US-12620951-B2 - Radio-frequency module

Abstract

A smaller size is achieved by reducing a circuit size and the characteristics of all bands are made satisfactory. A radio-frequency module transmits and receives transmission/reception signals in a first frequency band and transmission/reception signals in a second frequency band lower than the first frequency band by time division duplex communication. A switch allows an output from a filter to be input to a low-noise amplifier upon reception of a signal in the second frequency band and allows an output from a power amplifier to be input to the filter upon transmission of a signal in the second frequency band to thereby share the filter for transmission/reception signals in the second frequency band.

Inventors

• Tetsurou ASHIDA

Assignees

• MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20231019

Priority Date

20210428

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A radio-frequency module comprising: a substrate on which the following are mounted a first input terminal to which a first transmission signal in a first frequency band is input; a second input terminal to which a second transmission signal in a second frequency band lower than the first frequency band is input; a first transmission amplifier that amplifies the first transmission signal input to the first input terminal; a first filter that allows an output from the first transmission amplifier to pass therethrough; a second filter that allows a first reception signal in the first frequency band to pass therethrough; a third filter that allows a second reception signal in the second frequency band and the second transmission signal in the second frequency band to pass therethrough; a first reception amplifier that amplifies an output from the second filter; a second reception amplifier that amplifies an output from the third filter; a second transmission amplifier that amplifies the second transmission signal input to the second input terminal; a first switch and a second switch; a first output terminal from which an output from the first reception amplifier is output; and a second output terminal from which an output from the second reception amplifier is output, wherein upon transmission in time division duplex communication, the radio-frequency module transmits at least one of the first transmission signal or the second transmission signal, upon reception in time division duplex communication, the radio-frequency module receives at least one of the first reception signal or the second reception signal, the first switch allows the output from the third filter to be input to the second reception amplifier upon reception in time division duplex communication, and allows an output from the second transmission amplifier to be input to the third filter upon transmission in time division duplex communication, the second switch is in at least one of a state in which the second switch allows a reception signal from a first antenna to be input to the first reception amplifier via the second filter or a state in which the second switch allows a reception signal from a second antenna to be input to the second reception amplifier via the third filter upon reception in time division duplex communication, and is in at least one of a state in which the second switch allows an output from the first filter to be output to the first antenna or a state in which the second switch allows an output from the third filter to be output to the second antenna upon transmission in time division duplex communication, the first antenna and the second antenna are connected to a first antenna terminal and a second antenna terminal that are provided on the substrate in proximity to each other, the first input terminal and the second input terminal are provided on the substrate in proximity to each other, the first output terminal and the second output terminal are provided on the substrate in proximity to each other, the substrate has a main surface on which the first input terminal, the second input terminal, the first antenna terminal, the second antenna terminal, the first output terminal, and the second output terminal are mounted, the main surface has a first edge, a second edge, and a third edge that connects the first edge with the second edge, the first antenna terminal and the second antenna terminal are provided adjacent to the first edge, the first input terminal and the second input terminal are provided adjacent to the second edge, and the first output terminal and the second output terminal are provided adjacent to the third edge.
2. 2 . The radio-frequency module according to claim 1 , wherein the first edge and the second edge are opposite to each other on the main surface.
3. 3 . The radio-frequency module according to claim 2 , wherein the main surface of the substrate has the first edge, the second edge, and the third edge, the first antenna terminal and the second antenna terminal are provided in proximity to the first edge, the first input terminal and the second input terminal are provided in proximity to the second edge, and the first output terminal and the second output terminal are provided in proximity to the third edge.
4. 4 . The radio-frequency module according to claim 3 , wherein when a loss in a radio-frequency band caused by the first switch is denoted by SW loss , a frequency at a lower limit of the first frequency band is denoted by F LL , a frequency at an upper limit of the first frequency band is denoted by F LH , a frequency at a lower limit of the second frequency band is denoted by F HL , and a frequency at an upper limit of the second frequency band is denoted by F HH , SW loss , F LL , F LH , F HL , and F HH have a relationship of −20 log 10( F LH /F HL ) [dB]≤ SW loss ≤−20 log 10( F LL /F HH ) [dB].
5. 5 . The radio-frequency module according to claim 1 , wherein the main surface of the substrate has the first edge, the second edge, and the third edge, the first antenna terminal and the second antenna terminal are provided in proximity to the first edge, the first input terminal and the second input terminal are provided in proximity to the second edge, and the first output terminal and the second output terminal are provided in proximity to the third edge.
6. 6 . A radio-frequency module comprising: a substrate on which the following are mounted a first input terminal to which a first transmission signal in a first frequency band is input: a second input terminal to which a second transmission signal in a second frequency band lower than the first frequency band is input; a first transmission amplifier that amplifies the first transmission signal input to the first input terminal; a first filter that allows an output from the first transmission amplifier to pass therethrough; a second filter that allows a first reception signal in the first frequency band to pass therethrough; a third filter that allows a second reception signal in the second frequency band and the second transmission signal in the second frequency band to pass therethrough; a first reception amplifier that amplifies an output from the second filter; a second reception amplifier that amplifies an output from the third filter; a second transmission amplifier that amplifies the second transmission signal input to the second input terminal; a first switch and a second switch; a first output terminal from which an output from the first reception amplifier is output; and a second output terminal from which an output from the second reception amplifier is output, wherein upon transmission in time division duplex communication, the radio-frequency module transmits at least one of the first transmission signal or the second transmission signal, upon reception in time division duplex communication, the radio-frequency module receives at least one of the first reception signal or the second reception signal, the first switch allows the output from the third filter to be input to the second reception amplifier upon reception in time division duplex communication, and allows an output from the second transmission amplifier to be input to the third filter upon transmission in time division duplex communication, the second switch is in at least one of a state in which the second switch allows a reception signal from a first antenna to be input to the first reception amplifier via the second filter or a state in which the second switch allows a reception signal from a second antenna to be input to the second reception amplifier via the third filter upon reception in time division duplex communication, and is in at least one of a state in which the second switch allows an output from the first filter to be output to the first antenna or a state in which the second switch allows an output from the third filter to be output to the second antenna upon transmission in time division duplex communication, wherein the substrate has a main surface on which the first input terminal, the second input terminal, the first antenna terminal, the second antenna terminal, the first output terminal, and the second output terminal are mounted, the main surface has a first edge, a second edge, and a third edge that connects the first edge with the second edge, the first antenna terminal and the second antenna terminal are provided adjacent to the first edge, the first input terminal and the second input terminal are provided adjacent to the second edge, and the first output terminal and the second output terminal are provided adjacent to the third edge.
7. 7 . The radio-frequency module according to claim 6 , wherein the first edge and the second edge are opposite to each other on the main surface.
8. 8 . The radio-frequency module according to claim 7 , wherein the main surface of the substrate has the first edge, the second edge, and the third edge, the first antenna terminal and the second antenna terminal are provided in proximity to the first edge, the first input terminal and the second input terminal are provided in proximity to the second edge, and the first output terminal and the second output terminal are provided in proximity to the third edge.
9. 9 . The radio-frequency module according to claim 8 , wherein when a loss in a radio-frequency band caused by the first switch is denoted by SW loss , a frequency at a lower limit of the first frequency band is denoted by F LL , a frequency at an upper limit of the first frequency band is denoted by F LH , a frequency at a lower limit of the second frequency band is denoted by F HL , and a frequency at an upper limit of the second frequency band is denoted by F HH , SW loss , F LL , F LH , F HL , and F HH have a relationship of −20 log 10( F LH /F HL ) [dB]≤ SW loss ≤−20 log 10( F LL /F HH ) [dB].
10. 10 . The radio-frequency module according to claim 1 , wherein when a loss in a radio-frequency band caused by the first switch is denoted by SW loss , a frequency at a lower limit of the first frequency band is denoted by F LL , a frequency at an upper limit of the first frequency band is denoted by F LH , a frequency at a lower limit of the second frequency band is denoted by F HL , and a frequency at an upper limit of the second frequency band is denoted by F HH , SW loss , F LL , F LH , F HL , and F HH have a relationship of −20 log 10( F LH /F HL ) [dB]≤ SW loss ≤−20 log 10( F LL /F HH ) [dB].
11. 11 . The radio-frequency module according to claim 2 , wherein when a loss in a radio-frequency band caused by the first switch is denoted by SW loss , a frequency at a lower limit of the first frequency band is denoted by F LL , a frequency at an upper limit of the first frequency band is denoted by F LH , a frequency at a lower limit of the second frequency band is denoted by F HL , and a frequency at an upper limit of the second frequency band is denoted by F HH , SW loss , F LL , F LH , F HL , and Fan have a relationship of −20 log 10( F LH /F HL ) [dB]≤ SW loss ≤−20 log 10( F LL /F HH ) [dB].
12. 12 . The radio-frequency module according to claim 5 , wherein when a loss in a radio-frequency band caused by the first switch is denoted by SW loss , a frequency at a lower limit of the first frequency band is denoted by F LL , a frequency at an upper limit of the first frequency band is denoted by F LH , a frequency at a lower limit of the second frequency band is denoted by F HL , and a frequency at an upper limit of the second frequency band is denoted by F HH , SW loss , F LL , F LH , F HL , and F HH have a relationship of −20 log 10( F LH /F HL ) [dB]≤ SW loss ≤−20 log 10( F LL /F HH ) [dB].
13. 13 . The radio-frequency module according to claim 6 , wherein when a loss in a radio-frequency band caused by the first switch is denoted by SW loss , a frequency at a lower limit of the first frequency band is denoted by F LL , a frequency at an upper limit of the first frequency band is denoted by F LH , a frequency at a lower limit of the second frequency band is denoted by F HL , and a frequency at an upper limit of the second frequency band is denoted by F HH , SW loss , F LL , F LH , F HL , and F HH have a relationship of −20 log 10( F LH /F HL ) [dB]≤ SW loss ≤−20 log 10( F LL /F HH ) [dB].
14. 14 . The radio-frequency module according to claim 7 , wherein when a loss in a radio-frequency band caused by the first switch is denoted by SW loss , a frequency at a lower limit of the first frequency band is denoted by F LL , a frequency at an upper limit of the first frequency band is denoted by F LH , a frequency at a lower limit of the second frequency band is denoted by F HL , and a frequency at an upper limit of the second frequency band is denoted by F HH , SW loss , F LL , F LH , F HL , and F HH have a relationship of −20 log 10( F LH /F HL ) [dB]≤ SW loss ≤−20 log 10( F LL /F HH ) [dB].
15. 15 . The radio-frequency module according to claim 1 , further comprising a third reception amplifier and a fourth reception amplifier, wherein the radio-frequency module performs multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) reception.
16. 16 . The radio-frequency module according to claim 1 , wherein electrode pads electrically connected to the first antenna terminal and the second antenna terminal are provided at positions closer to the antenna terminals than a center of a region in which the second switch is disposed.
17. 17 . The radio-frequency module according to claim 1 , further comprising a power amplifier controller mounted on the substrate, the power amplifier controller configured to control the first transmission amplifier and the second transmission amplifier.
18. 18 . The radio-frequency module according to claim 6 , further comprising a third reception amplifier and a fourth reception amplifier, wherein the radio-frequency module performs multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) reception.
19. 19 . The radio-frequency module according to claim 6 , wherein electrode pads electrically connected to the first antenna terminal and the second antenna terminal are provided at positions closer to the antenna terminals than a center of a region in which the second switch is disposed.
20. 20 . The radio-frequency module according to claim 6 , further comprising a power amplifier controller mounted on the substrate, the power amplifier controller configured to control the first transmission amplifier and the second transmission amplifier.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This is a continuation application of PCT/JP2022/019341, filed on Apr. 28, 2022, designating the United States of America, which is based on and claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. JP 2021-076094 filed on Apr. 28, 2021. The entire contents of the above-identified applications, including the specifications, drawings and claims, are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to a radio-frequency module. BACKGROUND ART A radio-frequency module for realizing a radio-frequency signal transmitting/receiving circuit is used in wireless devices such as mobile phones. A radio-frequency module of this type may be called an RF front-end module. A configuration in which different multiplex modes are realized by a single radio-frequency module is known (for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2). A radio-frequency module disclosed in Patent Document 1 realizes Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) communication and Time Division Duplex (TDD) communication. A radio-frequency module disclosed in Patent Document 2 realizes Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) communication and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) communication. CITATION LIST Patent Documents Patent Document 1: International Publication No. 2020/153285Patent Document 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-015162 SUMMARY OF DISCLOSURE Technical Problem With the widespread use of the fifth generation mobile communication system, a demand for implementing a configuration for realizing a plurality of bands, including a UHF (Ultra-High Frequency) band, corresponding to time division duplex communication in a single radio-frequency module is expected to increase. In a case of realizing a plurality of bands corresponding to time division duplex communication, an attempt to optimize the frequency characteristics of all of the plurality of bands causes an increase in the circuit size but the increase is not preferable. Meanwhile, there is an increasing demand for making the module smaller in order to improve the degree of integration of components for increased functionality of mobile phones and so on. Therefore, it is preferable to achieve both of optimization of the frequency characteristics of the radio-frequency module and space saving of the radio-frequency module. The present disclosure has been made in view of the above and an object thereof is to provide a radio-frequency module having a configuration in which a plurality of bands corresponding to time division duplex communication are realized with a circuit configuration that can achieve a smaller size by reducing the circuit size and can make the characteristics of all of the bands satisfactory. Solution to Problem To address the above-described issue and to achieve the object, a radio-frequency module according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes: a substrate on which a first input terminal to which a first transmission signal in a first frequency band is input; a second input terminal to which a second transmission signal in a second frequency band lower than the first frequency band is input; a first transmission amplifier unit that amplifies the first transmission signal input to the first input terminal; a first filter that allows an output from the first transmission amplifier unit to pass therethrough; a second filter that allows a first reception signal in the first frequency band to pass therethrough; a third filter that allows a second reception signal in the second frequency band and the second transmission signal in the second frequency band to pass therethrough; a first reception amplifier unit that amplifies an output from the second filter; a second reception amplifier unit that amplifies an output from the third filter; a second transmission amplifier unit that amplifies the second transmission signal input to the second input terminal; a first switch and a second switch; a first output terminal from which an output from the first reception amplifier unit is output; and a second output terminal from which an output from the second reception amplifier unit is output are mounted, in which upon transmission in time division duplex communication, the radio-frequency module transmits at least one of the first transmission signal or the second transmission signal, upon reception in time division duplex communication, the radio-frequency module receives at least one of the first reception signal or the second reception signal, the first switch allows the output from the third filter to be input to the second reception amplifier unit upon reception in time division duplex communication, and allows an output from the second transmission amplifier unit to be input to the third filter upon transmission in time division duplex communication, and the second switch is in at least one of a state in which the second switch allows a reception signal from a