Antenna switching circuitry

Abstract

This disclosure relates to antenna switching circuitry and other radio frequency (RF) front-end circuitry. In one embodiment, the antenna switching circuitry includes a multiple throw solid-state transistor switch (MTSTS) and a multiple throw microelectromechanical switch (MTMEMS). The MTSTS is configured to selectively couple a first pole port to any one of a first set of throw ports and to selectively couple a second pole port to any one of a second set of throw ports. The MTMEMS is configured to selectively couple a third pole port to any one of a third set of throw ports. The third pole port of the MTMEMS is coupled to a first throw port in the first set of throw ports and a second throw port in the second set of throw ports of the MTSTS. Accordingly, the MTSTS is capable of routing multiple RF signals to and from the MTMEMS.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . Antenna switching circuitry comprising:
 a first multiple throw solid-state transistor switch (MTSTS) comprising a first pole port, a second pole port, a first set of throw ports, and a second set of throw ports, wherein the first MTSTS is configured to selectively couple the first pole port to any one of the first set of throw ports and to selectively couple the second pole port to any one of the second set of throw ports; and   a first multiple throw microelectromechanical switch (MTMEMS) having a third set of throw ports and a third pole port coupled to a first throw port in the first set of throw ports and a second throw port in the second set of throw ports, wherein the first MTMEMS is configured to selectively couple the third pole port to any one of the third set of throw ports.   
     
     
         2 . The antenna switching circuitry of  claim 1  wherein:
 the first pole port is coupled to a first antenna port; and 
 the second pole port is coupled to a second antenna port. 
 
     
     
         3 . The antenna switching circuitry of  claim 1  wherein:
 the first pole port is a first antenna port; and 
 the second pole port is a second antenna port. 
 
     
     
         4 . The antenna switching circuitry of  claim 1  wherein the first throw port in the first set of throw ports is directly connected to the second throw port in the second set of throw ports and the third pole port is coupled to the first throw port and the second throw port by being coupled between the first throw port and the second throw port. 
     
     
         5 . The antenna switching circuitry of  claim 1  further comprising a first radio frequency (RF) port wherein:
 the first RF port is coupled to the first throw port in the first set of throw ports and the second throw port in the second set of throw ports; and 
 the third pole port is coupled to the first throw port and the second throw port by being coupled to the first RF port. 
 
     
     
         6 . The antenna switching circuitry of  claim 1  further comprising a second MTMEMS having a fourth pole port and a fourth set of throw ports, wherein:
 the fourth pole port is coupled to a third throw port in the first set of throw ports and a fourth throw port in the second set of throw ports; and 
 the second MTMEMS is configured to selectively couple the fourth pole port to any one of the fourth set of throw ports. 
 
     
     
         7 . The antenna switching circuitry of  claim 6  wherein:
 each of the third set of throw ports is coupled to receive a corresponding radio frequency (RF) transmission signal of a plurality of RF transmission signals from RF transceiver circuitry; 
 each of the fourth set of throw ports is coupled to transmit a corresponding RF receive signal of a plurality of RF receive signals to the RF transceiver circuitry. 
 
     
     
         8 . The antenna switching circuitry of  claim 7  wherein a fifth throw port in the third set of throw ports is further coupled to transmit another RF receive signal to the RF transceiver circuitry. 
     
     
         9 . The antenna switching circuitry of  claim 7  wherein a fifth throw port in the fourth set of throw ports is further coupled to receive another RF transmission signal from the RF transceiver circuitry. 
     
     
         10 . The antenna switching circuitry of  claim 7  wherein a fifth throw port in the third set of throw ports is directly connected to a sixth throw port in the fourth set of throw ports. 
     
     
         11 . The antenna switching circuitry of  claim 6  further comprising an other multiple throw (MT) switch having a fifth pole port and a fifth set of throw ports wherein:
 the fifth pole port is coupled to a fifth throw port in the first set of throw ports and a sixth throw port in the second set of throw ports; and 
 the other MT switch is configured to selectively couple the fifth pole port to any one of the fifth set of throw ports. 
 
     
     
         12 . The antenna switching circuitry of  claim 11  wherein the other MT switch is a second MTSTS. 
     
     
         13 . The antenna switching circuitry of  claim 11  wherein the other MT switch is a third MTMEMS. 
     
     
         14 . The antenna switching circuitry of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a first diplexer coupled to the first pole port; and 
 a second diplexer coupled to the second pole port. 
 
     
     
         15 . The antenna switching circuitry of  claim 14  further comprising:
 a first directional coupler coupled between the first diplexer and the first pole port, wherein the first directional coupler is configured to direct a first signal flow from the first diplexer; and 
 a second directional coupler coupled between the second diplexer and the second pole port, wherein the second directional coupler is configured to direct a second signal flow from the second diplexer. 
 
     
     
         16 . The antenna switching circuitry of  claim 15  further comprising a second MTMEMS having a fourth pole port and a fourth set of throw ports, wherein:
 the fourth pole port is coupled to a third throw port in the first set of throw ports and a fourth throw port in the second set of throw ports; and 
 the second MTMEMS is configured to selectively couple the fourth pole port to any one of the fourth set of throw ports. 
 
     
     
         17 . The antenna switching circuitry of  claim 14  further comprising a second MTSTS having a fourth pole port, a fifth pole port, a fourth set of throw ports, and a fifth set of throw ports, wherein:
 the first diplexer has a first low band port coupled to the fourth pole port and a first high band port coupled to the first pole port; and 
 the second diplexer has a second low band port coupled to the fifth pole port and a second high band port coupled to the second pole port. 
 
     
     
         18 . The antenna switching circuitry of  claim 17  further comprising:
 a first directional coupler coupled between the first high band port and the first pole port, the first directional coupler being configured to direct a first signal flow from the first high band port; 
 a second directional coupler coupled between the second high band port and the second pole port, the second directional coupler being configured to direct a second signal flow from the second high band port; 
 a third directional coupler coupled between the first low band port and the fourth pole port, the third directional coupler being configured to direct a third signal flow from the first low band port; 
 a fourth directional coupler coupled between the second low band port and the fifth pole port, the fourth directional coupler being configured to direct a fourth signal flow from the second low band port. 
 
     
     
         19 . The antenna switching circuitry of  claim 18  further comprising a second MTMEMS having a sixth pole port and a sixth set of throw ports, wherein:
 the sixth pole port is coupled to a third throw port in the first set of throw ports and a fourth throw port in the second set of throw ports; and 
 the second MTMEMS is configured to selectively couple the sixth pole port to any one of the sixth set of throw ports. 
 
     
     
         20 . The antenna switching circuitry of  claim 19  further comprising a third MTSTS having a seventh pole port and a seventh set of throw ports and a fourth MTSTS having an eighth pole port and an eighth set of throw ports, wherein:
 the seventh pole port is coupled to a fifth throw port in the first set of throw ports and a sixth throw port in the second set of throw ports; 
 the third MTSTS is configured to selectively couple the seventh pole port to any one of the seventh set of throw ports; 
 the eighth pole port is coupled to a seventh throw port in the fourth set of throw ports and an eighth throw port in the fifth set of throw ports; and 
 the fourth MTSTS is configured to selectively couple the eighth pole port to any one of the eighth set of throw ports. 
 
     
     
         21 . The antenna switching circuitry of  claim 20  wherein:
 the first diplexer has a first common port that is coupled to a first antenna port; and 
 the second diplexer has a second common port that is coupled to a second antenna port. 
 
     
     
         22 . The antenna switching circuitry of  claim 20  wherein:
 each of the third set of throw ports is coupled to receive a corresponding radio frequency (RF) transmission signal of a plurality of RF transmission signals from RF transceiver circuitry; and 
 each of the sixth set of throw ports is coupled to transmit a corresponding RF receive signal of a plurality of RF receive signals to the RF transceiver circuitry. 
 
     
     
         23 . The antenna switching circuitry of  claim 19  further comprising a third MTMEMS having a seventh pole port and a seventh set of throw ports and a fourth MTMEMS having an eighth pole port and an eighth set of throw ports wherein:
 the seventh pole port is coupled to a fifth throw port in the first set of throw ports and a sixth throw port in the second set of throw ports; 
 the third MTMEMS is configured to selectively couple the seventh pole port to any one of the seventh set of throw ports; 
 the eighth pole port is coupled to a seventh throw port in the fourth set of throw ports and an eighth throw port in the fifth set of throw ports; and 
 the fourth MTMEMS is configured to selectively couple the eighth pole port to any one of the eight set of throw ports. 
 
     
     
         24 . The antenna switching circuitry of  claim 23  wherein:
 the first diplexer has a first common port that is coupled to a first antenna port; and 
 the second diplexer has a second common port that is coupled to a second antenna port. 
 
     
     
         25 . The antenna switching circuitry of  claim 23  wherein:
 each of the third set of throw ports is coupled to receive a corresponding RF transmission signal of a plurality of RF transmission signals from RF transceiver circuitry; and 
 each of the sixth set of throw ports is coupled to transmit a corresponding RF receive signal of a plurality of RF receive signals to the RF transceiver circuitry. 
 
     
     
         26 . Radio frequency (RF) front-end circuitry comprising:
 a first antenna port;   a second antenna port;   front-end switching circuitry having a first RF port, wherein the front-end switching circuitry is configured to selectively couple the first RF port to any one of the first antenna port and the second antenna port; and   a first multiple throw microelectromechanical switch (MTMEMS) having a first pole port coupled to the first RF port and a first set of throw ports, wherein the first MTMEMS is configured to selectively couple the first pole port to any one of the first set of throw ports.   
     
     
         27 . The RF front-end circuitry of  claim 26  further comprising a second MTMEMS having a second pole port and a second set of throw ports, wherein:
 the front-end switching circuitry has a second RF port and is further configured to selectively couple the second RF port to any one of the first antenna port and the second antenna port; 
 the second pole port is coupled to the second RF port; and 
 the second MTMEMS is configured to selectively couple the second pole port to any one of the second set of throw ports. 
 
     
     
         28 . The RF front-end circuitry of  claim 27  wherein:
 each of the first set of throw ports is coupled to receive a corresponding RF transmission signal of a plurality of RF transmission signals from RF transceiver circuitry; and 
 each of the second set of throw ports is coupled to transmit a corresponding RF receive signal of a plurality of RF receive signals to the RF transceiver circuitry. 
 
     
     
         29 . The RF front-end circuitry of  claim 28  wherein a first throw port of the first set of throw ports is further coupled to transmit another RF receive signal to the RF transceiver circuitry. 
     
     
         30 . The RF front-end circuitry of  claim 28  wherein a first throw port of the second set of throw ports is further coupled to receive another RF transmission signal from the RF transceiver circuitry. 
     
     
         31 . The RF front-end circuitry of  claim 28  wherein a first throw port in the first set of throw ports is directly connected to a second throw port of the second set of throw ports. 
     
     
         32 . The RF front-end circuitry of  claim 26  wherein the front-end switching circuitry comprises:
 antenna selection circuitry coupled to the first RF port, the first antenna port, and the second antenna port, wherein the antenna selection circuitry is configured to selectively couple the first RF port to any one of the first antenna port and the second antenna port; and 
 band switching circuitry coupled to the antenna selection circuitry, wherein the band switching circuitry has a plurality of RF ports, wherein the antenna selection circuitry is configured to selectively couple the band switching circuitry to any one of the first antenna port and the second antenna port. 
 
     
     
         33 . The RF front-end circuitry of  claim 26  further comprising a semiconductor substrate, wherein the front-end switching circuitry is formed with the semiconductor substrate.