Multiplexing architectures for wireless applications

Abstract

Multiplexing architectures for wireless applications are discussed herein. In some embodiments, a front-end architecture can include a first power amplifier having an output coupled to a transmit filter through a path that is substantially free of a switch. The transmit filter can be configured to support a first transmit band or a second transmit band. The front-end architecture can further include a receive filter configured to support at least a first receive band associated with the first transmit band, and a second power amplifier having an output configured to couple to a first duplexer or a second duplexer through a selector switch. The first duplexer can include a receive portion configured to support a second receive band associated with the second transmit band.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A front-end architecture comprising:
 a first power amplifier having an output coupled to a transmit filter through a path that is substantially free of a switch, the transmit filter configured to support a first transmit band or a second transmit band;   a receive filter configured to support at least a first receive band associated with the first transmit band; and   a second power amplifier having an output configured to couple to a first duplexer or a second duplexer through a selector switch, the first duplexer including a receive portion configured to support a second receive band associated with the second transmit band.   
     
     
         22 . The front-end architecture of  claim 21  wherein the receive filter is further configured to support a third receive band. 
     
     
         23 . The front-end architecture of  claim 22  wherein the first duplexer associated with the second power amplifier further includes a transmit portion configured to support a third transmit band associated with the third receive band. 
     
     
         24 . The front-end architecture of  claim 23  wherein the second duplexer associated with the second power amplifier includes a transmit portion configured to support a fourth transmit band and a receive portion configured to support a fourth receive band associated with the fourth transmit band. 
     
     
         25 . The front-end architecture of  claim 24  further comprising a third power amplifier having an output configured to couple to a third duplexer or a fourth duplexer through another selector switch. 
     
     
         26 . The front-end architecture of  claim 25  wherein the third duplexer associated with the third power amplifier includes a transmit portion configured to support a fifth transmit band and a receive portion configured to support a fifth receive band associated with the fifth transmit band. 
     
     
         27 . The front-end architecture of  claim 26  wherein the fourth duplexer associated with the third power amplifier includes a transmit portion configured to support a sixth transmit band and a receive portion configured to support a sixth receive band associated with the sixth transmit band. 
     
     
         28 . The front-end architecture of  claim 27  wherein the front-end architecture is configured to allow a transmit operation for a selected transmit band among the six transmit bands, and a carrier-aggregation operation for a plurality of selected receive bands among the six receive bands. 
     
     
         29 . The front-end architecture of  claim 25  further comprising an assembly of antenna switches implemented to selectively connect an antenna port to one or more of the transmit filter, the receive filter, the first and second duplexers associated with the second power amplifier, and the third and fourth duplexers associated with the third power amplifier. 
     
     
         30 . The front-end architecture of  claim 29  wherein the assembly of antenna switches includes a single-pole-single-throw switch for each of the transmit filter, the receive filter, the first and second duplexers associated with the second power amplifier, and the third and fourth duplexers associated with the third power amplifier. 
     
     
         31 . The front-end architecture of  claim 30  wherein the first transmit band and the first receive band are transmit and receive portions of a B4 cellular band, the second transmit band and the second receive band are transmit and receive portions of a B3 cellular band, and the third transmit band and the third receive band are transmit and receive portions of a B1 cellular band. 
     
     
         32 . The front-end architecture of  claim 21 , wherein the transmit filter is implemented as a single filter. 
     
     
         33 . The front-end architecture of  claim 21 , wherein the receive filter is implemented as a single filter. 
     
     
         34 . The front-end architecture of  claim 21  further comprising an impedance matching circuit implemented at an output of the transmit filter and configured to facilitate an impedance above a value for one or more frequency ranges outside of the first transmit band and the second transmit band of the transmit filter. 
     
     
         35 . The front-end architecture of  claim 34  wherein the impedance matching circuit includes a switchable inductive shunt path to ground. 
     
     
         36 . The front-end architecture of  claim 22  further comprising an impedance matching circuit implemented at an input of the receive filter and configured to facilitate an impedance above a value for one or more frequency ranges outside of the first receive band and the third receive band. 
     
     
         37 . The front-end architecture of  claim 21  wherein the first transmit band and the first receive band are transmit and receive portions of a first cellular band, and the second transmit band and the second receive band are transmit and receive portions of a second cellular band, each of the first and second cellular bands being a mid-band or a high-band. 
     
     
         38 . The front-end architecture of  claim 37  further comprising a low-band path having a low band pass filter configured to filter a low-band signal. 
     
     
         39 . An antenna switch filter module comprising:
 a packaging substrate configured to receive a plurality of components; and   a filtering circuit implemented on the packaging substrate, the filtering circuit including a first signal port coupled to a transmit filter through a path that is substantially free of a switch, the transmit filter configured to support a first transmit band or a second transmit band; a second signal port coupled to a receive filter that is configured to support at least a first receive band associated with the first transmit band; and a third signal port and a fourth signal port, the third signal port coupled to a transmit portion of a first duplexer, the fourth signal port coupled to a receive portion of the first duplexer configured to support a second receive band associated with the second transmit band.   
     
     
         40 . A wireless device comprising:
 a transceiver configured to process signals;   an antenna configured to facilitate transmission and reception of the signals; and   a front-end architecture implemented between the transceiver and the antenna, and including a first power amplifier having an output coupled to a transmit filter through a path that is substantially free of a switch, the transmit filter configured to support a first transmit band or a second transmit band; a receive filter configured to support at least a first receive band associated with the first transmit band; and a second power amplifier having an output configured to couple to a first duplexer or a second duplexer through a selector switch, the first duplexer including a receive portion configured to support a second receive band associated with the second transmit band.