HF Circuit Carrier Aggregation Duplexer Phase Shifter

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional HF circuits face challenges in maintaining signal quality due to increased unwanted interactions between circuit elements as they shrink in size and increase in functionality, particularly when supporting multiple frequency bands for carrier aggregation.

Innovation Solution

The HF circuit design includes a duplexer with tunable filters and phase shifters, allowing for simultaneous operation across different frequency bands with reduced circuit complexity, enabling carrier aggregation in smaller form factors without compromising signal quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the size of electrical circuits is reduced to make devices smaller, then the device dimensions decrease, but unwanted interactions between circuit elements increase degrading signal quality

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice sizeVSAvoidunwanted interactions between circuit elements
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The HF circuit is segmented into multiple independent signal paths (first signal path with first duplexer, second signal path with second duplexer, third signal path with third filter). Each path handles specific frequency bands separately, preventing unwanted interactions between different frequency signals while maintaining compact overall device size.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Duplexers and filters serve as intermediary components between different signal paths and the common port. These intermediaries selectively route different frequency bands through appropriate paths, isolating signals and preventing harmful interactions while enabling simultaneous operation in multiple bands.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the number of circuit elements is increased to support more functions and frequency bands, then the functionality and adaptability increase, but the device complexity and unwanted interactions increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesupport for multiple frequency bandsVSAvoidnumber of circuit elements
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The HF circuit employs universal components that can handle multiple frequency bands. The first and second duplexers and the third filter are designed with tunable characteristics, allowing a single component to serve multiple frequency bands (LB, MB, HB) rather than requiring separate dedicated components for each band.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The circuit incorporates tunable filters and phase shifters that can dynamically adjust their characteristics based on the required frequency band. This dynamic adaptability allows the same hardware configuration to support different carrier aggregation combinations without requiring additional fixed components for each scenario.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If conventional HF circuits with multiple HF switches are used for carrier aggregation, then frequency band switching is possible, but signal quality deteriorates in frequency bands with small distance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecarrier aggregation capabilityVSAvoidsignal quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using HF switches that directly connect different components, the invention introduces duplexers and filters as intermediary elements. These intermediaries provide isolated, controlled signal paths that maintain signal integrity even when operating in frequency bands with small spacing, preventing the signal quality deterioration associated with direct switching.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The signal paths are segmented into distinct, isolated channels through the use of duplexers and filters. Each frequency band has its own dedicated path with appropriate filtering, preventing interference between closely spaced frequency bands while maintaining the ability to aggregate multiple bands simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3292634B1Hf circuit and hf module
Publication Date: 2023.05.17 SNAPTRACK INC
  • EP3292634B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3292634B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3292634B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The invention relates to an HF circuit which, with a simple design, allows carrier aggregation. The circuit comprises a duplexer, an additional filter and two phase shifters, and can be used in an HF module of a mobile transceiver.