RF Filtering Circuitry for Carrier Aggregation

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional RF front end circuitry struggles to effectively separate RF signals with closely spaced frequency bands, leading to difficulties in carrier aggregation and MIMO operations while maintaining low insertion loss and minimal area requirements.

Innovation Solution

The RF filtering circuitry includes multiple filtering elements and switching circuitry, allowing for specific configurations to separate and combine RF signals across different frequency bands, enabling carrier aggregation between closely spaced bands with minimal additional components and area usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional triplexer and band filtering circuitry are used to separate RF signals in different frequency bands, then RF signal separation is achieved, but insertion loss increases and circuit area expands

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveRF signal separation capabilityVSAvoidinsertion loss

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple filtering functions into a single filter bank structure that can handle multiple frequency bands simultaneously. The filter bank integrates what would traditionally require separate triplexers and band filtering circuitry into one unified component, reducing the number of discrete elements and minimizing insertion loss while maintaining signal separation capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The filter bank is designed to support multiple carrier aggregation modes and different frequency band combinations through a single universal structure. By making the filtering circuitry multi-functional, the patent eliminates the need for separate dedicated circuits for each frequency band, thereby reducing overall insertion loss and circuit area while maintaining reliable signal separation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If conventional triplexer and band filtering circuitry are used to separate RF signals in different frequency bands, then RF signal separation is achieved, but circuit area increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveRF signal separation capabilityVSAvoidcircuit area

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple filtering functions into a single filter bank structure that can handle multiple frequency bands simultaneously. The filter bank integrates what would traditionally require separate triplexers and band filtering circuitry into one unified component, reducing the number of discrete elements and minimizing insertion loss while maintaining signal separation capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The filter bank is designed to support multiple carrier aggregation modes and different frequency band combinations through a single universal structure. By making the filtering circuitry multi-functional, the patent eliminates the need for separate dedicated circuits for each frequency band, thereby reducing overall insertion loss and circuit area while maintaining reliable signal separation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple filtering elements and switching circuitry are added to support additional carrier aggregation modes, then carrier aggregation capability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecarrier aggregation mode supportVSAvoidfiltering circuitry complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The filter bank is designed to support multiple carrier aggregation modes and different frequency band combinations through a single universal structure. By making the filtering circuitry multi-functional, the patent eliminates the need for separate dedicated circuits for each frequency band, thereby reducing overall insertion loss and circuit area while maintaining reliable signal separation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs switching circuitry that can dynamically reconfigure the filter bank to support different carrier aggregation modes as needed. This dynamic reconfiguration capability allows the system to adapt to various operational requirements without requiring separate fixed circuits for each mode, thereby improving versatility while managing complexity through a single reconfigurable structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS10187090B2Radio frequency filtering circuitry for carrier aggregation

Publication Date: 2019.01.22 QORVO US INC

AI summary

Radio frequency (RF) filtering circuitry includes a number of filtering elements and switching circuitry configured to rearrange the filtering elements between a common node, a first input/output node, a second input/output node, and a third input/output node such that the RF filtering circuitry is capable of supporting carrier aggregation between RF signals within a first RF frequency band and RF signals within a second RF frequency band, as well as between RF signals within a first portion of the second RF frequency band and a second portion of the second RF frequency band.