RECONFIGURABLE MULTIPLEXER

• US 20170163297A1
• Filed: 12/01/2016
• Published: 06/08/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Skyworks Solutions Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Skyworks Solutions Incorporated
• Inventors: Hou, Yang, Kasnavi, Reza, Ni, Jianxing, Zhao, Shanshan
• Granted Patent: US 10,469,316 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/189 High-frequency amplifiers, e.g. radio frequency amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/24 of transmitter output stages
• 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: H04L 41/0816 the condition being an adaptation, e.g. in response to network events
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0823 characterised by the purposes of a change of settings, e.g. optimising configuration for enhancing reliability for optimising operational conditions of wireless networks H04W24/02

Abstract

A reconfigurable multiplexer that can support more frequency bands than a traditional multiplexer is disclosed. For example, the reconfigurable multiplexer can handle frequencies of several hundred megahertz up to 10 gigahertz. Further, certain implementations of the reconfigurable multiplexer can reduce or eliminate frequency dead zones that exist with traditional multiplexers. The reconfigurable multiplexer includes a filter bank capable of supporting a number of frequency bands and a bypass circuit that enables the multiplexer to support a variety of sets of frequencies. For instance, unlike traditional multiplexers, the reconfigurable multiplexer can support both frequency bands with relatively narrow spacing and frequency bands with relatively wide spacing. Further, the inclusion of the bypass circuit enables the reduction or elimination of dead zones between supported frequencies.

Claims

1. A multiplexer comprising:

a filter bank including a plurality of filters;

a bypass circuit including at least one bypass path between an input of the multiplexer and an output of the multiplexer, the bypass path not including the filter bank;

a first switch that electrically connects a filter from the plurality of filters based at least in part on a control signal; and

a second switch that electrically connects the at least one bypass path based at least in part on the control signal.

2. The multiplexer of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of load circuits.

3. The multiplexer of claim 2 wherein the first switch is configured to electrically connect the filter to a load circuit from the plurality of load circuits based at least in part on the control signal.

4. The multiplexer of claim 3 wherein at least two load circuits from the plurality of load circuits are selectable by the first switch to be electrically connected to the filter and the load circuit is selected from the at least two load circuits based at least in part on the control signal.

5. The multiplexer of claim 2 wherein the second switch is configured to electrically connect the at least one bypass path to a load circuit from the plurality of load circuits based at least in part on the control signal.

6. The multiplexer of claim 5 wherein at least two load circuits from the plurality of load circuits are selectable by the second switch to be electrically connected to the bypass path and the load circuit is selected from the at least two load circuits based at least in part on the control signal.

7. The multiplexer of claim 2 wherein at least one load circuit from the plurality of load circuits includes an LC circuit.

8. The multiplexer of claim 1 wherein the first switch is configured to electrically connect the filter to an antenna based at least in part on the control signal.

9. The multiplexer of claim 1 wherein the second switch is configured to electrically connect the bypass path to an antenna based at least in part on the control signal.

10. The multiplexer of claim 1 wherein the plurality of filters includes at least one high pass filter, band pass filter, or low pass filter.

11. The multiplexer of claim 1 wherein the bypass circuit includes a phase shift network.

12. The multiplexer of claim 1 wherein the bypass circuit includes a transmission line.

13. A transceiver comprising:

a power amplifier module including a plurality of power amplifiers; and

a multiplexer in communication with the power amplifier module, the multiplexer including a filter bank that includes a plurality of filters, a bypass circuit, a first switch, and a second switch, the bypass circuit including at least one bypass path between an input of the multiplexer and an output of the multiplexer, the bypass path not including the filter bank, the first switch electrically connecting a filter from the plurality of filters based at least in part on a control signal, the second switch electrically connecting the at least one bypass path based at least in part on the control signal.

14. The transceiver of claim 13 wherein the multiplexer further includes a plurality of load circuits.

15. The transceiver of claim 14 wherein the first switch is configured to electrically connect the filter to a load circuit from the plurality of load circuits based at least in part on the control signal.

16. The transceiver of claim 15 wherein the first switch selects the load circuit to electrically connect to the filter from at least two load circuits capable of being electrically connected to the filter.

17. The transceiver of claim 14 wherein the second switch is configured to electrically connect the at least one bypass path to a load circuit from the plurality of load circuits based at least in part on the control signal.

18. The transceiver of claim 17 wherein the second switch selects the load circuit to electrically connect to the bypass path from at least two load circuits capable of being electrically connected to the bypass path.

19. A wireless device comprising:

a transceiver including a power amplifier module and a multiplexer, the power amplifier module including a plurality of power amplifiers and the multiplexer in communication with the power amplifier module, the multiplexer including a filter bank that includes a plurality of filters, a bypass circuit, a first switch, and a second switch, the bypass circuit including at least one bypass path between an input of the multiplexer and an output of the multiplexer, the bypass path not including the filter bank, the first switch electrically connecting a filter from the plurality of filters based at least in part on a control signal, the second switch electrically connecting the at least one bypass path based at least in part on the control signal; and

a baseband processor configured to provide the control signal to the multiplexer, the control signal determined based at least in part on a communication from a base station.

20. The wireless device of claim 19 wherein the multiplexer further includes a load circuit in electrical communication with one of the filter or the bypass path, the load circuit configured to increase isolation of a signal received by the multiplexer.