Integrated front-end architecture for carrier aggregation

Abstract

Circuitry, modules and devices for integrating front-end carrier aggregation architecture, are disclosed. In some embodiments, a front-end architecture includes a switching assembly configured to provide switching for two or more frequency bands. In some embodiments, the switching assembly includes at least one coupler configured to couple a signal associated with the switching assembly. The front-end architecture can also include a diplexer circuit including a first filter configured to pass a first frequency band, a second filter configured to pass a second frequency band, and a first electrostatic discharge network configured to dissipate electrostatic energy associated with the first and second frequency bands from the front-end architecture.

1 . A front-end architecture comprising:
 a switching assembly configured to provide switching for two or more frequency bands, the switching assembly including at least one coupler configured to couple a signal associated with the switching assembly; and   a diplexer circuit including a first filter configured to pass a first frequency band, a second filter configured to pass a second frequency band, and a first electrostatic discharge network configured to dissipate electrostatic energy associated with the first and second frequency bands from the front-end architecture.   
     
     
         2 . The front-end architecture of  claim 1  wherein the switching assembly includes a first antenna switch module configured to provide switching for the first frequency band, the first antenna switch module including a first coupler configured to couple a signal associated with the first antenna switch module, and a second antenna switch module configured to provide switching for the second frequency band, the second antenna switch module including a second coupler configured to couple a signal associated with the second antenna switch module. 
     
     
         3 . The front-end architecture of  claim 2  wherein the first antenna switch module is included on a first die, the second antenna switch module is included on a second die, and the diplexer circuit is included on a third die. 
     
     
         4 . The front-end architecture of  claim 2  wherein the first filter is coupled to the first antenna switch module and the second filter is coupled to the second antenna switch module. 
     
     
         5 . The front-end architecture of  claim 4  wherein the first filter and the second filter are coupled to a common antenna. 
     
     
         6 . The front-end architecture of  claim 2  further including a multiplexor assembly configured to select a signal from one of the first coupler or the second coupler for output to a coupler output node. 
     
     
         7 . The front-end architecture of  claim 2  further including a power amplifier assembly including a first power amplifier for a transmission signal associated with the first frequency band, a second power amplifier for transmission signal associated with the second frequency band, and a matching network. 
     
     
         8 . The front-end architecture of  claim 7  wherein the first power amplifier is coupled to a transmission node of the first antenna switch module and second power amplifier is coupled to a transmission node of the second antenna switch module. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The front-end architecture of  claim 1  wherein the switching assembly includes a first antenna switch module configured to provide switching for the first frequency band, the first antenna switch module including a first coupler configured to couple a signal associated with the first antenna switch module, a second antenna switch module configured to provide switching for the second frequency band, the second antenna switch module including a second coupler configured to couple a signal associated with the second antenna switch module, and a third antenna switch module configured to provide switching for a third frequency band, the third antenna switch module including a third coupler configured to couple a signal associated with the third antenna switch module. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The front-end architecture of  claim 10  wherein the diplexer circuit also includes a second electrostatic discharge network configured to dissipate electrostatic energy associated with the third frequency band from the front-end architecture. 
     
     
         13 . The front-end architecture of  claim 12  wherein the first filter is coupled to the first antenna switch module, the second filter is coupled to the second antenna switch module, and the second electrostatic discharge network is coupled to the third antenna switch module. 
     
     
         14 . The front-end architecture of  claim 13  wherein the first filter and the second filter are coupled to a first antenna, and the second electrostatic discharge network is coupled to a second antenna. 
     
     
         15 . The front-end architecture of  claim 1  wherein the first electrostatic discharge network is coupled to the first and second filters. 
     
     
         16 . The front-end architecture of  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of the diplexer circuit is conjugately matched with the antenna switch assembly. 
     
     
         17 . The front-end architecture of  claim 1  wherein one or more ports of the antenna switch assembly include integrated notch filters. 
     
     
         18 . The front-end architecture of  claim 1  wherein the at least one coupler is bidirectional. 
     
     
         19 . The front-end architecture of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the first filter and the second filter is an elliptic filter. 
     
     
         20 . A radio-frequency module comprising:
 a packaging substrate configured to receive a plurality of components; and   a front-end architecture implemented on the packaging substrate, the front-end architecture including a switching assembly configured to provide switching for two or more frequency bands, the switching assembly including at least one coupler configured to couple a signal associated with the switching assembly, and a diplexer circuit including a first filter configured to pass a first frequency band, a second filter configured to pass a second frequency band, and a first electrostatic discharge network configured to dissipate electrostatic energy associated with the first and second frequency bands from the front-end architecture.   
     
     
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         31 . A radio-frequency device comprising:
 a transceiver configured to process radio-frequency signals; and   a radio-frequency module in communication with the transceiver, the radio-frequency module having a front-end architecture, the front-end architecture including a switching assembly configured to provide switching for two or more frequency bands, the switching assembly including at least one coupler configured to couple a signal associated with the switching assembly, and a diplexer circuit including a first filter configured to pass a first frequency band, a second filter configured to pass a second frequency band, and a first electrostatic discharge network configured to dissipate electrostatic energy associated with the first and second frequency bands from the front-end architecture.   
     
     
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