System for establishing communication with a mobile device server

• US 20110043298A1
• Filed: 11/03/2010
• Published: 02/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NXP USA, Inc. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Original Assignee: Paratek Microwave Incorporated (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: McKinzie, William E. III
• Granted Patent: US 8,680,934 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 333/17.3
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/50 Structural association of antennas with earthing switches, lead-in devices or lightning protectors
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 2007/386 Multiple band impedance matching
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 7/40 Automatic matching of load impedance to source impedance
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0458 Arrangements for matching and coupling between power amplifier and antenna or between amplifying stages matching circuits in general H03H

Abstract

An embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus, comprising an RF matching network connected to at least one RF input port and at least one RF output port and including one or more voltage or current controlled variable reactive elements; a voltage detector connected to the at least one RF output port via a variable voltage divider to determine the voltage at the at least one RF output port and provide voltage information to a controller that controls a bias driving circuit which provides voltage or current bias to the RF matching network; a variable voltage divider connected to the voltage detector and implemented using a multi-pole RF switch to select one of a plurality of different resistance ratios to improve the dynamic range of the apparatus; and wherein the RF matching network is adapted to maximize RF power transferred from the at least one RF input port to the at least one RF output port by varying the voltage or current to the voltage or current controlled variable reactive elements to maximize the RF voltage at the at least one RF output port.

Claims

1-16. -16. (canceled)

17. An apparatus, comprising a controller to:

obtain a voltage at an input or output of an RF matching network, wherein the RF matching network comprises one or more variable reactive elements; and

adapt the matching network according to the obtained voltage to increase an RF voltage at the input or output by varying the one or more variable reactive elements,

wherein the variable reactive elements comprise at least one of a semiconductor varactor, a micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) varactor, a MEMS switched reactive element, a semiconductor switched reactive element, or a ferroelectric capacitor.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the voltage is obtained using a voltage detector coupled to the input or output via a variable voltage divider, wherein the variable voltage divider is implemented using a multi-pole RF switch to select one of a plurality of different resistance ratios to improve a dynamic range of said apparatus.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the voltage detector is a diode detector.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the variable voltage divider is programmable using a loop controller.

21. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the input or output is connected to a shunt RF branch comprising a series string of capacitors.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a digitally controlled RF switch operable to selectively tap into circuit nodes of the series string of capacitors.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the digitally controlled RF switch is selected from the group consisting of FETs, MEMS or PIN diodes.

24. An apparatus, comprising a controller to:

obtain a voltage using a variable voltage divider, the voltage being obtained at an input or output of an RF matching network, wherein the RF matching network comprises one or more variable reactive elements; and

adapt the matching network according to the obtained voltage to increase an RF voltage at the input or output by varying the one or more variable reactive elements.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the variable reactive elements comprise at least one semiconductor varactor.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the variable reactive elements comprise at least one micro-electro-mechanical systems varactor.

27. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the variable reactive elements comprise at least one micro-electro-mechanical systems switched reactive element.

28. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the variable reactive elements comprise at least one semiconductor switched reactive element.

29. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the variable reactive elements comprise at least one ferroelectric capacitor.

30. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the variable voltage divider is implemented using a multi-pole RF switch to select one of a plurality of different resistance ratios to improve a dynamic range of said apparatus.

31. A system comprising:

an RF matching circuit configured for coupling to an RF antenna, the RF matching network comprising one or more variable reactive elements;

a voltage detector to detect a voltage at an input or output of the RF matching network; and

a controller coupled with the RF matching circuit and the voltage detector, the controller being operable to vary the one or more variable reactive elements according to the detected voltage to increase an RF voltage at the input or output.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the variable reactive elements comprise at least one of a semiconductor varactor, a micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) varactor, a MEMS switched reactive element, or a semiconductor switched reactive element.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein the variable reactive elements comprise at least one ferroelectric capacitor.

34. The system of claim 31, further comprising a multi-pole RF switch coupled with the variable voltage divider, wherein the multi-pole RF switch is adjustable to select one of a plurality of different resistance ratios to improve a dynamic range of said system.

35. The system of claim 31, further comprising:

a series string of capacitors connected to the input or output; and

a digitally controlled RF switch operable to selectively tap into circuit nodes of the series string of capacitors.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the digitally controlled RF switch is selected from the group consisting of FETs, MEMS or PIN diodes.