Invented by Tzung-I Lee, Omar FawazHashim Zakaria, Cheol Su Kim, Varadarajan Gopalakrishnan, In Chul Hyun, Amazon Technologies Inc

The market for bidirectional radio frequency front end (RFFE) has been steadily growing in recent years. With the increasing demand for faster and more reliable wireless communication, the need for advanced RFFE solutions has become crucial. Bidirectional RFFE refers to the technology that enables simultaneous transmission and reception of signals in wireless communication devices. It plays a vital role in enhancing the performance and efficiency of wireless systems, such as smartphones, tablets, and other IoT devices. One of the key drivers behind the growing market for bidirectional RFFE is the rapid expansion of the 5G network. As 5G technology continues to roll out globally, there is a need for RFFE solutions that can support the higher frequency bands and increased data rates associated with 5G networks. Bidirectional RFFE offers the necessary capabilities to handle the complex requirements of 5G communication, including the ability to transmit and receive signals simultaneously on multiple frequency bands. Another factor contributing to the market growth is the increasing adoption of advanced wireless technologies, such as Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5. These technologies require efficient RFFE solutions to ensure seamless connectivity and high-speed data transfer. Bidirectional RFFE enables devices to handle multiple wireless protocols simultaneously, providing a more versatile and efficient wireless experience for users. Furthermore, the rising popularity of IoT devices is driving the demand for bidirectional RFFE. As the number of connected devices continues to grow, there is a need for RFFE solutions that can support the increasing number of wireless connections. Bidirectional RFFE allows for efficient management of multiple wireless connections, ensuring reliable and uninterrupted communication between IoT devices. In terms of market segmentation, the bidirectional RFFE market can be categorized based on the type of component, application, and end-user. Components of bidirectional RFFE include power amplifiers, filters, switches, and other RF components. Applications of bidirectional RFFE range from smartphones and tablets to automotive and industrial applications. End-users of bidirectional RFFE include consumer electronics manufacturers, automotive manufacturers, and telecommunications companies. North America and Asia Pacific are the leading regions in terms of market share for bidirectional RFFE. The presence of major smartphone manufacturers and the early adoption of 5G technology in these regions have contributed to their dominance in the market. However, with the increasing penetration of smartphones and IoT devices in emerging economies, such as India and China, the Asia Pacific region is expected to witness significant growth in the bidirectional RFFE market. In conclusion, the market for bidirectional radio frequency front end (RFFE) is experiencing steady growth due to the increasing demand for faster and more reliable wireless communication. The expansion of 5G networks, adoption of advanced wireless technologies, and the rising popularity of IoT devices are key factors driving the market. With the continuous advancements in wireless technology, bidirectional RFFE is expected to play a crucial role in enabling efficient and seamless wireless communication in the future.

The Amazon Technologies Inc invention works as follows

The technology for a bidirectional radio frequency front end (RFFE), with high selectivity, is described. A RFFE contains a mixer that receives an LO signal (from the LO circuit) and a transmit signal (TX), having a frequency of a certain first, from a transmitter, and produces a TX down-converted signal for filtering channel bandwidth, with a second frequency lower than the frequency of the first signal. In response to a signal of selection, a programmable circuit filters the downconverted TX according to a channel bandwidth selected. The second mixer receives a channel-filtered TX from the programmable circuit, and the LO from the LO Circuit. It then produces an upconverted TX having the first frequency. The power amplifier amplifies an up-converted TX to produce an output TX to cause an antenna radiate electromagnetic energy within the selected channel bandwidth.

Background for Bidirectional radio frequency front end (RFFE)

A growing number of people are enjoying digital media such as movies, music, images, electronic book, etc. Users use a variety of electronic devices to consume media. These electronic devices, also known as user equipment or user devices, include electronic book readers (also called PDAs), cellular phones, portable media players (PMPs), tablet computers, netbooks and laptops. These electronic devices communicate wirelessly with a communication infrastructure to allow the consumption of digital media items. These electronic devices have one or more antennas to allow them to communicate wirelessly with other devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION DES DRAWINGS

The following detailed description and accompanying drawings are intended to help you understand the inventions. They should not be interpreted as limiting the invention to specific embodiments.

FIG. “FIG. 1 is a diagram of a wireless mesh (WMN) network of network hardware devices for distributing content to client devices, in an environment with limited connectivity to broadband Internet infrastructure.

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FIG. “FIG. According to one embodiment, FIG. 6A is a block diagram of a receive (RX) path within the RFFE circuitry.

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The technology for a bidirectional radio frequency front end (RFFE), with high selectivity, is described. A RFFE includes a mixer that receives an LO signal (from the LO circuit) and a transmit signal (TX), having a 1st frequency, from a port on a transmitter. The mixer then produces a TX down-converted signal for filtering channel bandwidth, with a 2nd frequency lower than the 1st frequency. Signals can be shifted from one range of frequencies to another using mixers. A mixer can convert a signal to a lower frequency from a first frequency. The mixer can also up-convert the signal from the higher frequency of the second to the lower frequency of the first. In response to a signal of selection, a programmable circuit filters the downconverted TX according to a channel bandwidth selected. The second mixer receives a channel-filtered TX from the programmable filters and the LO signal received from the LO-circuit and produces an upconverted TX having the first frequency. The power amplifier amplifies an up-converted TX to produce a TX output signal on a secondary port. This causes an antenna to emit electromagnetic energy within the channel bandwidth selected.

Also described herein is a Wireless Mesh Network (WMN), which contains multiple mesh network device, organized in a topology mesh, and in which the RFFE architectural can be deployed. In an environment with limited connectivity to broadband Internet infrastructure, the mesh network devices of the WMN work together to distribute content files to client consumption device. In developing nations for instance, the embodiments described can be implemented when there is a lack of or slow roll-out of broadband internet infrastructure. The mesh networks described herein can be used as a temporary solution until broadband Internet infrastructure is widely available in these developing nations. These network hardware devices can also be referred to as mesh routers or mesh network devices. The network backbone is formed by multiple peer to peer (P2P), wireless connections. Wireless connections from node to client (N2C), or between multiple network devices and one or more consumer devices, are used to wirelessly connect the devices. Cellular connections are used to wirelessly connect multiple network devices to a Mesh Network Control Service (MNCS). Content files (or, more generally, a content item, object, or file) can be in any format of digital content. For example, electronic text (e.g. eBooks, electronic magazine, digital newspaper, etc.). ), digital audio (e.g., music, audible books, etc. ), digital video (e.g., movies, television, short clips, etc. ), images (e.g., art, photographs, etc. The client consumption devices may include any type of content rendering device such as electronic book readers, portable digital assistants, mobile phones (e.g. art or photographs), tablet computers, laptop computers with portable media players and cameras. Client consumption devices can include any kind of content rendering device, such as electronic books readers, portable digital devices, mobile phones and tablets, laptops, portable media players or tablet computers, cameras, videos cameras, netbooks, notebooks desktop computers gaming consoles DVD players media centers etc.

The mesh network devices can be deployed in environments with limited connectivity to broadband Internet infrastructure. In some embodiments, the mesh architecture described herein does not include “gateway” nodes. Nodes capable of forwarding mesh broadband traffic to the Internet are included in some embodiments. A limited number of POP nodes may have Internet access, but most mesh network devices are capable of forwarding mesh traffic to other mesh network devices to deliver content to clients that otherwise would not have broadband Internet connections. Alternatively, POP nodes can be coupled with storage devices to store content available for the WMN. The WMN can be self-contained, in that the content is stored, transported, and consumed by the nodes of the mesh network. In some embodiments of the mesh network architecture, a large number mesh nodes are used, called Meshbox Nodes. Hardware-wise, the Meshbox is similar to an enterprise router. It also has the capability of P2P connections. This forms the network backbone for the WMN. The Meshbox nodes are able to provide many of the capabilities of a CDN, but on a more localized basis. The WMN is able to be deployed in areas where broadband Internet access is not available. The WMN is scalable to support a geographical area based on number of mesh networks devices and distances that mesh network devices must travel in order to communicate successfully over WLAN channels.

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