A novel integrated dual-mode RF front-end module for Wi-Fi and bluetooth applications

In this paper, a novel integrated dual-mode RF FEM for Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) and Bluetooth application is realized by low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) technology. The proposed dual-mode RF FEM has 4 ports and consists of a novel selectable filter, which are fully embedded in the LTCC substrate, and 3 PIN diodes at each port except antenna port for shortening to the ground or not. This selectable filter structure can be applied for either Tx and Rx path for Wi-Fi or BT path by simply making two ports to be shorted to the ground. The fabricated dual-mode RF FEM has 7 pattern layers including 2 ground layers and it occupies less than 3.0 mm × 3.0 mm × 0.308 mm. It can be low-loss and low-cost solution by removing MMIC SP3T switch in series connection.