Terminal Device RF Front End Carrier Aggregation Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing radio frequency front end designs for carrier aggregation (CA) in terminal devices suffer from high costs and insertion loss, which degrade communication quality and increase product costs.
Innovation Solution
A terminal device design that eliminates the need for quadplexers and switch circuits, using independent transmitting and receiving branches with band-pass filters and duplexers to aggregate carrier signals, thereby reducing costs and improving RF receiving performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional quadplexers or hexiplexers are used to implement carrier aggregation, then the transmission bandwidth can be increased to support multiple frequency bands, but a large insertion loss is caused in the radio frequency front end, reducing the conduction performance of radio frequency reception
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the radio frequency front end into multiple independent receiving branches, each capable of receiving signals from different frequency bands. Instead of using a single complex quadplexer or hexiplexer, the system segments the signal path into separate branches (e.g., first receiving branch for first frequency band, second receiving branch for second frequency band), allowing each branch to be optimized independently and reducing overall insertion loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple receiving branches at a later stage in the signal processing chain, after the insertion loss-prone components. By merging the outputs of multiple independent receiving branches using simple combiners or adders, the system achieves carrier aggregation capability while minimizing the cumulative insertion loss that would result from cascading multiple multiplexer stages.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional quadplexers or hexiplexers are used to implement carrier aggregation, then multiple frequency bands can be aggregated, but the CA cost is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the carrier aggregation function into multiple independent receiving branches, each handling a specific frequency band. This segmentation allows for more flexible and cost-effective component selection, as each branch can use simpler, lower-cost components rather than requiring expensive high-performance quadplexers or hexiplexers that must handle all frequency bands simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs simpler, more cost-effective components in each receiving branch (such as basic band-pass filters, low-cost amplifiers, and simple combiners) rather than expensive, complex multiplexer components. While individual components may be less sophisticated, the overall system achieves the required functionality at a lower total cost, making the solution more economically viable for mass production.
3Adaptability or versatility
If switch circuits are used in the receiving path for carrier aggregation, then multiple frequency bands can be switched, but insertion loss is introduced that degrades radio frequency receiving performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic frequency band selection by enabling or disabling specific receiving branches based on the desired carrier aggregation configuration, rather than using static switch circuits in the signal path. Each receiving branch can be independently activated or deactivated, providing dynamic adaptability to different frequency band combinations without introducing switch-related insertion loss into the active signal paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the switching function from the traditional switch circuit approach and replaces it with a branch activation/deactivation mechanism. Instead of physically switching signals through lossy switch components, the system achieves frequency band selection by controlling which receiving branches are active, thereby eliminating switch-induced insertion loss while maintaining the ability to dynamically reconfigure for different frequency bands.
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 CA costs, enhances communication quality, and improves product competitiveness by avoiding insertion loss and simplifying the structure, while maintaining compatibility with both CA and single-carrier transmission.
Implementation Method 1
a receiving filter electrically connected to the receiving branch, wherein the receiving branch is used to receive CA signals, and the receiving filter is used to filter the CA signals
Implementation Method 2
independent transmitting and receiving branches with band-pass filters and duplexers to aggregate carrier signals
Data Source
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AI summary
A terminal device is disclosed, which comprises a first antenna, a second antenna, a first channel electrically connected to the first antenna, and a second channel electrically connected to the second antenna. The first channel comprises at least two first transmitting branches used to transmit carrier signals for CA. The second channel comprises a receiving branch electrically connected to the second antenna and a receiving filter electrically connected to the receiving branch, wherein the receiving branch is used to receive CA signals through the second antenna, and the receiving filter is used to filter the CA signals to obtain the carrier signals for CA.