Stmicroelectronics S.a.

Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique

Universitë De Bordeaux

Institut Polytechnique De Bordeaux

Stmicroelectronics France

Vincent Knopik

Jeremie Forest

Eric Kerherve

Boris Moret

Didier Belot

In an embodiment method for detecting the phase of an analog signal via a hybrid coupler operating in a power-combiner mode, the hybrid coupler comprises a first input intended to receive the analog signal, a second input intended to receive a reference signal having a reference phase and the same frequency as the analog signal, and two outputs, and is configured to generate, at these two outputs, a first output signal and a second output signal, respectively. The embodiment method comprises measuring peak values of the analog signal, of the reference signal, and of at least one of the first and second output signals, calculating the phase shift between the phase of the analog signal and the reference phase depending on the measured peak values, and determining the phase of the analog signal depending on the calculated phase shift and the reference phase.

Method and device for detecting the phase of a signal via a hybrid coupler, using a reference phase

A transformer of the symmetric-asymmetric type includes comprising a primary inductive circuit and a secondary inductive circuit formed in a same plane by respective interleaved and stacked metal tracks. A first crossing region includes a pair of connection plates facing one another, with each connection plate having a rectangular shape that is wider than the metal tracks, and diagonally connected to tracks of the secondary inductive circuit.

Power transformer of the symmetric-asymmetric type with a fully-balanced topology

In an embodiment method, a hybrid coupler comprises a first input receiving an analog signal, a second input receiving an additional analog signal phase shifted by 90&#xb0; from the analog signal, and first and second outputs. The method comprises injecting into the second output a test signal having an initial test phase, iteratively generating a current test phase for the test signal, from the initial test phase to a final test phase equal to the initial test phase increased by at least one portion of one complete revolution, and, in each iteration, measuring the current peak value of the first output, and storing the current test phase and the current peak value as a maximum/minimum peak value if there is not a stored maximum/minimum peak value higher/lower than the current peak value, respectively, and determining a phase of the analog signal from the stored test phase.

Method and device for detecting the phase of a signal via a hybrid coupler, using a test signal

In an embodiment, a method for determining the phase shift between a first signal and a second signal includes: delivering the first signal to a first input of a 90&#xb0; hybrid coupler; delivering the second signal to a second input of the 90&#xb0; hybrid coupler; determining a first piece of information relating to a power of a first output signal delivered to a first output of the 90&#xb0; hybrid coupler; determining a second piece of information relating to a power of a second output signal delivered to a second output of the coupler; and adjusting the phase of the second signal until obtaining a calibrated phase for which the first piece of information is substantially equal to the second piece of information, wherein the first and second signals have identical frequencies, and wherein the phase shift between the first signal and the second signal is equal to the calibrated phase.

Method and device for determining the phase shift between two signals

A radio frequency module with common access point () comprising a common access point () adapted to send and receive radio frequency signals, said common access point () having a common access point impedance, a first radio frequency communication circuit () and a second radio frequency communication circuit (), a first balun () coupled to the first radio frequency communication circuit () by first ports () wherebetween a first impedance (Z) varying between a high value and a low value is established, and a second balun () coupled to the second radio frequency communication circuit () by second ports () wherebetween a second impedance (Z) varying between a high value and a low value is established, wherein the radio frequency module with common access point () comprises an impedance matching circuit () connected between the first ports () in parallel with the first balun (), and a switch () configured to open and close the impedance matching circuit ().

Radio frequency (RF) module

In an embodiment, a circuit includes first, second, and third 90&#xb0; hybrid couplers coupled between first and second antenna terminals, a pair of low-noise amplifiers (LNAs), and a pair of power amplifiers (PAs). The pair of LNAs is configured to receive first signals from the first and second antenna terminals and has an output configured to be coupled to a receive path. The second coupler is configured in power combiner mode for receiving the first signals. The pair of PAs is configured to transmit second signals via the first and second antenna terminals and has an input configured to be coupled to a transmit path. The third coupler is configured in power divider mode for transmitting the second signals.

Module for the emission/reception of signals, and corresponding communication device

A hybrid coupler operating in a power divider mode includes two inputs, two outputs, a capacitive module coupled between the inputs and the outputs or on each input and each output. The capacitive module has an adjustable capacitive value making it possible to adjust the central frequency. A calibration method includes: delivering a first reference signal having a first reference frequency on the first input of the hybrid coupler, measuring the peak value of a first signal delivered to the first output of the coupler and measuring the peak value of a second signal delivered to the second output of the coupler. The two peak values are compared and an adjustment of the capacitive value of the capacitive module is made until an equality of the peak values is obtained to within a tolerance.

Method and device for calibrating a hybrid coupler

An embodiment electronic device comprises at least two antennas for transmitting signals, and at least one transmission path, the transmission path including a first coupling stage including a power divider, variable-gain power amplifiers, and a second coupling stage including a power combiner. Each coupling stage includes two inputs and two outputs, the two inputs of the first coupling stage being configured to receive a power input signal. Each output of the first coupling stage is connected to a different input of the second coupling stage via the variable-gain power amplifiers, and each output of the second coupling stage is connected to a different antenna. A controller is configured to control the gains of the variable-gain power amplifiers according to the characteristics of the power input signal, the signals transmitted by the antennas, and the coupling stages.

Device and method for conditioning signals

A 90&#xb0; hybrid inductive-capacitive coupling stage includes two first stage terminals capable of forming two stage inputs or two stage outputs and two second stage terminals capable of respectively forming two stage outputs or two stage inputs. The coupling stage is advantageously modular having a first stage axis of symmetry and a second stage axis of symmetry orthogonal to each other with neighboring inductive metal tracks being overlaid in at least one crossing region to form both an inductive circuit and a capacitive circuit. The metal tracks are coupled to the first stage terminals and to the second stage terminals such that the two first stage terminals are situated on one side of the first stage axis of symmetry and the two second stage terminals are situated on the other side of the first stage axis of symmetry.

Integrated coupling device, in particular of the 90&#xb0; hybrid type

A method is provided for controlling the matching of an antenna to a transmission path. The transmission path includes an amplifier stage coupled at an input or at an output to the antenna and to a resistive load. The method includes performing a checking phase by measuring a first current temperature at or in proximity of the antenna and a second current temperature at or in proximity of the resistive load, triggering a matching of the impedance seen at the input or at the output of the amplifier stage in the presence of a first condition involving the first and second current temperatures, and then stopping the matching of the impedance in the presence of a second condition involving the second current temperature.

Method of controlling the adaptation of an antenna to a transmission path, and corresponding device

A first and a second signal (base band and local oscillator), respectively modulated to a first and a second frequency, are mixed to deliver an output signal at a frequency obtained by combining the first and second frequencies. The mixing is accomplished through a variable resistance stage controlled by the second signal and connected between a first and a second potential to deliver the mixed output signal. A control stage is configured to drive the resistance variation of the variable resistance stage according to the first signal.

Device and method for mixing circuits

A radiofrequency unit comprising a first dielectric substrate supporting a first conductive antenna layer; a second dielectric substrate supporting circuit elements connected or coupled to ground formed in a second conductive layer, and comprising a radiofrequency antenna line; and a third screen conductive layer arranged between the first and second substrates, provided with a slot to couple the antenna line to the antenna layer, this conductive layer being floating; in which the thickness and the nature of the second substrate are chosen by taking into account the surface of said circuit elements for the screen layer to be coupled to ground by a capacitor forming a short-circuit for radiofrequencies.

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