Front-end systems bypassing transmit band filter for antenna switching
Front-end systems with antenna switching that bypasses a transmit band filter are disclosed herein. In certain embodiments, a front-end architecture is based on switching the RF transmit signal behind or before the bandpass filter of the band. This enables the switch-combining and filter ganging used to support carrier aggregation and EN-DC connectivity to be maintained, and the SRS switching done this way for a target TDD band does not impact, interrupt, and/or otherwise re-route the partner bands. Accordingly, both an anchor carrier and a secondary carrier can be maintained without interruption or impact. Furthermore, carrier aggregation features can be maintained and is not interrupted by SRS.
1 . A mobile device comprising:
a plurality of antennas; and
a front-end system coupled to the plurality of antennas, the front-end system including a power amplifier configured to receive a radio frequency transmit signal at an input, a first amplifier selection switch connected to an output of the power amplifier, a first antenna switch, a transmit band filter directly connected between the first antenna switch and the first amplifier selection switch, a second amplifier selection switch connected to the first amplifier selection switch, a second antenna switch, and a receive band filter directly connected between the second antenna switch and the second amplifier selection switch, the power amplifier corresponding to a final amplifier in a transmit signal path to the plurality of antennas.
2 . The mobile device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of antennas include a first antenna, a second antenna, a third antenna, and a fourth antenna.
3 . The mobile device of claim 2 wherein the radio frequency transmit signal is provided to the first antenna and the second antenna through the first amplifier selection switch and the first antenna switch.
4 . The mobile device of claim 3 wherein the radio frequency transmit signal is provided to the third antenna and the fourth antenna through the first amplifier selection switch, the second amplifier selection switch, and the second antenna switch.
5 . The mobile device of claim 4 wherein the first antenna switch and the second antenna switch are each a cross-bar switch.
6 . The mobile device of claim 1 further comprising a low noise amplifier connected to the receive filter through the second amplifier selection switch.
7 . The mobile device of claim 1 wherein the front-end system is configured to provide sounding reference signaling by transmitting the radio frequency transmit signal on four or more antennas of the plurality of antennas.
8 . The mobile device of claim 7 wherein the sounding reference signaling does not interrupt reception of an anchor carrier on the four or more antennas.
9 . The mobile device of claim 8 wherein the radio frequency transmit signal is a fifth generation n 41 signal and the anchor carrier is a long term evolution B25 signal.
10 . The mobile device of claim 1 further comprising a transceiver configured to generate the radio frequency transmit signal.
11 . A method of antenna switching in a mobile device, the method comprising:
receiving a radio frequency transmit signal at an input of a power amplifier;
providing the radio frequency transmit signal from an output of the power amplifier to a first amplifier selection switch, the power amplifier corresponding to a final amplifier in a transmit signal path to a plurality of antennas;
providing the radio frequency transmit signal from the first amplifier selection switch to a first antenna switch through a transmit band filter in a first mode, the transmit band filter directly connected between the first antenna switch and the first amplifier selection switch; and
providing the radio frequency transmit signal from the first amplifier selection switch to a second antenna switch through a second amplifier selection switch and a receive band filter in a second mode, the receive band filter directly connected between the second antenna switch and the second amplifier selection switch.
12 . The method of claim 11 further comprising providing the radio frequency transmit signal to a first antenna and a second antenna of the plurality of antennas through the first amplifier selection switch and the first antenna switch.
13 . The method of claim 12 further comprising providing the radio frequency transmit signal to a third antenna and a fourth antenna of the plurality of antennas through the first amplifier selection switch, the second amplifier selection switch, and the second antenna switch.
14 . A front-end system comprising:
a power amplifier configured to receive a radio frequency transmit signal at an input, the power amplifier corresponding to a final amplifier in a transmit signal path to a plurality of antennas;
a first amplifier selection switch connected to an output of the power amplifier, and a second amplifier selection switch connected to the first amplifier selection switch;
a first antenna switch and a second antenna switch;
a transmit band filter directly connected between the first antenna switch and the first amplifier selection switch; and
a receive band filter directly connected between the second antenna switch and the second amplifier selection switch.
15 . The front-end system of claim 14 wherein the radio frequency transmit signal is provided to a first antenna and a second antenna of the plurality of antennas through the first amplifier selection switch and the first antenna switch.
16 . The front-end system of claim 15 wherein the radio frequency transmit signal is provided to a third antenna and a fourth antenna of the plurality of antennas through the first amplifier selection switch, the second amplifier selection switch, and the second antenna switch.
17 . The front-end system of claim 16 wherein the first antenna switch and the second antenna switch are each a cross-bar switch.
18 . The front-end system of claim 14 further comprising a low noise amplifier connected to the receive filter through the second amplifier selection switch.
19 . The front-end system of claim 14 wherein the front-end system is configured to provide sounding reference signaling by transmitting the radio frequency transmit signal on four or more antennas of the plurality of antennas.
20 . The front-end system of claim 19 wherein the sounding reference signaling does not interrupt reception of an anchor carrier on the four or more antennas.