Front end module and communication apparatus
First Claim
1. A front end module that performs a carrier aggregation method in which communication is performed using a signal of a first frequency band that is selected from among multiple frequency bands and a signal of a second frequency band that is selected from among the multiple frequency bands and different from the first frequency band at a same time, the front end module comprising:
- a first antenna terminal and a second antenna terminal that are connected to an antenna element;
a plurality of transmission terminals to which transmission signals are input;
a plurality of reception terminals that output reception signals;
a plurality of signal paths between the first antenna terminal and each of a corresponding one of the plurality of transmission terminals and a corresponding one of the plurality of reception terminals and between the second antenna terminal and each of a corresponding one of the plurality of transmission terminals and a corresponding one of the plurality of reception terminals, signals of corresponding frequency bands of the multiple frequency bands propagating through the plurality of signal paths, the plurality of signal paths including a first signal path and a second signal path;
a switch module that includes the first antenna terminal, the second antenna terminal, and a plurality of selection terminals, the switch module being disposed between the antenna element and the plurality of signal paths, capable of performing connection between the first antenna terminal and the first signal path and connection between the second antenna terminal and the second signal path at the same time, and switches connection between the antenna element and the plurality of signal paths; and
a balanced/unbalanced conversion element that is disposed at the first signal path through which a signal of the first frequency band propagates or at the second signal path through which a signal of the second frequency band propagates, of the plurality of signal paths, and includes an unbalanced terminal, a first balanced terminal, and a second balanced terminal;
whereina frequency of a fundamental wave or a harmonic of a transmission signal of the first frequency band at least partially overlaps with a frequency of a signal of the second frequency band;
the first balanced terminal and the second balanced terminal are connected to a first selection terminal and a second selection terminal, respectively, of the plurality of selection terminals; and
the balanced/unbalanced conversion element causes the fundamental wave or harmonic that is input through the unbalanced terminal to branch into branch signals having opposite phases and outputs the branch signals to the first balanced terminal and the second balanced terminal.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A front end module that performs a CA method includes a signal path through which a signal of a first frequency band propagates, a signal path through which a signal of a second frequency band propagates, a switch module that includes antenna terminals and selection terminals and is connected to antenna elements, and a balun that is disposed at the signal path. First and second balanced terminals of the balun are connected to the selection terminals, and the balun causes a fundamental wave or harmonic of a transmission signal of the first frequency band input through an unbalanced terminal to branch into branch signals having opposite phases and outputs the branch signals to the first balanced terminal and the second balanced terminal.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A front end module that performs a carrier aggregation method in which communication is performed using a signal of a first frequency band that is selected from among multiple frequency bands and a signal of a second frequency band that is selected from among the multiple frequency bands and different from the first frequency band at a same time, the front end module comprising:
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a first antenna terminal and a second antenna terminal that are connected to an antenna element; a plurality of transmission terminals to which transmission signals are input; a plurality of reception terminals that output reception signals; a plurality of signal paths between the first antenna terminal and each of a corresponding one of the plurality of transmission terminals and a corresponding one of the plurality of reception terminals and between the second antenna terminal and each of a corresponding one of the plurality of transmission terminals and a corresponding one of the plurality of reception terminals, signals of corresponding frequency bands of the multiple frequency bands propagating through the plurality of signal paths, the plurality of signal paths including a first signal path and a second signal path; a switch module that includes the first antenna terminal, the second antenna terminal, and a plurality of selection terminals, the switch module being disposed between the antenna element and the plurality of signal paths, capable of performing connection between the first antenna terminal and the first signal path and connection between the second antenna terminal and the second signal path at the same time, and switches connection between the antenna element and the plurality of signal paths; and a balanced/unbalanced conversion element that is disposed at the first signal path through which a signal of the first frequency band propagates or at the second signal path through which a signal of the second frequency band propagates, of the plurality of signal paths, and includes an unbalanced terminal, a first balanced terminal, and a second balanced terminal;
whereina frequency of a fundamental wave or a harmonic of a transmission signal of the first frequency band at least partially overlaps with a frequency of a signal of the second frequency band; the first balanced terminal and the second balanced terminal are connected to a first selection terminal and a second selection terminal, respectively, of the plurality of selection terminals; and the balanced/unbalanced conversion element causes the fundamental wave or harmonic that is input through the unbalanced terminal to branch into branch signals having opposite phases and outputs the branch signals to the first balanced terminal and the second balanced terminal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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8. A front end module that performs a carrier aggregation method in which communication is performed using a signal of a first frequency band that is selected from among multiple frequency bands and a signal of a second frequency band that is selected from among the multiple frequency bands and different from the first frequency band at the same time, the front end module comprising:
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a first antenna terminal and a second antenna terminal that are connected to an antenna element; a plurality of transmission terminals to which transmission signals are input; a plurality of reception terminals that output reception signals; a plurality of signal paths between the first antenna terminal and each of a corresponding one of the plurality of transmission terminals and a corresponding one of the plurality of reception terminals and between the second antenna terminal and each of a corresponding one of the plurality of transmission terminals and a corresponding one of the plurality of reception terminals, signals of corresponding frequency bands of the multiple frequency bands propagating through the plurality of signal paths, the plurality of signal paths including a first signal path and a second signal path; a switch module that includes the first antenna terminal, the second antenna terminal, and a plurality of selection terminals, the switch module being disposed between the antenna element and the plurality of signal paths, capable of performing connection between the first antenna terminal and the first signal path and connection between the second antenna terminal and the second signal path at the same time, and switches connection between the antenna element and the plurality of signal paths; and a balanced/unbalanced conversion element that is disposed at the second signal path through which a signal of the second frequency band propagates, of the plurality of signal paths, and includes a first balanced terminal, a second balanced terminal, and an unbalanced terminal that is connected to a reception terminal for the second frequency band;
whereina frequency of a fundamental wave or harmonic of a transmission signal of the first frequency band at least partially overlaps with that of a signal of the second frequency band; and the balanced/unbalanced conversion element converts the fundamental waves or harmonics that pass through the first signal path through which a signal of the first frequency band propagates and the switch module and are input to the first balanced terminal and the second balanced terminal to have opposite phases and combines the converted fundamental waves or harmonics. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 16, 17)
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11. A front end module that performs a carrier aggregation method in which communication is performed using a signal of a first frequency band that is selected from among multiple frequency bands and a signal of a second frequency band that is selected from among the multiple frequency bands and different from the first frequency band at the same time, the front end module comprising:
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a first antenna terminal and a second antenna terminal that are connected to an antenna element; a plurality of transmission terminals to which transmission signals are input; a plurality of reception terminals that output high-frequency reception signals; a plurality of signal paths between the first antenna terminal and each of a corresponding one of the plurality of transmission terminals and a corresponding one of the plurality of reception terminals and between the second antenna terminal and each of a corresponding one of the plurality of transmission terminals and a corresponding one of the plurality of reception terminals, signals of corresponding frequency bands of the multiple frequency bands propagating through the plurality of signal paths, the plurality of signal paths including a first signal path and a second signal path; a switch module that includes the first antenna terminal, the second antenna terminal, and a plurality of selection terminals, is disposed between the antenna element and the plurality of signal paths, the switch module being capable of performing connection between the first antenna terminal and the first signal path and connection between the second antenna terminal and the second signal path at the same time, and switches connection between the antenna element and the plurality of signal paths; an electric power detection coupler between the first antenna terminal and the antenna element; and a phase inversion element that includes an input terminal and an output terminal, the input terminal being connected to the electric power detection coupler, the output terminal being connected to a reception terminal for the second frequency band;
whereina frequency of a fundamental wave or harmonic of a transmission signal of the first frequency band partially overlaps with a signal of the second frequency band; and the phase inversion element receives the fundamental wave or harmonic of the transmission signal of the first frequency band that has passed through the electric power detection coupler, inverts a phase of the fundamental wave or harmonic, and outputs the phase-inverted fundamental wave or harmonic. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification