Time division duplex front end module
First Claim
1. A time division duplex RF module adapted for direct-surface mounting to the front end of the motherboard of a base station, the module comprising:
- a substrate including top and bottom surfaces, a plurality of peripheral edges including castellations extending between the top and bottom surfaces of the substrate and defining at least voltage input/output pins, and a plurality of vias spaced from the plurality of peripheral edges and extending between the top and bottom surfaces of the substrate and defining at least RF signal input/output pins;
a first section on said substrate coupled to one of the plurality of vias and defining a transmit path for RF signals and including at least a discrete power amplifier;
a second section on said substrate coupled to another of the plurality of vias and defining a receive path for RF signals and including at least the following electrical components;
a discrete receive bandpass filter and a discrete low-noise amplifier; and
a discrete RF switch between and interconnecting said respective first and second sections to an antenna pin defined by yet another of the plurality of vias.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An RF module adapted for direct surface mounting to the top surface of the front end of the motherboard of a wireless base station such as, for example, a femtocell. The module comprises a printed circuit board having a plurality of direct surface mounted electrical components defining respective signal transmit and receive sections for RF signals. The signal transmit section is defined by at least a power amplifier, a coupler, and a lowpass filter. The signal receive section is defined by at least a receive bandpass filter and a low-noise amplifier. A lid covers selected ones of the electrical components except for at least the power amplifier. An RF switch is located between and interconnects the respective transmit and receive sections to an antenna pin.
40 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A time division duplex RF module adapted for direct-surface mounting to the front end of the motherboard of a base station, the module comprising:
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a substrate including top and bottom surfaces, a plurality of peripheral edges including castellations extending between the top and bottom surfaces of the substrate and defining at least voltage input/output pins, and a plurality of vias spaced from the plurality of peripheral edges and extending between the top and bottom surfaces of the substrate and defining at least RF signal input/output pins; a first section on said substrate coupled to one of the plurality of vias and defining a transmit path for RF signals and including at least a discrete power amplifier; a second section on said substrate coupled to another of the plurality of vias and defining a receive path for RF signals and including at least the following electrical components;
a discrete receive bandpass filter and a discrete low-noise amplifier; anda discrete RF switch between and interconnecting said respective first and second sections to an antenna pin defined by yet another of the plurality of vias. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. An RF module adapted for direct surface mounting to a front end of a motherboard of a wireless base station and adapted to transmit and receive RF signals, the module comprising:
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a substrate including opposed top and bottom surfaces wherein the top surface defines first and second halves, first and second opposed peripheral edges and third and fourth opposed peripheral edges, and first, second, and third RF signal input/output vias extending between the opposed top and bottom surfaces; an RF signal transmit section on the top surface of the substrate including at least a power amplifier; and an RF signal receive section on the top surface of said substrate including at least a receive bandpass filter and a low-noise amplifier; the module being characterized in that the RF signal transmit and receive sections are defined on the first and second halves of the top surface of the substrate respectively, the first and second RF signal input/output vias are defined on the first and second halves of the top surface of the substrate along the first and second opposed peripheral edges of the substrate respectively, and the third RF signal input/output via is defined between the first and second RF signal input/output vias along the third peripheral edge of the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7)
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- 8. An RF module adapted for direct surface mounting to a front end of a motherboard of a wireless base station, said module including a substrate having a plurality of electrical components mounted thereon and defining respective wireless signal transmit and receive sections thereon, the transmit section including at least a power amplifier mounted to the substrate, the RF module further including a lid which is mounted to the substrate and covers at least a portion of the receive section of the RF module but not at least the power amplifier of the transmit section of the RF module.
Specification