Front end module and communication apparatus

• US 10,419,039 B2
• Filed: 01/02/2019
• Issued: 09/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co Limited
• Original Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co Limited
• Inventors: Hanaoka, Kunitoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Cai, Wayne H
• Application Number:
  US16/237,797
• Publication Number:
  US 20190140670A1
• Time in Patent Office: 258 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 7/42 Networks for transforming balanced signals into unbalanced signals and vice versa, e.g. baluns
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 7/46 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: H04B 1/00 Details of transmission systems, not covered by a single one of groups H04B3/00 - H04B13/00; Details of transmission systems not characterised by the medium used for transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/006 using switches for selecting the desired band H04B1/0057 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0064 with separate antennas for the more than one band H04B1/0053 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/18 Input circuits, e.g. for coupling to an antenna or a transmission line coupling networks between antennas or lines and receivers independent of the nature of the receiver H03H
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/405 with multiple discrete channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/50 using different frequencies for the two directions of communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/001 the frequencies being arranged in component carriers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0035 Resource allocation in a cooperative multipoint environment

Abstract

A front end module that performs a CA method includes a signal path through which a signal of a first frequency band propagates, a signal path through which a signal of a second frequency band propagates, a switch module that includes antenna terminals and selection terminals and is connected to antenna elements, and a balun that is disposed at the signal path. First and second balanced terminals of the balun are connected to the selection terminals, and the balun causes a fundamental wave or harmonic of a transmission signal of the first frequency band input through an unbalanced terminal to branch into branch signals having opposite phases and outputs the branch signals to the first balanced terminal and the second balanced terminal.

Claims

1. A front end module that performs a carrier aggregation method in which communication is performed using a signal of a first frequency band that is selected from among multiple frequency bands and a signal of a second frequency band that is selected from among the multiple frequency bands and different from the first frequency band at a same time, the front end module comprising:

a first antenna terminal and a second antenna terminal that are connected to an antenna element;

a plurality of transmission terminals to which transmission signals are input;

a plurality of reception terminals that output reception signals;

a plurality of signal paths between the first antenna terminal and each of a corresponding one of the plurality of transmission terminals and a corresponding one of the plurality of reception terminals and between the second antenna terminal and each of a corresponding one of the plurality of transmission terminals and a corresponding one of the plurality of reception terminals, signals of corresponding frequency bands of the multiple frequency bands propagating through the plurality of signal paths, the plurality of signal paths including a first signal path and a second signal path;

a switch module that includes the first antenna terminal, the second antenna terminal, and a plurality of selection terminals, the switch module being disposed between the antenna element and the plurality of signal paths, capable of performing connection between the first antenna terminal and the first signal path and connection between the second antenna terminal and the second signal path at the same time, and switches connection between the antenna element and the plurality of signal paths; and

a balanced/unbalanced conversion element that is disposed at the first signal path through which a signal of the first frequency band propagates or at the second signal path through which a signal of the second frequency band propagates, of the plurality of signal paths, and includes an unbalanced terminal, a first balanced terminal, and a second balanced terminal;

wherein

a frequency of a fundamental wave or a harmonic of a transmission signal of the first frequency band at least partially overlaps with a frequency of a signal of the second frequency band;

the first balanced terminal and the second balanced terminal are connected to a first selection terminal and a second selection terminal, respectively, of the plurality of selection terminals; and

the balanced/unbalanced conversion element causes the fundamental wave or harmonic that is input through the unbalanced terminal to branch into branch signals having opposite phases and outputs the branch signals to the first balanced terminal and the second balanced terminal.

2. The front end module according to claim 1, wherein

the balanced/unbalanced conversion element is disposed at the first signal path;

and

when a signal of the first frequency band and a signal of the second frequency band are subjected to a carrier aggregation operation, at least one of the first selection terminal and the second selection terminal is connected to neither the first antenna terminal nor the second antenna terminal.

3. The front end module according to claim 1, wherein

the balanced/unbalanced conversion element is disposed at the second signal path;

the plurality of signal paths include a third signal path; and

when the first signal path through which a signal of the first frequency band propagates and the third signal path through which a signal of the second frequency band propagates are subjected to a carrier aggregation operation, the first selection terminal and the second selection terminal are connected to neither the first antenna terminal nor the second antenna terminal.

4. The front end module according to claim 3, wherein the balanced/unbalanced conversion element is a filter element for which the second frequency band is defined as a pass band.

5. The front end module according to claim 3, wherein

transmission and reception signals of Band 8 based on LTE (Long Term Evolution) standards propagate through the first signal path;

a transmission signal of GSM®

_HB propagates through the second signal path; and

a high-frequency signal of Band 3 based on the LTE standards propagates through the third signal path.

6. The front end module according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first duplexer that is disposed at the first signal path, a transmission signal and a reception signal of the first frequency band passing through the first duplexer; and

a second duplexer that is disposed at the second signal path, a transmission signal and a reception signal of the second frequency band passing through the second duplexer.

7. The front end module according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first amplification circuit that is connected to a transmission terminal for the first signal path and amplifies a transmission signal of the first frequency band in advance; and

a second amplification circuit that is connected to a transmission terminal for the second signal path and amplifies a transmission signal of the second frequency band in advance.

12. A communication apparatus comprising:

an RF signal processing circuit that processes a high-frequency signal transmitted and received at the antenna element; and

the front end module according to claim 1 that transmits the high-frequency signal between the antenna element and the RF signal processing circuit.

13. The communication apparatus according to claim 12, wherein

the balanced/unbalanced conversion element is disposed at the first signal path;

and

when a signal of the first frequency band and a signal of the second frequency band are subjected to a carrier aggregation operation, at least one of the first selection terminal and the second selection terminal is connected to neither the first antenna terminal nor the second antenna terminal.

14. The communication apparatus according to claim 12, wherein

the balanced/unbalanced conversion element is disposed at the second signal path;

the plurality of signal paths include a third signal path; and

when the first signal path through which a signal of the first frequency band propagates and the third signal path through which a signal of the second frequency band propagates are subjected to a carrier aggregation operation, the first selection terminal and the second selection terminal are connected to neither the first antenna terminal nor the second antenna terminal.

15. The communication apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the balanced/unbalanced conversion element is a filter element for which the second frequency band is defined as a pass band.

8. A front end module that performs a carrier aggregation method in which communication is performed using a signal of a first frequency band that is selected from among multiple frequency bands and a signal of a second frequency band that is selected from among the multiple frequency bands and different from the first frequency band at the same time, the front end module comprising:

a first antenna terminal and a second antenna terminal that are connected to an antenna element;

a plurality of transmission terminals to which transmission signals are input;

a plurality of reception terminals that output reception signals;

a plurality of signal paths between the first antenna terminal and each of a corresponding one of the plurality of transmission terminals and a corresponding one of the plurality of reception terminals and between the second antenna terminal and each of a corresponding one of the plurality of transmission terminals and a corresponding one of the plurality of reception terminals, signals of corresponding frequency bands of the multiple frequency bands propagating through the plurality of signal paths, the plurality of signal paths including a first signal path and a second signal path;

a switch module that includes the first antenna terminal, the second antenna terminal, and a plurality of selection terminals, the switch module being disposed between the antenna element and the plurality of signal paths, capable of performing connection between the first antenna terminal and the first signal path and connection between the second antenna terminal and the second signal path at the same time, and switches connection between the antenna element and the plurality of signal paths; and

a balanced/unbalanced conversion element that is disposed at the second signal path through which a signal of the second frequency band propagates, of the plurality of signal paths, and includes a first balanced terminal, a second balanced terminal, and an unbalanced terminal that is connected to a reception terminal for the second frequency band;

wherein

a frequency of a fundamental wave or harmonic of a transmission signal of the first frequency band at least partially overlaps with that of a signal of the second frequency band; and

the balanced/unbalanced conversion element converts the fundamental waves or harmonics that pass through the first signal path through which a signal of the first frequency band propagates and the switch module and are input to the first balanced terminal and the second balanced terminal to have opposite phases and combines the converted fundamental waves or harmonics.

9. The front end module according to claim 8, wherein

the plurality of signal paths include a fourth signal path;

the balanced/unbalanced conversion element is a filter element for which the second frequency band is defined as a pass band;

the first balanced terminal and the second balanced terminal are connected to a first selection terminal and a second selection terminal, respectively, of the plurality of selection terminals;

the switch module includes a phase inversion element that inverts a phase of a high-frequency reception signal of the second frequency band propagating from the second antenna terminal to the first selection terminal; and

when the first signal path and the second signal path are subjected to a carrier aggregation operation, by connecting the first selection terminal and the second selection terminal to the second antenna terminal, a reception signal of the second frequency band passes through the balanced/unbalanced conversion element, and the balanced/unbalanced conversion element converts the fundamental waves or harmonics that pass through the fourth signal path through which a signal of the second frequency band propagates and the switch module and are input to the first balanced terminal and the second balanced terminal to have opposite phases, so that the converted fundamental waves or harmonics cancel each other out.

10. The front end module according to claim 9, wherein

transmission and reception signals of Band 8 based on LTE standards propagate through the first signal path;

transmission and reception signals of Band 3 based on the LTE standards propagate through the second signal path; and

a transmission signal of GSM®

_HB propagates through the fourth signal path.

16. A communication apparatus comprising:

an RF signal processing circuit that processes a high-frequency signal transmitted and received at the antenna element; and

the front end module according to claim 8 that transmits the high-frequency signal between the antenna element and the RF signal processing circuit.

17. The communication apparatus according to claim 16, wherein

the plurality of signal paths include a fourth signal path;

the balanced/unbalanced conversion element is a filter element for which the second frequency band is defined as a pass band;

the first balanced terminal and the second balanced terminal are connected to a first selection terminal and a second selection terminal, respectively, of the plurality of selection terminals;

the switch module includes a phase inversion element that inverts a phase of a high-frequency reception signal of the second frequency band propagating from the second antenna terminal to the first selection terminal; and

when the first signal path and the second signal path are subjected to a carrier aggregation operation, by connecting the first selection terminal and the second selection terminal to the second antenna terminal, a reception signal of the second frequency band passes through the balanced/unbalanced conversion element, and the balanced/unbalanced conversion element converts the fundamental waves or harmonics that pass through the fourth signal path through which a signal of the second frequency band propagates and the switch module and are input to the first balanced terminal and the second balanced terminal to have opposite phases, so that the converted fundamental waves or harmonics cancel each other out.

11. A front end module that performs a carrier aggregation method in which communication is performed using a signal of a first frequency band that is selected from among multiple frequency bands and a signal of a second frequency band that is selected from among the multiple frequency bands and different from the first frequency band at the same time, the front end module comprising:

a first antenna terminal and a second antenna terminal that are connected to an antenna element;

a plurality of transmission terminals to which transmission signals are input;

a plurality of reception terminals that output high-frequency reception signals;

a plurality of signal paths between the first antenna terminal and each of a corresponding one of the plurality of transmission terminals and a corresponding one of the plurality of reception terminals and between the second antenna terminal and each of a corresponding one of the plurality of transmission terminals and a corresponding one of the plurality of reception terminals, signals of corresponding frequency bands of the multiple frequency bands propagating through the plurality of signal paths, the plurality of signal paths including a first signal path and a second signal path;

a switch module that includes the first antenna terminal, the second antenna terminal, and a plurality of selection terminals, is disposed between the antenna element and the plurality of signal paths, the switch module being capable of performing connection between the first antenna terminal and the first signal path and connection between the second antenna terminal and the second signal path at the same time, and switches connection between the antenna element and the plurality of signal paths;

an electric power detection coupler between the first antenna terminal and the antenna element; and

a phase inversion element that includes an input terminal and an output terminal, the input terminal being connected to the electric power detection coupler, the output terminal being connected to a reception terminal for the second frequency band;

wherein

a frequency of a fundamental wave or harmonic of a transmission signal of the first frequency band partially overlaps with a signal of the second frequency band; and

the phase inversion element receives the fundamental wave or harmonic of the transmission signal of the first frequency band that has passed through the electric power detection coupler, inverts a phase of the fundamental wave or harmonic, and outputs the phase-inverted fundamental wave or harmonic.

18. A communication apparatus comprising:

an RF signal processing circuit that processes a high-frequency signal transmitted and received at the antenna element; and

the front end module according to claim 11 that transmits the high-frequency signal between the antenna element and the RF signal processing circuit.

19. The communication apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising:

a first duplexer that is disposed at the first signal path, a transmission signal and a reception signal of the first frequency band passing through the first duplexer; and

a second duplexer that is disposed at the second signal path, a transmission signal and a reception signal of the second frequency band passing through the second duplexer.

20. The communication apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising:

a first amplification circuit that is connected to a transmission terminal for the first signal path and amplifies a transmission signal of the first frequency band in advance; and

a second amplification circuit that is connected to a transmission terminal for the second signal path and amplifies a transmission signal of the second frequency band in advance.