Title :
Filter technologies for converged RF-frontend architectures: SAW, BAW and beyond
Author_Institution :
TriQuint Semicond., FL, USA
Abstract :
Multi-band/multi-system mobile phones require a complex RF-frontend architecture. Complexity has increased to a point where adding switches and whole signal branches for an additional band is no longer cost effective. Alternative concepts involve `converged´ power amplifiers and switching concepts supporting those. Filters and duplexers play a key role in converged architectures and their requirements will be reviewed. Challenges that arise from combining filter functions for different wireless standards will be pointed out. Existing RF-filter technologies are based on high-Q acoustic resonators realized either in surface acoustic wave (SAW) or bulk-acoustic-wave (BAW) technology and do not allow changing the frequency characteristics on the fly. Concepts for tunable RF-filters - pursuing the `holy grail´ - will be discussed and an overview on the status of this matter will be presented.
Keywords :
bulk acoustic wave devices; mobile radio; power amplifiers; radiofrequency filters; surface acoustic wave resonators; BAW technology; RF-filter technologies; SAW technology; bulk-acoustic-wave technology; converged RF-frontend architectures; duplexers; high-Q acoustic resonators; multi-band/multi-system mobile phones; power amplifiers; surface acoustic wave technology; switching concepts; wireless standards; Band pass filters; Costs; Mobile handsets; Multiaccess communication; Power amplifiers; Power semiconductor switches; Radio frequency; Resonator filters; Surface acoustic waves; Tunable circuits and devices; BAW; RF-frontend; converged architecture SAW; tunable filters;
Conference_Titel :
Silicon Monolithic Integrated Circuits in RF Systems (SiRF), 2010 Topical Meeting on
Conference_Location :
New Orleans, LA
Print_ISBN :
978-1-4244-5456-3
DOI :
10.1109/SMIC.2010.5422990
