Frequency switch for multiband power amplifier applications and multiband/multistandard power amplifier module

Abstract

A frequency switch (1), in particular for use in a multiband/multistandard power amplifier module (11, 17), comprising at least two output ports, a first output port (7) being arranged within a first output path (8) and a second output port (9) being arranged within a second output path (10), said output ports (7, 9) being connected with an input port (6) via said output paths (8, 10), each output path (8, 10) being provided with at least one RF block (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d), each RF-block (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d) comprising a capacitor, (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d) a switching element (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d) and a quaterwave section, wherein for each RF-block (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d) a predetermined frequency band is selected and the length of said quaterwave section is matched to said selected frequency band in order to block incoming signals in said selected frequency band if the switching element (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d) of the corresponding RF-block (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d) is switched on. Thus a frequency switch for usage with a multiband power amplifier can be realised which allows selection of different frequency bands with reduced power loss.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is shown in the drawing

FIG. 1 shows a schematic circuit diagram of an inventive RF-block;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic circuit diagram of an inventive frequency switch;

FIG. 3 shows a scheme of a first embodiment of an inventive multiband/multistandard power amplifier module; and

FIG. 4 shows a scheme of a second embodiment of an inventive multiband/multistandard power amplifier module used for stage by-passing.

Claims

1. A frequency switch, in particular for use in a multiband and/or multistandard power amplifier module, comprising at least two output ports, a first output port being arranged within a first output path and a second output port being arranged within a second output path,said output ports being connected with an input port via said output paths,each output path being provided with at least one RF block,each RF-block comprising a capacitor, a switching element and a quaterwave section,wherein for each RF-block a predetermined frequency band is selected and the length of said quaterwave section is matched to said selected frequency band in order to block incoming signals in said selected frequency band if the switching element of the corresponding RF-block is switched on.

2. The frequency switch according to claim 1, wherein during use of said switching element at least one RF-block is switched off.

3. The frequency switch according to claim 1, wherein during use of said switching element all RF-blocks are switched off.

4. A multiband and/or multistandard power amplifier module comprising a preamplifier stage for preamplifying an incoming signal in the total bandwidth up to an intermediary level,a frequency switch according to claim 1 is provided for blocking signals in at least one of the selected frequency bands, anda first final amplifier which is arranged after the frequency switch within a first path and is optimized to amplify signals which are blocked in the second output path of said frequency switch from said intermediary level up to an output level.

5. The multiband and/or multistandard power amplifier module according to claim 4, wherein a second final amplifier is provided, which is arranged after said frequency switch within a second path.

6. The multiband and/or multistandard power amplifier module according to claim 4, wherein said first final amplifier and said second final amplifier are optimized with respect to the different selected frequency bands and show different gain, power and efficiency characteristics.

7. The multiband and/or multistandard power amplifier module according to claim 6, wherein said first final amplifier is optimized with respect to frequencies from 1.8 GHz to 2.7 GHz and said second final amplifier is optimized with respect to frequencies from 0.8 GHz to 1.0 GHz.

8. The multiband and/or multistandard power amplifier module according to claim 4, wherein the number of final amplifier is equal to the number of output ports of said frequency switch.

9. The multiband and/or multistandard power amplifier module according to claim 4, wherein the number of final amplifier is less than the number of output ports of said frequency switch.

10. The multiband and/or multistandard power amplifier module according to claim 4, wherein a second frequency switch is provided in order to switch and/or combine signals from said at least two paths to a total output signal.