Systems and methods related to improved isolation between transmit and receive radio-frequency signals

• US 9,496,913 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2013
• Issued: 11/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Skyworks Solutions Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Skyworks Solutions Incorporated
• Inventors: King, Joel Richard, Pehlke, David Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Rivero, Alejandro
• Application Number:
  US13/862,228
• Publication Number:
  US 20130273859A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,313 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0057 using diplexing or multiplexing filters for selecting the desired band
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/44 Transmit/receive switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/525 with means for reducing leakage of transmitter signal into the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/336 Signal-to-interference ratio [SIR] or carrier-to-interference ratio [CIR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/028 by filtering
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/14 Two-way operation using the same type of signal, i.e. duplex

Abstract

Disclosed are systems and methods for improving isolation between transmit and receive radio-frequency (RF) signals. In some embodiments, a system can be implemented for isolating RF signals during Tx and Rx operations. The system can include a Tx path and an Rx path, with the Tx path having a filter. In some embodiments, the Tx path can include a power amplifier having a plurality of interstages and an output stage, and the filter can be implemented at one of the interstages and before the output stage. The system can further include first and second antennas connected respectively to the Tx and Rx paths. The Tx path, the Rx path, and/or the first and second antennas can be configured to yield a desired level of isolation between the RF signal in the Tx and Tx paths.

Claims

1. A system for isolating radio-frequency signals during transmit and receive operations, the system comprising:

a transmit path configured for passage of a first radio frequency signal;

a power amplifier including a first filter bank and a plurality of stages including an input stage and an output stage, the first filter bank disposed along the transmit path after the input stage and before the output stage, the first filter bank further configured to filter the first radio frequency signal;

one or more switches;

a first antenna connected to the transmit path via the one or more switches;

a second antenna connected to a receive path and configured to receive a second radio frequency signal, the first and second antennas separated from each other to provide isolation between the transmit and receive paths;

a duplexer path configured to facilitate a duplexer mode where both transmit and receive operations are performed with the first antenna, and a duplexer bypass, the one or more switches configured to allow switching between the duplexer mode and a duplexer bypass mode where both of the first and second antennas are being used; and

an isolation detection system configured to control a state of the one or more switches based on detecting an amount of antenna coupling between the first antenna and the second antenna, and to control switching between the duplexer mode and the duplexer bypass mode.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a second filter bank disposed along the receive path and configured to filter the second radio frequency signal for processing by a receiver circuit.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the receive path includes a diversity receive path.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein each of the first and second filter banks includes at least one band-pass filter.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the power amplifier further includes a plurality of interstages.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the first filter bank is disposed at one of the interstages.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the input stage includes a variable-gain stage configured to compensate for variation of insertion loss at the first filter bank.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the variation of insertion loss includes insertion loss variation due to change in frequency or temperature.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the duplexer bypass mode is engaged for bypassing the duplexer over selected regions of dynamic range to optimize performance.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein each of the transmit path, receive path, and duplexer path includes a plurality of channels for facilitating multi-band operations.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the multi-band operations includes a quad-band for a Third Generation Partnership Project communication standard.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the first filter bank includes a plurality of filters configured to filter a plurality of different frequency bands.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the isolation detection system is configured to detect the amount of antenna coupling between the first antenna and the second antenna based on a diversity reception and signal to noise ratio analysis.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the isolation detection system is configured to detect the amount of antenna coupling between the first antenna and the second antenna based on a forward and reflected coupler measurement.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein the isolation detection system is configured to detect the amount of antenna coupling between the first antenna and the second antenna based on comparing a direct measurement of the first radio frequency signal to a calibrated reference value.

16. A radio-frequency device comprising:

a transceiver configured to process radio frequency signals;

first and second antennas in communication with the transceiver to facilitate transmission and reception of the radio frequency signals; and

a circuit configured to provide isolation of the radio frequency signals during transmit and receive operations, the circuit including a transmit path configured for passage of a first radio frequency signal, the circuit further including a power amplifier including a first filter bank and a plurality of stages including an input stage and an output stage, the first filter bank disposed along the transmit path after the input stage and before the output stage, the first filter bank further configured to filter the first radio frequency signal, the circuit further including one or more switches that connect the transmit path to the first antenna, the circuit further including a receive path configured to receive a second radio frequency signal from the second antenna, the circuit further including a duplexer path configured to facilitate a duplexer mode where both transmit and receive operations are performed with the first antenna, and a duplexer bypass, the one or more switches configured to allow switching between the duplexer mode and a duplexer bypass mode where both of the first and second antennas are being used, the circuit further including an isolation detection system configured to control a state of the one or more switches based on detecting an amount of antenna coupling between the first antenna and the second antenna, and to control switching between the duplexer mode and the duplexer bypass mode.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein the isolation detection system is configured to detect the amount of antenna coupling between the first antenna and the second antenna based on a diversity reception and signal to noise ratio analysis.

18. The device of claim 16 wherein the isolation detection system is configured to detect the amount of antenna coupling between the first antenna and the second antenna based on a forward and reflected coupler measurement.

19. The device of claim 16 wherein the isolation detection system is configured to detect the amount of antenna coupling between the first antenna and the second antenna based on comparing a direct measurement of the first radio frequency signal to a calibrated reference value.

20. A method for isolating radio-frequency signals during transmit and receive operations, the method comprising:

passing a first radio frequency signal through a transmit path;

amplifying the first radio frequency signal using a power amplifier that includes a first filter bank and a plurality of stages including an input stage and an output stage;

filtering the first radio frequency signal using the first filter bank, the first filter bank disposed along the transmit path after the input stage and before the output stage;

passing the first radio frequency signal to a first antenna to transmit the first radio frequency signal via one or more switches;

receiving a second radio frequency signal through a second antenna;

passing the second radio frequency signal through a receive path, the first and second antennas separated from each other to provide isolation between the transmit and receive paths; and

controlling a state of the one or more switches based on detecting an amount of antenna coupling between the first antenna and the second antenna using an isolation detection system, including using the isolation detection system to control switching between a duplexer mode in which both transmit and receive operations are performed with the first antenna and a duplexer bypass mode in which both of the first and second antennas are used.