RF Filter Circuit Sharing for Overlapping Communication Bands
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing number of communication bands in multiband communication systems leads to a significant increase in the size of filter circuits and radio-frequency modules due to the need for multiple filters, which is inefficient and impractical for supporting a large number of communication bands.
Innovation Solution
A filter circuit design that uses a single band pass filter to handle multiple communication bands with overlapping frequency ranges, reducing the number of required filters by sharing filters between bands, and incorporating switch circuits to exclusively connect common terminals to selection terminals for each band, allowing the same filter to process signals from different frequency ranges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate filters are used for each communication band, then signal filtering performance is improved, but the number of filters increases causing apparatus size to increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single band pass filter is designed to handle multiple communication bands (e.g., Band 7 and Band 40) by configuring it with multiple pass bands corresponding to the frequency ranges of different communication bands. This allows the filter to perform signal filtering for multiple bands simultaneously, reducing the total number of filters required while maintaining effective signal filtering performance for each band.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the filtering functions for multiple communication bands into a single filter component. Instead of using separate filters for Band 7, Band 40, and other bands, the invention merges these functions into one band pass filter that processes signals from all these bands, thereby reducing apparatus size while maintaining filtering effectiveness.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple filters are used to support multiple communication bands, then communication band coverage is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The band pass filter is configured with multiple pass bands that correspond to the frequency ranges of different communication bands (e.g., first pass band for Band 7, second pass band for Band 40). This multi-functional configuration allows a single filter to support multiple communication bands, reducing device complexity while maintaining broad communication band coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates switch circuits that can dynamically connect different signal terminals to the band pass filter based on which communication band is currently being used. This dynamic switching capability allows the system to adaptively configure the filter for different bands, simplifying the overall circuit structure while maintaining support for multiple communication bands.
3Quantity of substance
If a single filter handles multiple frequency ranges, then the number of filters is reduced, but switch circuit complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Switch circuits are introduced to dynamically connect different signal terminals (first signal terminal for Band 7, second signal terminal for Band 40) to the common terminal of the band pass filter based on the active communication band. This dynamic switching approach reduces the number of filters needed while the switch circuit manages the complexity of handling multiple frequency ranges.
Solution Approach 2:
The switch circuit acts as an intermediary component that manages the connection between multiple signal terminals and the single band pass filter. By introducing this intermediary switching mechanism, the system can reduce the number of filters while the switch circuit handles the complexity of routing signals from different frequency ranges to the appropriate filter configuration.
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 design effectively reduces the number of filters needed, preventing the apparatus from increasing in size even with an increased number of communication bands, while maintaining effective signal processing capabilities, thereby supporting multiband communication efficiently.
Implementation Method 1
a first band pass filter one end of which is connected to the first common terminal and which uses both the first frequency range and the second frequency range as pass bands
Data Source
AI summary
A filter circuit includes a first switch circuit that exclusively connects a first common terminal to either of a first selection terminal and a second selection terminal; a first signal terminal that is connected to the first selection terminal and that is for communicating a first communication signal belonging to a first frequency range, which is a frequency range of a first communication band; a second signal terminal that is connected to the second selection terminal and that is for communicating a second communication signal belonging to a second frequency range, which is the frequency range of a second communication band and which is at least partially overlapped with the first frequency range; and a first band pass filter one end of which is connected to the first common terminal and which uses both the first frequency range and the second frequency range as pass bands.