KR101161579B1 - RF front end module including Tx/Rx diplexer and wireless communication apparatus using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

An RF front end module using a diplexer for transmission and reception is provided. The RF front end module radiates and receives a transmission signal transmitted through a transmission / reception signal transmission section and a transmission / reception signal transmission section that use some of the ports for the transmission signal input, and use other portions of the ports for the reception signal output. It includes an antenna for transmitting the received signal to the transmission and reception signal transmission unit. As a result, since the transmitting or receiving diplexer, which is designed and implemented separately in the RF front end module, is implemented as a single transmitting / receiving diplexer, both the transmitting and the receiving diplexers can be applied, thereby increasing the utilization of components. .

Description

RF front end module including Tx / Rx diplexer and wireless communication apparatus using the same}

The present invention relates to a diplexer, a front end module and a wireless communication device, and more particularly, to a diplexer, an RF front end module and a wireless communication device required for transmitting and receiving data wirelessly.

Recent trends in wireless communication systems can be said to be multi-mode / bandization including various communication systems and frequency bands. Wi-Fi / Bluetooth or Wi-Fi / WiMAX integrated systems are typical, and in the case of Wi-Fi or WiMAX, there are various frequency bands such as 2, 3 and 5 GHz.

In this multimode / band system configuration, the radio frequency (RF) front-end module must support multiple modes / bands, one of which is one of the most basic components for frequency band separation.

1 is a block diagram of an RF front end module being applied to a dual band wireless communication system. As shown in FIG. 1, the antenna 100 includes a single pole double throw (SPDT) switch 20, a receiving diplexer 30, and a transmitting diplexer 40.

The receiving diplexer 30 includes a diplexer 31 and BPFs 32 and 33 which perform band pass filtering on received signals of different bands.

In addition, the transmission diplexer 40 includes a diplexer 41 and LPFs 42 and 43 which perform low pass filtering on received signals of different bands.

Looking at the configuration of the RF front end module shown in Figure 1, the diplexers 31 and 41 are located at the next stage of the SPDT switch 20, the diplexer 31 used for receiving is the BPF (32) , And the diplexer 41 used for transmission may be connected to the LPFs 42 and 43.

As shown in FIG. 1, the existing RF front end module has to design and implement diplexers in two forms to meet the specifications for transmission and reception in order to satisfy characteristics required for transmission and reception. There is hassle and difficulty.

In addition, since these expensive SPDT switches 20 are relatively expensive, they increase the cost of the RF front end module, and have a relatively high loss value in the passband, low power handling, and low isolation characteristics. .

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, an object of the present invention, RF front-end module using a signal transmission element integrating a signal transmission element for transmitting a signal transmission and a signal transmission element for receiving signal transmission and It is to provide a wireless communication device applying this.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, an RF front end module includes: a signal transmitting / receiving unit using some of the ports for transmitting a signal and using some of the ports for receiving a signal; And an antenna for radiating a transmission signal received through the transmission and reception signal transmission unit and transmitting the received reception signal to the transmission and reception signal transmission unit.

The RF front end module is configured to switch the input signal through the transmission ports provided in the transmission / reception signal transmission unit in a transmission mode, and through the reception ports provided in the transmission / reception signal transmission unit in a reception mode. It is preferable to further include; a switching unit for switching operation so that the received signal is output.

Preferably, the switching unit performs a switching operation such that the reception ports are shorted in the transmission mode, and the switching operation is performed such that the transmission ports are shorted in the reception mode.

The switching unit may include: first diodes configured to switch so that the receiving ports are connected to ground in the transmission mode; And second diodes configured to switch so that the transmission ports are connected to ground in the reception mode.

The switching unit may include: first capacitors connected to one end of the first diodes to block a signal that may flow into the transmission and reception signal transmission unit; And second capacitors connected to one end of the second diodes to block a signal that may flow into the transmission / reception signal transmission unit.

It is preferable that transmission signals of different bands are respectively input to the transmission ports, and reception signals of different bands are respectively output from the reception ports.

The different bands may include a 5 GHz band and a 2 GHz band.

The transmission and reception signal transmission unit comprises: at least one transmission signal filter for filtering the transmission signal; And at least one filter for receiving signals for filtering the received signals.

Preferably, the transmission signal filter is a low pass filter (LPF), and the reception signal filter is a band pass filter (BPF).

The RF front end module may further include an impedance matching unit performing 'impedance matching between the transmission signal filter and the antenna' and 'impedance matching between the reception signal filter and the antenna'.

On the other hand, according to the present invention, a wireless communication device, RF (Radio Frequency) front end module; And a back end module configured to apply a transmission signal to the RF front end module and to process a received signal transmitted from the RF front end module, wherein the RF front end module inputs some of the ports to the transmission signal. A signal transmitting and receiving unit for transmitting and receiving a signal and using another part of the ports for outputting the received signal; And an antenna for radiating a transmission signal received through the transmission and reception signal transmission unit and transmitting the received reception signal to the transmission and reception signal transmission unit.

The RF front end module is configured to switch so that the transmission signal is input through transmission ports provided in the transmission and reception signal transmission unit in a transmission mode, and through the reception ports provided in the transmission and reception signal transmission unit in a reception mode. It is preferable to further include; a switching unit for switching operation so that the received signal is output.

Preferably, the switching unit performs a switching operation such that the reception ports are shorted in the transmission mode, and the switching operation is performed such that the transmission ports are shorted in the reception mode.

The switching unit may include: first diodes configured to switch so that the receiving ports are connected to ground in the transmission mode; And second diodes configured to switch so that the transmission ports are connected to ground in the reception mode.

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As described above, according to the present invention, both transmission and reception are implemented by implementing a transmission or reception diplexer that is individually designed and implemented in a dual band RF front end module as one transmission and reception diplexer. It can be applied has the advantage of high utilization of the parts.

Switching with PIN diodes also allows the configuration of dual-band RF front-end modules, either Wi-Fi or WiMAX. Compared to the existing method using the SPDT switch, insertion loss can be reduced, and high isolation and power handling can be obtained.

1 is a block diagram of an RF front end module being applied to a dual band wireless communication system,
2 is a block diagram of an RF front end module, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
3 is a modified view of the arrangement of the configurations of the RF front end module shown in FIG.
4 is a circuit diagram in a state where the RF front end module shown in FIG. 3 is switched to a transmission mode;
5 is a circuit diagram in a state in which the RF front end module shown in FIG. 3 is switched to a reception mode;
6 is a detailed circuit diagram of a switching unit provided in the RF front end module, and
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a wireless communication device employing the RF front end module shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings will be described the present invention in more detail.

2 is a block diagram of an RF front end module, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The RF front end module is a module provided at the front of the wireless communication device, and corresponds to a module for transmitting and receiving data with another wireless communication device through a communication medium.

As shown in FIG. 2, the RF front end module according to the present embodiment includes an antenna 110, a diplexer 120 for transmitting and receiving, and a switching unit 150.

The antenna 110 communicates with other wireless communication devices through the air. Specifically, the antenna 110 radiates the transmission signal transmitted from the transmission / reception diplexer 120 to the other radio communication device, and transmits the reception signal received from the other wireless communication device to the transmission / reception diplexer ( 120).

The transmit / receive diplexer 120 is a type of signal transmission device in which a transmitting diplexer and a receiving diplexer are integrated into one, and a transmission signal applied from a transmitting end Tx provided in a back end module (not shown). Is transmitted to the antenna 110, and transmits the received signal from the antenna 110 to the receiving end (Rx) provided in the back end module.

To this end, five ports are provided in the transmitting / receiving diplexer 120, 1) two are used to receive a transmission signal from the transmitting terminal Tx through the switching unit 150, and 2) two switching. It is used to transmit the received signal to the receiving end (Rx) through the unit 150, 3) one is used to transmit the transmission signal to the antenna 110 and receive the received signal from the antenna 110.

Of the two transmission ports used to receive a transmission signal from the transmitting end (Tx), one is used to receive a transmission signal of the 5GHz band, the other is used to receive a transmission signal of the 2GHz band.

And, one of the two receiving ports used to transmit the received signal to the receiving end (Rx), one is used to transmit the received signal of the 5GHz band, the other is used to transmit the received signal of the 2GHz band.

On the other hand, as shown in Figure 2, the transmission and reception diplexer 120, the impedance matching unit 130, 5G-LPF (Low Pass Filter) 141, 5G-BPF (Band Pass Filter) 142 , 2G-BPF 143 and 2G-LPF 144.

The 5G-LPF 141 low-passes the transmission signal of the 5GHz band transmitted from the transmitter Tx to remove the high frequency band. The 2G-LPF 144 removes the high frequency band by low-passing the transmission signal of the 2 GHz band transmitted from the transmitter Tx.

Since the transmitted signal transmitted from the transmitter Tx is amplified by the amplifier, low passband loss and high second harmonic suppression characteristics are required, and the filter is filtered using the LPF.

On the other hand, the 5G-BPF 142 band-passes the received signal transmitted from the antenna 110, leaving only the required 5GHz band. Then, the 2G-BPF 143 band-passes the received signal transmitted from the antenna 110, leaving only the required 2GHz band.

The impedance matching unit 130 includes a circuit for 'impedance matching between the LPFs 141 and 144 for filtering the transmission signal and the antenna 110'. In addition, the impedance matching unit 130 also includes a circuit for 'impedance matching between the antenna 110 and the BPFs 142 and 143 for filtering the received signal'.

The switching unit 150 is connected to transmission ports and reception ports provided in the transmission / reception diplexer 120 to control input / output of the transmission / reception diplexer 120. In detail, the switching unit 150 performs a switching operation based on the communication mode of the wireless communication device so that the transmission / reception diplexer 120 may perform the signal transmission required for the communication mode of the wireless communication device.

The switching operation of the switching unit 150 is controlled by a switching control element (not shown). The control element generates a switching control signal according to a communication mode of a wireless communication device and applies it to the switching unit 150. As a result, the switching operation of the switching unit 150 is controlled.

The communication mode of the wireless communication device is classified into a 'transmission mode' and a 'reception mode'. The 'transmission mode' is a mode for transmitting a transmission signal applied from the transmitting end Tx to another wireless communication device through the antenna 110. In the transmission mode, the transmission / reception diplexer 120 transmits a transmission signal applied from the transmission terminal Tx to the antenna 110. To this end, in the transmission mode, the switching unit 150 performs a switching operation such that the transmission signal is applied to the transmission / reception diplexer 120 and the reception signal is not transmitted to the reception terminal Rx.

Specifically, the Tx (5G) -switching unit 151 and the Tx (2G) -switching unit 154 provided in the switching unit 150 are ports for transmitting the transmit / receive diplexer 120 from the transmitting end Tx. (I.e., input ports of the 5G-LPF 141 and the 2G-LPF 144), the switching operation is applied.

In addition, the Rx (5G) -switching unit 152 and the Rx (2G) -switching unit 153 provided in the switching unit 150 are receiving ports of the transmission / receiving diplexer 120 (that is, 5G-BPF ( 142 and the output port of the 2G-BPF 143) are switched to ground.

An RF front end module is shown in FIG. 3, which is a modification of the arrangement for the configurations of the RF front end module shown in FIG. 2, which is the same as the RF front end module shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram in which the RF front end module shown in FIG. 3 is switched to a transmission mode.

As shown in FIG. 4, a transmission signal is applied from a transmitting end Tx to a transmitting port of the transmitting / receiving diplexer 120 (that is, input ports of the 5G-LPF 141 and the 2G-LPF 144). It can be confirmed. In addition, it can be seen that the receiving port (ie, output ports of the 5G-BPF 142 and the 2G-BPF 143) of the transmitting / receiving diplexer 120 is grounded.

Accordingly, a conjugate matching is achieved in the 5 GHz band by the impedance matching unit 130, the 5G-LPF 141, and the grounded 5G-BPF 142, and the impedance matching unit 130, the 2G-LPF 144, and the like. The 2G-BPF 143 grounded to achieve conjugate matching in the 2 GHz band.

Meanwhile, the 'receive mode' is a mode for receiving a received signal from another wireless communication device through the antenna 110. In the reception mode, the transmission / reception diplexer 120 transmits a reception signal applied from the antenna 110 to the reception terminal Rx. To this end, in the reception mode, the switching unit 150 transmits the received signal from the transmitting / receiving diplexer 120 to the receiving end Rx, and transmits the transmitted signal from the transmitting end Tx to the transmitting / receiving diplexer 120. The switching operation is performed so that it is not applied.

Specifically, the Rx (5G) -switching unit 152 and the Rx (2G) -switching unit 153 provided in the switching unit 150 are ports for receiving the transmitting / receiving diplexer 120 (that is, 5G−). Switching operation so that the reception signal is transmitted from the BPF 142 and the output port of the 2G-BPF 143 to the receiving end (Rx).

The Tx (5G) -switching unit 151 and the Tx (2G) -switching unit 154 provided in the switching unit 150 are ports for transmitting the transmit / receive diplexer 120 (that is, 5G-LPF). 141 and the input port of the 2G-BPF 144 are switched to ground.

FIG. 5 shows a circuit diagram in a state where the RF front end module shown in FIG. 3 is switched to a reception mode.

As shown in FIG. 5, the reception signal is transmitted from the receiving port of the switching unit 150 (that is, the output ports of the 5G-BPF 142 and the 2G-BPF 143) to the receiving end Rx. You can check it. In addition, it can be seen that the transmission ports (ie, input ports of the 5G-LPF 141 and the 2G-LPF 144) of the transmission / receiving diplexer 120 are grounded.

Accordingly, the 5G-LPF 141 and 5G-BPF 142 grounded with the impedance matching unit 130 are conjugated to each other in the 5 GHz band, and the 2G-LPF 144 grounded with the impedance matching unit 130 is grounded. ) And 2G-BPF 143 to achieve conjugate matching in the 2 GHz band.

Meanwhile, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the impedance matching unit 130, the 5G-LPF 141, the 5G-BPF 142, and the 2G-BPF 143 included in the diplexer 120 for transmission and reception are provided. ) And the circuit configuration of the 2G-LPF 144.

6 shows the RF front end module shown in FIG. 3. In particular, in FIG. 6, a detailed circuit of the switching unit 150 provided in the RF front end module is illustrated.

As shown in FIG. 6, it can be seen that the switching units 151, 152, 153, and 154 are provided with diodes D1, D2, D3, and D4, respectively. These diodes D1, D2, D3 are provided. And D4) is switched on or switched off by the voltages V1 and V2 of the applied control signal, respectively.

Specifically,

11) When the logic level of V1 becomes High, D1 and D2 are switched on so that the transmitting ports of the transmitting / receiving diplexer 120 are shorted,

12) When the logic level of V1 becomes low, D1 and D2 are switched off, and the transmission signal generated by the transmission terminal Tx is transmitted to the transmission ports of the transmission / reception diplexer 120.

On the other hand,

21) When the logic level of V2 becomes High, D3 and D4 are switched on, and the receiving ports of the transmitting / receiving diplexer 120 are shorted,

22) When the logic level of V2 becomes low, D3 and D4 are switched off, and the reception signal output from the reception ports of the transmission and reception diplexer 120 is transmitted to the reception terminal Rx.

In the transmission mode, the logic level of V1 becomes Low, D1 and D2 are switched off, the logic level of V2 becomes High, D3 and D4 are switched on, and the transmission port of the transmission and reception diplexer 120 is switched on. Transmission of the transmission signal between the network and the transmission terminal Tx.

On the other hand, in the reception mode, the logic level of V1 becomes High, so that D1 and D2 are switched on, the logic level of V2 becomes Low, and D3 and D4 are switched off. It is possible to transmit a received signal between the credit ports and the receiver Rx.

The diodes D1, D2, D3 and D4 may be implemented with PIN diodes.

On the other hand, the capacitors C1, C2, C3, and C4 connected to the anode (+) terminals of the diodes D1, D2, D3, and D4 are DC signals that may flow into the transmit / receive diplexer 120. Not only blocks, but also participates in impedance matching.

FIG. 7 shows a communication device employing the RF front end module shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. As shown in FIG. 7, the communication apparatus according to the present embodiment includes an RF front end module 100 and a back end module 200.

The RF front end module 100 may be implemented as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. In addition, the back end module 200 includes the above-described transmitting end Tx, the receiving end Rx, and a control element.

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Up to now, the RF front end module using a diplexer integrating transmission and reception in one and a communication device employing the same have been described in detail.

The transmit / receive diplexer 120 may be embedded in a low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) substrate, and may include PIN diodes D1, D2, D3, and D4 and DC blocking capacitors C1, C2, and C3. And C4) is feasible on the LTCC substrate.

In addition, the bands presented in this embodiment may be replaced with other bands according to implementation needs, and the PIN diode used as the switching element may also be replaced with another device according to implementation needs.

Meanwhile, only the diplexer 120 for transmitting and receiving, which is an element for transmitting and receiving signals, may be separated and implemented.

In addition, although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described above, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, but the technical field to which the invention belongs without departing from the spirit of the invention claimed in the claims. Of course, various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art, and these modifications should not be individually understood from the technical spirit or the prospect of the present invention.

110 antenna 120 transmit and receive diplexer
130: impedance matching unit 141: 5G-LPF
142: 5G-BPF 143: 2G-BPF
144: 2G-LPF 150: switching unit
151: Tx (5G) -switching part 152: Rx (5G) -switching part
153: Rx (2G) -switching part 154: Tx (2G) -switching part

Claims (15)

A signal transmitting / receiving unit that uses some of the ports for input of a transmission signal and uses another of the ports for outputting a received signal;
An antenna for radiating a transmission signal received through the transmission and reception signal transmission unit and transmitting the received reception signal to the transmission and reception signal transmission unit; And
In a transmission mode, a switching operation is performed such that the transmission signal is input through transmission ports provided in the transmission and reception signal transmission unit. It includes; Switching unit,
Transmission signals of different bands are respectively input to the transmission ports, and reception signals of different bands are respectively output from the reception ports.
The switching unit includes:
First diodes for switching so that the receiving ports are connected to ground in the transmission mode; And
And a second diode configured to switch so that the transmission ports are connected to the ground in the reception mode. delete delete delete The method of claim 1,
The switching unit includes:
First capacitors connected to one end of the first diodes to block a signal that may flow into the transmission / reception signal transmission unit; And
And second capacitors connected to one end of the second diodes to block a signal that may flow into the signal transmission and reception unit for transmitting and receiving the second diode. delete The method of claim 1,
The different bands,
An RF front end module comprising a 5 GHz band and a 2 GHz band. The method of claim 1,
The transmission and reception signal transmission unit,
At least one transmission signal filter for filtering the transmission signal; And
RF front end module, characterized in that it further comprises; at least one filter for the received signal for filtering the received signal. The method of claim 8,
The transmission signal filter is a low pass filter (LPF),
The received signal filter is a RF front end module, characterized in that the BPF (Band Pass Filter). The method of claim 8,
And an impedance matching unit performing 'impedance matching between the transmission signal filter and the antenna' and 'impedance matching between the reception signal filter and the antenna'. RF (Radio Frequency) front end module; And
And a back end module for applying a transmission signal to the RF front end module and processing a received signal transmitted from the RF front end module.
The RF front end module,
A signal transmitting / receiving unit which uses some of the ports for inputting the transmission signal and uses another part of the ports for outputting the received signal;
An antenna for radiating a transmission signal received through the transmission and reception signal transmission unit and transmitting the received reception signal to the transmission and reception signal transmission unit; And
In a transmission mode, a switching operation is performed such that the transmission signal is input through transmission ports provided in the transmission and reception signal transmission unit. It includes; Switching unit,
Transmission signals of different bands are respectively input to the transmission ports, and reception signals of different bands are respectively output from the reception ports.
The switching unit includes:
First diodes for switching so that the receiving ports are connected to ground in the transmission mode; And
And second diodes configured to switch so that the transmitting ports are connected to ground in the receiving mode. delete delete delete delete

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