System and method for TDD-FDD duplexing in a radio architecture

• US 9,929,768 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2015
• Issued: 03/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Li, Lin, Wu, Ke
• Primary Examiner(s): Orgad, Edan
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAGLO, EMMANUEL K
• Application Number:
  US14/605,620
• Publication Number:
  US 20160218767A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,156 Days
• Field of Search: 370278
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0057 using diplexing or multiplexing filters for selecting the desired band
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/006 using switches for selecting the desired band H04B1/0057 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/401 for selecting or indicating operating mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/44 Transmit/receive switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/14 Two-way operation using the same type of signal, i.e. duplex
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/26 combined with the use of different frequencies

Abstract

A reconfigurable TDD-FDD multiplexer operates in a TDD mode and a FDD mode. The TDD-FDD multiplexer includes an interdigital quadruplexer in series with a one-pole three-throw RF switch. The interdigital quadruplexer includes of two V-band filters, connectable to a transmitter and a receiver, respectively, for TDD mode duplexing, and two E-band filters, connectable to a transmitter and a receiver, respectively, for FDD mode duplexing. The E-band filters include an E-band transmitting filter that passes an E-band transmitting frequency band, and an E-band receiving filter that passes for an E-band receiving frequency band offset from the E-band transmitting frequency band. Switching between the V-band receiving filter and V-band transmitting filter enables TDD duplexing functionality at V-band frequencies. Switching to the two E-band filters enables FDD duplexing functionality at E-band frequencies.

Claims

1. A multiplexer comprising:

a first band pass filter having a first frequency passband and a first port for coupling to a transmitter for the first frequency passband;

a second band pass filter having a second frequency passband and a first port for coupling to a transmitter for the second frequency passband;

a third band pass filter having a third frequency passband that is offset from the second frequency passband, and a first port for coupling to a receiver for the third frequency passband;

a fourth band pass filter having a fourth frequency passband, and a first port for coupling to a receiver for the fourth frequency passband; and

a switch for coupling an antenna to;

when operating in a time division duplexing (TDD) mode;

a second port of the first band pass filter in a first switch position during signal transmitting; and

a second port of the fourth band pass filter in a third switch position during signal receiving; and

when operating in a frequency division duplexing (FDD) mode;

both a second port of the second band pass filter and a second port of the third band pass filter in a second switch position.

2. The multiplexer according to claim 1, wherein the first frequency passband and the fourth frequency passband are the same.

3. The multiplexer according to claim 2, wherein the second and third frequency passbands are offset from the first and fourth frequency passbands.

4. The multiplexer according to claim 2, wherein the first and fourth frequency passbands are in a V-band frequency range of about 57 GHz to about 66 GHz.

5. The multiplexer according to claim 1, wherein the second frequency passband is a first E-band frequency range of about 71 GHz to about 76 GHz and the third frequency passband is a second E-band frequency range of about 81 GHz to about 86 GHz.

6. The multiplexer according to claim 1, wherein the second frequency passband is a first E-band frequency range of about 81 GHz to about 86 GHz and the third frequency passband is a second E-band frequency range of about 71 GHz to about 76 GHz.

7. The multiplexer according to claim 1, wherein the second and third frequency passbands are offset from the first and fourth frequency passbands.

8. The multiplexer according to claim 1, wherein the switch is a three-throw one-pole switch.

9. The multiplexer according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter for the first frequency passband and the transmitter for the second frequency passband are provided by a single transmitter.

10. The multiplexer according to claim 1, wherein the receiver for the third frequency passband and the receiver for the fourth frequency passband are provided by a single receiver.

11. The multiplexer according to claim 1, wherein:

the first port of the first band filter and the first port of the second band pass filter form a common port of a first diplexer;

the second port of the second band pass filter and the second port of the third band pass filter form a common port of a second diplexer; and

the first port of the third band pass filter and the first port of the fourth band pass filter form a common port of a third diplexer.

12. A method comprising:

determining whether to operate in a time-division duplexing (TDD) mode or a frequency division duplexing (FDD) mode;

when the determination is to operate in the TDD mode;

during signal transmitting, coupling an antenna to a transmitter for a first frequency passband via a first band pass filter having the first frequency passband;

during signal receiving, coupling the antenna to a receiver for a fourth frequency passband via a fourth band pass filter having the fourth frequency passband; and

when the determination is to operate in the FDD mode, simultaneously coupling the antenna to a transmitter for a second frequency passband via a second band pass filter having the second frequency passband and to a receiver for a third frequency passband via a third band pass filter having the third frequency passband offset from the second frequency passband.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising switching between signal transmitting and signal receiving in the TDD mode based on a predetermined TDD timing scheme.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the first frequency passband and the fourth frequency passband are the same.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the second and third frequency passbands are offset from the first and fourth frequency passbands.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the first frequency passband and the fourth frequency passband are in a V-band frequency range of about 57 GHz to about 66 GHz.

17. The method according to claim 12, wherein the second frequency passband is in a first E-band frequency range of about 71 GHz to about 76 GHz and the third frequency passband is in a second E-band frequency range of about 81 GHz to about 86 GHz.

18. The method according to claim 12, wherein the second frequency passband is in a first E-band frequency range of about 81 GHz to about 86 GHz and the third frequency passband is in a second E-band frequency range of about 71 GHz to about 76 GHz.

19. The method according to claim 12, wherein the second and third frequency passbands are offset from the first and fourth frequency passbands.

20. The method according to claim 12, wherein the transmitter for the first frequency passband and the transmitter for the second frequency passband are provided by a single transmitter, and the receiver for the third frequency passband and the receiver for the fourth frequency are provided by a single receiver.