(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2013/0217398 A1
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Aug. 22, 2013
`Winiecki et al.
`
`US 2013 0217398A1
`
`TRANSCEIVER ARRANGEMENT
`
`Publication Classification
`
`Applicant: SEQUANS COMMUNICATIONS,
`LTD., (US)
`Inventors: Thomas Winiecki, Reading (GB);
`Jackson Harvey, Savage, MN (US)
`Assignee: SEQUANS COMMUNICATIONS,
`LTD., Reading (GB)
`Appl. No.: 13/687,735
`Filed:
`Nov. 28, 2012
`Related U.S. Application Data
`Provisional application No. 61/565,170, filed on Nov.
`30, 2011.
`
`(51) Int. Cl.
`H047 72/04
`(52) U.S. Cl.
`CPC ..................................... H04W 72/04 (2013.01)
`USPC .......................................................... 45S/450
`
`(2006.01)
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`An arrangement for a transmitter and/or receiver which is
`adapted to allow carrier aggregation in a wireless communi
`cation system, comprising a plurality of radio frequency (RF)
`blocks, each of which is inherently adapted to operate sub
`stantially across (in the region of) one of the particular groups
`of frequency ranges. The number of groups may be 5 or less.
`
`(54)
`(71)
`
`(72)
`
`(73)
`
`(21)
`(22)
`
`(60)
`
`
`
`RFC
`boundary
`
`IPR2019-00129
`Qualcomm 2020, p. 1
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Aug. 22, 2013 Sheet 1 of 3
`
`US 2013/0217398 A1
`
`Ipueq XL
`
`Zpueq XI
`
`
`
`Zpueq XL
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`IPR2019-00129
`Qualcomm 2020, p. 2
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Aug. 22, 2013 Sheet 2 of 3
`
`US 2013/0217398 A1
`
`Figure 2 (a)
`
`11a
`
`
`
`Band CLNA
`D
`
`
`
`Band A LNA
`
`
`
`Band A LNA (
`D
`
`11e
`
`
`
`11f-
`
`Band BLNA
`
`Band ELNA
`
`
`
`Figure 2 (b
`
`15
`
`16b
`
`IPR2019-00129
`Qualcomm 2020, p. 3
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Aug. 22, 2013 Sheet 3 of 3
`
`US 2013/0217398 A1
`
`
`
`
`
`s1.N.
`
`S
`
`IPR2019-00129
`Qualcomm 2020, p. 4
`
`

`

`US 2013/0217398 A1
`
`Aug. 22, 2013
`
`TRANSCEIVER ARRANGEMENT
`
`RELATED APPLICATION
`0001. This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provi
`sional Application No. 61/565,170, filed on Nov. 30, 2011.
`The entire teachings of the above application are incorporated
`herein by reference.
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`0002 This disclosure relates to the general field of com
`munication. Embodiments concern transmitter and/or
`receiver arrangements for communication systems which
`provide carrier aggregation. It has particular, but not exclu
`sive application, to wireless multiple input/multiple (MIMO)
`communication systems, where transceivers (e.g. adapted for
`user equipment or base stations of cellular telecommunica
`tion networks) are provided with two or more antennas in
`order to increase transmit diversity.
`
`BACKGROUND
`0003 Carrier aggregation provides an increase in data
`throughput capability by allowing different parts of the fre
`quency spectrum to be combined logically to form a single
`channel (e.g. over-the-air interface between a base station and
`a user equipment). The technique of carrier aggregation thus
`allows an expansion of the effective bandwidth which can be
`utilized in wireless communication by concurrent utilization
`of radio resources across multiple carriers. Multiple compo
`nent carriers are aggregated to form a larger overall transmis
`sion bandwidth. Carrier aggregation spreads the available
`signal power over a wider bandwidth, and greatly improves
`throughput for high-order modulation schemes.
`0004. The Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP)
`has recently finalized the definition of “release 10 standard
`for radio core networks and service architectures. This stan
`dard introduces a number of features, including provision for
`data throughput in excess of 1 Gb per second. This is one of
`the International Mobile Telecommunication (IMT) advance
`requirements for a fourth generation (4G) communication
`standard. It proposes the use of carrier aggregation.
`0005. In one type of carrier aggregation scheme, contigu
`ous carrier aggregation, those portions of the spectrum which
`are combined are adjacent. Alternatively, in non-contiguous
`carrier aggregation schemes, the portions of the spectrum
`which are combined are non-adjacent. Further, non-contigu
`ous carrier aggregation can either be performed using chan
`nels within the same E-UTRA (Evolved UMTS Terrestrial
`Radio Access) frequency band which is referred to as “intra
`band carrier aggregation’, or using channels from different
`E-UTRA bands which is referred to as “inter-band carrier
`aggregation'.
`0006. In modern cellular networks, base stations, often
`referred to as node Bs or evolved node Bs (eNBs), commu
`nicate with user equipment Such as mobile phones, laptops
`and the like. Node Bs are conventionally controlled by net
`work controllers, although in certain systems, node BS (as
`well as user equipment) may be provided with a degree of
`autonomy and communicate with like node Bs or user equip
`ments (peer-to-peer communications). Carrier aggregation
`may be performed in downlink, that is, from an eNB to user
`equipment (UE). Carrier aggregation can also be carried out
`in uplink; i.e. from a UE to an eNB. Typically, using carrier
`aggregation, up to 5 individual channels (called component
`
`carriers) can be combined leading to a combined 100 MHz
`spectrum width available for communication.
`0007. The hardware of transceivers used in base stations
`and user equipment is usually designed specifically for imple
`menting a specific carrier aggregation scheme. The "front
`end architecture of devices (e.g. transmitter and/or receiver
`arrangements of UEs) designed and adapted for 3GPP release
`9 standards cannot perform any of the carrier aggregations
`schemes proposed in 3GPP release 10. Thus devices, such as
`user equipment adapted for the earlier standard, would not be
`able to significantly improve data throughput as they would
`be unable to implement the carrier aggregation schemes of
`release 10. Similarly devices, which are able to support the
`latest release 10 carrier aggregation schemes, require modi
`fication to Support current schemes.
`0008 Depending on the country in which e.g. a UE is to be
`used, only certain bands of the spectrum are available (e.g.
`licensed) for use by cellular communication network opera
`tors. Different countries tend to use different bands (and
`combinations thereof) for cellular communication. This pre
`sents a problem when designing universal user equipment
`adapted to be used anywhere, and which can Support a wide
`variety of carrier aggregation schemes. Because of the high
`number of combinations of bands available which supporting
`carrier aggregation schemes, it becomes an extremely diffi
`cult task to design circuitry (Such as frontend architecture) for
`transceivers (e.g. RF circuit blocks and amplifiers) of user
`equipments which are sold globally and which can Support
`carrier aggregation of two or more bands.
`0009 Carrier aggregation can, in theory, be applied to any
`combination of channels and furthermore, in all available
`E-UTRA frequency bands. To implement a particular carrier
`aggregation scheme would require a bespoke transceiver
`design, adapted specifically for those particular E-UTRA fre
`quency bands in the particular aggregation Scheme. However,
`designing transceiver hardware which is able to Support sev
`eral different carrier aggregation schemes is a difficult task.
`One possibility would be to use multiple separate transceivers
`for each band, each transmitting and receiving a single com
`ponent carrier. Data streams from each carrier would then be
`combined and processed. However it becomes expensive and
`unwieldy to provide RF blocks (e.g. RF amplifiers) for each
`possible band. Furthermore, this solution would require the
`front end architecture of transceivers to be duplicated to sup
`port intra-band carrier aggregation where the signal power
`arriving at the antennas cannot be split across the two trans
`ceivers. While such architecture is advantageous in terms of
`its flexibility and component reuse, it is clearly expensive in
`terms of component count and total footprint.
`
`SUMMARY
`0010 Embodiments relate to transmitter and/or receiver
`arrangements which are able to Support a large number of
`different carrier aggregation schemes. Examples have an effi
`cient architecture in terms of compactness. An aim of some
`examples is to provide a transceiver arrangement which is
`highly flexible in terms of being able to support carrier aggre
`gation schemes which use different combinations of bands,
`which at the same time minimizes the silicon area of trans
`ceiver chips, engineering bill of materials (EBOM) and
`printed circuit board (PCB) footprint.
`0011. In one aspect, there is provided an arrangement for a
`transmitter and/or receiver which is adapted to allow carrier
`aggregation in a wireless communication System, comprising
`
`IPR2019-00129
`Qualcomm 2020, p. 5
`
`

`

`US 2013/0217398 A1
`
`Aug. 22, 2013
`
`a plurality of radio frequency (RF) blocks, each of which is
`inherently adapted to operate Substantially across one of the
`following particular groups of frequency ranges, in MHZ, of
`A) 698-960; B) 1428-1660; C) 1710-2200; D) 2300-2690; E)
`3400-3800.
`0012. The arrangement may be adapted, so that each of the
`RF blocks operates substantially across a different one of the
`groups of frequency ranges.
`0013 The arrangement may be further adapted for down
`link, and the frequency ranges for groups A, B and Care in the
`region, in MHz, of A) 728-960; B) 1476-1559; and, C) 1805
`2200. The arrangement may be further adapted for uplink,
`and wherein the frequency ranges for groups A, B and C are
`in the region, in MHz, of A) 698-915; B) 1428-1660; and C)
`1710-2020.
`0014. The frequency ranges, may be such so as to at least
`span the following E-UTRA frequency bands, for each cor
`responding group:—A) 5, 6, 8, 12-14, 17-20; B) 11, 21, 24, C)
`1-4, 9, 10, 23, 25, 33-37,39: D)7, 38, 40, 41; and, E) 42, 43.
`0015 The radio frequency blocks may comprise RF
`amplifiers. The RF amplifiers may be tuneable across the
`range of the group. The number of said groups the RF blocks
`are adapted for may be three. The RF blocks may be adapted
`for groups A, C and D. The arrangement may be adapted to
`operate in a multiple antennas and or a multiple input/mul
`tiple output (MIMO) system. The arrangement may be
`adapted to be able to provide inter-band carrier aggregation
`for any of the following carrier aggregation schemes, wherein
`the following letters represent the said groups into which the
`aggregated bands fall: A-A, A-C, A-D and C-D.
`0016. The arrangement may, for each channel/antenna, be
`provided with two RF amplifiers adapted for group A, and one
`RF amplifier adapted for groups C and one RF amplifier
`adapted for group D. The arrangement may be adapted to
`operate over two channels of a MIMO system, and having an
`input and/or output to the respective antenna of each channel.
`0017. The arrangement may be a receiver, wherein for
`each channel there are first multiplexing means to multiplex
`the output from one of the RF amplifiers adapted for group A,
`with the output from the RF amplifier adapted for group C,
`and second multiplexing means to multiplex the output from
`the other group A adapted amplifier with the output from the
`group C adapted amplifier and the output from the group D
`adapted amplifier.
`0018. The multiplexing may be performed after down
`conversion of the outputs from the RF amplifiers. The
`arrangement may include, for each channel, one RF amplifier
`adapted for group E and/or one RF amplifier adapted for
`group B. The outputs from the amplifier(s) adapted for groups
`E and/or B may have inputs to said second multiplexing
`CaS.
`0019. The arrangement may provide intra-band carrier
`aggregation with respect to any band provided by the RF
`amplifiers. There may be means to feed the output of the band
`C to both multiplexing means simultaneously so as to Support
`intra-band carrier aggregation for bands in frequency group
`C. The outputs of said multiplexers fed into IF support chains
`may be able to support IF paths of up to 100 MHz.
`0020. In another aspect is provided a user equipment or
`base station including Such an arrangement.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`0021. In the drawings:
`0022 FIG. 1 shows a schematic layout of a transceiver
`arrangement adapted to support carrier aggregation in a
`MIMO system:
`0023 FIGS. 2a and 2b show portions of compact receiver
`arrangements adapted to support a number of carrier aggre
`gation schemes in a device having two antennas;
`0024 FIG. 3 shows an adaptation of front end circuitry.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
`0025 Referring to FIG. 1, a transceiver architecture 1,
`adapted to provide for two component carrier aggregation,
`uses two standard radio frequency integrated circuits (RFICs)
`2a and 2b, both connected to a base band integrated circuit
`(BBIC) 6. RFIC2a is used for communication in either band
`1, 2, or 3 as selected by the switches 7 via a first antenna, Ant
`1. A secondary antenna, Ant 3, is required for MIMO recep
`tion. A secondary RFIC (2b) can simultaneously receive and
`transmit another channel This configuration allows inter
`band carrier aggregation (RFICs operating in different bands)
`or intra-band carrier aggregation (both RFICs operating in the
`same band but different carriers). Circuitry, such as amplifiers
`4 and filters 5, is provided for each band.
`0026 Various permutations of carrier aggregation can be
`Supported with respect to bands 1, 2 and 3 with Such a design.
`However, as mentioned, for each band, separate RF amplifiers
`and filters need to be provided. There are more than thirty
`different designated E-UTRA bands which are available for
`carrier aggregation. As mentioned only certain combinations
`of these bands are available for use by cellular network opera
`tors in particular countries. It becomes impractical to dupli
`cate such circuitry to Support a large number of possible
`aggregation schemes. So while Such architecture has advan
`tages in terms of its flexibility, it is expensive in terms of
`component count, chip area and thus footprint of the printed
`circuit board. It would therefore be costly and unfeasible to
`Support carrier aggregation of all possible bands within the
`same RF circuit block of a transceiver using Such conven
`tional designs.
`0027 Modern RF circuit blocks (e.g. RF amplifiers) can
`be provided by low cost CMOS transceiver designs. Further
`more, they can be made flexible enough to work across a
`range of designated bands rather than just a single band. Such
`RF amplifiers e.g. can be inherently adaptable or tunable to
`work across a range of frequencies to Support a plurality of
`bands.
`0028. It is to be noted that all carrier aggregation schemes
`that have been included in the 3GPP release 10 (TS36.101)
`and also all carrier aggregation scenarios proposed by 3GPP
`for inclusion in release 11 combine two component carriers,
`and carrier aggregation has only been proposed in the down
`link direction. This allows certain efficiencies to be made to
`systems and designs supporting these schemes such as requir
`ing only one transmitter (including power amplifier) for each
`supported E-UTRA band.
`0029. The inventors have determined that all the current
`and proposed E-UTRA bands for use in carrier aggregation
`schemes in release 11 can be grouped into a small number of
`groups having particular frequency ranges. In other words, by
`grouping all the available E-UTRA bands into a limited num
`ber of selected groups (according to their frequency), the
`wide range of carrier aggregation schemes/scenarios is
`reduced to a smaller subset of possibilities.
`0030. Furthermore, the particular groups have been deter
`mined and selected such that low cost RF circuit blocks, such
`
`IPR2019-00129
`Qualcomm 2020, p. 6
`
`

`

`US 2013/0217398 A1
`
`Aug. 22, 2013
`
`as RF amplifiers, can be provided which are flexible enough
`to work across the range of the frequency groups, and provide
`amplification for a plurality of bands rather than just a single
`band. As a result, transceiver arrangements and designs are
`provided which utilize only a limited number of different RF
`amplifiers. Furthermore, by cleverly grouping bands and
`using a limited number of different RF amplifiers, transceiv
`ers can be provided having just a few RF amplifiers, but which
`nonetheless Support a wide range of carrier aggregation
`schemes.
`0031. The table below shows a frequency grouping show
`ing groups A, B, C, D and E. The various E-UTRAbands (e.g.
`those proposed for use in aggregation schemes) have been
`grouped into these five groups A, B, C, D and E shown in the
`2" column. The limited number of groups (5) is significantly
`smaller than the number of E-UTRA bands. The 3' and 4'
`columns of the figure showed preferred refinements of the
`frequency ranges of the groups for downlink and uplink use
`respectively.
`
`Frequency
`group
`
`E-UTRA bands
`
`A.
`B
`C
`
`D
`E
`
`5, 6, 8, 12-14, 17-20, 26
`11, 21, 24
`1-4, 9, 10, 23, 25, 33-37,
`39
`7, 38, 40,41
`42, 43
`
`Downlink
`frequency range
`(MHz)
`
`728-960
`1476-1559
`1805-2200
`
`Uplink
`frequency
`range
`(MHz)
`
`698-915
`1428-1660
`1710-2020
`
`23OO-2690
`3400-3800
`
`23OO-2690
`3400-3800
`
`0032. In the various proposed two-component inter-band
`aggregation schemes, one band from one group is aggregated
`with one band from another group. By considering carrier
`aggregation in terms of groups rather than bands, it reduces
`the possible permutations of the aggregation schemes. AS RF
`blocks such as RF amplifiers can be adaptable across the
`frequencies of the selected groups, it reduces the number of
`different RF amplifiers which need to be provided; e.g. to just
`5 different ones, it also allows for a reduction in their overall
`number by appropriate arrangement, as will be described in
`further detail hereinbelow.
`0033. As the table indicates E-UTRA bands 5, 6, 8, 12-14,
`17 to 20 and 26 are grouped in the frequency group A. Simi
`larly the table shows frequency groups designated B, C, D and
`E, which support the E-UTRA bands listed in the second
`column. The third and fourth columns of the table show
`preferred downlink frequency ranges and uplink frequency
`ranges respectively (in Megahertz). Depending on whether
`the transmitter and/or receiver arrangements are designed for
`uplink or downlink, the frequency ranges in the groups vary
`slightly as shown. It should be noted that the frequency ranges
`of the above groups A, B, C, D and E in the table are just given
`as an example, and it would be clear to the skilled person that
`examples may be implemented somewhat differing fre
`quency ranges for each group. In other words, the ranges for
`each group in the table are not hard fast, but just an indication
`of the general region of range for each group; they may be
`varied somewhat and the skilled person would readily envis
`age slightly different ranges.
`0034. The aforesaid grouping shown in the table is conve
`nient as it further allows RF circuit blocks (e.g. RF amplifiers
`for use in a transceiver) to be made flexible enough to operate
`
`in any of the bands within one of the above listed (frequency)
`groups. So, an RF amplifier, Such as low noise amplifier
`(LNA), can be provided which is tunable or inherently adapt
`able to operate at any frequency of the bands within the group;
`i.e. it can Support any of the bands within the same frequency
`group. Therefore as mentioned, only a few different RF
`amplifier designs need be provided to Support all bands.
`Moreover, by suitable arrangement of RF amplifiers in a
`transmitter or receiver, and using appropriate multiplexing,
`only a relatively small number need be provided to support a
`wide range of different carrier aggregation schemes.
`0035. It is further important to note that by the particular
`selection of grouping frequencies in the table, all the carrier
`aggregation scheme scenarios proposed by 3GPP (and
`requested by operators) fall into the particular limited number
`of categories listed below:
`i) Intra-band contiguous carrier aggregation; or
`ii) Inter-band carrier aggregation of the following schemes
`Carrier Aggregation A-A, Carrier Aggregation A-C. Carrier
`Aggregation A-D, or Carrier Aggregation C-D, where A, C
`and D relates to the frequency groups in the table.
`0036. Thus the above notation Carrier Aggregation G1-G2
`denotes that bands from frequency group G1 and G2 are
`aggregated. 3GPP uses the notation Carrier Aggregation X-Y
`for specific band numbers X and Y, e.g. Carrier Aggregation
`5-12 for aggregation of bands 5 and 12.
`0037 Thus the notation has thus been extended here to
`band groups.
`0038. This is highly convenient and fortuitous as it enables
`in examples, a further reduction in the number of different RF
`blocks (RF amplifiers) needed for transmitter or receiver
`designs to Support the above said carrier aggregation
`schemes. Furthermore, in certain examples by appropriate
`arrangement, a very efficient, low cost, transceiver arrange
`ment can be provided which utilises a significantly reduced
`overall (minimum) number of RF blocks (e.g. RF amplifiers).
`This is particularly significant when compared with an archi
`tecture which proposes using separate RF amplifiers for each
`band (and for each channel of a MIMO system).
`0039 Referring to FIG.2, an example benefits and utilizes
`the grouping of E-UTRA bands are according to the afore
`mentioned groups. FIG. 2 shows a portion of a receiver
`arrangement (10) adapted to Support carrier aggregation in a
`MIMO system which utilizes two antennas (9a, 9b), one for
`each channel. This arrangement also Supports the schemes
`listed in (i) and (ii) above in relation to the proposed 3GPP
`carrier aggregation schemes; i.e. it Supports intra-band carrier
`aggregation as well as inter-band aggregation of bands within
`groups A, C and D as designated.
`0040. The diagram shows schematically a portion of a
`receiver arrangement 10; this portion is often referred to as
`"front end. Such a receiver arrangement may be incorpo
`rated into user equipment Such as a mobile device. The
`receiver arrangement is shown divided into two circuit blocks
`16a and 16b as shown. Although shown separately for clarity,
`in one example, they are integrated on the same IC chip. The
`upper circuit block 16a shows receiver circuitry associated
`with a primary antenna9a in respect of a primary channel, and
`the lower circuit block 16b shows receiver circuitry associ
`ated with a second antenna 9b in respect of a second (diver
`sity) channel Thus the receiver is adapted for downlink
`MIMO operation. It is to be noted that circuit blocks 16a and
`16b are substantially identical in design. Therefore, any ref
`erence to one of the circuit blocks is appropriate to the other.
`
`IPR2019-00129
`Qualcomm 2020, p. 7
`
`

`

`US 2013/0217398 A1
`
`Aug. 22, 2013
`
`0041. Each circuitry block is provided with four input
`amplifiers 11, seen in the left hand side of the figure. In the
`particular examples, these are Low Noise Amplifiers (LNAs).
`There are two LNAS provided for band A, (designated as
`Band A LNAs, 11a and 11b). There is further provided one
`LNA for band C (11c) and one LNA for band D (11d). In the
`embodiment shown, band A LNAs, 11a and 11b are adapted
`to provide amplification with respect to any bands within
`frequency group A. In an example this is achieved by the band
`A LNA being tunable substantially across the frequency
`range of group A. Similarly the band C and the band DLNA's
`are adapted to be tunable with respect to the frequencies (and
`corresponding bands) in groups C and D respectively. The
`inputs from each of the LNA’s are connected to an antenna
`9a. Two antennas are provided; one for the primary channel
`and the other for the secondary channel, each feeding into the
`respective four LNAs.
`0042. The outputs of the four LNAs are fed into two mul
`tiplexers 12 and 13 as shown. Multiplexer 12 is a dual 2-to-1
`RF multiplexer and multiplexer 13 is a dual 3-to-1 RF multi
`plexer. Inputs to the multiplexers are arranged such that the
`output from Band A LNA 11a can be multiplexed with the
`output from Band CLNA 11c at multiplexer 12. Furthermore
`the outputs from Band A, Band C and Band DLNAS 11b, 11c
`and 11d can be multiplexed at multiplexer 13.
`0043. After the outputs from the LNAs are multiplexed
`together, they are then fed into two IF (intermediate fre
`quency) chains 14 shown on the right of the figure to produce
`phase and quadrature (I and Q) signals 15. The IF chains
`include phase locked loops (PLLs) PLL1 and PLL2. Pro
`grammable gain amplifier (PGA) amplifiers 17 are also pro
`vided.
`0044 Thus, for each channel there is therefore provided,
`two amplifiers (with two respective antenna inputs) adapted
`for within group A, and one amplifier each (each with an
`antenna input) adapted for bands within groups C and D
`respectively.
`0.045.
`In order, for example, to aggregate bands in group C
`and D. Band CLNA 11c is enabled in the 2-to-1 multiplexer
`12, to band group in C LNA whilst the 3-to-1 multiplexer 13
`is set to enable the output from Band DLNA 11d.
`0046. The above described example supports all the inter
`band carrier aggregation scenarios listed in (ii) above. Fur
`thermore this is achieved with just four LNAs.
`0047. The receiver architecture in this example, also
`allows receiving a single carrier in band group A on four
`separate antennas (4-layer MIMO in downlink) when con
`necting the four band A LNAS to four separate antennas. In
`Such an example there may be provided an additional channel
`for each of the two circuit blocks 16a and 16b.
`0048. It is further to be noted that intra-band non-contigu
`ous carrier aggregation can easily be Supported for bands in
`frequency group C when the output of the band CLNA is fed
`to both multiplexers 12 and 13 simultaneously. In such a case,
`the LNA can be specified to work correctly to supply two
`mixers in parallel.
`0049. The FIG.2a omits circuitry for bands with groups B
`and E for clarity purposes. If E-UTRA bands from groups B
`and group E are to be additionally used, RF amplifiers (such
`as LNAS) adapted for the respective groups can be provided
`along with the LNAs for bands A, C and D. FIG.2b (along
`with FIG. 2a) shows how additional circuitry may be pro
`vided, in a further example, to additionally utilize bands from
`groups B and E. FIG.2b shows additional circuitry which can
`
`be added to the circuitry of FIG.2a without substantial rede
`sign or reconfiguration. It shows LNAS for groups B and E
`(11e and 11 frespectively). In an example, the outputs of these
`can simply be multiplexed into the bottom RF chain by con
`nection to multiplexer 13. This is preferably realized effi
`ciently by replacing the 3-to-1 multiplexer with a 5-to-1 mul
`tiplexer (with respect for both primary and secondary
`channels).
`0050 Support for the all the proposed aggregation
`schemes proposed by 3GPP including the use of a bands in
`groups A and E are thus realized by having one pair of RF
`amplifiers and inputs therefor, for each frequency group B, C,
`D and E, and two pairs of RF amplifiers and inputs for fre
`quency group A. By selecting and designating frequency
`groups as shown, and providing an arrangement whereby the
`RF amplifiers are adapted to Support any band within a par
`ticular frequency group, all bands can be Supported for carrier
`aggregation. Furthermore the design provides for all inter
`band carrier aggregation schemes defined in release 10 and
`proposed for release 11 of 3GPP. Furthermore, examples such
`as the one described above, reduce multiplexing options and
`thus reduce the technically challenging task of multiplexing
`RF signals. To down-convert carriers, two independent PLLs
`are provided, labelled PLL1 and PLL2 in FIG. 2. A third PLL
`may be used for the transmitter (not shown).
`0051. The RF chains (e.g. components such as PLLs, fil
`ters and amplifiers) are adapted in examples to Support 40
`MHZ channels. In other words intra-band contiguous carrier
`aggregation is supported by widening the RF paths from 20
`MHz (maximum single carrier width) to 40 MHz (maximum
`aggregated width). This may be realized by e.g. having each
`of the phase and quadrature (I and Q) portions of the chain,
`support 20 MHz; the I and Q paths are thus preferably wide
`enough to Support contiguous carrier aggregation for up to
`two 20 MHZ carriers. So, in some examples where a direct
`conversion quadrature scheme is utilized, both I and Q paths
`are widened from 10 MHZ to 20 MHZ.
`0052. It is to be noted that multiplexing between different
`inputs may also be done after the down conversion stage. In
`Such examples, down-converters can be made more narrow
`band, but the number of down sampling mixers increases.
`0053. To further enable selection of particular E-UTRA
`bands within these groups, further switches in the front end
`architecture may be provided so that different bands in the
`same group can all be routed to the same MIMO pair of
`antennas.
`0054 Especially in handheld user equipment, the number
`of antennas is advantageously kept to a minimum. Inter-band
`carrier aggregation can be Supported with a single pair of
`antennas by using signal diplexers to route receive signal
`power at different frequencies to separate RF inputs on the
`transceiver chip. Even for inter-band carrier aggregation
`cases where the carrier frequencies are relatively close, dedi
`cated multiplexing filters may be used.
`0055 FIG. 3 illustrates an example which supports the
`carrier aggregation scheme CA 5-17. A single pair of anten
`nas can be made to be sufficient by having two separate
`MIMO pairs of RF inputs 24 and 25 for frequency group A for
`example. Both of bands 5 and 17 are in frequency group A.
`With an appropriate set of duplexers, two antennas 21 and 22
`tuned to the frequency region A, via Switching means 27, are
`sufficient to receive both bands in parallel. Instead of a single
`filter 26 (as is used for uplink for band 5) connected to an
`
`IPR2019-00129
`Qualcomm 2020, p. 8
`
`

`

`US 2013/0217398 A1
`
`Aug. 22, 2013
`
`antenna, two filters and duplexers for bands 5 and 17 may be
`used or a quadplexer Supporting downlink and uplink fre
`quencies of both bands.
`0056. The above describes examples of receiver arrange
`ments adapted for Supporting carrier aggregations. However,
`similar arrangements can be used in providing transmitter
`and/or transceiver arrangements and Such examples would
`readily be envisaged by the skilled person.
`0057 The examples described allow transmitter and/or
`receiver arrangements to be provided which have a high
`degree of flexibility, and furthermore which support current
`and proposed carrier aggregation schemes. Furthermore,
`examples can allow for future carrier aggregation schemes to
`be supported.
`0058 Examples can further be readily and simply adapted
`by adding more RF inputs/RF amplifiers, and by providing
`appropriate multiplexing options added as necessary. In cer
`tain examples, RF circuitry and baseband/analogue section
`are provided on different IC chips. This has the advantage that
`only the RF circuitry (chip) needs to be upgraded should the
`transmitter or receiver be adapted for an additional (future)
`carrier aggregation schemes.
`0059. The disclosure allows an efficient design of trans
`mitter and/or receiver arrangement which can Support various
`carrier aggregation schemes. It provides a high degree of
`flexibility by providing an arrangement which is adapted to
`cater for several carrier aggregation schemes where only
`selected bands may be available for carrier aggregation, with
`out a considerable increase in the circuitry complexity or
`silicon area of RF transceivers. Furthermore embodiments of
`transceivers according to the invention do not have unduly
`increased complexity, thus the cost and footprint of chip and
`PCB is reduced. At the same time, embodiments maintain
`flexibility in the transceiver arrangements to allow for future
`evolution of aggregation schemes according to market
`requirement.
`0060. The skilled person will readily understand that the
`invention covers a variety of different embodiments. Embodi
`ments can be adapted easily to provide for specific carrier
`aggregation schemes. Various Switching and multiplexing
`options would readily be envisaged by the skilled person to
`implement various embodiments. Embodiments are appli
`cable to MIMO schemes having more than two antennas, e.g.
`schemes having a primary antenna and two or more transmit
`diversity antennas.
`What is claimed is:
`1. An ar