Broadband RF Front-End Modules for Carrier Aggregation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current radio frequency (RF) front-end systems face challenges in supporting concurrent and non-concurrent carrier aggregation, dual uplink multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communications, and sounding reference signal (SRS) antenna port switching across multiple frequency bands without requiring signal paths between modules, which complicates the design and increases complexity.
Innovation Solution
The RF front-end system incorporates broadband modules with bandwidth controllable components such as power amplifiers and filters, allowing operation across multiple frequency bands like n77 and n79, and includes antenna-plexers to support concurrent carrier aggregation, dual MIMO, and SRS antenna port switching without signal paths between modules, enabling flexible and efficient operation across different frequency bands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If signal paths are provided between RF modules to support carrier aggregation and MIMO, then communication functionality is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple RF modules (first RF module with first and second receive circuits, second RF module with third and fourth receive circuits) into a unified architecture that shares common signal paths. The antenna-plexer integrates multiple antenna interfaces, and the shared signal routing enables carrier aggregation and MIMO functionality without requiring separate dedicated paths for each module, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining full functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The RF front-end system is designed with universal components that serve multiple functions: the antenna-plexer handles multiple antenna ports (first through fourth antenna ports) and multiple frequency bands simultaneously; the receive circuits can operate across different frequency bands (first frequency band and second frequency band); and the signal paths support both carrier aggregation and MIMO operations, making the system adaptable to various communication modes without requiring separate dedicated infrastructure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple RF modules are used to support multiple frequency bands, then frequency band coverage is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple RF modules into a consolidated architecture where the first RF module and second RF module share common infrastructure including the antenna-plexer and signal paths. The first RF module handles first and second receive circuits while the second RF module handles third and fourth receive circuits, all operating across first and second frequency bands through shared resources, reducing the need for completely separate module implementations for each frequency band.
Solution Approach 2:
Each RF module is designed with universal capabilities to operate across multiple frequency bands (first frequency band and second frequency band). The receive circuits are configured to be selectively operable in different frequency bands, and the antenna-plexer provides universal interface support for multiple antenna ports across all frequency bands, enabling a single module design to serve multiple frequency band requirements without requiring band-specific dedicated hardware.
3Reliability
If dedicated signal paths are provided for each RF module, then module independence is improved, but area and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines signal paths so that the first RF module and second RF module share common routing infrastructure. The antenna-plexer consolidates multiple antenna interfaces into a unified structure, and the signal paths from different antenna ports are routed through shared channels to the receive circuits. This merging reduces the total area required compared to providing completely separate dedicated signal paths for each module, while the modular architecture maintains functional independence through selective circuit operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The signal path infrastructure is designed as a universal routing system that can handle signals from any antenna port (first through fourth antenna ports) to any receive circuit (first through fourth receive circuits). This universal path configuration allows the system to maintain module independence through software or control-based selection while physically sharing the same signal routing infrastructure, thereby reducing area requirements without sacrificing functional independence.
Data Source
AI summary
The radio frequency front-end systems herein include modules having bandwidth controllable components, such as amplifier and filters. By implementing the modules with bandwidth control, the same module can be used for operation of multiple frequency bands including a first frequency band and a second frequency band. Thus, when implementing features such as carrier aggregation, multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO), and/or sounding resource signaling (SRS) for supporting the multiple frequency bands, the total number of modules used can be reduced and/or additional feature support can be provided compared to an implementation in which each module supports a single frequency band.