Switch with envelope injection

• US 10,447,207 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2017
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Skyworks Solutions Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Skyworks Solutions Incorporated
• Inventors: Zhu, Yu, Klimashov, Oleksiy, Wang, Hailing, Bartle, Dylan Charles, DiCarlo, Paul T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Warren, David S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Schreiber, Christina M
• Application Number:
  US15/670,434
• Publication Number:
  US 20180041204A1
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 84627
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/057 by envelope-forming circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0045 Converters combining the concepts of switch-mode regulation and linear regulation, e.g. linear pre-regulator to switching converter, linear and switching converter in parallel, same converter or same transistor operating either in linear or switching mode
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/0222 by using a signal derived from the input signal
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/22 by use of cascode coupling, i.e. earthed cathode or emitter stage followed by earthed grid or base stage respectively
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/102 A non-specified detector of a signal envelope being used in an amplifying circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/336 A I/Q, i.e. phase quadrature, modulator or demodulator being used in an amplifying circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2203/7236 the gated amplifier being switched on or off by putting into parallel or not, by choosing between amplifiers by (a ) switch(es)
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2203/7239 the gated amplifier being switched on or off by putting into parallel or not, by choosing between amplifiers and shunting lines by one or more switch(es)
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/193 with field-effect devices H03F3/195 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/2171 with field-effect devices H03F3/2173 - H03F3/2178 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/245 with semiconductor devices only
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/08122 in field-effect transistor switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/102 in field-effect transistor switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/162 without feedback from the output circuit to the control circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/284 in field effect transistor switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/693 Switching arrangements with several input- or output-terminals, e.g. multiplexers, distributors logic circuits H03K19/00; code converters H03M5/00, H03M7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/0054 Gating switches, e.g. pass gates
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/04 Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/0408 with power amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/045 with means for improving efficiency

Abstract

Aspects of this disclosure relate to a switching circuit with enhanced linearity. The switching circuit can include a switch and an envelope generator. The switch can receive an input signal, provide an output signal, and receive an envelope signal corresponding to an envelope of the input signal. The envelope generator can generate the envelope signal so as to cause intermodulation distortion in the output signal to be reduced to cause linearity of the switch to be improved.

Claims

1. A switching circuit with enhanced linearity, the switching circuit comprising:

a switch configured to receive an input signal, to provide an output signal, and to receive an envelope signal corresponding to an envelope of the input signal, the input signal including a first tone at a first frequency and a second tone at a second frequency, and the envelope signal having a frequency corresponding to a difference between the first frequency and the second frequency; and

an envelope generator configured to generate the envelope signal so as to cause intermodulation distortion in the output signal to be reduced, the envelope generator being configured to adjust a phase of the envelope signal.

2. The switching circuit of claim 1 wherein the switch includes a field effect transistor having a body configured to receive the envelope signal.

3. The switching circuit of claim 1 wherein the switch is configured to receive the envelope signal at a control terminal.

4. The switching circuit of claim 3 wherein the envelope signal is superimposed on a direct current control signal at the control terminal, the switch configured to turn on and to turn off in response to the direct current control signal.

5. The switching circuit of claim 1 wherein the envelope generator is configured to adjust the phase of the envelope signal such that intermodulation associated with mixing of the envelope signal and the input signal has substantially an opposite phase as intermodulation due to non-linear behavior of the switch.

6. The switching circuit of claim 1 wherein the envelope generator is configured to adjust a magnitude of the envelope signal.

7. The switching circuit of claim 1 wherein the envelope generator is coupled to an envelope tracking modulator configured to provide a power amplifier supply voltage to a power amplifier.

8. The switching circuit of claim 1 wherein the input signal is a radio frequency signal and the switch is a radio frequency switch.

9. The switching circuit of claim 1 wherein the envelope generator is configured to receive the input signal and to generate the envelope signal based on the input signal.

10. The switching circuit of claim 1 wherein the envelope generator is configured to receive the input signal and the output signal and to generate the envelope signal based on the input signal and the output signal.

11. A radio frequency system comprising:

a radio frequency source configured to provide a radio frequency signal, the radio frequency signal including a first tone at a first frequency and a second tone at a second frequency;

a switch configured to pass the radio frequency signal; and

an envelope generator configured to generate an envelope signal corresponding to an envelope of the radio frequency signal and to apply the envelope signal to the switch to cause intermodulation distortion to be reduced, the envelope signal having a frequency corresponding to a difference between the first frequency and the second frequency, and the envelope generator being configured to adjust a phase of the envelope signal.

12. The radio frequency system of claim 11 wherein the envelope generator is configured to adjust a magnitude of the envelope signal.

13. The radio frequency system of claim 11 wherein the switch includes a field effect transistor having a body and the envelope generator is configured to apply the envelope signal to the body.

14. The radio frequency system of claim 11 wherein the switch includes a field effect transistor having a gate configured to receive the envelope signal superimposed on a control signal.

15. The radio frequency system of claim 11 wherein the radio frequency source includes a power amplifier.

16. The radio frequency system of claim 15 wherein the switch is included in an antenna switch, a band select switch, or a transmit/receive switch.

17. A method of switching a radio frequency signal with improved linearity, the method comprising:

generating an envelope signal with an envelope generator, the envelope generator configured to adjust a phase of the envelope signal;

providing the envelope signal to a radio frequency switch; and

passing a radio frequency signal using the radio frequency switch while the radio frequency switch receives the envelope signal such that the envelope signal reduces intermodulation distortion associated with the radio frequency switch, the radio frequency signal including a first tone at a first frequency and a second tone at a second frequency, and the envelope signal having a frequency corresponding to a difference between the first frequency and the second frequency.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising setting the phase and a magnitude of the envelope signal.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the radio frequency switch includes a field effect transistor and the providing includes applying the envelope signal to a body of the field effect transistor.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein the radio frequency switch includes a field effect transistor and the providing includes applying the envelope signal to a gate of the field effect transistor.