HIGH FREQUENCY AMPLIFIER CIRCUIT AND MOBILE COMMUNICATION TERMINAL USING THE SAME

• US 20100022198A1
• Filed: 10/02/2009
• Published: 01/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: INAMORI, Masahiko, NAKAYAMA, Masao, MOTOYOSHI, Kaname, TAKAGI, Tsunehiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,924,098 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/75
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/72 the amplifier stage being a common gate configuration MOSFET
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 1/007 using FET type devices
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/3042 in modulators, frequency-changers, transmitters or power amplifiers transmission power control in bidirectional transmission systems H04W52/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/0416 having gain or transmission power control

Abstract

A first FET is inserted in a series position between a signal input terminal and a signal output terminal, while second and third FETs are inserted in a shunt position respectively between the signal input terminal and a ground terminal and between the signal output terminal and a ground terminal. First and second reference voltage terminals and a control terminal are provided. A first reference voltage and a control voltage are applied to the first FET, while a second reference voltage and a control voltage are applied respectively to the second and third FETs, so that the first, second, and third FETs serve as variable resistors. As such, a gain control circuit is constructed. Further, a first resistor is provided in parallel to the first FET, while second and third resistors are provided respectively in series to the second and third FETs.

Claims

1. A high frequency amplifier circuit comprising:

a signal input terminal and a signal output terminal;

a first matching circuit an input terminal of which is connected to said signal input terminal;

a gain control circuit an input terminal of which is connected to an output terminal of said first matching circuit;

a first amplifier an input terminal of which is connected to an output terminal of said gain control circuit;

a second matching circuit an input terminal of which is connected to an output terminal of said first amplifier;

a second amplifier an input terminal of which is connected to an output terminal of said second matching circuit;

a third matching circuit an input terminal of which is connected to an output terminal of said second amplifier, and an output terminal of which is connected to said signal output terminal;

a reference voltage terminal;

a reference voltage circuit a reference voltage input terminal of which is connected to said reference voltage terminal, and a plurality of reference voltage output terminals of which are connected respectively to a plurality of reference voltage input terminals of said gain control circuit;

a control terminal connected to a control input terminal of said gain control circuit;

first ground terminals connected to ground terminals of said gain control circuit;

a first supply terminal connected to a supply terminal of said first amplifier;

a second ground terminal connected to a ground terminal of said first amplifier;

a second supply terminal connected to a supply terminal of said second amplifier; and

a third ground terminal connected to a ground terminal of said second amplifier, wherein;

on the basis of the relation between the voltage of said reference voltage input terminal and the voltage of said control terminal, the resistance value between the signal input terminal and the signal output terminal of said gain control circuit is adjusted, so that the signal level on said signal output terminal is continuously adjusted relative to the signal level inputted to said signal input terminal.

2. A high frequency amplifier circuit according to claim 1, wherein said gain control circuit comprises a variable resistor circuit constructed from a field effect transistor.

3. A high frequency amplifier circuit according to claim 1, wherein said reference voltage terminal is connected either to said first supply terminal or to said second supply terminal.

4. A high frequency amplifier circuit comprising:

a signal input terminal and a signal output terminal;

a first matching circuit an input terminal of which is connected to said signal input terminal;

a gain control circuit which has a voltage divider circuit for dividing a gain control voltage, and an input terminal of which is connected to an output terminal of said first matching circuit;

a first amplifier an input terminal of which is connected to an output terminal of said gain control circuit;

a second matching circuit an input terminal of which is connected to an output terminal of said first amplifier;

a second amplifier an input terminal of which is connected to an output terminal of said second matching circuit;

a third matching circuit an input terminal of which is connected to an output terminal of said second amplifier, and an output terminal of which is connected to said signal output terminal;

a reference voltage terminal;

a reference voltage circuit a reference voltage input terminal of which is connected to said reference voltage terminal, and a plurality of reference voltage output terminals of which are connected respectively to a plurality of reference voltage input terminals of said gain control circuit;

a control terminal connected to a control input terminal of said gain control circuit;

a first ground terminal connected to a ground terminal of said voltage divider circuit in said gain control circuit;

second ground terminals connected to ground terminals of said gain control circuit;

a first supply terminal connected to a supply terminal of said first amplifier;

a third ground terminal connected to a ground terminal of said first amplifier;

a second supply terminal connected to a supply terminal of said second amplifier; and

a fourth ground terminal connected to a ground terminal of said second amplifier, wherein;

on the basis of the relation between the voltage of said reference voltage input terminal and the voltage of said control terminal, the resistance value between the signal input terminal and the signal output terminal of said gain control circuit is adjusted, so that the signal level on said signal output terminal is continuously adjusted relative to the signal level inputted to said signal input terminal.

5. A high frequency amplifier circuit according to claim 4, wherein said gain control circuit comprises a variable resistor circuit constructed from a field effect transistor.

6. A high frequency amplifier circuit according to claim 4, wherein said reference voltage terminal is connected either to said first supply terminal or to said second supply terminal.

7. A mobile communication terminal a high frequency circuit block of which comprises:

a transmitting section for transmitting a high frequency signal;

a receiving section for receiving a high frequency signal;

a synthesizer section; and

a shared device section, wherein;

said transmitting section comprises;

an up converter for converting a modulation signal having an intermediate frequency into a transmission frequency signal;

a variable gain high frequency amplifier circuit having a gain control circuit and amplifying the output signal of said up converter;

a high frequency switch a common terminal of which is connected to the output terminal of said variable gain high frequency amplifier circuit and which switches the high frequency signal path depending on the transmission frequency;

a first band pass filter an input terminal of which is connected to one switching terminal of said high frequency switch, and which extracts a signal in a first transmission band;

a first high power high frequency amplifier circuit having a fixed gain and amplifying a high frequency signal outputted from said first band pass filter;

a first isolator for providing the output of said first high power high frequency amplifier circuit to said shared device section;

a second band pass filter an input terminal of which is connected to the other switching terminal of said high frequency switch, and which extracts a signal in a second transmission band;

a second high power high frequency amplifier circuit having a fixed gain and amplifying a high frequency signal outputted from said second band pass filter; and

a second isolator for providing the output of said second high power high frequency amplifier circuit to said shared device section, and wherein;

said gain control circuit of said variable gain high frequency amplifier circuit comprises;

a signal input terminal and a signal output terminal,

a first variable resistor circuit connecting said signal input terminal to said signal output terminal;

a second variable resistor circuit connected in parallel to said signal input terminal and a first ground terminal;

a third variable resistor circuit connected in parallel to said signal output terminal and a second ground terminal;

a first voltage divider circuit which is connected between a control terminal and a third ground terminal and an output terminal of which is connected to said first variable resistor circuit;

a second voltage divider circuit which is connected between said control terminal and said third ground terminal and an output terminal of which is connected respectively to said second and third variable resistor circuits;

a first reference voltage terminal connected to said first variable resistor circuit; and

a second reference voltage terminal connected to said second and third variable resistor circuits, wherein;

the DC resistance between said signal input terminal and said signal output terminal is infinity;

the DC resistance between said signal input terminal and said first ground terminal is infinity;

the DC resistance between said signal output terminal and said second ground terminal is infinity; and

on the basis of the relation between the voltage of said control terminal, the voltage of said first reference voltage terminal, and the voltage of said second reference voltage terminal, the resistance values of said first, second, and third variable resistor circuits are adjusted continuously, so that the signal level on said signal output terminal is continuously adjusted relative to the signal level inputted to said signal input terminal.

10. A mobile communication terminal according to claim 7, wherein:

said first variable resistor circuit comprises a first field effect transistor, while said first voltage divider circuit comprises at least two first resistors;

said control terminal is connected to said first voltage divider circuit, while the output terminal of said first voltage divider circuit is connected through at least one or more second resistors to the gate terminal of said first field effect transistor;

said first reference voltage terminal is connected through at least one or more third resistors to the source terminal or the drain terminal of said first field effect transistor; and

a fourth resistor is connected between the source terminal and the drain terminal of said first field effect transistor.

11. A mobile communication terminal according to claim 7, wherein:

said second variable resistor circuit comprises a second field effect transistor, while said second voltage divider circuit comprises at least two fifth resistors;

said control terminal is connected to said second voltage divider circuit, while the output terminal of said second voltage divider circuit is connected through at least one or more sixth resistors to the source terminal or the drain terminal of said second field effect transistor;

said second reference voltage terminal is connected through at least one or more seventh resistors to the gate terminal of said second field effect transistor;

an eighth resistor is connected between the source terminal and the drain terminal of said second field effect transistor; and

ninth resistors are connected at least at one of a position between said signal input terminal and the source terminal or the drain terminal of said second field effect transistor and a position between said first ground terminal and the drain terminal or the source terminal of said second field effect transistor.

12. A mobile communication terminal according to claim 7, wherein:

said third variable resistor circuit comprises a third field effect transistor, while said second voltage divider circuit comprises at least two fifth resistors;

said control terminal is connected to said second voltage divider circuit, while the output terminal of said second voltage divider circuit is connected through at least one or more tenth resistors to the source terminal or the drain terminal of said third field effect transistor;

said second reference voltage terminal is connected through at least one or more eleventh resistors to the gate terminal of said third field effect transistor;

a twelfth resistor is connected between the source terminal and the drain terminal of said third field effect transistor; and

thirteenth resistors are connected at least at one of a position between said signal output terminal and the source terminal or the drain terminal of said third field effect transistor and a position between said second ground terminal and the drain terminal or the source terminal of said third field effect transistor.

13. A mobile communication terminal according to claim 10, wherein said first field effect transistor comprises a source electrode and a drain electrode, and further comprises at least one or more gate electrodes between said source electrode and said drain electrode.

14. A mobile communication terminal according to claim 11, wherein said second field effect transistor comprises a source electrode and a drain electrode, and further comprises at least one or more gate electrodes between said source electrode and said drain electrode.

15. A mobile communication terminal according to claim 12, wherein said third field effect transistor comprises a source electrode and a drain electrode, and further comprises at least one or more gate electrodes between said source electrode and said drain electrode.

8. A mobile communication terminal a high frequency circuit block of which comprises:

a transmitting section for transmitting a high frequency signal;

a receiving section for receiving a high frequency signal;

a synthesizer section; and

a shared device section, wherein;

said transmitting section comprises;

an up converter for converting a modulation signal having an intermediate frequency into a transmission frequency signal;

a variable gain high frequency amplifier circuit having a gain control circuit and amplifying the output signal of said up converter;

a high frequency switch a common terminal of which is connected to the output terminal of said variable gain high frequency amplifier circuit, and which switches the high frequency signal path depending on the transmission frequency;

a first band pass filter an input terminal of which is connected to one switching terminal of said high frequency switch, and which extracts a signal in a first transmission band;

a first high power high frequency amplifier circuit having a fixed gain and amplifying a high frequency signal outputted from said first band pass filter;

a first isolator for providing the output of said first high power high frequency amplifier circuit to said shared device section;

a second band pass filter an input terminal of which is connected to the other switching terminal of said high frequency switch, and which extracts a signal in a second transmission band;

a second high power high frequency amplifier circuit having a fixed gain and amplifying a high frequency signal outputted from said second band pass filter; and

a second isolator for providing the output of said second high power high frequency amplifier circuit to said shared device section, and wherein;

said gain control circuit of said variable gain high frequency amplifier circuit comprises;

a signal input terminal and a signal output terminal;

a first variable resistor circuit connecting said signal input terminal to said signal output terminal;

a second variable resistor circuit in parallel to said signal input terminal and a first ground terminal;

a first voltage divider circuit which is connected between a control terminal and a third ground terminal and an output terminal of which is connected to said first variable resistor circuit;

a second voltage divider circuit which is connected between said control terminal and said third ground terminal and an output terminal of which is connected to said second variable resistor circuit;

a first reference voltage terminal connected to said first variable resistor circuit; and

a second reference voltage terminal connected to said second variable resistor circuit, wherein;

the DC resistance between said signal input terminal and said signal output terminal is infinity;

the DC resistance between said signal input terminal and said first ground terminal is infinity;

on the basis of the relation between the voltage of said control terminal, the voltage of said first reference voltage terminal, and the voltage of said second reference voltage terminal, the resistance values of said first and second variable resistor circuits are adjusted continuously, so that the signal level on said signal output terminal is continuously adjusted relative to the signal level inputted to said signal input terminal.

9. A mobile communication terminal a high frequency circuit block of which comprises:

a transmitting section for transmitting a high frequency signal;

a receiving section for receiving a high frequency signal;

a synthesizer section; and

a shared device section, wherein;

said transmitting section comprises;

an up converter for converting a modulation signal having an intermediate frequency into a transmission frequency signal;

a variable gain high frequency amplifier circuit having a gain control circuit and amplifying the output signal of said up converter;

a high frequency switch a common terminal of which is connected to the output terminal of said variable gain high frequency amplifier circuit), and which switches the high frequency signal path depending on the transmission frequency;

a first band pass filter an input terminal of which is connected to one switching terminal of said high frequency switch, and which extracts a signal in a first transmission band;

a first high power high frequency amplifier circuit having a fixed gain and amplifying a high frequency signal outputted from said first band pass filter;

a first isolator for providing the output of said first high power high frequency amplifier circuit to said shared device section;

a second band pass filter an input terminal of which is connected to the other switching terminal of said high frequency switch, and which extracts a signal in a second transmission band;

a second high power high frequency amplifier circuit having a fixed gain and amplifying a high frequency signal outputted from said second band pass filter; and

a second isolator for providing the output of said second high power high frequency amplifier circuit to said shared device section, and wherein;

said gain control circuit of said variable gain high frequency amplifier circuit comprises;

a signal input terminal and a signal output terminal;

a first variable resistor circuit connecting said signal input terminal to said signal output terminal;

a third variable resistor circuit connected in parallel to said signal output terminal and a second ground terminal;

a first voltage divider circuit which is connected between a control terminal and a third ground terminal and an output terminal of which is connected to said first variable resistor circuit;

a second voltage divider circuit which is connected between said control terminal and said third ground terminal and an output terminal of which is connected to said third variable resistor circuit;

a first reference voltage terminal connected to said first variable resistor circuit; and

a second reference voltage terminal connected to said third variable resistor circuit, wherein;

the DC resistance between said signal input terminal and said signal output terminal is infinity;

the DC resistance between said signal output terminal and said second ground terminal is infinity; and

on the basis of the relation between the voltage of said control terminal, the voltage of said first reference voltage terminal, and the voltage of said second reference voltage terminal, the resistance values of said first and third variable resistor circuits are adjusted continuously, so that the signal level on said signal output terminal is continuously adjusted relative to the signal level inputted to said signal input terminal.