System and method for a driving a radio frequency switch
First Claim
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1. A radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC) comprising:
- a first RF switch disposed on a semiconductor substrate, the first RF switch having a load path coupled between a first terminal and a second terminal; and
a first RF switch driver coupled to a first control node of the first RF switch, the first RF switch driver comprising a first current source coupled between a first reference node and the first control node and a second current source coupled between a second reference node and the first control node,wherein the first current source comprises a first current mirror, and the second current source comprises a second current mirror.
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Abstract
In accordance with an embodiment, a radio frequency (RF) switching circuit includes a plurality of series connected RF switch cells having a load path and a control node, and a switch driver coupled to the control node. Each of the plurality of series connected RF switch cells includes a switch transistor and a gate resistor having a first end coupled to a gate of the switch transistor and a second end coupled to the control node. The switch driver includes a variable output impedance that varies with a voltage of the control node.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC) comprising:
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a first RF switch disposed on a semiconductor substrate, the first RF switch having a load path coupled between a first terminal and a second terminal; and a first RF switch driver coupled to a first control node of the first RF switch, the first RF switch driver comprising a first current source coupled between a first reference node and the first control node and a second current source coupled between a second reference node and the first control node, wherein the first current source comprises a first current mirror, and the second current source comprises a second current mirror. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A radio frequency (RF) switching circuit comprising:
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an RF switch having a load path coupled between a first terminal an a second terminal; a current source having a current output coupled to a control node of the RF switch, and a control input, the current source configured to source a first current when the control input transitions to a first state, and configured to sink a second current when the control input transitions to a second state different from the first state; a switching logic circuit having an output coupled to the control input of the current source; and a monitoring circuit having an input coupled to the control node of the RF switch, and an output coupled to a second control input of the current source, wherein the current source is further configured to; reduce the first current when the monitoring circuit detects that that a voltage of the control node of the RF switch crosses a first threshold voltage, and reduce the second current when the monitoring circuit detects that the voltage of the control node of the RF switch crosses a second threshold voltage different from the first threshold voltage. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of operating a radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC) comprising a first RF switch disposed on a semiconductor substrate, the first RF switch having a load path coupled between a first terminal and a second terminal;
- and a first RF switch driver coupled to a first control node of the first RF switch, the first RF switch driver comprising a first current source coupled between a first reference node and the first control node and a second current source coupled between a second reference node and the first control node, the method comprising;
turning on the first RF switch, turning on the first RF switch comprising activating the first current source and deactivating the second current source; turning off the first RF switch, turning off the first RF switch comprising activating the second current source and deactivating the first current source, and monitoring a voltage of the first control node of the first RF switch, wherein; turning on the first RF switch further comprises reducing a current of the first current source from a first current to a second current when a voltage of the first control node of the first RF switch crosses a first threshold voltage; and turning off the first RF switch further comprises reducing a current of the second current source from a third current to a fourth current when a voltage of the first control node of the first RF switch crosses a second threshold voltage different from the first threshold voltage. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
- and a first RF switch driver coupled to a first control node of the first RF switch, the first RF switch driver comprising a first current source coupled between a first reference node and the first control node and a second current source coupled between a second reference node and the first control node, the method comprising;
Specification