High Performance and Compact Balanced-Filter Design for WiMAX Front-End Modules (FEM) Using LCP-Based Organic Substrates

Abstract

In this paper, high performance RF integrated balanced-filters were proposed and designed for single band WiMAX front end application. This FEM includes an on-chip RF power amplifier and one switch, with two receive and one transmit paths. In addition to module size requirement, the WiMAX standard presents several passive design challenges: 1) The power amplifier (PA) provides an increase in rated power, hence a higher transmit gain which forces a more stringent output spurious/harmonic levels specification. 2) Received unwanted signals and blockers levels deplete the linearity performance of the receiver lineup.The module was designed on a multilayer organic (MLO) substrate. The highly integrated, fully shielded RF module incorporates embedded passive components including filters and baluns. Simulated results show excellent electrical performance with low insertion loss, high rejection and good return loss. Additionally, the module exhibits excellent thermal stability over the range of operating parameters.

Highly-integrated dual-band front-end module for WLAN and WiMAX applications based on LTCC technology

“…The RX-& TX-diplexers were implemented according the principle described in [10]. The required space inside the LTCC is less than 1.9 mm³.…”

“…Fig.1 shows a general WLAN/WiMAX block diagram for 1x2 MIMO, multiband multimode operation. It is comparable to the typical WLAN architectures [7], [8] and is basically a composition of various WiMAX block schematics suggestions from [9], [10] RF-frontend interfacing between the RFIC and the antenna ports.…”

WiMax system-in-package solutions based on LTCC- technology

“…without RFIC) in 7x7 mm 2 and other approaches for a fully integrated dual band WiMAX SiP targeting less than 120 mm 2 size for the RF frontend including RFIC have been presented [9,10]. Here, a more compact single band WiMAX 2.5-2.7 GHz SiP concept is pursued fully meeting the recent WiMAX requirements.…”

Novel Design Approach for Ultra Compact, High Rejection LTCC Balanced Filter

“…Since many RFIC have balanced input/output signals, high rejection balanced bandpass filter is needed. Standard designs serving these needs are either made on high dielectric constant material [9] or as a combination of bandpass filter connected horizontally in series with balun [10], [11].…”