Switch circuit for high-frequency-signal switching

• US 20070069798A1
• Filed: 09/27/2006
• Published: 03/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: NEC Electronics Corporation (Renesas Electronics Corporation)
• Original Assignee: NEC Electronics Corporation (Renesas Electronics Corporation)
• Inventors: Kusachi, Keiji
• Application Number:
  US11/527,424
• Publication Number:
  US 20070069798A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 327/430
• 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 2017/6875 using self-conductive, depletion FETs

Abstract

A switch circuit includes first and second input/output terminals; first depletion-mode transistors serially-connected between first and second nodes; second depletion-mode transistors serially-connected between third and fourth nodes; a common terminal connected to a connection node; a bias circuit feeding a first bias voltage to gates of the first depletion-mode transistors, and feeding a second bias voltage to selected one of the third and fourth nodes; and a switch control terminal receiving a control voltage. The first node is connected to the first input/output terminal, while the third node is connected to the second input/output terminal. The second and fourth nodes are connected to the connection node. A capacitor element is connected between the connection node and selected one of the second and fourth nodes. The switch control terminal is connected to gates of the second depletion-mode transistors, and to selected one of the first and second nodes.

Claims

1. A switch circuit comprising:

first and second input/output terminals;

first depletion-mode transistors serially-connected between first and second nodes, said first node being connected to said first input/output terminal, and said second node being connected to a connection node;

second depletion-mode transistors serially-connected between third and fourth nodes, said third node being connected to said second input/output terminal, and said fourth node being connected to said connection node;

a capacitor element connected between said connection node and selected one of said second and fourth nodes;

a common terminal connected to said connection node;

a bias circuit feeding a first bias voltage to gates of said first depletion-mode transistors, and feeding a second bias voltage to selected one of said third and fourth nodes; and

a switch control terminal receiving a control voltage, said switch control terminal being connected to gates of said second depletion-mode transistors, and to selected one of said first and second nodes,

wherein said control voltage has a voltage level selected out of a higher power supply voltage and a lower power supply voltage,

wherein said first bias voltage is higher than said lower power supply voltage, and

wherein said second bias voltage is higher than said first bias voltage and lower than said higher power supply voltage.

2. The switch circuit according to claim 1, wherein the bias circuit includes:

first to third resistor elements serially-connected between first and second power supply terminals fed with said lower and higher power supply voltages, respectively, and

wherein said first bias voltage is generated on a fifth node on which said first and second resistor elements-are connected, and

wherein said second bias voltage is generated on a sixth node on which said second and third resistor elements are connected.

3. The switch circuit according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first resistor element connected between said first and second nodes; and

a second resistor element connected between said third and fourth nodes.

4. The switch circuit according to claim 1, further comprising:

a third resistor element connected between said switch control terminal and said selected one of said first and second nodes.

5. The switch circuit according to claim 2, wherein each of said gates of said first depletion-mode transistors is connected to said fifth node through a resistor element, and

wherein each of said gates of said second depletion-mode transistors is connected to said switch control terminal thorough a resistor element.

6. The switch circuit according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first feed through capacitor connected between said first node and a gate of one of said first depletion mode transistors, said one of said first depletion mode transistors having a source/drain connected to said first node;

a second feed through capacitor connected between said second node and a gate of another of said first depletion mode transistors, said another of said first depletion mode transistors having a source/drain connected to said second node;

a third feed through capacitor connected between said third node and a gate of one of said second depletion mode transistors, said one of said second depletion mode transistors having a source/drain connected to said third node; and

a fourth feed through capacitor connected between said fourth node and a gate of another of said second depletion mode transistors, said another of said second depletion mode transistors having a source/drain connected to said fourth node.