Murata’s hybrid multiplexer simplifies smartphone wireless circuits

Murata’s hybrid multiplexer simplifies smartphone wireless circuits: Murata has developed the LMTP3P series of hybrid multiplexer for smartphones.

The passive multiplexer separates a single antenna signal into three frequency bands, to reduce the number of antennae required. This technique also contributes to device size reduction when used with a wireless circuit.

Steep attenuation and wide band transmission are both realised using Murata’s proprietary technology that combines the properties of a multilayer ceramic and a SAW (sound acoustic wave) filter.

Carrier aggregation and MIMO (multiple-input, multiple-output) antenna systems are increasingly being adopted in LTE (long term evolution), which is classified as the fourth-generation (4G) communications method. As well as high-speed communications for mobile phone networks, LTE is starting to be used in wireless local area networks (WLAN).

With LTE, the communication frequencies are divided into low band (698 to 960MHz), middle band (1427 to 2200MHz) and high band (2300 to 2690MHz).

With carrier aggregation, a system that simultaneously uses multiple frequency bands, an antenna is generally required for each frequency band.  MIMO systems improve communications speed by using multiple transceiving antennas, but increase the number of antennae required and make the wireless circuit more complex.

Murata’s hybrid multiplexer is able to take a single antenna signal and divide it into three frequency bands, reducing the number of antennae needed for carrier aggregation. This provides design surface area for MIMO systems that require multiple antennae, and therefore contributes to size reduction for a device.

The tiny multiplexer measures just 3.5 x 3.5 x 0.9mm. Mass production of Murata’s LMTP3P series of hybrid multiplexer for smartphones begins this month.

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Murata’s hybrid multiplexer simplifies smartphone wireless circuits
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