Abstract: A receiver front end having low noise amplifiers (LNAs) is disclosed herein. A cascode having a “common source” configured input FET and a “common gate” configured output FET can be turned on or off using the gate of the output FET. A first switch is provided that allows a connection to be either established or broken between the source terminal of the input FET of each LNA. A drain switch is provided between the drain terminals of input FETs to place the input FETs in parallel. This increases the gm of the input stage of the amplifier, thus improving the noise figure of the amplifier.

Abstract: A front end module having reduced number of low noise amplifier (LNAs) for receiving various combinations of contiguous aggregation (CA) signals and non-CA signals having different combinations of signals aggregated therein. The FECC can include a broadband LNA and/or a band-switching LNA having at least two modes of operation. An input switch directs a received signal to one of several banks of filters. LNA switches direct the signals from the output of filters within a selected filter bank to particular LNAs. LNAs may be connected by LNA switches to filters in more than one filter bank. The proper mode of operation is selected for the band switching LNA based on the particular frequencies present in the received signal and the filters selected.

Abstract: A high performance low noise amplifier integrated circuit having multiple low noise amplifiers enabling operation over a wide range for frequencies is disclosed. In particular, an auxiliary input is provided to the low noise amplifier integrated circuit that can be routed to one of several low noise amplifiers, each tuned to operate efficiently in different frequency ranges.

Abstract: An LNA having a plurality of paths, each of which can be controlled independently to achieve a gain mode. Each path includes at least an input FET and an output FET coupled in series. A gate of the output FET is controlled to set the gain of the LNA. Signals to be amplified are applied to the gate of the input FET. Additional stacked FETs are provided in series between the input FET and the output FET.

Abstract: A flexible multi-path RF adaptive tuning network switch architecture that counteracts impedance mismatch conditions arising from various combinations of coupled RF band filters, particularly in a Carrier Aggregation-based (CA) radio system. In one version, a digitally-controlled tunable matching network is coupled to a multi-path RF switch in order to provide adaptive impedance matching for various combinations of RF band filters. Optionally, some or all RF band filters include an associated digitally-controlled filter pre-match network to further improve impedance matching. In a second version, some or all RF band filters coupled to a multi-path RF switch include a digitally-controlled phase matching network to provide necessary per-band impedance matching. Optionally, a digitally-controlled tunable matching network may be included on the common port of the multi-path RF switch to provide additional impedance matching capability.

Abstract: A front end module (FEM) and associated method for receiving signals in a front end module are disclosed. Some embodiments of the FEM have three inputs. The FEM can process the input signals in one of three bypass modes. In bypass modes, switchable tank circuits provide a high impedance to isolate active components from the bypass path. This improves the input return loss in the passive bypass mode and thus improves the performance of the passive bypass mode by allowing the use of LNAs without an input switch. In the active gain mode, one of a plurality of signals are amplified by one of an equal number of amplifiers coupled to the FEM output. Accordingly, the FEM can output signals applied to any one of the FEM inputs in bypass mode, or an amplified version of one of the input signals. In some embodiments, the FEM has only one input and one LNA. In such embodiments, an output selector switch selects between a bypass path and a gain path.

Abstract: A front end circuit architecture that uses the same LNA in each of several frequency bands extending over a wide frequency range. In some embodiments, switched impedance circuits distributed throughout the front end circuit allow selection of the frequency response and impedances that are optimized for particular performance parameters targeted for a desired device characteristic. Such switched impedance circuits tune the output and input impedance match and adjust the gain of the LNA for specific operating frequencies and gain targets. In addition, adjustments to the bias of the LNA can be used to optimize performance trade-offs between the total direct current (DC) power dissipated versus radio frequency (RF) performance. By selecting appropriate impedances throughout the circuit using switched impedance circuits, the LNA can be selectively tuned to operate optimally at a selected bias for operation within selected frequency bands.

Abstract: A high performance low noise amplifier integrated circuit having multiple low noise amplifiers enabling operation over a wide range for frequencies is disclosed. In particular, an auxiliary input is provided to the low noise amplifier integrated circuit that can be routed to one of several low noise amplifiers, each tuned to operate efficiently in different frequency ranges.

Abstract: A receiver front end capable of receiving and processing intraband non-contiguous carrier aggregate (CA) signals using multiple low noise amplifiers (LNAs) is disclosed herein. A cascode having a “common source” configured input FET and a “common gate” configured output FET can be turned on or off using the gate of the output FET. A first switch is provided that allows a connection to be either established or broken between the source terminal of the input FET of each LNA. Further switches used for switching degeneration inductors, gate capacitors and gate to ground caps for each legs can be used to further improve the matching performance of the invention.

Abstract: An LNA having a plurality of paths, each of which can be controlled independently to achieve a gain mode. Each path includes at least an input FET and an output FET coupled in series. A gate of the output FET is controlled to set the gain of the LNA. Signals to be amplified are applied to the gate of the input FET. Additional stacked FETs are provided in series between the input FET and the output FET.

Abstract: A receiver front end capable of receiving and processing intraband non-contiguous carrier aggregate (CA) signals using multiple low noise amplifiers (LNAs) is disclosed herein. A cascode having a “common source” configured input FET and a “common gate” configured output FET can be turned on or off using the gate of the output FET. A first switch is provided that allows a connection to be either established or broken between the source terminal of the input FET of each LNA. Further switches used for switching degeneration inductors, gate capacitors and gate to ground caps for each legs can be used to further improve the matching performance of the invention.

Abstract: An front end module (FEM) integrated circuit (IC) architecture that uses the same LNA in each of several frequency bands extending over a wide frequency range. In some embodiments, switched impedance circuits distributed throughout the FEM IC allow selection of the frequency response and impedances that are optimized for particular performance parameters targeted for a desired device characteristic. Such switched impedance circuits tune the output and input impedance match and adjust the gain of the LNA for specific operating frequencies and gain targets. In addition, adjustments to the bias of the LNA can be used to optimize performance trade-offs between the total direct current (DC) power dissipated versus radio frequency (RF) performance. By selecting appropriate impedances throughout the circuit using switched impedance circuits, the LNA can be selectively tuned to operate optimally at a selected bias for operation within selected frequency bands.

Abstract: A receiver front end capable of receiving and processing intraband non-contiguous carrier aggregate (CA) signals using multiple low noise amplifiers (LNAs) is disclosed herein. A cascode having a “common source” configured input FET and a “common gate” configured output FET can be turned on or off using the gate of the output FET. A first switch is provided that allows a connection to be either established or broken between the source terminal of the input FET of each LNA. Further switches used for switching degeneration inductors, gate capacitors and gate to ground caps for each legs can be used to further improve the matching performance of the invention.