Abstract: RF front end circuitry includes a first antenna node, a second antenna node, a diplexer, a first band filter, a second band filter, and switching circuitry. The diplexer may be used to separate signals for carrier aggregation, providing signals within a first RF frequency band to the first band filter and signals within a second RF frequency band to the second band filter. Further, by strategically arranging the switching circuitry, the diplexer may also be used as a multiple-input-multiple-output filter, such that additional filters are not required to support one or more MIMO modes of the RF front end circuitry.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure include a multi-band radio frequency (RF) front-end circuit. When a first antenna transmits an RF transmit signal in an RF transmit band, a second antenna may receive the RF transmit signal as an interference signal. The multi-band RF front-end circuit includes multiple receive filters for receiving an RF receive signal in multiple RF receive bands. A selected receive filter among the multiple receive filters is opportunistically reconfigured to help suppress the interference signal. Specifically, a bandpass bandwidth of the selected receive filter is expanded to include at least a portion of the RF spectrum of the interference signal. By doing so, it is possible to shunt the interference signal to a ground through the selected receive filter. As a result, it is possible to reduce an adverse impact of the interference signal to improve RF performance of the multi-band RF front-end circuit.

Abstract: Circuitry includes a primary antenna node, a secondary antenna node, a first set of input/output nodes, a second set of input/output nodes, a first diplexer, a second diplexer, and switching circuitry. The switching circuitry is arranged such that any one of the first set of input/output nodes and the second set of input/output nodes can be connected to the primary antenna node or the secondary antenna node, either through the first diplexer, the second diplexer, or directly by bypassing the first diplexer and the second diplexer while providing minimal insertion loss. In particular, the number of closed series switches in the signal paths provided between the one of the first set of input/output nodes and the second set of input/output nodes is minimized while still providing a large amount of flexibility in the switching paths that can be created by the switching circuitry.

Abstract: RF coupling circuitry includes a first coupled signal output node, a second coupled signal output node, an RF coupler, RF filtering circuitry, and attenuator circuitry. The RF coupler is configured to couple RF signals from an RF transmission line to provide coupled RF signals. The RF filtering circuitry is coupled to the RF coupler and configured to separate RF signals within a first RF frequency band in the coupled RF signals from RF signals within a second RF frequency band in the coupled RF signals. The attenuator circuitry is coupled between the RF filtering circuitry, the first coupled signal output node, and the second coupled signal output node. The attenuator circuitry is configured to attenuate the RF signals within the first RF frequency band and the RF signals within the second RF frequency band.

Abstract: An apparatus including a main transistor-based switch having a first end node and a second end node and an ON-state linearization network that is coupled between the first end node and the second end node of the main transistor-based switch is disclosed. The ON-state linearization network is configured to receive a monitored signal that corresponds to a signal across the first end node and the second end node and cancel at least a portion of non-linear distortion generated by the main transistor-based switch when the main transistor-based switch is in an ON-state based on the monitored signal. A control signal applied to a control input of the ON-state linearization network causes the ON-state linearization network to activate when the main transistor-based switch is in the ON-state and to deactivate the ON-state linearization network when the main transistor-based switch is an OFF-state.

Abstract: Antenna aperture tuning circuitry includes a first signal path and a second signal path coupled in parallel between an antenna radiating element and ground. A first LC resonator and a second LC resonator are each coupled between the first signal path and ground. The first LC resonator and the second LC resonator are electromagnetically coupled such that a coupling factor between the first LC resonator and the second LC resonator is between about 1.0% and 40.0%. A third LC resonator and a fourth LC resonator are each coupled between the second signal path and ground. The third LC resonator and the fourth LC resonator are electromagnetically coupled such that a coupling factor between the third LC resonator and the fourth LC resonator is between about 1.0% and 40.0%.

Abstract: Embodiments of an apparatus are disclosed that includes a first three dimensional (3D) inductor and a second 3D inductor. The first three dimensional (3D) inductor has a first conductive path shaped as a first two dimensional (2D) lobe laid over a first 3D volume. In addition, the second 3D inductor has a second conductive path, wherein the second 3D inductor is inserted into the first 3D inductor so that the second conductive path at least partially extends through the first 3D volume. Since second 3D inductor is inserted into the first 3D inductor, the 3D inductors may be coupled to one another. Depending on orientation and distances of structures provided by the 3D inductors, the 3D inductors may be weakly or moderately coupled.

Abstract: Described are embodiments of stacked field effect transistor (FET) switch having a plurality of FET devices coupled in series to form an FET device stack. To prevent the FET device stack from being turned on during large signal conditions, a first decoupling path and a second decoupling path are provided for the first FET device and the last FET device in the FET device stack. Both decoupling paths are configured to pass a time-variant input signal during the open state. The first decoupling path may be coupled from the drain contact of the first FET device to the gate contact or the source contact. The second decoupling path may be coupled from the source contact of the last FET device to the gate contact or drain contact. The time-variant input signal bypasses the FET device stack through the first and second decoupling paths during the open state.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure relate to reducing intermodulation distortion (IMD) in a radio frequency (RF) circuit. In examples discussed herein, the RF circuit operates in an uplink carrier aggregation (ULCA) mode to transmit an RF uplink signal simultaneously in a first uplink band and a second transmit band. However, nonlinear components in the RF circuit can create an IMD product(s) that can fall into a downlink band of an RF downlink signal, thus impairing a receive filter's ability to receive the RF downlink signal in the downlink band. The receive filter can be opportunistically reconfigured to form an IMD shunt path to attenuate the IMD product. By reconfiguring the receiver filter to form the IMD shunt path, it is possible to suppress the IMD product in the RF uplink signal, thus leading to an improved desense performance in the ULCA mode without incurring additional cost and/or battery life penalty.

Abstract: RF filtering circuitry includes a first transmit signal node, a second transmit signal node, a common node, first transmit signal filtering circuitry, second transmit signal filtering circuitry, and transmit signal cancellation circuitry. The first transmit signal filtering circuitry is coupled between the first transmit signal node and the common node and is configured to pass RF transmit signals within a first transmit signal frequency band while attenuating signals outside the first transmit signal frequency band. The second transmit signal filtering circuitry is coupled between the second transmit signal node and the common node and is configured to pass RF transmit signals within a second transmit signal frequency band while attenuating signals outside the second transmit signal frequency band. The transmit signal cancellation circuitry is coupled between the common node and the second transmit signal node and is configured to generate a transmit cancellation signal.

Abstract: RF circuitry includes a filter, a termination impedance, and band switching circuitry. The filter is coupled between a first input/output node and a common node and configured to pass RF signals within a transmit portion of a first operating band from the first input/output node to the common node while attenuating signals outside of the transmit portion of the first operating band. The termination impedance is coupled between a termination impedance node and ground. The band switching circuitry is configured to couple the termination impedance node to the first input/output node such that the termination impedance is coupled between the first input/output node and ground in a first mode of operation. In a second mode of operation, the band switching circuitry is configured to provide RF transmit signals within the transmit portion of the first operating band to the first input/output node.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure include a multi-band radio frequency (RF) circuit. The multi-band RF circuit includes multiple antenna ports coupled to multiple antennas and an antenna swapping circuit coupled to the multiple antenna ports. Control circuitry in the multi-band RF circuit controls the antenna swapping circuit to selectively couple various transmit and/or receive filters with any one or more of the multiple antenna ports to support uplink carrier aggregation (ULCA) and/or multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) operations with a minimum number of transmit and receive filters. Transmit filters of adjacent RF bands are physically separated, but disposed in proximity, in the multi-band RF circuit to help reduce intermodulation products between the adjacent RF bands during the ULCA operation. As a result, it is possible to improve RF performance of ULCA and MIMO operations, without increasing complexity, cost, and footprint of the multi-band RF circuit.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure include a multi-band radio frequency (RF) front-end circuit. When a first antenna transmits an RF transmit signal in an RF transmit band, a second antenna may receive the RF transmit signal as an interference signal. The multi-band RF front-end circuit includes multiple receive filters for receiving an RF receive signal in multiple RF receive bands. A selected receive filter among the multiple receive filters is opportunistically reconfigured to help suppress the interference signal. Specifically, a bandpass bandwidth of the selected receive filter is expanded to include at least a portion of the RF spectrum of the interference signal. By doing so, it is possible to shunt the interference signal to a ground through the selected receive filter. As a result, it is possible to reduce an adverse impact of the interference signal to improve RF performance of the multi-band RF front-end circuit.

Abstract: Embodiments of a tunable radio frequency (RF) diplexer and methods of duplexing transmission and receive signals are disclosed. In one embodiment, the RF diplexer includes a first hybrid coupler, a second hybrid coupler, and an RF filter circuit, and a phase inversion component. Both the RF filter circuit and the phase inversion component are connected between the first hybrid coupler and the second hybrid coupler. In some embodiments, the phase inversion component is provided by the RF filter circuit, while in other embodiments, the phase inversion component is provided separately. The phase inversion component is configured to provide a differential phase shift. The benefit of introducing the differential phase shift is that it provides increased isolation and broadband isolation between the different frequency bands being diplexed by the RF diplexer.

Abstract: A stacked field-effect transistor (FET) switch is disclosed. The stacked FET switch has a first FET device stack that is operable in an on-state and in an off-state and is made up of a first plurality of FET devices coupled in series between a first port and a second port, wherein the first FET device stack has a conductance that decreases with increasing voltage between the first port and the second port. The stacked FET switch also includes a second FET device stack that is operable in the on-state and in the off-state and is made up of a second plurality of FET devices coupled in series between the first port and the second port, wherein the second FET device stack has a conductance that increases with increasing voltage between the first port and the second port.

Abstract: Alternating Current (AC)-coupled switch and metal capacitor structures for nanometer or low metal layer count processes are provided. According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a switch and capacitor structure comprises a substrate comprising a device region with a Field Effect Transistor (FET) formed therein, the FET having a source terminal comprising a structure in a first metal layer and a drain terminal comprising a structure in the first metal layer, and a capacitor comprising a first plate and a second plate, the first plate comprising a structure in a second metal layer, the second metal layer being above the first metal layer, the structure of the first plate being electrically connected to the structure of the drain terminal, and the second plate comprising a structure in the second metal layer, the structure of the first plate spaced from the structure of the second plate.

Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to radio frequency (RF) front-end circuitry for routing RF signals to and/or from one or more antennas. Exemplary RF front-end circuitry includes a multiple throw solid-state transistor switch (MTSTS) and a multiple throw microelectromechanical switch (MTMEMS). The MTSTS may be configured to selectively couple a first pole port to any one of a first set of throw ports. The MTMEMS is configured to selectively couple a second pole port to any one of a second set of throw ports. The second pole port of the MTMEMS is coupled to a first throw port in the first set of throw ports of the MTSTS. The MTSTS helps prevent hot switching in the MTMEMS since the first throw port of the MTSTS may be decoupled from the second pole port of the MTMEMS before decoupling the second pole port from a selectively coupled throw port of the MTMEMS.

Abstract: RF receive circuitry, which includes a first output impedance matching circuit coupled to a first alpha output of a first alpha LNA, a second output impedance matching circuit coupled to a first beta output of a first beta LNA, and a first dual output RF LNA, is disclosed. The first dual output RF LNA includes the first alpha LNA, the first beta LNA, and a first gate bias control circuit, which is coupled between a first alpha input of the first alpha LNA and ground; is further coupled between a first beta input of the first beta LNA and the ground; is configured to select one of enabled and disabled of the first alpha LNA using an alpha bias signal via the first alpha input; and is further configured to select one of enabled and disabled of the first beta LNA using a beta bias signal via the first beta input.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to radio frequency (RF) front end circuitry used to route RF signals. In one embodiment, the RF front end circuitry has a filter circuit and a switch device. The switch device includes a common port, an RF port, and switchable path connected in series between the common port and the RF port. The switch device is configured to present approximately the filter capacitance of the filter circuit at the common port when the switchable path is closed. However, when the switchable path is open, the switch device is configured to present a device capacitance at the common port that is approximately equal to the filter capacitance of the filter circuit. In this manner, if the common port is connected to an antenna, the capacitance seen by the antenna from the common port remains substantially unchanged regardless of which of the switchable path is opened or closed.

Abstract: RF circuitry, which includes a first main RF switching circuit and a second main RF switching circuit, is disclosed. The first main RF switching circuit is capable of providing an RF signal path between a first main RF port and a first selected one of a first RF antenna and a second RF antenna. The second main RF switching circuit is capable of providing an RF signal path between a second main RF port and a second selected one of the first RF antenna and the second RF antenna. The first main RF switching circuit includes a first pair of RF switches coupled in series between the first RF antenna and the first main RF port; a second pair of RF switches coupled in series between the second RF antenna and the first main RF port; a first shunt RF switch; and a second shunt RF switch.