Systems and methods for protecting microelectromechanical systems switches from radio-frequency signals using switching circuitry

Wireless electronic device communications circuitry, comprising:

• at least one microelectromechanical systems switch operable to receive radio-frequency antenna signals;
• switching circuitry operable to temporarily isolate the at least one microelectromechanical systems switch from the radio-frequency antenna signals;
• an antenna operable to provide the radio-frequency antenna signals to the microelectromechanical systems switch through the switching circuitry;
• radio-frequency transceiver circuitry coupled to the microelectromechanical systems switch, wherein the switching circuitry comprises an antenna selection switch operable to selectively couple the antenna to the radio-frequency transceiver circuitry;
• and
• an additional antenna, wherein the antenna selection switch is operable in at least a first mode in which the antenna is coupled to the radio-frequency transceiver circuitry, a second mode in which the additional antenna is coupled to the radio-frequency transceiver circuitry, and a third mode in which the microelectromechanical systems switch is isolated from the first and second antennas so that the microelectromechanical systems switch is isolated from the radio-frequency antenna signals.

Wireless electronic device communications circuitry, comprising:

• at least one microelectromechanical systems switch operable to receive radio-frequency antenna signals;
• switching circuitry operable to temporarily isolate the at least one microelectromechanical systems switch from the radio-frequency antenna signals;
• and
• an antenna operable to provide the radio-frequency antenna signals to the microelectromechanical systems switch through the switching circuitry, wherein the switching circuitry comprises a first port coupled to the microelectromechanical systems switch, a second port coupled to the antenna, and a third port that is coupled to a power supply ground terminal, wherein the switching circuitry is operable to temporarily isolate the at least one microelectromechanical systems switch from the radio-frequency signals by coupling the second port to the third port and isolating the first port.

Wireless communications circuitry comprising:

• at least first and second antennas;
• radio-frequency transceiver circuitry;
• microelectromechanical systems switching circuitry coupled between the first and second antennas and radio-frequency transceiver circuitry;
• and
• a crossbar switch having a first port coupled to the first antenna, a second port coupled to the second antenna, a third port coupled to a first portion of the microelectromechanical systems switching circuitry, a fourth port coupled to a second portion of the microelectromechanical systems switching circuitry, wherein the crossbar switch is operable in a normal mode, a swapped mode, and a protection mode in which the third port is simultaneously isolated from the first and second ports.

A method of operating wireless communications circuitry having at least one antenna, at least one microelectromechanical systems switch coupled to the antenna, switching circuitry coupled between the microelectromechanical systems switch and the antenna, and control circuitry operable to control the microelectromechanical systems switch and the switching circuitry, the method comprising:

• with the control circuitry, directing the switching circuitry to electrically disconnect the microelectromechanical systems switch from the antenna;
• with the control circuitry, directing the microelectromechanical systems switch to switch from a first configuration to a second configuration while the microelectromechanical systems switch is disconnected from the antenna;
• and
• with the control circuitry, directing the switching circuitry to reconnect the microelectromechanical systems switch to the antenna after the microelectromechanical systems switch has switched from the first configuration to the second configuration.