Acoustic RF Frontend Switching for Lower Insertion Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current RF frontend circuits in wireless devices face challenges in reducing insertion loss and improving performance, particularly in high-frequency applications, due to the complexity and limitations of conventional switches like transformers, silicon-on-insulator (SOI) switches, and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) switches.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of acoustically switched RF frontend circuits that replace conventional switches with acoustic switch circuits, allowing for the acoustic on/off switching of RF signals to multiple acoustic filter circuits, thereby reducing insertion loss and enhancing overall performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional RF switches (transformers, SOI switches, MEMS switches) are used in RF frontend circuits, then switching functionality is provided, but insertion loss increases and performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical and electronic RF switches (transformers, SOI switches, MEMS switches) with an acoustically controlled switch circuit. This acoustic switching mechanism uses surface acoustic waves to control the switching state, eliminating the insertion loss and performance degradation associated with conventional switch types while maintaining the necessary switching functionality in the RF frontend circuit.
2Reliability
If acoustic switch circuits are used to replace conventional switches, then insertion loss is reduced and performance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the acoustic switch circuit functionality directly into the existing RF frontend circuit architecture, merging the switching control mechanism with the filter circuits and signal paths. This integration approach reduces overall device complexity by eliminating separate conventional switch components and their associated control circuits, while maintaining the performance benefits of acoustic switching.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution effectively reduces insertion loss and improves the performance of RF frontend circuits by enabling efficient switching and signal transmission across multiple passbands, making them suitable for advanced wireless communication applications such as 5G and 5G-NR devices.
Implementation Method 1
acoustic switch circuits... configured to receive a differential input of the RF signal and output the RF signal to the respective one of the multiple acoustic filter circuits in response to receiving a switching voltage
Implementation Method 2
SAW resonators are often employed in filter networks that operate at frequencies up to 1.8 GHZ... BAW resonators are often employed in filter networks that operate at frequencies above 1.5 GHZ
Implementation Method 3
acoustic filter circuits each configured to pass an RF signal in a respective one of multiple passbands
Data Source
AI summary
An acoustically switched radio frequency (RF) frontend circuit is provided. The acoustically switched RF frontend circuit includes multiple acoustic filter circuits each configured to pass an RF signal in a respective one of multiple passbands. In embodiments disclosed herein, a set of acoustic switch circuits is used to replace conventional RF switches, such as transformers, silicon-on-insulator (SOI) switches, and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) switches. Each of the acoustic switch circuits can be acoustically turned on and off to provide the RF signal to a respective one of the acoustic filter circuits. By replacing the conventional switches with the acoustic switch circuits, it is possible to reduce insertion loss and improve overall performance of the acoustically switched RF frontend circuit.