Versatile antenna switch architecture

• US 20050245202A1
• Filed: 04/30/2004
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Ella, Juha, Ranta, Tero
• Granted Patent: US 7,187,945 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/78
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 5/244 using electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/48 in circuits for connecting transmitter and receiver to a common transmission path, e.g. by energy of transmitter H04B1/46 takes precedence

Abstract

A RF front-end having two antenna switches operatively connected to two separate antennas. The antenna switches can be used to route various transmit and receive paths to the antennas. In particular, one of the antenna switches has three switch position for use in selectively routing the 2 GHz receive paths, and another antenna switch has six switch positions for use in selectively routing the 2 GHz transmit paths and the 1 GHz signal paths. With the disclosed topology, the front-end can be used to support GSM and W-CDMA communications in many regional variants in the world. The supported variants include US1, US2, EU1, EU2 and EU/US modes. The same front-end can also be used in BT/WLAN connectivity. For MIMO purposes, one more antenna switch for the 2 GHz receive paths can be added to the same RF front-end.

Claims

1. A method for routing a plurality of RF communications signal paths in a communications device having at least a first antenna and a second antenna, wherein the signal paths comprises a plurality of receive paths and transmit paths for conveying signals in a plurality of operating modes in a first frequency range substantially between 800 MHz and 990 MHz, and a second frequency range substantially between 1600 MHz and 2500 MHz, said method comprising:

providing a first signal path selecting part operatively connected to the first antenna;

providing a second signal path selecting part operatively connected to the second antenna;

operatively connecting the plurality of receive paths to the second signal path selecting part for selectively conveying receive signals in the second frequency range via the second antenna; and

operatively connecting the plurality of transmit and receive paths to the first signal selecting part for selectively conveying signals in the first frequency range via the first antenna.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

operatively connecting the plurality of further transmit paths to the first signal selecting part for selectively conveying signals in the second frequency range via the first antenna.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the communications device further comprising a third antenna, said method further comprising:

providing a third path selecting part operatively connected to the third antenna; and

operatively connecting a plurality of further transmit paths to the third signal selecting part for selectively conveying signals in the second frequency range via the third antenna.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first signal path selecting part comprises a plurality of switches for selecting the transmit and receive paths in the first frequency range.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the first signal path selecting part comprises a plurality of switches for selecting the transmit and receive paths in the first frequency range and the transmit paths in the second frequency range.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the first and third signal path selecting parts comprise a plurality of switches for selecting the transmit and receive paths in the first frequency range and the transmit path in the second frequency range.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second signal path selecting part comprises a plurality of switches for selecting the receive paths in the second frequency range.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second signal path selecting part comprises at least a balun and a matching mechanism for selecting the receive paths in the second frequency range.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the receive paths comprise a plurality of baluns and a plurality of passband filters connected to the baluns in series, and wherein the second signal path selecting part comprises at least one matching mechanism operatively connected to the baluns for selecting the receive paths in the second frequency range.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the second signal path selecting part comprises a plurality of phase-shifting elements for selecting the receive paths in the second frequency range.

11. The method of claim 2, wherein the communications device further comprises a third antenna, said method further comprising:

providing a third signal path selecting part operatively connected to the third antenna;

operatively connecting a plurality of further receive paths to the third signal path selecting part for conveying receive signals in the second frequency range via the third antenna.

12. A signal path selection part for use in a communications device, the communications device having at least a first antenna and a second antenna for conveying signals in a plurality of operating modes in a first frequency range substantially between 800 MHz and 990 MHz and a second frequency range substantially between 1600 MHz and 2500 MHz via a plurality of transmit and receive paths, said signal path selection part comprising:

a first signal path selecting sub-part operatively connected to the first antenna; and

a second signal path selecting sub-part operatively connected to the second antenna, wherein

the second signal path selecting sub-part comprises a plurality of selectable positions for operatively connecting a plurality of receive paths for selectively conveying receive signals in the second frequency range via the second antenna, and

the first signal path selecting sub-part comprises a plurality of selectable positions for operatively connecting a plurality of transmit and receive paths for selectively conveying transmit signals in the first and second frequency ranges and receive signals in the first frequency range via the first antenna.

13. The signal path selection part of claim 12, wherein the first signal path selecting sub-part comprises a plurality of switches for selecting the transmit and receive paths in the first frequency range and the transmit paths in the second frequency range.

14. The signal path selection part of claim 12, wherein the second signal path selecting sub-part comprises a plurality of switches for selecting the receive paths in the second frequency range.

15. The signal path selection part of claim 12, wherein the second signal path selecting sub-part comprises at least a balun and a matching mechanism for selecting the receive paths in the second frequency range.

16. The signal path selection part of claim 12, wherein the receive paths comprise a plurality of baluns and a plurality of passband filters connected to the baluns in series, and wherein the second signal path selecting sub-part comprises at least one matching mechanism operatively connected to the baluns for selecting the receive paths in the second frequency range.

17. The signal path selection part of claim 12, wherein the second signal path selecting sub-part comprises a plurality of phase-shifting elements for selecting the receive paths in the second frequency range.

18. The signal path selection part of claim 12, wherein the communication device further comprises a third antenna, said part further comprising:

a third signal path selecting sub-part operatively connected to the third antenna, wherein the third signal path selecting sub-part comprises a plurality of selectable positions for operatively connecting a plurality of further receive paths for selectively conveying receive signals in the second frequency range via the third antenna.

19. A communications device operable in a plurality of operating modes in a first frequency range substantially between 800 MHz and 990 MHz and a second frequency range substantially between 1600 MHz and 2500 MHz, said communications device comprising:

a first antenna;

a second antenna; and

a front-end part comprising;

a first signal path selecting sub-part operatively connected to the first antenna; and

a second signal path selecting sub-part operatively connected to the second antenna, wherein

the second signal path selecting sub-part comprises a plurality of selectable positions for operatively connecting a plurality of receive paths for selectively conveying receive signals in the second frequency range via the second antenna, and

the first signal path selecting sub-part comprises a plurality of selectable positions for operatively connecting a plurality of transmit and receive paths for selectively conveying transmit signals in the first and second frequency ranges and receive signals in the first frequency range via the first antenna.

20. The communications device of claim 19, wherein the transmit and receive paths in the first frequency range comprise:

a receive path for conveying GSM signals substantially in a frequency range of 925 MHz to 960 MHz;

a transmit path for conveying GSM signals substantially in a frequency range of 824 MHz to 915 MHz;

a transmit path for conveying code-division multiple access signals substantially in a frequency range of 824 MHz to 849 MHz; and

a receive path for conveying GSM or code-divisional multiple access signals substantially in a frequency range of 869 MHz to 894 MHz, and wherein the transmit and receive paths in the second frequency range comprise;

a transmit path for conveying GSM signals substantially in a frequency range of 1710 MHz to 1910 MHz;

a transmit path for conveying code-divisional multiple access signals substantially in a frequency range of 1850 MHz to 1910 MHz;

a receive path for conveying GSM signals substantially in a frequency range of 1805 MHz to 1880 MHz; and

a receive path for conveying GSM or code-divisional multiple access signals substantially in a frequency range of 1930 MHz to 1990 MHz.

21. The communications device of claim 19, wherein the transmit and receive paths in the first frequency range comprise:

a receive path for conveying GSM signals substantially in a frequency range of 925 MHz to 960 MHz;

a transmit path for conveying GSM signals substantially in a frequency range of 824 MHz to 915 MHz;

a transmit path for conveying code-divisional multiple access signals substantially in a frequency range of 824 MHz to 849 MHz;

a receive path for conveying GSM signals substantially in a frequency range of 869 MHz to 894 MHz; and

a receive path for conveying code-divisional multiple access signals substantially in a frequency range of 869 MHz to 894 MHz, and wherein the transmit and receive paths in the second frequency range comprise;

a transmit path for conveying GSM signals substantially in a frequency range of 1710 MHz to 1910 MHz;

a transmit path for conveying code-divisional multiple access signals substantially in a frequency range of 1850 MHz to 1910 MHz;

a receive path for conveying GSM signals substantially in a frequency range of 1805 MHz to 1880 MHz; and

a receive path for conveying GSM or code-divisional multiple access signals substantially in a frequency range of 1930 MHz to 1990 MHz.

22. The communications device of claim 19, wherein the transmit and receive paths in the first frequency range comprise:

a receive path for conveying GSM signals substantially in a frequency range of 925 MHz to 960 MHz;

a transmit path for conveying GSM signals substantially in a frequency range of 824 MHz to 915 MHz; and

a receive path for conveying GSM signals substantially in a frequency range of 869 MHz to 894 MHz, and wherein the transmit and receive paths in the second frequency range comprise;

a transmit path for conveying GSM signals substantially in a frequency range of 1710 MHz to 1910 MHz;

a transmit path for conveying code-divisional multiple access signals substantially in a frequency range of 1850 MHz to 1910 MHz;

a receive path for conveying GSM signals substantially in a frequency range of 1805 MHz to 1880 MHz;

a receive path for conveying GSM or code-divisional multiple access signals substantially in a frequency range of 1930 MHz to 1990 MHz;

a transmit path for conveying code-divisional multiple access signals substantially in a frequency range of 1710 MHz to 1755 MHz, and

a receive path for conveying code-divisional multiple access signals substantially in a frequency range of 2110 MHz to 2155 MHz.

23. The communications device of claim 19, wherein the transmit and receive paths in the first frequency range comprise:

a receive path for conveying GSM signals substantially in a frequency range of 925 MHz to 960 MHz;

a transmit path for conveying GSM signals substantially in a frequency range of 824 MHz to 915 MHz; and

a receive path for conveying GSM signals substantially in a frequency range of 869 MHz to 894 MHz, and wherein the transmit and receive paths in the second frequency range comprise;

a transmit path for conveying GSM signals substantially in a frequency range of 1710 MHz to 1910 MHz;

a receive path for conveying GSM signals substantially in a frequency range of 1805 MHz to 1880 MHz;

a receive path for conveying GSM or code-divisional multiple access signals substantially in a frequency range of 1930 MHz to 1990 MHz;

a transmit path for conveying code-divisional multiple access signals substantially in a frequency range of 1920 MHz to 1980 MHz, and

a receive path for conveying code-divisional multiple access signals substantially in a frequency range of 2110 MHz to 2170 MHz.

24. The communications device of claim 19, wherein the transmit and receive paths in the first frequency range comprise:

a receive path for conveying GSM signals substantially in a frequency range of 925 MHz to 960 MHz;

a transmit path for conveying GSM signals substantially in a frequency range of 824 MHz to 915 MHz; and

a receive path for conveying GSM signals substantially in a frequency range of 869 MHz to 894 MHz, and wherein the transmit and receive paths in the second frequency range comprise;

a transmit path for conveying GSM signals substantially in a frequency range of 1710 MHz to 1910 MHz;

a receive path for conveying GSM and code-divisional multiple access signals substantially in a frequency range of 1805 MHz to 1880 MHz;

a receive path for conveying GSM signals substantially in a frequency range of 1930 MHz to 1990 MHz;

a transmit path for conveying code-divisional multiple access signals substantially in a frequency range of 1710 MHz to 1755 MHz;

a transmit path for conveying code-divisional multiple access signals substantially in a frequency range of 1920 MHz to 1980 MHz; and

a receive path for conveying code-divisional multiple access signals substantially in a frequency range of 2110 MHz to 2170 MHz.

25. The communications device of claim 19, wherein the transmit and receive paths in the first frequency range comprise:

a receive path for conveying GSM signals substantially in a frequency range of 925 MHz to 960 MHz;

a transmit path for conveying GSM signals substantially in a frequency range of 824 MHz to 915 MHz; and

a receive path for conveying GSM signals substantially in a frequency range of 869 MHz to 894 MHz, and wherein the transmit and receive paths in the second frequency range comprise;

a transmit path for conveying GSM signals substantially in a frequency range of 1710 MHz to 1910 MHz;

a transmit path for conveying code-divisional multiple access signals substantially in a frequency range of 1850 MHz to 1910 MHz;

a receive path for conveying GSM signals substantially in a frequency range of 1805 MHz to 1880 MHz;

a transmit path for conveying code-divisional multiple access signals substantially in a frequency range of 1920 MHz to 1980 MHz;

a receive path for conveying code-divisional multiple access signals substantially in a frequency range of 2110 MHz to 2170 MHz; and

a receive path for conveying GSM or code-divisional multiple access signals substantially in a frequency range of 1930 MHz to 1990 MHz.

26. The communications device of claim 19, further comprising a third antenna, and the front-end part further comprises:

a third signal path selecting sub-part operatively connected to the third antenna, the third signal path selecting sub-part comprising a plurality of selectable positions for operatively connecting a plurality of further receive paths for selectively conveying receive signals in the second frequency range via the third antenna.

27. The communications device of claim 19 comprises a mobile terminal.

28. The communications device of claim 19, wherein at least one of said plurality of receive paths for receiving signals in the second frequency range via the second antenna is used for receiving signals in a frequency range substantially between 2.4-2.5 GHz.

29. The communications device of claim 28, further comprising a transmit path for transmitting signals in a frequency range substantially between 2.4-2.5 GHz via the second antenna and a sub-switch for selecting between said transmit path and said at least one receive path for receiving signals in the 2.4-2.5 GHz.

30. The communications device of claim 29, wherein said transmit and receive signals in the 2.4-2.5 GHz frequency range are Bluetooth or WLAN signals.

31. An RF-front-end part for use in a communications device operable in a plurality of operating modes in a first frequency range substantially between 800 MHz and 990 MHz and a second frequency range substantially between 1600 MHz and 2500 MHz, the communications devices comprising a first antenna and a second antenna, said front-end part comprising:

a first signal path selecting sub-part operatively connected to the first antenna;

a second signal path selecting sub-part operatively connected to the second antenna;

a plurality of receive paths operatively connected to the second signal path selecting sub-part for selectively conveying signals in the second frequency range through a plurality of filters operable in the second frequency range;

a plurality of transmit paths operatively connected to the first signal path selecting sub-part for selectively conveying signals in the second frequency range through a plurality of filter operable in the second frequency range; and

a plurality of transmit and receive paths operatively connected to the first signal path selecting sub-part for selectively conveying signals in the first frequency range through a plurality of filters operable in the first frequency range.

32. The front-end part of claim 31, wherein the transmit and receive paths in the first frequency range comprise:

a receive path for conveying GSM signals substantially in a frequency range of 925 MHz to 960 MHz;

a transmit path for conveying GSM signals substantially in a frequency range of 824 MHz to 915 MHz;

a transmit path for conveying code-divisional multiple access signals substantially in a frequency range of 824 MHz to 849 MHz; and

a receive path for conveying GSM or code-divisional multiple access signals substantially in a frequency range of 869 MHz to 894 MHz, and wherein the transmit and receive paths in the second frequency range comprise;

a transmit path for conveying GSM signals substantially in a frequency range of 1710 MHz to 1910 MHz;

a transmit path for conveying code-divisional multiple access signals substantially in a frequency range of 1850 MHz to 1910 MHz;

a receive path for conveying GSM signals substantially in a frequency range of 1805 MHz to 1880 MHz; and

a receive path for conveying GSM or code-divisional multiple access signals substantially in a frequency range of 1930 MHz to 1990 MHz.

33. The front end part of claim 31, wherein the transmit and receive paths in the first frequency range comprise:

a receive path for conveying GSM signals substantially in a frequency range of 925 MHz to 960 MHz;

a transmit path for conveying GSM signals substantially in a frequency range of 824 MHz to 915 MHz;

a transmit path for conveying code-divisional multiple access signals substantially in a frequency range of 824 MHz to 849 MHz;

a receive path for conveying GSM signals substantially in a frequency range of 869 MHz to 894 MHz; and

a receive path for conveying code-divisional multiple access signals substantially in a frequency range of 869 MHz to 894 MHz, and wherein the transmit and receive paths in the second frequency range comprise;

a transmit path for conveying GSM signals substantially in a frequency range of 1710 MHz to 1910 MHz;

a transmit path for conveying code-divisional multiple access signals substantially in a frequency range of 1850 MHz to 1910 MHz;

a receive path for conveying GSM signals substantially in a frequency range of 1805 MHz to 1880 MHz; and

a receive path for conveying GSM or code-divisional multiple access signals substantially in a frequency range of 1930 MHz to 1990 MHz.

34. The front end part of claim 31, wherein the transmit and receive paths in the first frequency range comprise:

a receive path for conveying GSM signals substantially in a frequency range of 925 MHz to 960 MHz;

a transmit path for conveying GSM signals substantially in a frequency range of 824 MHz to 915 MHz; and

a receive path for conveying GSM signals substantially in a frequency range of 869 MHz to 894 MHz, and wherein the transmit and receive paths in the second frequency range comprise;

a transmit path for conveying GSM signals substantially in a frequency range of 1710 MHz to 1910 MHz;

a transmit path for conveying code-divisional multiple access signals substantially in a frequency range of 1850 MHz to 1910 MHz;

a receive path for conveying GSM signals substantially in a frequency range of 1805 MHz to 1880 MHz;

a receive path for conveying GSM or code-divisional multiple access signals substantially in a frequency range of 1930 MHz to 1990 MHz;

a transmit path for conveying code-divisional multiple access signals substantially in a frequency range of 1710 MHz to 1755 MHz, and

a receive path for conveying code-divisional multiple access signals substantially in a frequency range of 2110 MHz to 2155 MHz.

35. The front end part of claim 31, wherein the transmit and receive paths in the first frequency range comprise:

a receive path for conveying GSM signals substantially in a frequency range of 925 MHz to 960 MHz;

a transmit path for conveying GSM signals substantially in a frequency range of 824 MHz to 915 MHz; and

a receive path for conveying GSM signals substantially in a frequency range of 869 MHz to 894 MHz, and wherein the transmit and receive paths in the second frequency range comprise;

a transmit path for conveying GSM signals substantially in a frequency range of 1710 MHz to 1910 MHz;

a receive path for conveying GSM signals substantially in a frequency range of 1805 MHz to 1880 MHz;

a receive path for conveying GSM or code-divisional multiple access signals substantially in a frequency range of 1930 MHz to 1990 MHz;

a transmit path for conveying code-divisional multiple access signals substantially in a frequency range of 1920 MHz to 1980 MHz, and

a receive path for conveying code-divisional multiple access signals substantially in a frequency range of 2110 MHz to 2170 MHz.

36. The front end part of claim 31, wherein the transmit and receive paths in the first frequency range comprise:

a receive path for conveying GSM signals substantially in a frequency range of 925 MHz to 960 MHz;

a transmit path for conveying GSM signals substantially in a frequency range of 824 MHz to 915 MHz; and

a receive path for conveying GSM signals substantially in a frequency range of 869 MHz to 894 MHz, and wherein the transmit and receive paths in the second frequency range comprise;

a transmit path for conveying GSM signals substantially in a frequency range of 1710 MHz to 1910 MHz;

a receive path for conveying GSM and code-divisional multiple access signals substantially in a frequency range of 1805 MHz to 1880 MHz;

a receive path for conveying GSM signals substantially in a frequency range of 1930 MHz to 1990 MHz;

a transmit path for conveying code-divisional multiple access signals substantially in a frequency range of 1710 MHz to 1755 MHz;

a transmit path for conveying code-divisional multiple access signals substantially in a frequency range of 1920 MHz to 1980 MHz; and

a receive path for conveying code-divisional multiple access signals substantially in a frequency range of 2110 MHz to 2170 MHz.

37. The front end part of claim 31, wherein the transmit and receive paths in the first frequency range comprise:

a receive path for conveying GSM signals substantially in a frequency range of 925 MHz to 960 MHz;

a transmit path for conveying GSM signals substantially in a frequency range of 824 MHz to 915 MHz; and

a receive path for conveying GSM signals substantially in a frequency range of 869 MHz to 894 MHz, and wherein the transmit and receive paths in the second frequency range comprise;

a transmit path for conveying GSM signals substantially in a frequency range of 1710 MHz to 1910 MHz;

a transmit path for conveying code-divisional multiple access signals substantially in a frequency range of 1850 MHz to 1910 MHz;

a receive path for conveying GSM signals substantially in a frequency range of 1805 MHz to 1880 MHz;

a transmit path for conveying code-divisional multiple access signals substantially in a frequency range of 1920 MHz to 1980 MHz;

a receive path for conveying code-divisional multiple access signals substantially in a frequency range of 2110 MHz to 2170 MHz; and

a receive path for conveying GSM or code-divisional multiple access signals substantially in a frequency range of 1930 MHz to 1990 MHz.

38. The front end part of claim 31, wherein the communications device further comprises a third antenna, said front-end part further comprising:

a third signal path selecting sub-part operatively connected to the third antenna, the third signal path selecting sub-part comprising a plurality of selectable positions for operatively connecting a plurality of further receive paths for selectively conveying receive signals in the second frequency range via the third antenna.

39. The front-end part of claim 31, wherein at least one of said plurality of receive paths for receiving signals in the second frequency range via the second antenna is used for receiving signals in a frequency range substantially between 2.4-2.5 GHz.

40. The front end part of claim 39, further comprising a transmit path for transmitting signals in a frequency range substantially between 2.4-2.5 GHz via the second antenna and a sub-switch for selecting between said transmit path and said at least one receive path for receiving signals in the 2.4-2.5 GHz.

41. The front end part of claim 40, wherein said transmit and receive signals in the 2.4-2.5 GHz frequency range are Bluetooth or WLAN signals.