Abstract: A front-end module (FEM) is disclosed that includes an integrous signal combiner. The integrous signal combiner can process received signals and use a set of resonant circuits to filter signal noise prior to recombination of a plurality of signal bands that form an aggregate carrier signal. These resonant circuits may be placed after a set of low noise amplifiers and can be used to more efficiently reduce noise and parasitic loading within each of a set of signal paths. Each resonant circuit may be configured to filter noise relating to a bandwidth for a signal that is to be combined with the signal of the signal path that includes the resonant circuit. In some implementations, the integrous signal combiner can be a tunable integrous signal combiner with resonant circuits that may be reconfigurable or dynamically configurable.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for amplifying radio-frequency signals. Methods include using pre- and post-amplifier bandpass filters to provide opposite phase shifts and to reduce out-of-band noise produced in the filtering process. Methods also include reducing the gain of amplifiers in a downstream module in response to increasing the gain of amplifiers in the receiver module. This can be done to improve linearity in the downstream module.

Abstract: Described herein are systems, devices, and methods for a multi-standard radio switchable multiplexer that is configured to process wireless local area network (WLAN) signals and cellular signals in the same module without the use of cascaded filters. The disclosed systems use intelligent switching to direct cellular frequency bands along targeted paths and to direct WLAN signals along different paths, such as to a dedicated WLAN module for further processing. By removing notch filters coupled to cellular band filters and/or cascaded filters, insertion losses are reduced.

Abstract: A receiving system includes a controller that selectively activates one or more of a plurality of paths between an input of a first multiplexer and an output of a second multiplexer. The receiving system includes a plurality of bandpass filters, each one of the bandpass filters being disposed along a corresponding one of the plurality of paths and configured to filter a signal received at the bandpass filter to a respective frequency band. The receiving system also includes a plurality of variable-gain amplifiers (VGAs), each one of the plurality of VGAs disposed along a corresponding one of the plurality of paths and configured to amplify a signal received at the VGA with a gain controlled by an amplifier control signal received from the controller. At least one, but not all, of the VGAs is a fixed-gain amplifier with a bypass switch to selectively bypass the fixed-gain amplifier.

Abstract: Described herein are radio-frequency (RF) modules that include shielding for improved RF performance. The RF modules including a packaging substrate with a receiving system implemented thereon. The RF module includes a shield implemented to provide RF shielding for at least a portion of the receiving system. The receiving system can include any combination of pre-amplifier or post-amplifier bandpass filters, amplifiers, switching networks, impedance matching components, phase-shifting components, input multiplexers, and output multiplexers. The shielding can include a conductive layer within a conformal shielding on an upper side and side walls of the RF module. The shielding can be an overmold formed over the packaging substrate. The conductive layer can be connected to one or more ground planes. The packaging substrate can include contact features on an underside of the substrate for mounting an underside component.

Abstract: An ‘L’ shaped dynamically configurable impedance matching circuit is presented herein. The circuit can include a series element and a shunt element. The shunt element in the L-shaped impedance matching circuit can be moved or modified based on the impedance of the circuit elements in electrical communication with each side of the impedance matching circuit. Thus, in some cases, the impedance matching circuit may be a flexible circuit that can be dynamically modified based on the environment or configuration of the wireless device that includes the impedance matching circuit.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for filter bypass for radio frequency front-ends are provided. In certain configurations, a front-end system includes a low noise amplifier, a blocker filter, a plurality of switches configured to control connectivity of the blocker filter and the low noise amplifier in a signal path through the front-end system. The front-end system further includes a controller configured to control the plurality of switches to operate the front-end system in a selected mode chosen from a plurality of modes. The plurality of modes includes a first mode in which the blocker filter is before the low noise amplifier in the signal path, and a second mode in which the low noise amplifier is before the blocker filter in the signal path.

Abstract: Aspects of this disclosure relate to an acoustic wave filter that includes acoustic wave resonators arranged to filter a radio frequency signal. The acoustic wave resonators include a first acoustic wave resonator. The acoustic wave filter includes a circuit element in parallel with the first acoustic wave resonator in a stage of the acoustic wave filter. The circuit element and the first acoustic wave resonator have different resonant frequencies. The circuit element can reduce an impact of bulk mode of the first acoustic wave resonator on insertion loss of the acoustic wave filter. The first acoustic wave resonator can be a surface acoustic wave resonator in certain embodiments. The circuit element can be a second acoustic wave resonator or a capacitor, for example.

Abstract: Diversity receiver front end system with methods for improving signal processing using tunable matching circuits. The methods can include tuning impedance matching circuits based on frequency bands. For a first path, an impedance can be provided that reduces an in-band noise figure, increases an in-band gain, decreases an out-of-band noise figure, and/or decreases an out-of-band gain. In this way, signals propagated along selectively activated paths between an input of a receiving system and an output of the receiving system can be improved. The signals can be amplified using amplifiers disposed on corresponding paths between the input and output of the receiving system.

Abstract: A front-end module (FEM) is disclosed that includes an integrous signal combiner. The integrous signal combiner can process received signals and use a set of resonant circuits to filter signal noise prior to recombination of a plurality of signal bands that form an aggregate carrier signal. These resonant circuits may be placed after a set of low noise amplifiers and can be used to more efficiently reduce noise and parasitic loading within each of a set of signal paths. Each resonant circuit may be configured to filter noise relating to a bandwidth for a signal that is to be combined with the signal of the signal path that includes the resonant circuit. In some implementations, the integrous signal combiner can be a tunable integrous signal combiner with resonant circuits that may be reconfigurable or dynamically configurable.

Abstract: Diversity receiver front end system with variable-gain amplifiers. A receiving system can include a controller configured to selectively activate one or more of a plurality of paths between an input of a first multiplexer and an output of a second multiplexer. The receiving system can further include a plurality of bandpass filters, each one of the plurality of bandpass filters disposed along a corresponding one of the plurality of paths and configured to filter a signal received at the bandpass filter to a respective frequency band. The receiving system can further include a plurality of variable-gain amplifiers (VGAs), each one of the plurality of VGAs disposed along a corresponding one of the plurality of paths and configured to amplify a signal received at the VGA with a gain controlled by an amplifier control signal received from the controller.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for amplifying radio-frequency signals. Methods include using pre- and post-amplifier bandpass filters to provide opposite phase shifts and to reduce out-of-band noise produced in the filtering process. Methods also include reducing the gain of amplifiers in a downstream module in response to increasing the gain of amplifiers in the receiver module. This can be done to improve linearity in the downstream module.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a filtering technique can include a pre-amplifier filter configured to filter a signal, and an amplifier assembly configured to amplify the filtered signal. The filtering technique can further include a filter circuit configured to provide selective filtering of the amplified signal based at least in part on a rejection level of the pre-amplifier filter and a gain of the amplifier assembly.

Abstract: Radio frequency (RF) systems with tunable filters are provided herein. In certain embodiments, an RF system includes a first RF processing circuit configured to process a first frequency band of a first communication standard and a second frequency band of a second communication standard. The first frequency band and the second frequency band are close in frequency and/or partially overlapping in frequency. The first RF processing circuit includes a tunable filter for changing the bandwidth of the first RF processing circuit to enhance the robustness of the first RF processing circuit to blocker or jammer signals of a third frequency band.

Abstract: Phase control for carrier aggregation. In some embodiments, a carrier aggregation circuit can include a first filter configured to allow operation in a first frequency band, and a second filter configured to allow operation in a second frequency band. The circuit can further include a first path implemented between the first filter and a common node, with the first path being configured to provide a substantially matched impedance for the first frequency band and a substantially open-circuit impedance for the second frequency band. The circuit can further include a second path implemented between the second filter and the common node, with the second path being configured to provide a substantially matched impedance for the second frequency band and a substantially open-circuit impedance for the first frequency band.

Abstract: Improved isolation for carrier aggregation circuit. In some embodiments, a carrier aggregation circuit can include a common input node and a common output node, and a multiplexer configured to support first and second bands. The carrier aggregation circuit can further include a first path implemented between the common input node and the common output node, and be configured to support the first band, with the first path including a pre-multiplexer switch, the multiplexer, a first post-multiplexer switch, and a first enable switch. The carrier aggregation circuit can further include a second path implemented between the common input node and the common output node, and be configured to support the second band, with the second path including the pre-multiplexer switch, the multiplexer, a second post-multiplexer switch, and a second enable switch different than the first enable switch.

Abstract: An ‘L’ shaped dynamically configurable impedance matching circuit is presented herein. The circuit can include a series element and a shunt element. The shunt element in the L-shaped impedance matching circuit can be moved or modified based on the impedance of the circuit elements in electrical communication with each side of the impedance matching circuit. Thus, in some cases, the impedance matching circuit may be a flexible circuit that can be dynamically modified based on the environment or configuration of the wireless device that includes the impedance matching circuit.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for filter bypass for radio frequency front-ends are provided. In certain configurations, a front-end system includes a low noise amplifier, a blocker filter, a plurality of switches configured to control connectivity of the blocker filter and the low noise amplifier in a signal path through the front-end system. The front-end system further includes a controller configured to control the plurality of switches to operate the front-end system in a selected mode chosen from a plurality of modes. The plurality of modes includes a first mode in which the blocker filter is before the low noise amplifier in the signal path, and a second mode in which the low noise amplifier is before the blocker filter in the signal path.

Abstract: Diversity modules for processing radio frequency (RF) signals are provided herein. In certain implementations a diversity module includes a first terminal, a second terminal, a low band processing circuit that generates a low band signal based on one or more diversity signals, a mid band processing circuit that generates a mid band signal based on the one or more diversity signals and that provides the mid band signal to the second terminal, a high band processing circuit that generates a high band signal based on the one or more diversity signals, and a multi-throw switch that provides the low band signal to the first terminal in a first state and that provides the high band signal to the first terminal in a second state.

Abstract: Described herein are systems, devices, and methods for a multi-standard radio switchable multiplexer that is configured to process wireless local area network (WLAN) signals and cellular signals in the same module without the use of cascaded filters. The disclosed systems use intelligent switching to direct cellular frequency bands along targeted paths and to direct WLAN signals along different paths, such as to a dedicated WLAN module for further processing. By removing notch filters coupled to cellular band filters and/or cascaded filters, insertion losses are reduced.