Dual mode serial/parallel interface and use thereof in improved wireless devices and switching components

A wireless switching component comprising:

• a plurality of signal pins;
• a serial interface including a plurality of serial inputs electrically coupled to at least one pin of the plurality of signal pins;
• a parallel interface including a plurality of parallel inputs electrically coupled to at least one pin of the plurality of signal pins;
• a decoder;
• and
• a level shifter, the at least one pin electrically coupled to both a serial input and a parallel input, and the level shifter configured to control a radio-frequency switch.

A wireless device comprising:

• a transceiver configured to output a plurality of transmission paths;
• an antenna configured to output a signal corresponding to at least one of the transmission paths;
• and
• a wireless switching component including a radio-frequency switch configured to selectively connect the antenna to one of the transmission paths, a plurality of signal pins, a serial interface including a plurality of serial inputs electrically coupled to at least one pin of the plurality of signal pins, a parallel interface including a plurality of parallel inputs electrically coupled to at least one pin of the plurality of signal pins, a decoder, and a level shifter configured to control the radio-frequency switch, the at least one pin electrically coupled to both a serial input and a parallel input.