High-Frequency Front End Module Filter Sharing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing high-frequency front end modules require a large number of filters to support carrier aggregation across multiple frequency bands, leading to increased circuit size and complexity, particularly when simultaneously transmitting and receiving signals in multiple bands.
Innovation Solution
A high-frequency front end module design that incorporates a primary and secondary antenna with a switch circuit, reducing the number of filters needed by allowing arbitrary distribution of signals between antennas through a multiplexer configuration, thereby minimizing circuit size while maintaining carrier aggregation capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If each antenna interface circuit includes four filters (transmission and reception filters for first band and second band) to support two-uplink two-downlink carrier aggregation, then signal quality is optimized, but the circuit size increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the filter resources between primary and secondary antenna interface circuits. Specifically, the first multiplexer in the secondary antenna interface circuit shares transmission and reception filters with the first multiplexer in the primary antenna interface circuit. This merging allows both antenna circuits to support two-uplink two-downlink carrier aggregation while reducing the total number of filters from eight to four, thereby decreasing circuit size while maintaining signal quality.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a large number of filters are used to support multiple frequency bands simultaneously, then carrier aggregation capability is enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements universality by making the filters in the first multiplexer serve multiple functions and multiple antenna circuits. The same transmission filter and reception filter are shared between the primary and secondary antenna interface circuits, allowing a single set of filters to handle multiple frequency bands and multiple antenna interfaces. This multi-functional design reduces device complexity while maintaining full carrier aggregation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
By merging the filter subsystems of both antenna interface circuits into a shared resource pool, the patent reduces the overall number of components. The first multiplexer's filters are combined and shared, eliminating redundant filter instances and simplifying the overall circuit architecture while preserving the ability to aggregate multiple carriers.
3Adaptability or versatility
If eight filters are deployed in two antenna interface circuits to achieve two-uplink two-downlink, then multi-band support is achieved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the filter resources between two antenna interface circuits, reducing the total filter count from eight to four. This consolidation directly lowers component count, assembly complexity, and manufacturing cost while maintaining full multi-band support capability through the shared filter architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
A high-frequency front end module includes a primary antenna terminal and a secondary antenna terminal, a first multiplexer and a second multiplexer, a switch circuit, and a first amplifier and a second amplifier. The first multiplexer has a first transmission filter and a first reception filter. The second multiplexer has a second transmission filter and a second reception filter. The switch circuit exclusively switches connection between the primary antenna terminal and the first multiplexer and connection between the primary antenna terminal and the second multiplexer, and exclusively switches connection between the secondary antenna terminal and the first multiplexer and connection between the secondary antenna terminal and the second multiplexer.