Low noise amplifiers with combined outputs

A method comprising:

• filtering by at least one duplexer of a plurality of duplexers, included in a front-end module comprising a plurality of integrated circuit (IC) dies mounted on a substrate, an input radio frequency (RF) signal to provide a filtered RF signal;
• selecting, through a selecting device, one low noise amplifier (LNA) of a first plurality or a second plurality of LNAs included in the front-end module, the first plurality of LNAs each having an input and having outputs that are combined and the second plurality of LNAs each having an input and having outputs that are combined, the first plurality of LNAs being distinct from the second plurality of LNAs, the first plurality of LNAs being for a first radio technology and the second plurality of LNAs being for the first radio technology, wherein a first duplexer of the plurality of duplexers coupled to a first switch of the selecting device and a second duplexer of the plurality of duplexers coupled to a second switch of the selecting device, the first duplexer and the second duplexer are coupled to the input of respective LNAs of the first plurality of LNAs and coupled to a first power amplifier via one or more additional switches, and wherein a third duplexer of the plurality of duplexers is coupled to a third switch of the selecting device and a fourth duplexer of the plurality of duplexers is coupled to a fourth switch of the selecting device, the third duplexer and the fourth duplexer are coupled to the input of respective LNAs of the second plurality of LNAs and coupled to a second power amplifier via one or more additional switches, wherein the selecting device is distinct from one or more of the additional switches;
• amplifying the filtered RF signal for the selected LNA;
• receiving at a first or second receive circuit included in another IC, distinct from the front-end module, the amplified input RF signal from the selected LNA via a first or second interconnection between respective I/O ports of the front-end module and respective I/O ports of the another IC, the first receive circuit comprising a first amplifier having an input coupled to the first interconnection and an output coupled to a first mixer, wherein the first amplifier is bypassable, and the second receive circuit comprising a second amplifier having an input coupled to the second interconnection and an output coupled to a second mixer;
• and
• amplifying and thereafter downconverting the received amplified input RF signal,
• wherein a first I/O port of the respective I/O ports of the front-end module is coupled to the combined output of the first plurality of LNAs, and a second I/O port of the respective I/O ports of the front-end module is coupled to the combined output of the second plurality of LNAs.

An apparatus comprising:

• a module implemented in a package and comprising a first I/O port, a second I/O port, and a plurality of circuits attached to a circuit board, the plurality of circuits comprising:
• first and second means for filtering an input radio frequency (RF) signal to provide first respective filtered RF signals;
• third and fourth means for filtering the input RF signal to provide second respective filtered RF signals;
• a first plurality of means for amplifying the first respective filtered RF signals for a first radio technology, each of the first plurality of amplifying means coupled to a respective one of the first and second means for filtering, the first plurality of amplifying means having outputs that are combined to form a combined output coupled to a first interconnection via the first I/O port;
• a second plurality of means for amplifying the second respective filtered RF signals for the first radio technology, each of the second plurality of amplifying means coupled to a respective one of the third and fourth means for filtering, the second plurality of amplifying means having outputs that are combined to form a combined output coupled to a second interconnection via the second I/O port, the second plurality of amplifying means being separate from the first plurality of amplifying means;
• a selecting device to select one of the amplifying means, the selected amplifying means configured to amplify one of the respective filtered RF signals to provide an amplified RF signal, the first and second means for filtering coupled to respective first and second switches of the selecting device and the third and fourth means for filtering coupled to respective third and fourth switches of the selecting device;
• a first power amplifying means coupled to the first means for filtering via at least a fifth switch;
• and
• a second power amplifying means coupled to the third means for filtering via at least a sixth switch;
• first means for receiving the amplified RF signal via the first interconnection at an integrated circuit (IC), the first means for receiving comprising third means for amplifying and first means for downconverting at the IC the amplified RF signal received via the first interconnection, wherein the third means for amplifying is bypassable;
• and
• second means for receiving the amplified RF signal via the second interconnection at the IC, the IC being separate from the module, the second means for receiving comprising fourth means for amplifying and second means for downconverting at the IC the amplified RF signal received via the second interconnection, wherein the selecting device is distinct from one or more of the fifth switch and the sixth switch.