Quadplexer Filter Circuit for Adjacent Carrier Aggregation Bands
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless devices face increased complexity and cost when supporting multiple carrier aggregation bands, particularly when bands are adjacent in frequency, due to the need for careful matching and loading of filter outputs, leading to duplicate filtering and increased calibration requirements.
Innovation Solution
A quadplexer filter configuration that supports three different bands in single mode and two carrier aggregation pairs, with filter components having passbands that span adjacent frequency ranges, reducing the number of required filters and simplifying the filter configuration structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional separate filter configurations are used for each band, then filtering performance for individual bands is maintained, but device complexity and cost increase due to duplicate filtering components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple filter components into a shared filter structure where a first filter component serves both first and second bands, and a third filter component serves both first and third bands. This merging eliminates duplicate filtering components while maintaining the required filtering performance for each individual band, directly resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter components are designed with universal functionality where the first filter component can handle both first and second bands, and the third filter component can handle both first and third bands. This multi-functionality allows a single filter component to serve multiple bands simultaneously, reducing the total number of components needed while ensuring each band receives appropriate filtering performance.
2Reliability
If multiple separate filter components are used for carrier aggregation bands, then each band can be filtered independently, but manufacturing cost increases due to more components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges filter components so that the first filter component is shared between first and second bands, and the third filter component is shared between first and third bands. This reduction in component count directly lowers manufacturing costs while the filter design maintains independent filtering capability for each band through selective activation and frequency-specific passband design.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter components are designed with universal functionality to handle multiple bands. The first filter component universally serves both first and second bands, and the third filter component universally serves both first and third bands. This universality reduces the total component count for manufacturing while maintaining the ability to independently filter each band when needed.
3Reliability
If traditional filter configurations are used for adjacent frequency bands, then each band can be processed separately, but calibration requirements increase due to matching and loading considerations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the filter configuration into a unified structure where the first filter component handles both first and second bands, and the third filter component handles both first and third bands. This unified approach reduces calibration requirements by eliminating the need to separately match and load multiple independent filter components, while still maintaining accurate processing for each band through the shared filter design.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides an apparatus that includes a plurality of filter circuits configured to filter one or more signals. The plurality of filter circuits includes a first filter component configured to have a first passband that spans adjacent transmission frequency ranges of a first communication band and a second communication band. The plurality of filter circuits further includes a second filter component having a second passband that spans a reception frequency range of a third communication band. The plurality of filter circuits further includes a third filter component having a third passband that spans adjacent reception frequency ranges of the first communication band and the third communication band. The plurality of filter circuits further includes a fourth filter component having a fourth passband that spans the second reception frequency range of the second communication band.