Qorvo Us, Inc.

Rf Micro Devices, Inc.

Ali Tombak

Daniel Charles Kerr

Edward T Spears

Baker P Scott

Marcus Granger-Jones

Marcelo Jorge Franco

George Adrian Maxim

Joshua James Caron

Michael Carroll

Christian Rye Iversen

Philip W Mason

Wolfram C Stiebler

A multi-band radio frequency (RF) front-end circuit is provided. The multi-band RF front-circuit includes multiple RF circuits configured to amplify RF signals received and/or to be transmitted in multiple RF bands and/or polarizations via an antenna circuit. The antenna circuit includes multiple antenna tap points each coupled to a respective one of the RF circuits. Since each of the RF circuits has a respective impedance that can vary based on the RF bands, the antenna tap points are so positioned on the antenna circuit to each present a respective drive impedance that matches the respective impedance of a coupled RF circuit. Further, the antenna tap points are also positioned on the antenna circuit to cause desired RF isolations between the RF bands and/or the polarizations. Consequently, the multi-band RF front-end circuit can achieve optimal RF performance across a wide range of RF bands with reduced footprint and insertion losses.

Multi-band radio frequency front-end circuit

An antenna element and related apparatus are provided. The antenna element includes a radiating structure configured to radiate a radio frequency (RF) signal in a defined polarization (e.g., linear polarization or circular polarization). The radiating structure is conductively coupled to a first pair of feed ports and a second pair of feed ports. In examples discussed herein, at least one selected pair of feed ports among the first pair of feed ports and the second pair of feed ports can be dynamically configured to receive a differential signal(s). By applying the differential signal(s) to the selected pair of feed ports with a proper polarity and/or a relative phase differential, it may be possible to cause the radiating structure to radiate in the defined polarization without requiring additional circuitries (e.g., switching circuit), thus helping to reduce power consumption, heat dissipation, and/or footprint in an apparatus employing the antenna element.

Antenna element and related apparatus

The present disclosure relates to a reconfigurable patch antenna, which includes a substrate, a ground plane formed on a bottom surface of the substrate or within the substrate, a primary patch, an extension patch, and switching components. The primary patch and the extension patch are formed on a top surface of the substrate and are placed parallel to each other. Herein, a gap is formed between the primary patch and the first extension patch. The switching components are formed across the gap, electrically coupled to both the primary patch and the extension patch, and configured to connect the primary patch to the extension patch or disconnect the primary patch from the extension patch.

Reconfigurable patch antenna and phased array

Disclosed is radio frequency switch circuitry that includes a switch branch having a first branch terminal coupled to a first signal port and a second branch terminal coupled to a second signal port, and a branch control terminal, wherein the switch branch has both an on-state and an off-state to control passage of a radio frequency signal between the first signal port and the second signal port in response to a control signal applied to the control terminal. The radio frequency switch circuitry further includes an isolation inductor coupled between the first branch terminal and the second branch terminal such that the isolation inductor is in parallel with the switch branch, wherein the isolation inductor has a given inductance that provides resonance with a total off-state capacitance of the switch branch in the off-state at a center frequency of the radio frequency signal.

Radio frequency switch branch circuitry

A radio frequency switch system includes a plurality of radio frequency switch circuitries that each include a switch branch coupled between a first branch terminal and a second branch terminal and are configured to allow passage of a radio frequency signal through the switch branch in an on-state and to block the radio frequency signal from passing through the switch branch in an off-state in response to a control signal applied to a branch control terminal of the switch branch. Also included is a switch controller configured to apply the control signal to the branch control terminal of the switch branch of each of the plurality of radio frequency switch circuitries, wherein the control signal has a first voltage level that places the switch branch in the on-state and a second voltage level that places the switch branch in the off-state without digital signal decoding of the control signal.

Radio frequency switch system

Radio frequency switch circuitry is disclosed having first and second port terminals, a switch branch having first and second branch terminals, and a branch control terminal, wherein the switch branch is configured to pass an RF signal between the first and second branch terminals in an on-state and block the RF signal from passing between the first and second branch terminals in an off-state in response to a control signal that is coupled with the RF signal and received at the first port terminal. Control signal decoupling circuitry has a control signal input terminal coupled to the first port terminal to receive the control signal coupled to the RF signal and a control signal output terminal coupled to the branch control terminal, wherein the control signal decoupling circuitry is configured to decouple the control signal from the RF signal and provide the control signal to the branch control terminal.

Radio frequency switch circuitry

RF circuitry, which includes a first main RF switching circuit and a second main RF switching circuit, is disclosed. The first main RF switching circuit is capable of providing an RF signal path between a first main RF port and a first selected one of a first RF antenna and a second RF antenna. The second main RF switching circuit is capable of providing an RF signal path between a second main RF port and a second selected one of the first RF antenna and the second RF antenna. The first main RF switching circuit includes a first pair of RF switches coupled in series between the first RF antenna and the first main RF port; a second pair of RF switches coupled in series between the second RF antenna and the first main RF port; a first shunt RF switch; and a second shunt RF switch.

High isolation dual antenna RF switch architectures

The present disclosure relates to a reconfigurable directional coupler with a variable coupling factor that can be changed in value as a function of a desired transmit band of operation. The reconfigurable directional coupler includes a primary inductive segment, secondary inductive segments, and switch circuitry configured to change the total coupling capacitance formed between the primary and secondary inductive segments by selectively switching the secondary inductive segments into the secondary signal path. Simultaneously, the mutual inductance and coupling factor between the primary and the secondary inductive segments are reconfigured.

Reconfigurable directional coupler with a variable coupling factor

A switch branch that improves voltage uniformity across a series stack of an n-number of transistors is disclosed. A first one of the n-number of transistors is coupled to an input terminal, and an nth one of the n-number of transistors is coupled to an output terminal, where n is a positive integer greater than one. Predetermined parasitic capacitances associated with each of the n-number of transistors are adjustable with respect to capacitance value by predetermined amounts by dimensioning and arranging at least one metal layer element in proximity to the series stack of the n-number of transistors. Capacitance values for the predetermined parasitic capacitances are selected such that a voltage across the series stack of the n-number of transistors is uniformly distributed. In this way, the n-number of transistors can be reduced without risking a transistor breakdown within the series stack of the n-number of transistors.

Voltage equalization for stacked FETs in RF switches

Tank circuitry coupled to the output terminals of a differential power amplifier includes two trap circuits configured to divert harmonic signals away from the output terminals. A tank inductor is provided to form a tank circuit in conjunction with each one of the trap circuits. At certain harmonic frequencies of the input signal to the differential power amplifier, the trap circuits are resonant and present a substantially low impedance path to ground, thereby diverting harmonic signals away from the output terminals of the differential power amplifier. At the fundamental frequency of the input signal to the differential power amplifier, the trap circuits are resonant with the tank inductor and present a substantially high impedance compared to the load impedance presented at the output terminals of the differential power amplifier, thereby reducing the loading effect of the trap circuits at the fundamental frequency.

Harmonic trap circuit for linear differential power amplifiers

A radio frequency (RF) switch die which includes an antenna port, a plurality of RF ports, a switch fabric for selectively coupling one or more of the RF ports to the antenna port, and control circuitry that is adapted to, in a first mode, direct the switch fabric to couple any one of the plurality of RF ports individually to the antenna port, and in a second mode, couple a selected group of the RF ports to the antenna port. The RF switch die may include M number of RF ports, and be relatively easily reconfigured to provide N number of RF ports, wherein N is less than M. Groups of RF ports may be coupled together to form coupled RF ports that offer different electrical characteristics than non-coupled RF ports.

Reconfigurable RF switch die

An RF system for reducing intermodulation (IM) products is disclosed. The RF system includes a first nonlinear element and a second nonlinear element, wherein the second nonlinear element generates inherent IM products and the first nonlinear element is adapted to generate compensating IM products. Alternatively, the first nonlinear element generates inherent IM products and the second nonlinear element is adapted to generate compensating IM products. The amplitudes of the compensating IM products are substantially equal to amplitudes of the inherent IM products. The RF system further includes a phase shifter that is adapted to provide a phase shift that results in around 180&#xb0; of phase shift between the inherent IM products and the compensating IM products. The phase shifter is coupled between the first nonlinear element and the second nonlinear element.

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Cary, NC, United States of America

Ali Tombak