Mobile device front end architecture for time division duplexing

• US 9,866,366 B2
• Filed: 11/03/2015
• Issued: 01/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Skyworks Solutions Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Skyworks Solutions Incorporated
• Inventors: Pehlke, David Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Mesfin, Yemane
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chen, Peter
• Application Number:
  US14/931,253
• Publication Number:
  US 20160134414A1
• Time in Patent Office: 798 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0057 using diplexing or multiplexing filters for selecting the desired band
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/14 Two-way operation using the same type of signal, i.e. duplex
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/1469 using time-sharing

Abstract

A switching circuit for use in a frequency division duplex (FDD) spectrum re-allocated for time division duplex (TDD) applications comprises a first filter configured to filter a TDD receive signal, a duplex filter configured to filter an FDD receive signal, and a plurality of switches configured to route the FDD receive signal from an antenna through the duplex filter to receiver circuitry and to route the TDD receive signal from the antenna through the first filter to the receiver circuitry such that the FDD and TDD receive signals share the FDD spectrum.

Claims

1. A switching circuit for use in a frequency division duplex spectrum re-allocated for time division duplex application, the switching circuit comprising:

a first filter configured to filter a time division duplex receive signal;

a second filter configured to filter a time division duplex transmit signal;

a duplex filter configured to filter a frequency division duplex transmit signal and a frequency division duplex receive signal; and

a plurality of switches configured to route the frequency division duplex receive signal from an antenna through the duplex filter to receiver circuitry and to route the time division duplex receive signal from the antenna through the first filter to the receiver circuitry, the frequency division duplex and time division duplex transmit and receive signals sharing a reallocated frequency division duplex spectrum that includes a reallocated transmit band including a first sub-band allocated for frequency division duplex transmission, a second sub-band separate from the first sub-band and allocated for time division duplex transmission and reception, and a third sub-band interposed between the first and second sub-bands, the first filter configured to pass the time division duplex receive signals in the second sub-band, the second filter configured to pass the time division duplex transmit signals in the second sub-band, and the duplex filter configured to pass the frequency division duplex transmit signals in the first sub-band.

2. The switching circuit of claim 1 wherein the duplex filter includes a surface acoustic wave filter.

3. The switching circuit of claim 1 wherein the first filter, the second filter, and the duplex filter include bandpass filters.

4. The switching circuit of claim 1 wherein the plurality of switches are further configured to route the time division duplex transmit signal from transmitter circuitry through the second filter to the antenna, and to route the frequency division duplex transmit signal from the transmitter circuitry through the duplex filter to the antenna.

5. The switching circuit of claim 4 wherein the time division duplex transmit, time division duplex receive, frequency division duplex transmit, and frequency division duplex receive signals are radio frequency signals.

6. The switching circuit of claim 1 wherein the third sub-band is allocated for one of the time division duplex transmission and a guard band based at least in part on a received signal strength indication of the time division duplex receive signals.

7. A wireless device including the switching circuit of claim 1.

8. A switching module for use in a frequency division duplex spectrum re-allocated for time division duplex application, the switching module comprising:

a switching circuit implemented in a first semiconductor die, the switching circuit including a first filter configured to filter a time division duplex receive signal, a second filter configured to filter a time division duplex transmit signal, a duplex filter configured to filter a frequency division duplex transmit signal and a frequency division duplex receive signal, and a plurality of switches configured to route the frequency division duplex receive signal from an antenna through the duplex filter to receiver circuitry and to route the time division duplex receive signal from the antenna through the first filter to the receiver circuitry, the frequency division duplex and time division duplex transmit and receive signals sharing the reallocated frequency division duplex spectrum that includes a reallocated transmit band including a first sub-band allocated for frequency division duplex transmission, a second sub-band separate from the first sub-band and allocated for time division duplex transmission and reception, and a third sub-band interposed between the first and second sub-bands, the first filter configured to pass the time division duplex receive signals in the second sub-band, the second filter configured to pass the time division duplex transmit signals in the second sub-band, and the duplex filter configured to pass the frequency division duplex transmit signals in the first sub-band; and

at least one of a prefilter circuit, a post filter circuit, a power amplifier circuit, a switch circuit, a down converter circuit, and a modulator circuit implemented in a second semiconductor die.

9. The switching module of claim 8 wherein the duplex filter includes a surface acoustic wave filter.

10. The switching module of claim 8 wherein the first filter, the second filter, and the duplex filter include bandpass filters.

11. The switching module of claim 8 wherein the plurality of switches are further configured to route the time division duplex transmit signal from transmitter circuitry through the second filter to the antenna and to route the frequency division duplex transmit signal from the transmitter circuitry through the duplex filter to the antenna.

12. The switching module of claim 8 wherein the duplex filter includes a film bulk acoustic resonator filter.

13. The switching module of claim 8 wherein the duplex filter includes a bulk acoustic wave filter.

14. The switching module of claim 8 wherein the third sub-band is allocated for one of the time division duplex transmission and a guard band based at least in part on a received signal strength indication of the time division duplex receive signals.

15. A wireless device including the switching module of claim 8.

16. A method to transmit and receive frequency division duplex signals and time division duplex signals in a frequency division duplex and TDD time division duplex shared frequency band, the method comprising:

routing a frequency division duplex receive signal from an antenna to receiver circuitry through a duplex filter configured to filter the frequency division duplex receive signal, the duplex filter further configured to filter a frequency division duplex transmit signal;

routing a time division duplex receive signal from the antenna to the receiver circuitry through a first filter configured to filter the time division duplex receive signal; and

routing a time division transmit signal through a second filter configured to filter the time division duplex transmit signal, the frequency division duplex and time division duplex transmit and receive signals sharing a reallocated frequency division duplex spectrum that includes a reallocated transmit band including a first sub-band allocated for frequency division duplex transmission, a second sub-band separate from the first sub-band and allocated for time division duplex transmission and reception, and a third sub-band interposed between the first and second sub-bands, the first filter configured to pass the time division duplex receive signals in the second sub-band, the second filter configured to pass the time division duplex transmit signals in the second sub-band, and the duplex filter configured to pass the frequency division duplex transmit signals in the first sub-band.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the duplex filter includes a surface acoustic wave filter.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising routing a frequency division duplex transmit signal from the transmitter circuitry to the antenna through the duplex filter.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the duplex filter is selected from the group consisting of a surface acoustic wave filter, a film bulk acoustic resonator filter, and a bulk acoustic wave filter.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein the third sub-band is allocated for one of the time division duplex transmission and a guard band based at least in part on a received signal strength indication of the time division duplex receive signals.