Switch module, front-end module, and driving method for switch module

1. A switch module which is capable of selecting one of a carrier aggregation mode and a non-carrier-aggregation mode, the carrier aggregation mode being a mode in which a first frequency band for wireless communication and a second frequency band for wireless communication are used simultaneously, a frequency band of the second frequency band being different from a frequency band of the first frequency band, the non-carrier-aggregation mode being a mode in which only one of the first frequency band and the second frequency band is used, the switch module comprising:

a first signal path that propagates a signal of the first frequency band therethrough;

a second signal path that propagates a signal of the second frequency band therethrough;

a third signal path that simultaneously propagates a signal of the first frequency band and a signal of the second frequency band therethrough; and

a switch circuit including a common terminal connected to an antenna device, a first selection terminal connected to a first end of the first signal path, a second selection terminal connected to a first end of the second signal path, and a third selection terminal connected to a first end of the third signal path and that exclusively switches a connection between the common terminal and one of the first through third selection terminals; wherein

the switch circuit includes:

a first variable matching circuit disposed between the first selection terminal and a ground terminal;

a second variable matching circuit disposed between the second selection terminal and a ground terminal; and

a third variable matching circuit disposed between the third selection terminal and a ground terminal;

the switch module further comprises:

a variable adjuster that variably adjusts the third variable matching circuit in a case in which the non-carrier-aggregation mode is selected or that variably adjusts at least one of the first and second variable matching circuits in a case in which the carrier aggregation mode is selected.

2. The switch module according to claim 1 , wherein the variable adjuster makes impedance of the third variable matching circuit vary according to whether the first frequency band or the second frequency band is selected in the non-carrier-aggregation mode.

3. The switch module according to claim 2 , wherein the switch circuit further includes:

a first switch that switches a state between the first selection terminal and the common terminal to a conducting state or a non-conducting state:

a second switch that switches a state between the second selection terminal and the common terminal to a conducting state or a non-conducting state; and

a third switch that switches a state between the third selection terminal and the common terminal to a conducting state or a non-conducting state;

the third variable matching circuit includes a third shunt switch that switches a state between the third selection terminal and a ground terminal to a conducting state or a non-conducting state; and

the variable adjuster switches the third shunt switch to a non-conducting state in a case in which the first frequency band in the non-carrier-aggregation mode is selected, and switches the third shunt switch to a conducting state in a case in which the second frequency band in the non-carrier-aggregation mode is selected.

4. The switch module according to claim 3 , wherein the second frequency band is a frequency band in a higher frequency range than a frequency range of the first frequency band.

5. The switch module according to claim 1 , wherein

the third signal path includes a first path that selectively passes the first frequency band therethrough and a second path that selectively passes the second frequency band therethrough; and

the first end of the third signal path is a node at which a first end of the first path and a first end of the second path are connected to each other; and

the switch module further comprises:

a fourth switch that switches a state between a second end of the first path and the first signal path to a conducting state or a non-conducting state; and

a fifth switch that switches a state between a second end of the second path and the second signal path to a conducting state or a non-conducting state; wherein

the variable adjuster switches the fourth switch to a non-conducting state in a case in which the first frequency band in the non-carrier-aggregation mode is selected, and switches the fifth switch to a non-conducting state in a case in which the second frequency band in the non-carrier-aggregation mode is selected.

6. A front-end module comprising:

the switch module according to claim 1 ; and

a duplexer connected to a second end of the first signal path or a second end of the second signal path.

7. The front-end module according to claim 6 , further comprising:

a power amplifier device connected to a transmit terminal of the duplexer.

8. The front-end module according to claim 6 , further comprising:

a low-noise amplifier connected to a receive terminal of the duplexer.

9. The front-end module according to claim 6 , wherein the variable adjuster makes impedance of the third variable matching circuit vary according to whether the first frequency band or the second frequency band is selected in the non-carrier-aggregation mode.

10. The front-end module according to claim 9 , wherein the switch circuit further includes:

a first switch that switches a state between the first selection terminal and the common terminal to a conducting state or a non-conducting state:

a second switch that switches a state between the second selection terminal and the common terminal to a conducting state or a non-conducting state; and

a third switch that switches a state between the third selection terminal and the common terminal to a conducting state or a non-conducting state;

the third variable matching circuit includes a third shunt switch that switches a state between the third selection terminal and a ground terminal to a conducting state or a non-conducting state; and

the variable adjuster switches the third shunt switch to a non-conducting state in a case in which the first frequency band in the non-carrier-aggregation mode is selected, and switches the third shunt switch to a conducting state in a case in which the second frequency band in the non-carrier-aggregation mode is selected.

11. The front-end module according to claim 10 , wherein the second frequency band is a frequency band in a higher frequency range than a frequency range of the first frequency band.

12. The front-end module according to claim 6 , wherein

the third signal path includes a first path that selectively passes the first frequency band therethrough and a second path that selectively passes the second frequency band therethrough; and

the first end of the third signal path is a node at which a first end of the first path and a first end of the second path are connected to each other; and

the switch module further comprises:

a fourth switch that switches a state between a second end of the first path and the first signal path to a conducting state or a non-conducting state; and

a fifth switch that switches a state between a second end of the second path and the second signal path to a conducting state or a non-conducting state; wherein

the variable adjuster switches the fourth switch to a non-conducting state in a case in which the first frequency band in the non-carrier-aggregation mode is selected, and switches the fifth switch to a non-conducting state in a case in which the second frequency band in the non-carrier-aggregation mode is selected.

13. A driving method for a switch module which selects one of a carrier aggregation mode and a non-carrier-aggregation mode, the carrier aggregation mode being a mode in which a first frequency band for wireless communication and a second frequency band for wireless communication are used simultaneously, a frequency band of the second frequency band being different from a frequency band of the first frequency band, the non-carrier-aggregation mode being a mode in which only one of the first frequency band and the second frequency band is used, the switch module including a first signal path that propagates a signal of the first frequency band therethrough, a second signal path that propagates a signal of the second frequency band therethrough, a third signal path that simultaneously propagates a signal of the first frequency band and a signal of the second frequency band therethrough, and a switch circuit including a common terminal connected to an antenna device, a first selection terminal connected to a first end of the first signal path, a second selection terminal connected to a first end of the second signal path, and a third selection terminal connected to a first end of the third signal path and that exclusively switches the connection between the common terminal and one of the first through third selection terminals, the switch circuit including a first variable matching circuit disposed between the first selection terminal and a ground terminal, a second variable matching circuit disposed between the second selection terminal and a ground terminal, and a third variable matching circuit disposed between the third selection terminal and a ground terminal, the driving method comprising:

variably adjusting the third variable matching circuit in a case in which the non-carrier-aggregation mode is selected or variably adjusting at least one of the first and second variable matching circuits in a case in which the carrier aggregation mode is selected.

14. The method according to claim 13 , further comprising varying impedance of the third variable matching circuit according to whether the first frequency band or the second frequency band is selected in the non-carrier-aggregation mode.

15. The method according to claim 14 , further comprising:

switching a state between the first selection terminal and the common terminal to a conducting state or a non-conducting state:

switching a state between the second selection terminal and the common terminal to a conducting state or a non-conducting state; and

switching a state between the third selection terminal and the common terminal to a conducting state or a non-conducting state; wherein

the third variable matching circuit includes a third shunt switch that switches a state between the third selection terminal and a ground terminal to a conducting state or a non-conducting state; and

the variable adjuster switches the third shunt switch to a non-conducting state in a case in which the first frequency band in the non-carrier-aggregation mode is selected, and switches the third shunt switch to a conducting state in a case in which the second frequency band in the non-carrier-aggregation mode is selected.

16. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the second frequency band is a frequency band in a higher frequency range than a frequency range of the first frequency band.

17. The method according to claim 13 , wherein

the third signal path includes a first path that selectively passes the first frequency band therethrough and a second path that selectively passes the second frequency band therethrough; and

the first end of the third signal path is a node at which a first end of the first path and a first end of the second path are connected to each other; and

the switch module further comprises:

a fourth switch that switches a state between a second end of the first path and the first signal path to a conducting state or a non-conducting state; and

a fifth switch that switches a state between a second end of the second path and the second signal path to a conducting state or a non-conducting state; wherein

the variable adjuster switches the fourth switch to a non-conducting state in a case in which the first frequency band in the non-carrier-aggregation mode is selected, and switches the fifth switch to a non-conducting state in a case in which the second frequency band in the non-carrier-aggregation mode is selected.