RF Module Variable Matching for Carrier Aggregation Bands
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current radio-frequency modules face challenges in maintaining high transmission performance when switching between different combinations of frequency bands in carrier aggregation mode due to impedance mismatching and fluctuating bandpass characteristics, leading to decreased communication quality.
Innovation Solution
A radio-frequency module with a switch circuit and variable matching circuits that adjust impedance and phase according to the selected frequency bands, using a combination of signal paths and control signals to maintain optimal impedance matching and phase alignment across different frequency band combinations, allowing for simultaneous communication using multiple frequency bands with a single antenna.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a matching circuit dedicated to a specific combination of multiple frequency bands is used, then the bandpass characteristics are optimized for that combination, but the bandpass characteristics significantly decrease for other combinations due to impedance mismatching
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs variable matching circuits that can dynamically adjust their impedance characteristics based on the selected frequency band combination. Switching elements connect different matching circuit configurations to the antenna, allowing the system to adapt the matching network to each specific carrier aggregation combination, thereby maintaining optimal bandpass characteristics across multiple frequency band scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The matching circuit parameters (impedance values, component configurations) are changed according to the selected frequency band combination. By switching between different matching circuit configurations, the system optimizes the impedance matching for each specific carrier aggregation scenario, preventing significant degradation of bandpass characteristics when switching between different frequency band combinations.
2Reliability
If multiple antennas are used to perform carrier aggregation communication, then simultaneous transmission and reception of multiple frequency bands is enabled, but the device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple frequency band signals through a single antenna by using a switch circuit that can simultaneously or sequentially connect multiple matching circuits to the same antenna terminal. This merging approach allows carrier aggregation functionality to be achieved without requiring multiple separate antennas, thereby reducing the overall device size while maintaining communication performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The single antenna is designed to serve multiple frequency bands through the switching mechanism that connects different matching circuits based on the selected carrier aggregation combination. This multi-functional antenna design replaces what would traditionally require multiple dedicated antennas, achieving space savings while maintaining the ability to handle multiple frequency bands simultaneously.
3Device complexity
If fixed matching circuits are used for each frequency band, then the circuit structure is simple, but the transmission performance fluctuates when switching between different frequency band combinations
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using completely different fixed matching circuits for each frequency band, the patent uses a dynamic switching mechanism that selects from a set of matching circuit configurations. This approach maintains relatively simple individual circuit structures while achieving stable transmission performance across different frequency band combinations through the switching control that adapts the matching network to each scenario.
Data Source
AI summary
A radio-frequency module utilizing carrier aggregation includes a switch circuit that includes one input terminal and three or more output terminals and that simultaneously connects the input terminal and each of two or more output terminals selected from the output terminals, signal paths that propagate signals of corresponding frequency bands, band pass filters in the signal paths, and variable matching circuits in the signal paths. The circuit states of the variable matching circuits are changed in accordance with a combination of two or more signal paths simultaneously connected to the input terminal.