Patent Description:
Mixed filter technologies-based radio front-end for <NUM> and <NUM> Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) base station radios is considered very promising.

<FIG> and <FIG> illustrate a typical prior art duplexer <NUM> based on use of two different filter technologies, namely, a Ceramic Wave Guide (CWG) TX filter <NUM> for a transmit (TX) path and monoblock RX filter <NUM> for a receive (RX) path. A transmission line <NUM> extends from a TX port of the duplexer <NUM> to a port <NUM> located on the TX filter <NUM>. A transmission line <NUM> extends from a RX port of the duplexer <NUM> to a port <NUM> located on the RX filter <NUM>.

As shown, in order to combine the two filters <NUM>, <NUM>, a carrier printed circuit board (PCB) <NUM> is needed. The transmissions <NUM>, <NUM> are designed within the carrier PCB <NUM>. Further, two transmission lines <NUM>, <NUM>, which are connected to ports <NUM>, <NUM> respectively, are necessary for matching the ports <NUM>, <NUM> of the two filters <NUM>, <NUM> to form a joint port, namely the antenna (Ant) port <NUM> with a required impedance. The two transmission lines <NUM>, <NUM> are usually designed within the carrier PCB <NUM> in quite long lengths. This results in the transmission lines <NUM>, <NUM> being quite lossy due to the low Q feature of the PCB-based transmission line.

<FIG> illustrates a schematic representation of a prior art dual-band filter <NUM> which is based on two different filter technologies. In <FIG>, dual-band filter <NUM> includes two single-band filters <NUM>, <NUM>, and four transmission lines <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. Port <NUM> is a first input/output port of the dual- band filter <NUM>, and is connected with a first port <NUM> of the filter <NUM> through the transmission line <NUM>, also connected with a first port <NUM> of the filter <NUM> through the transmission line <NUM>. Port <NUM> is a second input/output port of the dual-band filter <NUM>, and is connected with a second port <NUM> of the filter <NUM> through the transmission line <NUM>, also connected with a second port <NUM> of the filter <NUM> through the transmission line <NUM>.

The filters <NUM>, <NUM> also could be designed in the same filter technology.

Existing multiplexer design based on different filter technologies uses a very similar method to the duplexer design shown in <FIG> and <FIG> to combine multiple single-band filters through transmission lines to form the Ant port.

In addition, multiband radio development is being strongly requested by many operators in current wireless industry, so high performance, small size and low-cost multiband filter design is highly demanded. Most of existing multiband filters are designed by using multiple single-band filters and adding transmission lines to each port of the filters to form a common input port and a common output port. These transmission lines are for matching each port of the filters so that the matched ports can be combined to form the common input port and the common output port.

However, the existing duplexer and multiplexer design methods have disadvantages, as they introduce extra loss to the TX path on top of the already existed Tx filter loss, as well as have a large size. The extra loss is one generated by the transmission line <NUM> that is for matching the Tx filter port to the antenna port, as described for the duplexer above in <FIG>. As the Tx path loss of the radio front-end is required to be a very low-level in many radio design specifications, it is difficult to meet the Tx path loss requirement if the existing design method for the duplexer or multiplexer design is used. The large size is due to the use of carrier PCB and two long transmission lines.

<CIT> discloses a system that includes a plurality of band pass filters to pass signals in separated frequency bands to or from an antenna. A matching network provides characteristic impedances.

<CIT> seems to disclose a surface acoustic wave filter module, comprising a surface acoustic wave filter which is used for carrying out frequency band filtering. Also, it seems to disclose an input matching network which is used for being matched with input port impedance of the surface acoustic wave filter.

<CIT> discloses a duplexer that includes a transmission filter and a reception filter that are connected to a common terminal; and a reactance circuit that is connected to at least one of the transmission and reception filters.

<CIT> discloses a radio frequency (RF) multiplexer with isolation enhancement such as circuit networks that may be added to a set of RF filters to enhance the isolation among the ports.

For traditional single filter technology-based integrated types of dual-band and multiband filter designs, the biggest challenge with the existing design methods is their manufacture, because their filter tuning is much more difficult than any single-band filter tuning. As result, the dual-band and multiband filters always have a high cost feature.

For the different filter technologies-based dual-band and multiband filter designs mentioned above, the existing design method shown in <FIG> also have the same loss disadvantages as the multiplexer mentioned above, due to the same reason that it uses a lot of PCB-based transmission lines that cause an extra loss.

Therefore, the wireless industry is looking for an innovative design solution for both designs of the multiplexer including duplexer and multiband filter including dual-band filter.

Some embodiments of the present disclosure advantageously provide methods, apparatuses and systems related to duplexer, multiplexer and multiband filter designs.

Referring now to the drawing figures in which like reference designators refer to like elements, some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Before describing in detail exemplary embodiments, it is noted that the embodiments reside primarily in combinations of apparatus components and processing steps related to band pass filter, duplexer, multiplexer and multiband filter designs. Accordingly, components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

One having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that multiple components may interoperate, and modifications and variations are possible of achieving the electrical and data communication.

The band pass filter, duplexer, multiplexer and multiband filter designs discussed herein may be any band pass filter design such as, for example, a band pass filter design in a network node comprised in a radio network which may further be comprised in and/or connected to any of base station (BS), radio base station, base transceiver station (BTS), base station controller (BSC), radio network controller (RNC), e Node B (eNB), evolved Node B (eNB or eNodeB), Node B, multi-standard radio (MSR) radio node such as MSR BS, multi-cell/multicast coordination entity (MCE), integrated access and backhaul (IAB) node, relay node, donor node controlling relay, radio access point (AP), transmission points, transmission nodes, Remote Radio Unit (RRU), Remote Radio Head (RRH), baseband unit (BBU), a core network node (e.g., mobile management entity (MME), self-organizing network (SON) node, a coordinating node, positioning node, MDT node, etc.), an external node (e.g., 3rd party node, a node external to the current network), nodes in distributed antenna system (DAS), a spectrum access system (SAS) node, an element management system (EMS), etc. The network node may also comprise test equipment. The term "radio node" used herein may be used to also denote a wireless device (WD) such as a user equipment (UE) or a radio network node.

Note that although terminology from one particular wireless system, such as, for example, Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Long Term Evolution (LTE) and/or New Radio (NR), may be used in this disclosure, this should not be seen as limiting the scope of the disclosure to only the aforementioned system.

In general, the embodiments of the present invention include one or more inventive single-port-matched band pass filters as described herein. <FIG> illustrates an embodiment of a single-port-matched band pass filter (SPMBPF) <NUM>. SPMBPF <NUM> is configured to filter an RF signal and to be connected to at least two RF components while providing impedance matching relative to these RF components and includes a main part <NUM> and a port-matching part <NUM>.

Main part <NUM> is configured to mainly filter the RF signal. Further, main part <NUM> includes, or otherwise forms, a first port <NUM> that provides the capability to transmit or receive the RF signal which will be filtered by main part <NUM>.

In these embodiments, port-matching part <NUM> is designed together with main part <NUM> using same materials and manufacture process, and is in signal communication with main part <NUM>, i.e. the RF signal may transfer between the main part <NUM> and the port-matching part <NUM>. Port-matching part <NUM> includes, or otherwise forms, a second port <NUM> that is configured to be connected to at least two RF components. The RF components may be an additional SPMBPF, antenna or another RF component. Port-matching part <NUM> is further configured to provide impedance matching through the second port <NUM> to match the connected at least two RF components. In some embodiments, the impedance matching may be defined as a relatively high impedance in a specified frequency range of out of passband of the SPMBPF <NUM> to match the connected RF components.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, an embodiment of a duplexer <NUM> utilizing the SPMPBF is illustrated. Duplexer <NUM> includes a transmit single-port-match band pass filter (TX SPMBPF or TX filter) <NUM> and a receive single-port-matched band pass filter (RX SPMBPF or Rx filter) <NUM>. A short transmission line <NUM> extends between TX SPMBPF <NUM> and RX SPMBPF <NUM>.

TX SPMBPF <NUM> includes a TX main part <NUM> having TX first port <NUM> (otherwise referred to as TX input port) of the TX SPMBPF <NUM> that is connected to a transmit port (TX port) <NUM> of the duplexer <NUM> by a transmission line <NUM>. The TX main part <NUM> is configured to mainly filter a transmit RF signal provided through the first port <NUM>. TX SPMBPF <NUM> further includes a TX port-matching part <NUM> having a TX second port <NUM> (otherwise referred to as TX path output port). The TX second port <NUM> is used as antenna port <NUM> of the duplexer <NUM>.

Since the antenna port <NUM> is connected to an antenna119 by a transmission line <NUM>, TX SPMBPF is connected with two RF components: RX SPMBPF <NUM> through the transmission line <NUM> and the antenna <NUM>. The TX port-matching part <NUM> is coupled in signal communication with the TX main part <NUM> and is configured to provide impedance matching in its RX band to match the connected RX SPMBPF <NUM> and the antenna at the antenna port <NUM>. The impedance matching may be relatively high impedance in the RX band of the TX SPMBPF <NUM> as required by the well-known duplexer design principle.

RX SPMBPF <NUM> includes a RX main part <NUM> having a RX first port <NUM> of the RX SPMBPF that is connected to a receive port (RX port) <NUM> of the duplexer <NUM> by a transmission line <NUM>. RX SPMBPF <NUM> further includes a RX port-matching part <NUM> having a RX second port <NUM> of the RX SPMBPF. The RX second port <NUM> is connect to transmission line <NUM>.

The RX port-matching part <NUM> is coupled to in signal communication with the RX main part <NUM> and configured to receive a RF signal from the antenna port <NUM> through the transmission line <NUM>. The RX port-matching part <NUM> is configured to provide impedance matching in its TX band to match the connected TX SPMBPF <NUM> and the antenna at the antenna port <NUM>. The impedance matching may be relatively high impedance in the TX band of the RX SPMBPF <NUM> as required by the well-known duplexer design principle. The RX main part <NUM> is configured to filter a received RF signal and provide such signal through the RX first port <NUM> and the transmission line <NUM> to the receive port <NUM> of the duplexer <NUM>.

In operation, the TX port-matching part <NUM>, the RX port-matching part <NUM> and the antenna are matched at the antenna port <NUM>, namely when TX band signal transmitted from the TX port <NUM> arrives at the antenna port <NUM>, almost all of it will flow to the antenna, because the connected antenna are matched with the TX SPMBPF <NUM> in the TX band and the connected RX SPMBPF <NUM> shows the high impedance to it. When RX band signal received from the antenna arrives at the antenna port <NUM>, almost all of it will flow to the RX SPMBPF, because the antenna is also matched with the RX SPMBPF in the RX band and the connected TX SPMBPF shows the high impedance to it. Since the antenna port <NUM> is set at the same location as the TX second port <NUM> of the TX SPMBPF and the short transmission line <NUM> is relatively short, so total loss between the antenna port <NUM> and the TX port <NUM> is smaller than the prior art, which is preferred by the duplexer design. Due to the same short transmission line <NUM>, loss between the antenna port <NUM> and the RX port <NUM> is also smaller, which is also preferred. In particular, when the transmission line <NUM> is designed by using a high Q type LTCC material, both losses will be further reduced.

Embodiments of the SPMBPF of the present invention may allow for various configurations of a duplexer. <FIG> and <FIG> illustrate an embodiment of a configuration of a duplexer <NUM>. In this embodiment, duplexer <NUM> includes a TX SPMBPF <NUM> and an RX SPMBPF <NUM> affixed to a surface of a printed circuit board (PCB) <NUM> in a side-by-side configuration. The TX SPMBPF <NUM> includes a TX input port <NUM> and a TX path output port <NUM>. RX SPMBPF <NUM> includes a RX output port <NUM> and an RX path input port <NUM>. TX SPMBPF <NUM> and RX SPMBPF <NUM> are configured in a similar configuration to the SPMBPF discussed above, e.g. each having a filter main part and a port-matching part.

In this embodiment, due to the TX SPMBPF <NUM> and RX SPMBPF <NUM> having impedance matching capabilities, the two SPMBPFs may be connected by a short transmission line. In this embodiment, transmission line <NUM> is designed within the PCB <NUM> and is connected to the TX path output port <NUM> and the RX path input port <NUM>. The transmission line <NUM> is a part of the port-matching part of the RX SPMBPF <NUM>. Further, in this embodiment, TX path output port <NUM> extends through to the bottom side of PCB <NUM> creating an antenna port <NUM>. In some embodiments, the TX path output port <NUM> may be extended through body of the TX SPMBPF <NUM> to its top side creating the antenna port <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> illustrate an additional embodiment of a configuration of a duplexer <NUM>. In this embodiment, duplexer <NUM> includes a TX SPMBPF <NUM> and an RX SPMBPF <NUM> affixed to a surface of a printed circuit board (PCB) <NUM> in a side-by-side configuration. The TX SPMBPF <NUM> includes a TX input port <NUM> and a TX path output port <NUM>. RX SPMBPF <NUM> includes a RX output port <NUM> and an RX path input port <NUM>. TX SPMBPF <NUM> and RX SPMBPF <NUM> are configured in a similar configuration to the SPMBPF discussed above, e.g. each having a filter main part and a port-matching part.

In this embodiment, due to the TX SPMBPF <NUM> and RX SPMBPF <NUM> having impedance matching capabilities, the two SPMBPFs may be connected by a short transmission line. In this embodiment, transmission line <NUM> is designed within a substrate <NUM>, such as a low-temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) board or a printed circuit board (PCB), and is connected to the TX path output port <NUM> and the RX path input port <NUM>. Further, in this embodiment, TX path output port <NUM> extends through the substrate <NUM> creating a common antenna port <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> illustrate an additional embodiment of a configuration of a duplexer <NUM>. In this embodiment, duplexer <NUM> includes a TX SPMBPF <NUM> and an RX SPMBPF <NUM> affixed to a surface of a printed circuit board (PCB) <NUM> in an end-to-end configuration. The TX SPMBPF <NUM> includes a TX input port <NUM> and a TX path output port <NUM>. RX SPMBPF <NUM> includes a RX output port <NUM> and an RX path input port <NUM>. TX SPMBPF <NUM> and RX SPMBPF <NUM> are configured in a similar configuration as the SPMBPF discussed above, e.g. each having a main part and a port-matching part.

In this embodiment, TX input port <NUM> and RX output port <NUM> extends through to the bottom side of PCB <NUM>. Further, transmission line <NUM> is designed within the PCB <NUM> and is connected to the TX path output port <NUM> and the RX path input port <NUM>. Further, in this embodiment, TX path output port <NUM> extends through to the bottom side of PCB <NUM> creating an antenna port <NUM>. In some embodiments, the TX path output port <NUM> may be extended through body of the TX SPMBPF <NUM> to its top side creating the antenna port <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> illustrate an additional embodiment of a configuration of a duplexer <NUM>. In this embodiment, duplexer <NUM> includes a TX SPMBPF <NUM> and an RX SPMBPF <NUM> affixed to a surface of a carrier board <NUM> in an end-to-end configuration. The TX SPMBPF <NUM> includes a TX input port <NUM> and a TX path output port <NUM>. RX SPMBPF <NUM> includes a RX output port <NUM> and an RX path input port <NUM>. TX SPMBPF <NUM> and RX SPMBPF <NUM> are configured in a similar configuration as the SPMBPF discussed above, e.g. each having a main part and a port-matching part.

In this embodiment, due to the TX SPMBPF <NUM> and RX SPMBPF <NUM> having impedance matching capabilities, the two SPMBPFs may be connected by a short transmission line. In this embodiment, transmission line <NUM> is designed within a substrate <NUM>, such as a low-temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) board or a printed circuit board (PCB), and is connected to the TX path output port <NUM> and the RX path input port <NUM>. Further, in this embodiment, TX path output port <NUM> extends through body of the TX SPMBPF <NUM> and the PCB <NUM> to the underside of the PCB creating a common antenna port <NUM>.

Further, TX input port <NUM>, TX path output port <NUM> and RX output port <NUM> extend through the PCB <NUM> allowing access to the TX SPMBPF <NUM> and an RX SPMBPF <NUM> through the underside of the PCB <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> illustrate an additional embodiment of a configuration of a duplexer <NUM>. In this embodiment, duplexer <NUM> includes a TX SPMBPF <NUM> and an RX SPMBPF <NUM> affixed to a surface of a printed circuit board (PCB) <NUM> in an end-to-end configuration. The TX SPMBPF <NUM> includes a TX input port <NUM> and a TX path output port <NUM>. In this embodiment, TX input port <NUM> and a TX path output port <NUM> are arranged such that they are close each other. RX SPMBPF <NUM> includes a RX output port <NUM> and an RX path input port <NUM>. In this embodiment, RX output port <NUM> and an RX path input port <NUM> are arranged such that they are close each other. TX SPMBPF <NUM> and RX SPMBPF <NUM> are configured in a similar configuration as the SPMBPF discussed above, e.g. each having a main part and a port-matching part.

In this embodiment, transmission line <NUM> is designed within the PCB <NUM> and is connected to the TX path output port <NUM> and the RX path input port <NUM>. Further, in this embodiment, TX path output port <NUM> extends through to the bottom side of PCB <NUM> creating an antenna port <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> illustrate an additional embodiment of a configuration of a duplexer <NUM>. In this embodiment, duplexer <NUM> includes a TX SPMBPF <NUM> and an RX SPMBPF <NUM> affixed to a surface of a printed circuit board (PCB) <NUM> in an end-to-end configuration. The TX SPMBPF <NUM> includes a TX input port <NUM> and a TX path output port <NUM>. In this embodiment, TX input port <NUM> and a TX path output port <NUM> are arranged such that they are in different layer of the TX SPMBPF <NUM>. RX SPMBPF <NUM> includes a RX output port <NUM> and an RX path input port <NUM>. In this embodiment, RX output port <NUM> and an RX path input port <NUM> are arranged such that they are in different layer of the RX SPMBPF <NUM>. TX SPMBPF <NUM> and RX SPMBPF <NUM> are configured in a similar configuration as the SPMBPF discussed above, e.g. each having a main part and a port-matching part.

In this embodiment, transmission line <NUM> is designed within a substrate <NUM>, such as a low-temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) board or a printed circuit board (PCB), and is connected to the TX path output port <NUM> and the RX path input port <NUM>. Further, in this embodiment, TX path output port <NUM> extends through to the top side of substrate <NUM> creating an antenna port <NUM>. Further, TX input port <NUM> and RX output port <NUM> extend through to the bottom side of PCB <NUM> allowing access therefrom.

<FIG> and <FIG> illustrate an additional embodiment of a configuration of a duplexer <NUM>. In this embodiment, duplexer <NUM> includes an RX SPMBPF <NUM> affixed to a TX SPMBPF <NUM> in a stacked configuration. The TX SPMBPF <NUM> includes a TX input port <NUM> and a TX path output port <NUM>. RX SPMBPF <NUM> includes a RX output port <NUM> and an RX path input port <NUM>. TX SPMBPF <NUM> and RX SPMBPF <NUM> are configured in a similar configuration as the SPMBPF discussed above, e.g. each having a filter main part and a port-matching part. In this embodiment, TX path output port <NUM> and the RX path input port <NUM> align to create an antenna port <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG> an embodiment of a multiplexer <NUM> utilizing embodiments of the SPMPBF is illustrated. Multiplexer <NUM> includes a plurality of single-port-matched band pass filters (SPMBPFs) <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. The multiplexer may include any number of the SPMBPFs as required by the needs and requirements placed upon the multiplexer. In this embodiment, a part of the SPMBPFs are a TX SPMBPF that is on transmit path (TX) of the multiplexer <NUM> and rest of the SPMBPFs are a RX SPMBPF that is on receive path (RX) of the multiplexer <NUM>.

Transmission lines <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> extend between the SPMBPFs <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, respectively and are connected to a common antenna port <NUM> that is set at one of TX path output ports of the TX SPMBPFs.

Each of the SPMBPFs <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> includes a filter main part <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> having a port <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> that is connected to a transmit port if the SPMBPF is a TX SPMBPF, or a receive port if the SPMBPF is a RX SPMBPF, of a radio board by a transmission line. Each of SPMBPFs <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> further includes a port-matching part <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> having a TX path output port if the SPMBPF is a TX SPMBPF, or a RX path input port if the SPMBPF is a RX SPMBPF, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. The filter main part <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> is configured to filter a transmit RF signal provided through its transmit input port, which is one of the ports <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> if the SPMBPF is a TX SPMBPF, or to filter a receive RF signal provided through its receive input port, which is one of the port <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> if the SPMBPF is a RX SPMBPF. The port-matching parts <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are coupled in signal communication with their respective filter main parts <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. The port-matching parts <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are further configured to provide impedance matching in all pass bands of the SPMBPFs other than pass band of its own SPMBPF at the antenna port <NUM>. The impedance matching may be relatively high impedance in the all pass bands other than its own pass band as required by the well-known multiplexer design principle.

Also, the antenna port <NUM> can be set at any location on the transmission lines <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> as required by the needs and requirements placed upon the multiplexer.

Embodiments of the SPMBPF of the present invention may allow for various configurations of a multiplexer. <FIG> and <FIG> illustrate an embodiment of a configuration of a multiplexer <NUM>. In this embodiment, multiplexer <NUM> includes a TX SPMBPF <NUM>, a first RX SPMBPF <NUM> and a second RX SPMBPF <NUM> affixed to a surface of a carrier printed circuit board (PCB) <NUM> in a side-by-side configuration. The TX SPMBPF <NUM> includes a TX input port <NUM> and a TX path output port <NUM>. The first RX SPMBPF <NUM> includes a first RX output port <NUM> and a first RX path input port <NUM>. The second RX SPMBPF <NUM> includes a second RX output port <NUM> and a second RX path input port <NUM>. TX SPMBPF <NUM> and the RX SPMBPFs <NUM>, <NUM> are configured in a similar configuration as the SPMBPF discussed above, e.g. each having a filter main part and a port-matching part.

In this embodiment, due to the TX SPMBPF <NUM> and the RX SPMBPFs <NUM>, <NUM> having impedance matching capabilities, the SPMBPFs may be connected by short transmission lines <NUM>, <NUM>. In this embodiment, transmission lines <NUM>, <NUM> are designed within a substrate <NUM>, such as a low-temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) board or a printed circuit board (PCB), and is connected to the TX path output port <NUM> and the RX path input ports <NUM>, <NUM>. Further, in this embodiment, TX path output port <NUM> extends through the substrate <NUM> creating a common antenna port <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrate an additional embodiment of a configuration of a multiplexer <NUM>. In this embodiment, multiplexer <NUM> includes a first RX SPMBPF <NUM> affixed to a TX SPMBPF <NUM>, and a second RX SPMBPF <NUM> affixed to the first RX SPMBPF <NUM> in a stacked configuration. The TX SPMBPF <NUM> includes a TX input port <NUM> and a TX path output port <NUM>. The first RX SPMBPF <NUM> includes a first RX output port <NUM> and a first RX path input port <NUM>. The second RX SPMBPF <NUM> includes a second RX output port <NUM> and a second RX path input port <NUM>. TX SPMBPF <NUM> and the RX SPMBPFs <NUM>, <NUM> are configured in a similar configuration as the SPMBPF discussed above, e.g. each having a filter main part and a port-matching part.

In this embodiment, TX path output port <NUM> and the RX path input ports <NUM>, <NUM> align to create a common antenna port <NUM>. In this embodiment, the configuration includes one TX SPMBPF <NUM> and two RX SPMBPFs <NUM>, <NUM>. However, as illustrated in <FIG>, there may be N number of SPMBPFs arranged in the stacked configuration to allow for the inclusion of a multiple of SPMBPFs depending on the design criteria, and other needs, of the multiplexer <NUM>. In that case, a part of the N SPMBPFs are a TX SPMBPF and all others are a RX SPMBPF.

<FIG> illustrates an additional embodiment of a dual-port-matched band pass filter (DPMBPF) <NUM>. DPMBPF <NUM> is configured to filter an RF signal while providing impedance matching to connected RF components at its input and output ports and includes a filter main part <NUM>, a first port-matching part <NUM> and a second port-matching part <NUM>.

Filter main part <NUM> is configured to filter the RF signal. First port-matching part <NUM> is coupled, or otherwise connected, to filter main part <NUM> and is in signal communication with filter main part <NUM>, i.e. the RF signal may transfer between the filter main part <NUM> and first port-matching part <NUM>. First port-matching part <NUM> includes, or otherwise forms, a first port <NUM> that is configured to be connected to an RF component. The RF component may be an additional one or more SPMBPF or DPMBPF, antenna, or another RF component.

Second port-matching part <NUM> is coupled, or otherwise connected, to filter main part <NUM> and is in signal communication with filter main part <NUM>, i.e. the RF signal may transfer between the filter main part <NUM> and second port-matching part <NUM>. Second port-matching part <NUM> includes, or otherwise forms, a second port <NUM> that is configured to be connected to an RF component. The RF component may be an additional one or more SPMBPF or DPMBPF, antenna, or another RF component.

First and second port-matching parts <NUM>, <NUM> are further configured to provide impedance matching through the first and second ports <NUM>, <NUM> to match the connected RF components. In some embodiments, the impedance matching may be defined as a relatively high impedance in a specified frequency range of out of passband of the DPMBPF <NUM> to match the connected RF components. The first and second port-matching ports <NUM>, <NUM> are designed together with the filter main part <NUM> using the same material and manufacture process.

As illustrated in <FIG>, an embodiment of a dual-band filter <NUM> utilizing embodiments of the DPMPBF <NUM> is illustrated. Filter <NUM> includes a first dual-port-matched band pass filter (DPMBPF) <NUM> and a second DPMBPF <NUM>. Transmission lines <NUM>, <NUM> extends between DPMBPF <NUM> and DPMBPF <NUM> and are connected to common ports <NUM>, <NUM> for both DPMBPFs <NUM>, <NUM>, as discussed below.

Both DPMBPFs <NUM>, <NUM> include a main part <NUM>, <NUM> configured to filter RF signals. DPMBPFs <NUM>, <NUM> further includes a first port-matching part <NUM>, <NUM> having a first port <NUM>, <NUM>. The first port-matching parts <NUM>, <NUM> are coupled in signal communication with the main parts <NUM>, <NUM> respectively. First port-matching parts <NUM>, <NUM> are configured to provide the RF signal to a common input port <NUM> through the transmission line <NUM>. The first port-matching parts <NUM>, <NUM> are further configured to provide impedance matching at the common input port <NUM>. The impedance matching of the first port-matching part <NUM> may be a relatively high impedance in passband of DPMBPF <NUM> for matching with the first port-matching part <NUM> and the transmission line <NUM>. Similarly, the impedance matching of the first port-matching part <NUM> may be a relatively high impedance in passband of DPMBPF <NUM> for matching with the first port-matching part <NUM> and the transmission line <NUM>.

DPMBPFs <NUM>, <NUM> further include a second port-matching part <NUM>, <NUM> having a second port <NUM>, <NUM>. The second port-matching parts <NUM>, <NUM> are coupled in signal communication with the main parts <NUM>, <NUM> respectively. Second port-matching parts <NUM>, <NUM> are configured to provide the RF signal to a common output port <NUM> through the transmission line <NUM>. The second port-matching parts <NUM>, <NUM> are further configured to provide impedance matching at the common output port <NUM>. The impedance matching of the second port-matching part <NUM> may be a relatively high impedance in passband of DPMBPF <NUM> for matching with the second port-matching part <NUM> and transmission line <NUM>. Similarly, the impedance matching of the second port-matching part <NUM> may be a relatively high impedance in passband of DPMBPF <NUM> for matching with the second port-matching part <NUM> and the transmission line <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> illustrate an additional embodiment of a configuration of a dual-band filter <NUM>. In this embodiment, filter <NUM> includes a first DPMBPF <NUM> affixed to a second DPMBPF <NUM> in a stacked configuration. The first DPMBPF <NUM> includes a first port <NUM> and a second port <NUM>. The second DPMBPF <NUM> includes a first port <NUM> and a second port <NUM>. The first DPMBPF <NUM> and second DPMBPF <NUM> are configured in a similar configuration as the DPMBPF discussed above, e.g. each having a main part along with first and second port-matching parts. In this embodiment, first port <NUM> and first port <NUM> are aligned to create a first common input/output port <NUM>, and second port <NUM> and second port <NUM> are aligned to create a second common input/output port <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> illustrate an additional embodiment of a configuration of a dual-band filter <NUM>. In this embodiment, filter <NUM> includes a first DPMBPF <NUM> and a second DPMBPF <NUM> affixed to a surface of a carrier printed circuit board (PCB) <NUM> in a side-by-side configuration. DPMBPFs <NUM>, <NUM> are configured in a similar configuration as DPMBPF <NUM> discussed above, e.g. each having a main part, along with a first and a second port-matching part. Further, each include a first port <NUM>, <NUM> and a second port <NUM>, <NUM>.

In this embodiment, due to the DPMBPF <NUM>, <NUM> having impedance matching capabilities, the two DPMBPFs may be connected by a short transmission lines <NUM>, <NUM>. In this embodiment, transmission lines <NUM>, <NUM> are designed within the PCB <NUM>, with transmission line <NUM> being connected to first ports <NUM>, <NUM> and transmission line <NUM> being connected to second ports <NUM>, <NUM>. Further, in this embodiment, first port <NUM> and second port <NUM> extend through to the bottom side of PCB <NUM> creating common ports <NUM>, <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> illustrate an additional embodiment of a configuration of a dual band filter <NUM>. In this embodiment, filter <NUM> includes a first DPMBPF <NUM> and a second DPMBPF <NUM> affixed to a surface of a carrier printed circuit board (PCB) <NUM> in a side-by-side configuration. DPMBPFs <NUM>, <NUM> are configured in a similar configuration as DPMBPF <NUM> discussed above, e.g. each having a main part, along with a first and a second port-matching part. Further, each include a first port <NUM>, <NUM> and a second port <NUM>, <NUM>.

In this embodiment, both DPMBPFs are arranged such that the first ports <NUM>, <NUM> and the second ports <NUM>, <NUM> are in different layers of the DPMBPFs.

Further, transmission line <NUM> is designed within PCB <NUM>, and is connected to second ports <NUM>, <NUM>. Transmission line <NUM> is designed within a substrate <NUM>, such as a low-temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) board or a printed circuit board (PCB), and is connected to the first ports <NUM>, <NUM>.

In this embodiment, first port extends through substrate <NUM> creating a first common port <NUM>, and second port <NUM> extends through to the bottom side of PCB <NUM> creating a second port <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG> an embodiment of a multiband filter <NUM> utilizing embodiments of DPMBPF <NUM> is illustrated. Filter <NUM> includes a plurality of dual-port-matched band pass filters (DPMBPFs) <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. This embodiment includes four DPMBPFs which is illustrative. The filter may include any number of DPMBPFs as required by the needs and requirements placed upon the filter.

Transmission lines <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> extends between DPMBPFs <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> respectively and are connected to first and second common input/output ports <NUM>, <NUM> for DPMBPFs <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, as discussed below.

Each of the DPMBPFs <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> includes a main part <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and further includes a first port-matching part <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> having a first port <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, ,<NUM> and a second port-matching part <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> having a second port <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, both of which are coupled in signal communication with their respective main part <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>.

First port-matching parts <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are configured to transmit and/or receive a RF signal from the first common input/output port <NUM> through transmission lines <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. Second port-matching parts <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are configured to transmit and/or receive a RF signal from the second common input/output port <NUM> through transmission lines740, <NUM>, <NUM>.

The common input/output port <NUM> can be set at any location on the transmission lines <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> as required by the needs and requirements placed upon the multiband filter. Similarly, the common input/output port <NUM> can be set at any location on the transmission lines <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> as required by the needs and requirements placed upon the multiband filter.

The first port-matching parts <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are configured to provide impedance matching in all pass bands of the connected DPMBPFs except for its own DPMBPF at the common input/output port <NUM>. The impedance matching may be relatively high impedance in the all pass bands other than its own pass band as required by the well-known multiplexer design principle. The second port-matching parts <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are configured to provide impedance matching in all pass bands of the connected DPMBPFs except for its own DPMBPF at the common input/output port <NUM>. The impedance matching may be relatively high impedance in the all pass bands other than its own pass band as required by the well-known multiplexer design principle.

<FIG> and <FIG> illustrate an additional embodiment of a configuration of a multiband filter <NUM>. In this embodiment, filter <NUM> includes a first DPMBPF <NUM>, a second DPMBPF <NUM> and a third DPMBPF <NUM> in a stacked configuration. DPMBPFs <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are configured in a similar configuration as DPMBPF <NUM> discussed above, e.g. each having a main part, along with a first and a second port-matching part. Further, DPMBPFs <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> each include a first port <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and a second port <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. In this embodiment, first port <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are aligned to create a first common input/output port <NUM>, and second port <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are aligned to create a second common input/output port <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the configuration includes three DPMBPFs <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. This is illustrative. As illustrated in <FIG>, there may be N number of DPMBPFs arranged in the stacked configuration to allow for the inclusion of a multiple of DPMBPFs depending on the design criteria, and other needs, of the multiband filter <NUM>.

Embodiments of the DPMBPF of the present invention may allow for various configurations of a multiband filter. <FIG> and <FIG> illustrate an embodiment of a configuration of a multiband filter <NUM>. In this embodiment, filter <NUM> includes a first DPMBPF <NUM>, a second DPMBPF <NUM> and a third DPMBPF <NUM> affixed to a surface of a carrier printed circuit board (PCB) <NUM> in a side-by-side configuration. DPMBPFs <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are configured in a similar configuration as DPMBPF <NUM> discussed above, e.g. each having a main part, along with a first and a second port-matching part. Further, each include a first port <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and a second port <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>.

In this embodiment, due to the DPMBPFs <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> having impedance matching capabilities, the DPMBPFs may be connected by short transmission lines <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. In this embodiment, transmission lines <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are designed within a substrate <NUM>, <NUM> such as a low-temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) board or a printed circuit board (PCB), with transmission lines <NUM>, <NUM> being connected to first ports <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and transmission lines <NUM>, <NUM> being connected to second ports <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. Further, in this embodiment, first port <NUM> and second port <NUM> extend through the substrates <NUM>, <NUM> creating common input/output ports <NUM>, <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the configuration includes three DPMBPFs <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. This is illustrative. As illustrated in <FIG>, there may be N number of DPMBPFs arranged in a side-by-side configuration to allow for the inclusion of a multiple of DPMBPFs depending on the design criteria, and other needs, of the multiband filter <NUM>.

It will be understood that it would be unduly repetitious and obfuscating to literally describe and illustrate every combination and sub-combination of these embodiments. Accordingly, all embodiments can be combined in any way and/or combination.

Claim 1:
A duplexer (<NUM>) comprising:
a transmit single-port-matched band pass filter, TX SPMBPF (<NUM>), having a TX main part (<NUM>), the TX main part including a TX first port (<NUM>) in signal communication with a transmit port (<NUM>),
the TX first port configured to receive a transmit RF signal from the transmit port, the TX main part configured to filter the transmit RF signal, and
a TX port-matching part (<NUM>), the TX port-matching part coupled to and in signal communication with the TX main part,
the TX port-matching part including an TX second port (<NUM>), the TX second port is used as an antenna port (<NUM>) of the duplexer and in signal communication with an antenna (<NUM>),
a RF transmission line component (<NUM>) connected to the TX second port; and
a receive single-port-matched band pass filter, RX SPMBPF (<NUM>), having a RX main part (<NUM>), the RX main part including a RX first port (<NUM>) in signal communication with a receive port (<NUM>), and a RX port-matching part (<NUM>),
the RX port-matching part coupled to and in signal communication with the RX main part,
the RX port-matching part including an RX second port (<NUM>), the RX second port connected to the RF transmission line component (<NUM>) providing signal communication to the antenna port (<NUM>),
the RX port-matching part configured to
receive a RF signal from the antenna port
a RX main part configured to filter the received RF signal and provide the filtered received RF signal to the receive port through the RX first port,
the TX port-matching part configured to provide impedance matching in its RX band to match the connected RX SPMBPF and the antenna at the antenna port,
the RX port-matching part configured to provide impedance matching in its TX band to match the connected TX SPMBPF and the antenna at the antenna port.