Dual inductor circuit for multi-band wireless communication device

Abstract

This disclosure describes a dual inductor circuit, which may be particularly useful in a mixer of a wireless communication device to allow the mixer to operate for two different frequency bands or in a multi-differential branch low noise amplifier wherein each of the differential branches possess a different set of gain and linearity characteristics for a signal operating at the same frequency. The dual inductor circuit comprises an inductor-within-inductor design in which a small inductor is disposed within a large inductor. The two inductors may share a ground terminal, but are otherwise physically separated and independent from one another. Terminals of the inner inductor, for example, are not tapped from the outer inductor, which can reduce parasitic effects and electromagnetic interference relative to tapped inductor designs. The independence of the inductors also allows the different inductors to define different resonance frequencies or gain and linearity characteristics, which is desirable.