequency range of a first band;
passing, using the second filter, a second frequency range associated with a first receive frequency range of the first band; and
passing, using the first duplexer, a third frequency range associated with a second receive frequency range and with a second transmission frequency range of a third band.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising connecting a third filter of the filter assembly to a second antenna port with a fourth switch.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the first switch, the second switch, the third switch, and the fourth switch are independently operated from each other.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first band includes B 1 and the second band includes B 7 .
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the first band includes B 1 and the second band includes B 2 .
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the first band includes B 4 and the second band includes B 7 .
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the first band includes B 4 and the second band includes B 2 .
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the first band includes B 3 and the second band includes B 7 .
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the first band includes B 3 and the second band includes B 2 .
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the filter assembly and the switching circuit are configured to support carrier aggregation for at least one of the combination of bands B 1 and B 7 , B 2 and B 4 , B 7 and B 3 , B 5 and B 12 , B 5 and B 17 , or B 8 and B 20 .
11. A method for providing a plurality of switchable paths between an assembly of filters and an antenna port, the method comprising:
connecting a first duplexer associated with a first cellular frequency band and the antenna port using a first switch of an assembly of filters configured to provide N filtered paths;
connecting a second duplexer associated with a second cellular frequency band and the antenna port using a second switch, the first frequency band covering a frequency range that is exclusive of the frequency range covered by the second frequency band;
filtering signals passed by the first switch between the first duplexer and the antenna port using a first notch filter coupled between the first switch and the first duplexer; and
filtering signals, using a second notch filter switchably coupled between the antenna port and ground, the first notch filter and the second notch filter each configured to provide rejection of a second harmonic of the first cellular frequency band.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein the first cellular frequency band includes B 1 and the second cellular frequency band includes B 7 .
13. The method of claim 11 wherein the first cellular frequency band includes B 2 and the second cellular frequency band includes B 4 .
14. The method of claim 11 wherein the first cellular frequency band includes B 5 and the second cellular frequency band includes B 12 .
15. The method of claim 11 wherein the first cellular frequency band includes B 8 and the second cellular frequency band includes B 17 .
16. The method of claim 11 wherein the first cellular frequency band includes B 8 and the second cellular frequency band includes B 20 .
17. The method of claim 11 wherein the first cellular frequency band includes B 13 and the second cellular frequency band includes B 5 .
18. The method of claim 11 wherein the first cellular frequency band includes B 13 and the second cellular frequency band includes B 8 .
19. The method of claim 11 wherein the first cellular frequency band includes B 5 and the second cellular frequency band includes B 28 .
20. The method of claim 11 wherein the first cellular frequency band includes B 8 and the second cellular frequency band includes B 28 .