Reconfigurable solutions for mobile device RF front-ends

Tunable RF elements are now in widespread use within mobile handsets to improve performance, compensate for environmental influences, shrink antenna volumes and shorten design cycles. The most critical challenge facing the RF front end arises from the rapidly multiplying frequency bands of operation for 4G systems around the world. In many cases, there is a multiplicity of bands even within individual countries and multiple bands/channels may be used simultaneously for carrier aggregation. Each frequency band and mode typically requires customized filtering to handle unique interference challenges. The complexity following the present design approach scales super-linearly due to the interactions between the multiple hardware chains, particularly with regards to matching and isolation. The increase in hardware also applies strong upward pressure on system area and cost while negatively impacting performance, particularly overall efficiency. We present details on development toward a fully tunable system targeted to replace the large quantity of fixed elements currently required with a scalable and compact global solution and an update on the supporting core technology.