This part of IEC 62604 concerns duplexers which can separate receiving signals from transmitting signals and are key components for two-way radio communications, and which are generally used in mobile phone systems compliant with CDMA systems such as N-CDMA in second generation mobile telecommunication systems (2G), W-CDMA / UMTS (3G) or LTE (4G). While in 2G systems mainly dielectric duplexers have been used, the ongoing miniaturization in 3G and 4G mobile communication systems promoted the development and application of acoustic wave duplexers due to their small size, light weight and good electrical performance. While standard surface acoustic wave (SAW) duplexers have been employed for applications with moderate requirements regarding the steepness of individual filters, applications with narrow duplex gap (e.g. Bands 2, 3, 8, 25), i.e. the frequency gap between receiving and transmitting bands, require the application of temperature-compensated (TC) SAW or bulk acoustic wave (BAW) technology, because of their better temperature characteristics and resonator Q-factors.

It is neither the aim of these guidelines to explain theory, nor to attempt to cover all the eventualities which may arise in practical circumstances. These guidelines draw attention to some of the more fundamental questions, which should be considered by the user before he places an order for SAW and BAW duplexers for a new application. Such a procedure will be the user’s insurance against unsatisfactory performance. Because SAW and BAW duplexers have very similar performance for the usage, it is useful and convenient for users that both duplexers are described in one standard.

Standard specifications, such as those of IEC, of which these guidelines form a part, and national specifications or detail specifications issued by manufacturers will define the available combinations of centre frequency, pass bandwidth and insertion attenuation for each sort of transmitting and receiving filters and the isolation level between transmitter and receiver ports, etc. These specifications are compiled to include a wide range of SAW and BAW duplexers with standardized performances. It cannot be over-emphasized that the user should, wherever possible, select his duplexers from these specifications, when available, even if it may lead to making small modifications to his circuit to enable the use of standard duplexers. This applies particularly to the selection of the nominal frequency band.