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: 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: Architectures and methods related to improved isolation for diplexer paths. In some embodiments, an architecture for routing radio-frequency (RF) signals can include an input node and an output node, and a distributed network of signal paths implemented between the input node and the output node. The distributed network of signal paths can include a first path having N switches including a selected switch, with the quantity N being an integer greater than 2. The first path can be capable of routing a first RF signal between the input node and the output node when enabled. The distributed network of signal paths can further include a second path capable of routing a second RF signal between the input node and the output node, with the second path including the selected switch. The second path can include a plurality of open switches when disabled and the first path is enabled.

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. A front end module can be configured to support concurrent operation of WLAN signals and cellular signals using switching networks as described herein. In general, the described systems and methods can be configured to concurrently operate different radio systems (e.g., cellular, BLUETOOTH, WLAN, GPS, etc.) without the use of cascaded filters.

Abstract: Filtering architectures and methods for wireless applications. In some embodiments, a wireless architecture can include a pre-amplifier filter configured to filter a signal, and an amplifier assembly configured to amplify the filtered signal. The wireless architecture 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. In some embodiments, such a wireless architecture can be implemented in a packaged module or a wireless device.

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: Disclosed herein is a diversity receiver (DRx) configuration configured to support carrier aggregation. The DRx configuration includes a diversity receiver (DRx) module coupled to a diversity radio frequency (DRF) module. The DRx module includes a splitter and a combiner to provide a plurality of DRx paths for signals of different frequency bands. The DRx modules includes a plurality of DRx amplifiers for individual frequency bands and the DRF module includes a plurality of downstream amplifiers. A controller is configured to adjust a gain of the DRF amplifiers in response to changes in a gain of the amplifiers of the DRx module.

Abstract: Circuits and methods related to radio-frequency (RF) receivers having carrier aggregation. In some embodiments, a carrier aggregation (CA) 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 CA 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 CA 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: Diversity receiver front end system with tunable input and output matching circuits. A receiving system can include a controller configured to selectively activate one or more of a plurality of paths between an input of the receiving system and an output of the receiving system. The receiving system can include a plurality of amplifiers. Each one of the plurality of amplifiers can be disposed along a corresponding one of the plurality of paths and can be configured to amplify a signal received at the amplifier. The receiving system can include one or more tunable matching circuits. Each one of the one or more tunable matching circuits can disposed at the input or the output and configured to present an impedance based on a tuning signal received from the controller.

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: 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 receiver for wireless applications. In some embodiments, a receiver system can include a controller configured to selectively activate one or more of a plurality of paths between an input and an output, and a plurality of amplifiers, with each one of the plurality of amplifiers disposed along a corresponding one of the plurality of paths and configured to amplify a signal received at the amplifier. The receiving system can further include two or more of features including (a) variable-gain amplifiers, (b) phase-shifting components, (c) impedance matching components, (d) post-amplifier filters, (e) a switching network, and (f) flexible band routing. In some embodiments, such a receiving system can be implemented as a diversity receive module.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a diversity receiver (DRx) configuration configured to support carrier aggregation. The DRx configuration includes a diversity receiver (DRx) module coupled to a diversity radio frequency (DRF) module. The DRx module includes a splitter and a combiner to provide a plurality of DRx paths for signals of different frequency bands. The DRx modules includes a plurality of DRx amplifiers for individual frequency bands and the DRF module includes a plurality of downstream amplifiers. A controller is configured to adjust a gain of the DRF amplifiers in response to changes in a gain of the amplifiers of the DRx module.

Abstract: Diversity receiver front end system with amplifier phase compensation. A receiving system can include a first amplifier disposed along a first path, corresponding to a first frequency band, between an input of the receiving system and an output of the receiving system. The receiving system can include a second amplifier disposed along a second path, corresponding to a second frequency band, between the input of the receiving system and the output of the receiving system. The receiving system can include a first phase-shift component disposed along the first path and configured to phase-shift the second frequency band of a signal passing through the first phase-shift component based on a phase-shift caused by the first amplifier at the second frequency band.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for filter bypass for radio frequency front-ends are provided. In certain configurations, filter connectivity of a front-end is changed as a function of automatic gain control (AGC) in a receive path. For example, lossy filtering can be bypassed when signal conditions and the surrounding interference environment allow. In certain implementations, an additional gain state is added to the AGC in the form of a bypass of the filtering. Thus, receiver gain and noise figure are greatly improved while the linearity and susceptibility to blockers is degraded.

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: Diversity receiver front end system with post-amplifier filters. 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 amplifiers. Each one of the plurality of amplifiers can be disposed along a corresponding one of the plurality of paths and can be configured to amplify a signal received at the amplifier. The receiving system can include a first plurality of bandpass filters. Each one of the first plurality of bandpass filters can be disposed along a corresponding one of the plurality of paths at an output of a corresponding one of the plurality of amplifiers and can be configured to filter a signal received at the bandpass filter to a respective frequency band.

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: 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. The signals may be combined using a dynamic impedance matching 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 modules for mobile devices are provided herein. In certain configurations, a diversity module includes a first antenna-side multi-throw switch, a second antenna-side multi-throw switch, a first transceiver-side multi-throw switch, a second transceiver-side multi-throw switch, a low band signal path between the first antenna-side multi-throw switch and the first transceiver-side multi-throw switch and configured to output a low band receive signal, a mid band signal path between the second antenna-side multi-throw switch and the second transceiver-side multi-throw switch and configured to output a mid band receive signal of higher frequency content than the low band receive signal, and a high band signal path between the second antenna-side multi-throw switch and the first transceiver-side multi-throw switch and configured to output a high band receive signal of higher frequency content than the mid band receive signal.