RADIO-FREQUENCY FILTER, MULTIPLEXER, RADIO-FREQUENCY FRONT-END CIRCUIT, AND COMMUNICATION DEVICE

• US 20200136592A1
• Filed: 12/26/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co Limited
• Original Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co Limited
• Inventors: NOSAKA, Koji
• Granted Patent: US 10,911,027 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/111 the amplifier being a dual or triple band amplifier, e.g. 900 and 1800 MHz, e.g. switched or not switched, simultaneously or not
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/294 the amplifier being a low noise amplifier [LNA]
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/451 the amplifier being a radio frequency amplifier
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/189 High-frequency amplifiers, e.g. radio frequency amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/21 with semiconductor devices only H03F3/245 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/24 of transmitter output stages
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 11/04 Frequency selective two-port networks
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 11/34 Networks for connecting several sources or loads working on different frequencies or frequency bands, to a common load or source for use in multiplex transmission systems H04J1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 7/0115 comprising only inductors and capacitors H03H7/075, H03H7/09, H03H7/12, H03H7/13 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 9/46 Filters multiple-port electromechanical filters H03H9/70
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 9/542 including passive elements H03H9/545 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 9/568 consisting of a ladder configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 9/605 consisting of a ladder configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 9/6403 Programmable filters
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 9/6483 Ladder SAW filters
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 9/706 Duplexers
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 9/725 Duplexers
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/693 Switching arrangements with several input- or output-terminals, e.g. multiplexers, distributors logic circuits H03K19/00; code converters H03M5/00, H03M7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/006 using switches for selecting the desired band H04B1/0057 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/40 Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/50 : using different frequencies for the two directions of communication

Abstract

A filter includes: a series-arm circuit; a first parallel-arm circuit connected to a node and a ground; and a second parallel-arm circuit connected to a node and the ground. The first parallel-arm circuit includes a first parallel-arm resonator, and a first switch circuit connected in series to the first parallel-arm resonator. The second parallel-arm circuit includes a second parallel-arm resonator, and a second switch circuit connected in series to the second parallel-arm resonator. The first switch circuit includes a first switch element that includes one or more transistors. The second switch circuit includes a second switch element that includes one or more transistors. A gate width of each of the one or more transistors included in the first switch element is greater than a gate width of at least one of the one or more transistors included in the second switch element.

Claims

1. A radio-frequency filter, comprising:

a series-arm circuit disposed on a path that connects an input terminal and an output terminal;

a first parallel-arm circuit connected to a ground and a first node on the path, between the input terminal and the series-arm circuit, the first parallel-arm circuit including a first parallel-arm resonator, and a first switch circuit connected in series to the first parallel arm resonator, the first switch circuit including a first switch element that includes one or more transistors; and

a second parallel-arm circuit connected to the ground and a second node on the path, between the series-arm circuit and the output terminal, the second parallel-arm circuit including a second parallel-arm resonator, and a second switch circuit connected in series to the second parallel-arm resonator, the second switch circuit including a second switch element that includes one or more transistors, wherein

a gate width of each of the one or more transistors included in the first switch element is greater than a gate width of at least one of the one or more transistors included in the second switch element.

2. The radio-frequency filter of claim 1, wherein

under a condition that a stack count indicates a total number of transistors connected in series, the second switch element has a stack count lower than a stack count of the first switch element.

3. The radio-frequency filter of claim 1, wherein

the first switch circuit further includes a first impedance element connected to the first switch element, the first impedance element being one of an inductor and a capacitor, and

the second switch circuit further includes a second impedance element connected to the second switch element, the second impedance element being one of an inductor and a capacitor.

4. The radio-frequency filter of claim 3, wherein the first impedance element and the first switch element are connected in parallel in the first switch circuit, and

the second impedance element and the second switch element are connected in parallel in the second switch circuit.

5. The radio-frequency filter of claim 3, wherein

the first switch circuit further includes a third impedance element connected in series to the first switch element, the third impedance element being an other of the inductor and the capacitor and different from the first impedance element,

the second switch circuit further includes a fourth impedance element connected in series to the second switch element, the fourth impedance element being an other of the inductor and the capacitor and different from the second impedance element,

a circuit comprising the third impedance element and the first switch element connected in series is connected in parallel to the first impedance element, and

a circuit comprising the fourth impedance element and the second switch element connected in series is connected in parallel to the second impedance element.

6. The radio-frequency filter of claim 5, wherein

the first switch circuit includes a plurality of circuits having a same structure as that of the circuit comprising the third impedance element and the first switch element connected in series, and

the second switch circuit includes a plurality of circuits having a same structure as that of the circuit comprising the fourth impedance element and the second switch element connected in series.

7. The radio-frequency filter of claim 3, wherein

the first parallel-arm circuit further includes a third parallel-arm resonator connected in parallel to a circuit comprising the first parallel-arm resonator and the first switch circuit connected in series,

the second parallel-arm circuit further includes a fourth parallel-arm resonator connected in parallel to a circuit comprising the second parallel-arm resonator and the second switch circuit connected in series,

a resonant frequency of the first parallel-arm resonator being lower than a resonant frequency of the third parallel-arm resonator,

an antiresonant frequency of the first parallel-arm resonator being lower than an antiresonant frequency of the third parallel-arm resonator,

a resonant frequency of the second parallel-arm resonator being lower than a resonant frequency of the fourth parallel-arm resonator, and

an antiresonant frequency of the second parallel-arm resonator being lower than an antiresonant frequency of the fourth parallel-arm resonator.

8. The radio-frequency filter of claim 3, wherein

the first parallel-arm circuit further includes a third parallel-arm resonator connected in parallel to a circuit comprising the first parallel-arm resonator and the first switch circuit connected in series,

the second parallel-arm circuit further includes a fourth parallel-arm resonator connected in parallel to a circuit comprising the second parallel-arm resonator and the second switch circuit connected in series,

a resonant frequency of the first parallel-arm resonator being higher than a resonant frequency of the third parallel-arm resonator,

an antiresonant frequency of the first parallel-arm resonator being higher than an antiresonant frequency of the third parallel-arm resonator,

a resonant frequency of the second parallel-arm resonator being higher than a resonant frequency of the fourth parallel-arm resonator, and

an antiresonant frequency of the second parallel-arm resonator being higher than an antiresonant frequency of the fourth parallel-arm resonator.

9. The radio-frequency filter of claim 3, wherein

the first parallel-arm circuit further includes:

a third parallel-arm resonator; and

a third switch circuit connected in series to the third parallel-arm resonator,

the second parallel-arm circuit further includes;

a fourth parallel-arm resonator; and

a fourth switch circuit connected in series to the fourth parallel-arm resonator,

the third switch circuit includes;

a fifth impedance element that is one of an inductor and a capacitor; and

a third switch element that is connected to the fifth impedance element, and includes one or more transistors,

the fourth switch circuit includes;

a sixth impedance element that is one of an inductor and a capacitor; and

a fourth switch element that is connected to the sixth impedance element, and includes one or more transistors,

a circuit comprising the first parallel-arm resonator and the first switch circuit connected in series and a circuit comprising the third parallel-arm resonator and the third switch circuit connected in series are connected in parallel, and

a circuit comprising the second parallel-arm resonator and the second switch circuit connected in series and a circuit comprising the fourth parallel-arm resonator and the fourth switch circuit connected in series are connected in parallel.

10. The radio-frequency filter of claim 9,

wherein a gate width of each of the one or more transistors included in the third switch element is greater than a gate width of at least one of the one or more transistors included in the fourth switch element.

11. The radio-frequency filter of claim 9, wherein

under a condition that a stack count indicates a total number of transistors connected in series, the fourth switch element has a stack count lower than a stack count of the third switch element.

12. The radio-frequency filter of claim 1, wherein the radio-frequency filter has a ladder filter structure that includes:

two or more series-arm circuits disposed on the path, the two or more series-arm circuits including the series-arm circuit disposed on the path; and

three or more parallel-arm circuits that include the first parallel-arm circuit and the second parallel-arm circuit,

the three or more parallel-arm circuits include a third parallel-arm circuit connected to the ground and a node between the first node on the path and the output terminal,

the third parallel-arm circuit includes a fifth parallel-arm resonator and a fifth switch circuit connected in series to the fifth parallel arm resonator,

the fifth switch circuit includes a fifth switch element that includes one or more transistors, and

a gate width of each of the one or more transistors included in the fifth switch element being narrower than a gate width of each of the one or more transistors included in the first switch element.

13. A radio-frequency filter of claim 1, comprising means for providing frequency-tuning and power durability.

14. A multiplexer, comprising:

a plurality of filters that include a first filter that is a radio-frequency filter, the radio-frequency filter comprising;

a series-arm circuit disposed on a path that connects an input terminal and an output terminal;

a first parallel-arm circuit connected to a ground and a first node on the path, between the input terminal and the series-arm circuit, the first parallel-arm circuit including a first parallel-arm resonator, and a first switch circuit connected in series to the first parallel arm resonator, the first switch circuit including a first switch element that includes one or more transistors; and

a second parallel-arm circuit connected to the ground and a second node on the path, between the series-arm circuit and the output terminal, the second parallel-arm circuit including a second parallel-arm resonator, and a second switch circuit connected in series to the second parallel-arm resonator, the second switch circuit including a second switch element that includes one or more transistors, wherein

a gate width of each of the one or more transistors included in the first switch element is greater than a gate width of at least one of the one or more transistors included in the second switch element,

wherein input terminals or output terminals of the plurality of filters are directly or indirectly connected to a common terminal.

15. The multiplexer of claim 14, further comprising:

a change circuit that changes a filter connected to the common terminal from one filter to another filter out of the plurality of filters, wherein

the change circuit includes a sixth switch element configured to switch between (i) a conducting state in which one of the input terminal and the output terminal of the first filter is connected to the common terminal and (ii) a non-conducting state in which the one of the input terminal and the output terminal of the first filter is disconnected from the common terminal,

the sixth switch element includes one or more transistors, and

a gate width of each of the one or more transistors included in the sixth switch element is greater than a gate width of at least one of the one or more transistors included in the first switch element.

16. The multiplexer of claim 15, wherein

the change circuit further includes a seventh switch element that switches between (i) a conducting state in which a node connected with the sixth switch element and the one of the input terminal and the output terminal is connected to the ground and (ii) a non-conducting state in which the node is disconnected from the ground,

under a condition that one of the sixth switch element and the seventh switch element is conducting, an other of the sixth switch element and the seventh switch element is non-conducting,

the seventh switch element includes one or more transistors, and

a gate width of each of the one or more transistors included in the seventh switch element is narrower than a gate width of each of the one or more transistors included in the first switch element.

17. A radio-frequency front-end circuit, comprising:

a multiplexer that includes a plurality of filters that include a first filter that is a radio-frequency filter, or

the first filter, the first filter comprising

a series-arm circuit disposed on a path that connects an input terminal and an output terminal,

a first parallel-arm circuit connected to a ground and a first node on the path, between the input terminal and the series-arm circuit, the first parallel-arm circuit including a first parallel-arm resonator, and a first switch circuit connected in series to the first parallel arm resonator, the first switch circuit including a first switch element that includes one or more transistors, and

a second parallel-arm circuit connected to the ground and a second node on the path, between the series-arm circuit and the output terminal, the second parallel-arm circuit including a second parallel-arm resonator, and a second switch circuit connected in series to the second parallel-arm resonator, the second switch circuit including a second switch element that includes one or more transistors, wherein

a gate width of each of the one or more transistors included in the first switch element is greater than a gate width of at least one of the one or more transistors included in the second switch element, and

wherein input terminals or output terminals of the plurality of filters are directly or indirectly connected to a common terminal; and

an amplifier circuit directly or indirectly connected to the radio-frequency filter or the multiplexer.

18. The radio-frequency front-end circuit of claim 17,

wherein the amplifier circuit is a power amplifier that amplifies a high-frequency signal to be transmitted, and

the high-frequency signal amplified by the power amplifier is input through the input terminal of the first filter.

19. The radio-frequency front-end circuit of claim 17,

wherein the amplifier circuit is a low-noise amplifier that amplifies a high-frequency signal received, and

the high-frequency signal amplified by the low-noise amplifier is output through the output terminal of the first filter.

20. A communication device, comprising the radio-frequency front-end circuit of claim 17, the communication device further comprising:

a radio-frequency (RF) signal processing circuit that processes a high-frequency signal to be transmitted by an antenna element, and a high-frequency signal received by the antenna element, wherein

the radio-frequency front-end circuit conveys the high-frequency signals between the antenna element and the RF signal processing circuit.