Dynamic multiplexer configuration process

• US 10,601,655 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2016
• Issued: 03/24/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Skyworks Solutions Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Skyworks Solutions Incorporated
• Inventors: Hou, Yang, Kasnavi, Reza, Ni, Jianxing, Zhao, Shanshan
• Primary Examiner(s): Skripnikov, Alex
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chowdhury, Sharmin
• Application Number:
  US15/366,390
• Publication Number:
  US 20170163484A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,209 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/189 High-frequency amplifiers, e.g. radio frequency amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/24 of transmitter output stages
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0057 using diplexing or multiplexing filters for selecting the desired band
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/006 using switches for selecting the desired band H04B1/0057 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0816 the condition being an adaptation, e.g. in response to network events
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0823 characterised by the purposes of a change of settings, e.g. optimising configuration for enhancing reliability for optimising operational conditions of wireless networks H04W24/02

Abstract

A method of dynamically configuring a multiplexer that can support more frequency bands than a traditional multiplexer is disclosed. For example, the reconfigurable multiplexer can handle frequencies of several hundred megahertz up to 10 gigahertz. Further, certain implementations of the method enable the multiplexer to reduce or eliminate frequency dead zones that exist with traditional multiplexers. The reconfigurable multiplexer includes a filter bank capable of supporting a number of frequency bands and a bypass circuit that enables the multiplexer to support a variety of sets of frequencies. For instance, unlike traditional multiplexers, the reconfigurable multiplexer can support both frequency bands with relatively narrow spacing and frequency bands with relatively wide spacing. Further, the inclusion of the bypass circuit enables the reduction or elimination of dead zones between supported frequencies.

Claims

1. A method of dynamically configuring a multiplexer, the method comprising:

determining that a control signal identifies a plurality of communication frequencies;

configuring a filter bank of the multiplexer based at least in part on the plurality of communication frequencies, the filter bank including a plurality of filters;

determining that the plurality of communication frequencies are associated with a set of special carrier aggregation bands; and

in response to said determining that the plurality of communication frequencies are associated with the set of special carrier aggregation bands, selecting a load circuit from a plurality of load circuits included in the multiplexer based on the plurality of communication frequencies to reduce insertion loss in the multiplexer for the plurality of communication frequencies, connecting a bypass path of a plurality of bypass paths included in the multiplexer to the load circuit without connecting the bypass path to an output port of the multiplexer, and disconnecting at least one other bypass path of the plurality of bypass paths, each bypass path of the plurality of bypass paths configured to bypass the filter bank.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein configuring the filter bank includes:

accessing a lookup table to identify switch configurations for a switch bank of the multiplexer; and

configuring the switch bank based on the identified switch configurations.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein, in response to determining that the plurality of communication frequencies are associated with the set of special carrier aggregation bands, the method further includes disconnecting a remainder of additional bypass paths included in the multiplexer.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the set of special carrier aggregation bands include a plurality of frequency bands with less than a threshold frequency spacing between the bands.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the threshold frequency spacing is 150 megahertz.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining that a second control signal identifies a second plurality of communication frequencies, the method further includes;

determining that the second plurality of communication frequencies are associated with a set of common carrier aggregation bands; and

in response to determining that the second plurality of communication frequencies are associated with the set of common carrier aggregation bands, disconnecting the bypass path.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the set of common carrier aggregation bands include a plurality of frequency bands with greater than a threshold frequency spacing between the bands.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the threshold frequency spacing is 150 megahertz.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the set of common carrier aggregation bands include a plurality of frequency bands with an isolation requirement of approximately 20 decibels.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein, in response to determining that a second control signal identifies a single communication frequency, the method further includes:

connecting a first filter corresponding to the single communication frequency from the filter bank to a second output port of the multiplexer; and

disconnecting remaining signal paths within the multiplexer.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the remaining signal paths include a first signal path that includes a second filter that does not correspond to the single communication frequency and a second signal path that corresponds to the bypass path.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein, in response to determining that the control signal identifies an unsupported signal, the method further includes:

deactivating the filter bank;

connecting the bypass path to the output port of the multiplexer; and

disconnecting remaining bypass paths of the multiplexer.

13. A method of dynamically configuring a multi-stage multiplexer, the method comprising:

receiving at a multiplexer a control signal from a baseband processor, the control signal identifying a frequency band;

configuring a filter bank of the multiplexer based at least in part on the control signal by configuring a first filter stage of the filter bank based at least in part on the frequency band, the first filter stage configured to filter a signal to obtain a partially filtered signal, and configuring a second filter stage of the filter bank based at least in part on the frequency band, the second filter stage configured to filter the partially filtered signal to obtain a filtered signal of the frequency band, the second filter stage in series with and subsequent to the first filter stage, and configuring the first filter stage including opening or closing one or more switches between an input port of the multiplexer and one or more filters of the first filter stage;

configuring a bypass circuit of a plurality of bypass circuits of the multiplexer based at least in part on the control signal, the bypass circuit part of the second filter stage; and

disconnecting at least one other bypass circuit of the plurality of bypass circuits, each bypass circuit of the plurality of bypass circuits configured to bypass filters of the second filter stage.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the control signal is based on a second control signal received from a base station.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising determining based at least in part on the control signal whether the multiplexer is to operate in a carrier aggregation mode.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein, in response to determining that the multiplexer is to operate in a carrier aggregation mode, configuring the bypass circuit includes disconnecting the bypass circuit from an operational signal path of the filter bank.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein, in response to determining that the multiplexer is to operate in a carrier aggregation mode, configuring the bypass circuit includes connecting the bypass circuit to a filter from the first filter stage.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein, in response to determining based at least in part on the control signal that the multiplexer is to operate in a bypass mode, configuring the second filter stage includes disconnecting the second filter stage from the first filter stage.

19. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

selecting a set of load circuits from a plurality of available load circuits included in the multiplexer based at least in part on the control signal; and

connecting a set of filter output paths from the filter bank to the set of load circuits.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein frequency bands processed in the carrier aggregation mode include a plurality of frequency bands with an isolation requirement of approximately 20 decibels.