(cid:59)(cid:30)(cid:47)(cid:29)(cid:40)(cid:31)(cid:55)(cid:108)(cid:45)(cid:47)(cid:11)(cid:108)(cid:18)(cid:21)(cid:18)(cid:27)(cid:26)(cid:22)(cid:60)(cid:108)
`[DOCKET NO. 121973]
`
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`LOW NOISE AMPLIFIERS FOR CARRIER AGGREGATION
`
`(cid:27)(cid:5)(cid:5)(cid:5)(cid:6)(cid:28)(cid:48)
`[0001]
`
`(cid:18)(cid:1)
`I.
`
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`Claim of Priority under 35 U.S.C. §119
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`The present Application for Patent claims priority to Provisional US
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`Application Serial No. 61/652,064, entitled “LOW NOISE AMPLIFIERS FOR
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`CARRIER AGGREGATION,” filed May 25, 2012, assigned to the assignee hereof, and
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`expressly incorporated herein by reference.
`
`(cid:13)(cid:12)(cid:14)(cid:19)(cid:17)(cid:23)(cid:21)(cid:26)(cid:20)(cid:15)(cid:48)
`BACKGROUND
`
`(cid:4)(cid:1)(cid:1)(cid:1)(cid:2)(cid:5)(cid:6)
`[0002]
`
`(cid:18)(cid:4)
`1.
`
`(cid:16)(cid:36)(cid:33)(cid:38)(cid:32)
`Field
`(cid:55)(cid:78)(cid:65)(cid:108)(cid:91)(cid:93)(cid:65)(cid:97)(cid:65)(cid:88)(cid:98)(cid:108)(cid:64)(cid:79)(cid:97)(cid:63)(cid:86)(cid:89)(cid:97)(cid:101)(cid:93)(cid:65)(cid:108)(cid:93)(cid:65)(cid:84)(cid:61)(cid:98)(cid:65)(cid:97)(cid:108)(cid:77)(cid:65)(cid:88)(cid:65)(cid:94)(cid:61)(cid:85)(cid:85)(cid:107)(cid:108)(cid:99)(cid:89)(cid:108)(cid:65)(cid:85)(cid:65)(cid:63)(cid:99)(cid:94)(cid:89)(cid:88)(cid:80)(cid:63)(cid:97)(cid:8)(cid:108)(cid:61)(cid:88)(cid:64)(cid:108)(cid:87)(cid:89)(cid:94)(cid:65)(cid:108)(cid:97)(cid:91)(cid:65)(cid:63)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:63)(cid:61)(cid:85)(cid:85)(cid:107)(cid:108)(cid:99)(cid:89)
`The present disclosure relates generally to electronics, and more specifically to
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`low noise amplifiers (LNAs).
`
`(cid:27)(cid:5)(cid:5)(cid:5)(cid:9)(cid:29)(cid:48)
`[0003]
`
`(cid:4)(cid:1)(cid:1)(cid:1)(cid:3)(cid:5)(cid:6)
`[0004]
`
`(cid:7)(cid:7)(cid:1)
`II.
`
`(cid:13)(cid:30)(cid:31)(cid:37)(cid:35)(cid:43)(cid:42)(cid:45)(cid:41)(cid:32)
`Background
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`A wireless device (e.g., a cellular phone or a smaitphone)
`in a wireless
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`communication system may transmit and receive data for two—way communication. The
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`wireless device may include a transmitter for data transmission and a receiver for data
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`reception. For data transmission, the transmitter may modulate a radio frequency (RF)
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`carrier signal with data to obtain a modulated RF signal, amplify the modulated RF
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`signal to obtain an amplified RF signal having the proper output power level, and
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`transmit the amplified RF signal via an antenna to a base station. For data reception, the
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`receiver may obtain a received RF signal via the antenna and may amplify and process
`(cid:99)(cid:78)(cid:65)(cid:108)(cid:94)(cid:65)(cid:63)(cid:65)(cid:79)(cid:102)(cid:65)(cid:64)(cid:108)(cid:50)(cid:35)(cid:108)(cid:97)(cid:79)(cid:77)(cid:88)(cid:61)(cid:84)(cid:108)(cid:98)(cid:89)(cid:108)(cid:93)(cid:65)(cid:63)(cid:89)(cid:102)(cid:65)(cid:93)(cid:108)(cid:64)(cid:61)(cid:98)(cid:61)(cid:108)(cid:97)(cid:65)(cid:88)(cid:99)(cid:108)(cid:62)(cid:107)(cid:108)(cid:99)(cid:78)(cid:65)(cid:108)(cid:62)(cid:61)(cid:97)(cid:65)(cid:108)(cid:97)(cid:98)(cid:61)(cid:99)(cid:80)(cid:89)(cid:88)(cid:12)(cid:108)
`the received RF signal to recover data sent by the base station.
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`A wireless device may support carrier aggregation, which is simultaneous
`(cid:89)(cid:91)(cid:65)(cid:94)(cid:61)(cid:98)(cid:79)(cid:89)(cid:88)(cid:108)(cid:89)(cid:88)(cid:108) (cid:87)(cid:101)(cid:86)(cid:98)(cid:83)(cid:91)(cid:84)(cid:65)(cid:108) (cid:63)(cid:61)(cid:93)(cid:93)(cid:79)(cid:65)(cid:93)(cid:97)(cid:11)(cid:108) (cid:28)(cid:108) (cid:63)(cid:61)(cid:93)(cid:93)(cid:79)(cid:65)(cid:94)(cid:108) (cid:87)(cid:61)(cid:107)(cid:108)(cid:94)(cid:65)(cid:69)(cid:66)(cid:94)(cid:108)(cid:99)(cid:89)(cid:108)(cid:61)(cid:108)(cid:94)(cid:61)(cid:88)(cid:77)(cid:65)(cid:108)(cid:89)(cid:67)(cid:108) (cid:69)(cid:95)(cid:65)(cid:92)(cid:101)(cid:65)(cid:88)(cid:63)(cid:80)(cid:65)(cid:97)(cid:108)(cid:101)(cid:97)(cid:65)(cid:64)(cid:108) (cid:75)(cid:94)(cid:108)
`operation on multiple carriers. A carrier may refer to a range of frequencies used for
`(cid:63)(cid:89)(cid:87)(cid:87)(cid:101)(cid:88)(cid:79)(cid:63)(cid:61)(cid:98)(cid:79)(cid:89)(cid:88)(cid:108) (cid:61)(cid:88)(cid:64)(cid:108) (cid:87)(cid:61)(cid:107)(cid:108) (cid:62)(cid:65)(cid:108) (cid:61)(cid:97)(cid:97)(cid:89)(cid:63)(cid:79)(cid:61)(cid:98)(cid:65)(cid:64)(cid:108) (cid:103)(cid:80)(cid:99)(cid:78)(cid:108) (cid:63)(cid:65)(cid:94)(cid:100)(cid:61)(cid:80)(cid:88)(cid:108) (cid:63)(cid:78)(cid:61)(cid:94)(cid:61)(cid:63)(cid:99)(cid:65)(cid:94)(cid:80)(cid:97)(cid:99)(cid:80)(cid:63)(cid:97)(cid:12)(cid:108) (cid:33)(cid:89)(cid:93)(cid:108) (cid:65)(cid:106)(cid:61)(cid:87)(cid:91)(cid:85)(cid:65)(cid:8)(cid:108) (cid:61)(cid:108)
`communication and may be associated with certain characteristics. For example, a
`(cid:63)(cid:61)(cid:94)(cid:94)(cid:80)(cid:65)(cid:93)(cid:108)(cid:87)(cid:61)(cid:107)(cid:108)(cid:62)(cid:65)(cid:108)(cid:61)(cid:97)(cid:97)(cid:89)(cid:63)(cid:79)(cid:61)(cid:98)(cid:65)(cid:64)(cid:108)(cid:104)(cid:79)(cid:98)(cid:78)(cid:108)(cid:97)(cid:107)(cid:97)(cid:98)(cid:65)(cid:87)(cid:108)(cid:79)(cid:88)(cid:69)(cid:90)(cid:94)(cid:87)(cid:61)(cid:99)(cid:80)(cid:89)(cid:88)(cid:108) (cid:64)(cid:65)(cid:97)(cid:63)(cid:94)(cid:80)(cid:62)(cid:80)(cid:88)(cid:77)(cid:108)(cid:89)(cid:91)(cid:65)(cid:94)(cid:61)(cid:99)(cid:80)(cid:89)(cid:88)(cid:108)(cid:89)(cid:88)(cid:108) (cid:99)(cid:78)(cid:65)(cid:108)(cid:63)(cid:61)(cid:94)(cid:94)(cid:80)(cid:65)(cid:94)(cid:12)(cid:108)
`carrier may be associated with system information describing operation on the carrier.
`(cid:28)(cid:108) (cid:63)(cid:61)(cid:94)(cid:93)(cid:79)(cid:65)(cid:93)(cid:108)(cid:87)(cid:61)(cid:107)(cid:108)(cid:61)(cid:84)(cid:97)(cid:89)(cid:108)(cid:62)(cid:65)(cid:108)(cid:93)(cid:65)(cid:70)(cid:93)(cid:93)(cid:65)(cid:64)(cid:108)(cid:98)(cid:89)(cid:108)(cid:61)(cid:97)(cid:108)(cid:61)(cid:108)(cid:63)(cid:89)(cid:87)(cid:91)(cid:89)(cid:88)(cid:65)(cid:88)(cid:99)(cid:108)(cid:63)(cid:61)(cid:94)(cid:94)(cid:80)(cid:65)(cid:94)(cid:108)(cid:3)(cid:29)(cid:29)(cid:5)(cid:8)(cid:108) (cid:61)(cid:108)(cid:69)(cid:95)(cid:65)(cid:92)(cid:101)(cid:65)(cid:88)(cid:63)(cid:107)(cid:108)(cid:63)(cid:78)(cid:61)(cid:88)(cid:88)(cid:65)(cid:85)(cid:8)(cid:108) (cid:61)(cid:108)
`A carrier may also be referred to as a component carrier (CC), a frequency channel, a
`(cid:63)(cid:65)(cid:85)(cid:85)(cid:7)(cid:108)(cid:65)(cid:98)(cid:63)(cid:14)(cid:108) (cid:38)(cid:98)(cid:108)(cid:79)(cid:97)(cid:108)(cid:64)(cid:65)(cid:97)(cid:79)(cid:93)(cid:61)(cid:62)(cid:84)(cid:65)(cid:108)(cid:98)(cid:89)(cid:108)(cid:65)(cid:68)(cid:73)(cid:63)(cid:79)(cid:65)(cid:88)(cid:98)(cid:86)(cid:107)(cid:108)(cid:97)(cid:101)(cid:91)(cid:91)(cid:89)(cid:94)(cid:100)(cid:108)(cid:63)(cid:61)(cid:94)(cid:94)(cid:80)(cid:65)(cid:94)(cid:108)(cid:61)(cid:77)(cid:77)(cid:93)(cid:65)(cid:77)(cid:61)(cid:99)(cid:80)(cid:89)(cid:88)(cid:108)(cid:62)(cid:107)(cid:108)(cid:99)(cid:78)(cid:65)(cid:108)(cid:103)(cid:80)(cid:94)(cid:65)(cid:86)(cid:65)(cid:97)(cid:97)(cid:108)(cid:64)(cid:65)(cid:102)(cid:80)(cid:63)(cid:65)(cid:12)(cid:108)
`cell, etc. It is desirable to efficiently support carrier aggregation by the wireless device.
`
`|NTEL1311
`(cid:5)(cid:7)(cid:8)(cid:4)(cid:6)(cid:9)(cid:2)(cid:19)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:9)
`
`

`

`[DOCKET NO. 121973]
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 shows a wireless device communicating with a wireless system.
`
`FIGS. 2A to 2D show four examples of carrier aggregation (CA).
`
`FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of the wireless device in FIG. 1.
`
`FIGS. 4A and 4B show a receiver supporting intra-band CA.
`
`FIGS. 5A and 5B show a receiver supporting intra—band CA and inter—band CA.
`
`FIGS. 6A to 6C show an LNA with inductive degeneration and cascode shutoff.
`
`FIG. 7 shows an LNA with inductive degeneration, cascode shutoff, and
`
`resistive feedback.
`
`FIG. 8A shows an LNA with a separate input attenuation circuit for each
`
`amplifier stage.
`
`FIG. 8B shows an LNA with a shared input attenuation circuit for two amplifier
`
`stages.
`
`FIG. 9 shows an LNA with a tunable input matching circuit.
`
`FIGS. 10 to 11C show several exemplary designs of a multiple-input multiple-
`
`output (MIMO) LNA.
`
`FIGS. 12A to 12F show six exemplary designs of a tunable input matching
`
`circuit.
`
`FIG. 13 shows a process for receiving signals in a wireless system.
`
`[0005]
`
`[0006]
`
`[0007]
`
`[0008]
`
`[0009]
`
`[0010]
`
`[0011]
`
`[0012]
`
`[0013]
`
`[0014]
`
`[0015]
`
`[0016]
`
`[0017]
`
`[0018]
`
`The detailed description set
`
`forth below is
`
`intended as a description of
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`exemplary designs of the present disclosure and is not intended to represent the only
`
`designs in which the present disclosure can be practiced. The term “exemplary” is used
`
`herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any design described
`
`herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous
`
`over other designs. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of
`
`providing a thorough understanding of the exemplary designs of the present disclosure.
`
`It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the exemplary designs described herein
`
`may be practiced without
`
`these specific details.
`
`In some instances, well-known
`
`structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in ordcr to avoid obscuring the
`
`novelty of the exemplary designs presented herein.
`
`

`

`[DOCKET NO. 121973]
`
`3
`
`[0019]
`
`LNAs supporting carrier aggregation are disclosed herein. These LNAs may
`
`have better performance and may be used for various types of electronic devices such as
`
`wireless communication devices.
`
`[0020]
`
`FIG.
`
`1
`
`shows
`
`a wireless device
`
`110 communicating with a wireless
`
`communication system 120. Wireless system 120 may be a Long Term Evolution
`
`(LTE) system, a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) system, a Global System for
`
`Mobile Communications (GSM) system, a wireless local area network (WLAN) system,
`
`or some other wireless system. A CDMA system may implement Wideband CDMA
`
`(WCDMA), cdma2000, or some other version of CDMA. For simplicity, FIG. 1 shows
`
`wireless system 120 including two base stations 130 and 132 and one system controller
`
`140.
`
`In general, a wireless system may include any number of base stations and any set
`
`of network entities.
`
`[0021]
`
`Wireless device 110 may also be referred to as a user equipment (UE), a mobile
`
`station, a terminal, an access terminal, a subscriber unit, a station, etc. Wireless device
`
`110 may be a cellular phone, a smartphone, a tablet, a wireless modem, a personal
`
`digital assistant (PDA), a handheld device, a laptop computer, a smartbook, a netbook, a
`
`cordless phone, a wireless local loop (WLL) station, a Bluetooth device, etc. Wireless
`
`device 110 may be capable of communicating with wireless system 120. Wireless
`
`device 110 may also be capable of receiving signals from broadcast stations (e.g., a
`
`broadcast station 134), signals from satellites (e.g., a satellite 150) in one or more global
`
`navigation satellite systems (GNSS), etc. Wireless device 110 may support one or more
`
`radio technologies for wireless communication such as LTE, cdma2000, WCDMA,
`
`GSM, 802.11, etc.
`
`[0022]
`
`Wireless device 110 may support carrier aggregation, which is operation on
`
`multiple carriers. Carrier aggregation may also be referred to as multi—carrier operation.
`
`Wireless device 110 may be able to operate in low—band from 698 to 960 megahertz
`
`(MHz), mid-band from 1475 to 2170 MHz, and/or high-band from 2300 to 2690 and
`
`3400 to 3800 MHz. Low—band, mid—band, and high—band refer to three groups of bands
`
`(or band groups), with each band group including a number of frequency bands (or
`
`simply, “bands”). Each band may cover up to 200 MHz and may include one or more
`
`carriers. Each carrier may cover up to 20 MHz in LTE. LTE Release 11 supports 35
`
`bands, which are referred to as LTE/UMTS bands and are listed in 3GPP TS 36.101.
`
`

`

`[DOCKET NO. 121973]
`
`4
`
`Wireless device 110 may be configured with up to 5 carriers in one or two bands in LTE
`
`Release 11.
`
`[0023]
`
`In general, carrier aggregation (CA) may be categorized into two types — intra-
`
`band CA and inter—band CA.
`
`Intra—band CA refers to operation on multiple carriers
`
`within the same band.
`
`Inter—band CA refers to operation on multiple carriers in
`
`different bands.
`
`[0024]
`
`FIG. 2A shows an example of contiguous intra—band CA. In the example shown
`
`in FIG. 2A, wireless device 110 is configured with four contiguous carriers in the same
`
`band, which is a band in low—band. Wireless device 110 may receive transmissions on
`
`multiple contiguous carriers within the same band.
`
`[0025]
`
`FIG. 2B shows an example of non-contiguous intra-band CA.
`
`In the example
`
`shown in FIG. 2B, wireless device 110 is configured with four non—contiguous carriers
`
`in the same band, which is a band in low-band. The carriers may be separated by 5
`
`MHz, 10 MHz, or some other amount. Wireless device 110 may receive transmissions
`
`on multiple non—contiguous carriers within the same band.
`
`[0026]
`
`FIG. 2C shows an example of inter-band CA in the same band group.
`
`In the
`
`example shown in FIG. 2C, wireless device 110 is configured with four carriers in two
`
`bands in the same band group, which is low—band. Wireless device 110 may receive
`
`transmissions on multiple carriers in different bands in the same band group (e.g., low—
`
`band in FIG. 2C).
`
`[0027]
`
`FIG. 2D shows an example of inter-band CA in different band groups.
`
`In the
`
`example shown in FIG. 2D, wireless device 110 is configured with four carriers in two
`
`bands in different band groups, which include two carriers in one band in low—band and
`
`two additional carriers in another band in mid-band. Wireless device 110 may receive
`
`transmissions on multiple carriers in different bands in different band groups (e.g., low-
`
`band and mid—band in FIG. 2D).
`
`[0028]
`
`FIGS. 2A to 2D show four examples of carrier aggregation. Carrier aggregation
`
`may also be supported for other combinations of bands and band groups. For example,
`
`carrier aggregation may be supported for low-band and high-band, mid-band and high-
`
`band, high—band and high—band, etc.
`
`[0029]
`
`FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of an exemplary design of wireless device 110 in
`
`FIG. 1.
`
`In this cxcmplary design, wirclcss dcvicc 110 includcs a transceiver 320
`
`coupled to a primary antenna 310, receivers 322 coupled to a secondary antenna 312,
`
`

`

`[DOCKET NO. 121973]
`
`5
`
`and a data processor/controller 380. Transceiver 320 includes multiple (K) receivers
`
`330aa to 330ak and multiple (K) transmitters 360a to 360k to support multiple bands,
`
`carrier aggregation, multiple radio technologies, etc. Receivers 322 include multiple
`
`(M) receivers 330ba to 330bm to support multiple bands, carrier aggregation, multiple
`
`radio technologies, receive diversity, MIMO transmission, etc.
`
`[0030]
`
`In the exemplary design shown in FIG. 3, each receiver 330 includes input
`
`circuits 332, an LNA 340, and receive circuits 342. For data reception, antenna 310
`
`receives signals from base stations and/or other transmitter stations and provides a
`
`received RF signal, which is routed through switches/duplexers 324 and provided to a
`
`selected receiver. The description below assumes that receiver 330aa is the selected
`
`receiver. Within receiver 330aa, the received RF signal is passed through input circuits
`
`332aa, which provides an input RF signal to an LNA 340aa.
`
`Input circuits 332aa may
`
`include a matching circuit, a receive filter, etc. LNA 340aa amplifies the input RF
`
`signal and provides an output RF signal. Receive circuits 342aa amplify, filter, and
`
`downconvert the output RF signal from RF to baseband and provide an analog input
`
`signal to data processor 380. Receive circuits 332aa may include mixers, a filter, an
`
`amplifier, a matching circuit, an oscillator, a local oscillator (LO) generator, a phase
`
`locked loop (PLL), etc. Each remaining receiver 330 in transceiver 320 and each
`
`receiver 330 in receivers 322 may operate in similar manner as receiver 330aa in
`
`transceiver 320.
`
`[0031]
`
`In the exemplary design shown in FIG. 3, each transmitter 360 includes transmit
`
`circuits 362, a power amplifier
`
`(PA) 364, and output circuits 366.
`
`For data
`
`transmission, data processor 380 processes (e.g., encodes and modulates) data to be
`
`transmitted and provides an analog output signal
`
`to a selected transmitter.
`
`The
`
`description below assumes that transmitter 360a is the selected transmitter. Within
`
`transmitter 360a, transmit circuits 362a amplify, filter, and upconvert the analog output
`
`signal from baseband to RF and provide a modulated RF signal. Transmit circuits 362a
`
`may include mixers, an amplifier, a filter, a matching circuit, an oscillator, an L0
`
`generator, a PLL, etc. A PA 364a receives and amplifies the modulated RF signal and
`
`provides an amplified RF signal having the proper output power level. The amplified
`
`RF signal is passed through output circuits 366a, routed through switches/duplexers
`
`324, and transmitted via antenna 310. Output circuits 366a may include a matching
`
`circuit, a transmit filter, a directional coupler, etc.
`
`

`

`[DOCKET NO. 121973]
`
`6
`
`[0032]
`
`FIG. 3 shows an exemplary design of receivers 330 and transmitters 360. A
`
`receiver and a transmitter may also include other circuits not shown in FIG. 3, such as
`
`filters, matching circuits, etc. All or a portion of transceiver 320 and receivers 322 may
`
`be implemented on one or more analog integrated circuits (ICs), RF ICs (RFICs),
`
`mixed—signal ICs, etc. For example, LNAs 340, receive circuits 342, and transmit
`
`circuits 362 may be implemented on one module, which may be an RFIC, etc.
`
`Switches/duplexers 324, switches/filters 326, input circuits 332, output circuits 366, and
`
`PAs 364 may be implemented on another module, which may be a hybrid module, etc.
`
`The circuits in receivers 330 and transmitters 360 may also be implemented in other
`manners.
`
`[0033]
`
`Data processor/controller 380 may perform various functions for wireless device
`
`110. For example, data processor 380 may perform processing for data being received
`
`via receivers 330 and data being transmitted via transmitters 360. Controller 380 may
`
`control the operation of switches/duplexers 324, switches/filters 326, input circuits 332,
`
`LNAs 340, receive circuits 342, transmit circuits 362, PAs 364, output circuits 366, or a
`
`combination thereof. A memory 382 may store program codes and data for data
`
`processor/controller 380. Data processor/controller 380 may be implemented on one or
`
`more application specific integrated circuits (ASICS) and/or other ICs.
`
`[0034]
`
`Wireless device 110 may receive multiple transmissions from one or more
`
`cells/base stations on multiple carriers at different frequencies for carrier aggregation.
`
`For intra—band CA, the multiple transmissions are sent on multiple carriers in the same
`
`band. For inter—band CA, the multiple transmissions are sent on multiple carriers in
`
`different bands.
`
`[0035]
`
`FIG. 4A shows a block diagram of an exemplary design of a receiver 400 that
`
`includes a CA LNA 440 supportng no CA and intra—band CA. CA LNA 440 may be
`
`used for one or more LNAs 340 within wireless device 110 in FIG. 3.
`
`[0036]
`
`At receiver 400, an antenna 410 receives transmissions on multiple carriers in
`
`the same band and provides a received RF signal. The received RF signal is routed
`
`through switches/duplexers 424 and provided as a receiver input signal, RXin, to an
`
`input matching circuit 432. Matching circuit 432 performs power and/or impedance
`
`matching between CA LNA 440 and either switches/duplexers 424 or antenna 410 for
`
`one or more bands of interest. Matching circuit 432, which may be part of one of input
`
`circuits 332 in FIG. 3, provides an input RF signal, RFin, to CA LNA 440.
`
`

`

`[DOCKET NO. 121973]
`
`7
`
`[0037]
`
`CA LNA 440 receives the input RF signal from matching circuit 432, amplifies
`
`the input RF signal, and provides up to M output RF signals, RFoutl to RFoutM, via up
`
`to M LNA outputs, where M > 1. M load circuits 490a to 490m are coupled to the M
`
`LNA outputs. Each load circuit 490 may include one or more inductors, capacitors,
`
`transistors, mixers, etc. Each load circuit 490 may be part of one of receive circuits 342
`
`in FIG. 3. Each output RF signal may be provided to one or more mixers within one
`
`load circuit 490 and may be downconverted by the associated mixer(s) such that
`
`transmissions on one or more carriers of interest are downconverted from RF to
`
`baseband.
`
`[0038]
`
`A CA LNA, such as CA LNA 440 in FIG. 4A, may operate in a non—CA mode
`
`or a CA mode at any given moment.
`
`In the non-CA mode, the CA LNA operates in a 1-
`
`input
`
`l—output (1X1) configuration, receives one input RF signal comprising one or
`
`more transmissions on one set of carriers, and provides one output RF signal to one load
`
`circuit.
`
`In the CA mode, the CA LNA operates in a 1x M configuration, receives one
`
`input RF signal comprising multiple transmissions on M sets of carriers, and provides M
`
`output RF signals to M load circuits, one output RF signal for each set of carriers, where
`
`M > 1. Each set of carriers may include one or more carriers in one band.
`
`[0039]
`
`FIG. 4B shows a schematic diagram of an exemplary design of a CA LNA 440x
`
`supporting no CA and intra—band CA on two sets of carriers in the same band. CA LNA
`
`440x is one exemplary design of CA LNA 440 in FIG. 4A.
`
`In the exemplary design
`
`shown in FIG. 4B, CA LNA 440x receives an input RF signal from input matching
`
`circuit 432 and provides up to two output RF signals, RFoutl and RFout2, for up to two
`
`sets of carriers. The first output RF signal is provided to a load circuit 490x, and the
`
`second output RF signal is provided to a load circuit 490y.
`
`[0040]
`
`In the exemplary design shown in FIG. 4B,
`
`load circuit 490x includes two
`
`mixers 492a and 492b coupled to two baseband filters 494a and 494b, respectively.
`
`Mixers 492a and 492b implement a quadrature downconverter for a first set of carriers.
`
`Mixer 492a receives the first output RF signal from CA LNA 440x and an inphase LO
`
`signal, ILOl, at a first mixing frequency for the first set of carriers. Mixer 492a
`
`downconverts the first output RF signal with the ILOl signal and provides an inphase
`
`(I) downconverted signal. Mixer 492b receives the first output RF signal from CA LNA
`
`440x and a quadrature LO signal, QLOl, at the first mixing frequency for the first set of
`
`carriers. Mixer 492b downconverts the first output RF signal with the QLOl signal and
`
`

`

`[DOCKET NO. 121973]
`
`8
`
`provides a quadrature (Q) downconverted signal. Filters 494a and 494b receive and
`
`filter the I and Q downconverted signals from mixers 492a and 492b, respectively, and
`
`provide I and Q baseband signals, Voutl, for the first set of carriers.
`
`[0041]
`
`Mixers 492c and 492d and filters 494C and 494d within load circuit 490y
`
`similarly process the second output RF signal from CA LNA 440x and provide I and Q
`
`baseband signals for a second set of carriers. Mixers 492C and 492d receive the second
`
`RF signal and I and Q LO signals, respectively, at a second mixing frequency for the
`
`second set of carriers. Mixers 492c and 492d downconvert the second output RF signal
`
`with the I and Q LO signals and provide the I and Q downconverted signals,
`
`respectively. Filters 494C and 494d receive and filter the I and Q downconverted
`
`signals from mixers 492C and 492d, respectively, and provide I and Q baseband signals,
`
`Vout2, for the second set of carriers.
`
`[0042]
`
`FIG. 4B shows an exemplary design of load circuits 490x and 490y. A load
`
`circuit may also comprise different and/or additional circuits. For example, a