LTE-ADVANCED (4G) FRONT END RADIO ARCHITECTURE

• US 20110222443A1
• Filed: 03/11/2011
• Published: 09/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc. (Qorvo, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: RF Micro Devices Incorporated (Qorvo, Inc.)
• Inventors: Khlat, Nadim
• Granted Patent: US 8,537,723 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/277
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/222 A circuit being added at the input of an amplifier to adapt the input impedance of the amplifier
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/249 A switch coupled in the input circuit of an amplifier being controlled by a circuit, e.g. feedback circuitry being controlling the switch
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/318 A matching circuit being used as coupling element between two amplifying stages
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/387 A circuit being added at the output of an amplifier to adapt the output impedance of the amplifier
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/411 the output amplifying stage of an amplifier comprising two power stages
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/451 the amplifier being a radio frequency amplifier
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/534 Transformer coupled at the input of an amplifier
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/537 A transformer being used as coupling element between two amplifying stages
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/541 Transformer coupled at the output of an amplifier
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/81 Inputs or outputs are crossed during a first switching time, not crossed during a second switching time
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/189 High-frequency amplifiers, e.g. radio frequency amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/211 using a combination of several amplifiers H03F3/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/24 of transmitter output stages
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/68 Combinations of amplifiers, e.g. multi-channel amplifiers for stereophonics power amplifiers using a combination of several semiconductor amplifiers H03F3/211; combinations of amplifiers using coupling networks with distributed constants H03F3/602

Abstract

A front end radio architecture (FERA) is disclosed that includes a power amplifier (PA). The PA includes first and second input terminals and first and second output terminals and a PA die having first and second half amplifier cells, each of which includes an output amplifier stage. The first and second half amplifier cells are coupled to the first and second input terminals. First and second PA transformers each include first, second, and third windings. The first windings are coupled to the output amplifier stages. The second winding of the first PA transformer is coupled to the first output terminal of the PA and also coupled in series with the second winding of the second PA transformer. The third winding of the first PA transformer is coupled in series with the third winding of the second PA transformer, with one end of the second PA transformer being coupled to the second output terminal of the PA.

Claims

1. A front end radio architecture (FERA) comprising:

a transmitter block having a first output terminal and a second output terminal;

a power amplifier (PA) having a first input terminal coupled to the first output terminal of the transmitter block, a second input terminal coupled to the second output terminal of the transmitter block, a first output terminal, and a second output terminal, the PA comprising;

a PA die having a first half amplifier cell including an output amplifier stage, wherein the first half amplifier cell is coupled to the first input terminal, and a second half amplifier cell including an output amplifier stage, wherein the second half amplifier cell is coupled to the second input terminal; and

a first PA transformer and a second PA transformer each having a first winding, a second winding, and a third winding, wherein the first winding of the first PA transformer is coupled to the output amplifier stage of the first half amplifier cell, and the first winding of the second PA transformer is coupled to the output amplifier stage of the second half amplifier cell, and wherein the second winding of the first PA transformer is coupled in series with the second winding of the second PA transformer, the second winding of the first PA transformer having an end that makes up the first output terminal, and the second winding of the second PA transformer having an end that is coupled to a fixed voltage node, and wherein the third winding of the first PA transformer is coupled in series with the third winding of the second PA transformer, the third winding of the first PA transformer having an end coupled to the fixed voltage node, and the third winding of the second PA transformer having an end making up the second output terminal;

a first duplexer coupled to the first output terminal of the PA; and

a second duplexer coupled to the second output terminal of the PA.

2. The FERA of claim 1, wherein the fixed voltage node is ground.

3. The FERA of claim 1, wherein the first half amplifier cell includes a differential pre-amplifier stage coupled to a first impedance matching transformer via a pair of differential terminals that are selectively crisscrossed by a multiplexer switch that is responsive to a control signal.

4. The FERA of claim 3, wherein the second half amplifier cell includes a differential pre-amplifier stage coupled to a second impedance matching transformer via a pair of differential terminals that are selectively crisscrossed by a multiplexer switch that is responsive to a control signal.

5. The FERA of claim 1, wherein the second half amplifier cell includes a differential pre-amplifier stage coupled to a second impedance matching transformer via a pair of differential terminals that are selectively crisscrossed by a multiplexer switch that is responsive to a control signal.

6. The FERA of claim 1, wherein the transmitter block comprises:

a first radio frequency (RF) modulator;

a second RF modulator; and

a first modulator transformer and a second modulator transformer each having a first winding, a second winding, and a third winding, wherein the first winding of the first modulator transformer is coupled to the first RF modulator, and the first winding of the second modulator transformer is coupled to the second RF modulator, and wherein the second winding of the first modulator transformer is coupled in series with the second winding of the second modulator transformer, the second winding of the first modulator transformer having an end that makes up the first output terminal of the transmitter block, and the second winding of the second modulator transformer having an end that is coupled to a fixed voltage node, and wherein the third winding of the first modulator transformer is coupled in series with the third winding of the second modulator transformer, the third winding of the first modulator transformer having an end coupled to the fixed voltage node, and the third winding of the second modulator transformer having an end for coupling to the second output terminal of the transmitter block.

7. The FERA of claim 6, wherein the fixed voltage node is ground.

8. The FERA of claim 6, further including a single pole double throw (SPDT) switch having a first throw coupled to the first output terminal of the transmitter block, a second throw coupled to the end of the third winding of the second modulator transformer for coupling to the second output terminal of the transmitter block, and a pole coupled to the second output terminal of the transmitter block.

9. The FERA of claim 1, wherein the first duplexer and the second duplexer are split band duplexers.

10. The FERA of claim 9, wherein a first carrier and a second carrier do not occur simultaneously within the first duplexer and the second duplexer, thus not allowing generation of forward inter-modulation (IMD) products.

11. The FERA of claim 9, wherein only one of the first duplexer or the second duplexer is active when a first carrier or a second carrier has a frequency offset that is less than an associated half duplex frequency within a same split band duplex band, thus preventing third order IMD products from falling within an associated receive band.

12. The FERA of claim 1, wherein the first duplexer and the second duplexer are split transmitter band duplexers that only split a transmitter band and do not split a receiver band.

13. The FERA of claim 12, further including a diversity receiver and a main receiver.

14. The FERA of claim 1, further including a third duplexer.

15. A mobile terminal comprising:

a first antenna;

a second antenna;

a control system;

a front end radio architecture (FERA) comprising;

a transmitter block having a first output terminal and a second output terminal;

a power amplifier (PA) having a first input terminal coupled to the first output terminal of the transmitter block, a second input terminal coupled to the second output terminal of the transmitter block, a first output terminal, and a second output terminal, the PA comprising;

a PA die having a first half amplifier cell having a multiplexer switch including a pair of differential terminals adapted to crisscross in response to a first control signal provided by the control system, and an output amplifier stage, wherein the first half amplifier cell is coupled to the first input terminal, and a second half amplifier cell having a multiplexer switch including a pair of differential terminals adapted to crisscross in response to a second control signal provided by the control system, and an output amplifier stage, wherein the second half amplifier cell is coupled to the second input terminal; and

a first PA transformer and a second PA transformer each having a first winding, a second winding, and a third winding, wherein the first winding of the first PA transformer is coupled to the output amplifier stage of the first half amplifier cell, and the first winding of the second PA transformer is coupled to the output amplifier stage of the second half amplifier cell, and wherein the second winding of the first PA transformer is coupled in series with the second winding of the second PA transformer, the second winding of the first PA transformer having an end that makes up the first output terminal, and the second winding of the second PA transformer having an end that is coupled to a fixed voltage node, and wherein the third winding of the first PA transformer is coupled in series with the third winding of the second PA transformer, the third winding of the first PA transformer having an end coupled to the fixed voltage node, and the third winding of the second PA transformer having an end that makes up the second output terminal;

a first duplexer coupled between the first output terminal of the PA and the first antenna; and

a second duplexer coupled between the second output terminal of the PA and the second antenna.

16. The mobile terminal of claim 15, wherein the fixed voltage node is ground.

17. The mobile terminal of claim 15, wherein the transmitter block comprises:

a first radio frequency (RF) modulator;

a second RF modulator; and

a first modulator transformer and a second modulator transformer each having a first winding, a second winding, and a third winding, wherein the first winding of the first modulator transformer is coupled to the first RF modulator, and the first winding of the second modulator transformer is coupled to the second RF modulator, and wherein the second winding of the first modulator transformer is coupled in series with the second winding of the second modulator transformer, the second winding of the first modulator transformer having an end that makes up the first output terminal of the transmitter block, and the second winding of the second modulator transformer having an end that is coupled to a fixed voltage node, and wherein the third winding of the first modulator transformer is coupled in series with the third winding of the second modulator transformer, the third winding of the first modulator transformer having an end coupled to the fixed voltage node, and the third winding of the second modulator transformer having an end for coupling to the second output terminal of the transmitter block.

18. The mobile terminal of claim 17, further including a single pole double throw (SPDT) switch having a first throw coupled to the first output terminal of the transmitter block, a second throw coupled to the end of the third winding of the second modulator transformer for coupling to the second output terminal of the transmitter block, and a pole coupled to the second output terminal of the transmitter block.

19. The mobile terminal of claim 15, wherein the first duplexer and the second duplexer are split band duplexers.

20. The mobile terminal of claim 19, wherein a first carrier and a second carrier do not occur simultaneously within the first duplexer and the second duplexer, thus not allowing generation of forward inter-modulation (IMD) products.

21. The mobile terminal of claim 19, wherein only one of the first duplexer or the second duplexer is active when a first carrier or a second carrier has a frequency offset that is less than an associated half duplex frequency within a same split band duplex band, thus preventing third order IMD products from falling within an associated receive band.

22. The mobile terminal of claim 15, wherein the first duplexer and the second duplexer are split transmitter band duplexers that only split a transmitter band and do not split a receiver band.

23. The mobile terminal of claim 22, further including a diversity receiver and a main receiver.

24. The mobile terminal of claim 15, further including a third duplexer.

25. A power amplifier (PA) comprising:

a PA die comprising;

a first input terminal;

a second input terminal;

a first half amplifier cell having a multiplexer switch including a pair of differential terminals adapted to crisscross in response to a first control signal, and an output amplifier stage, wherein the multiplexer switch is communicatively coupled to the first input terminal;

a second half amplifier cell having a multiplexer switch including a pair of differential terminals adapted to crisscross in response to a second control signal, and an output amplifier stage, wherein the multiplexer switch is communicatively coupled to the second input terminal;

a first PA transformer having a first winding, a second winding, and a third winding, wherein the first winding is coupled to the output amplifier stage of the first half amplifier cell;

a second PA transformer having a first winding, a second winding, and a third winding, wherein the first winding is coupled to the output amplifier stage of the second half amplifier cell;

a first output terminal coupled to the second winding of the first PA transformer which is coupled in series with the second winding of the second PA transformer, wherein the second winding of the second PA includes an end coupled to a fixed voltage node; and

a second output terminal coupled to the third winding of the second PA transformer which is coupled in series with the second winding of the first PA transformer, wherein the second winding of the first PA transformer includes an end coupled to the fixed voltage node.

26. The PA of the claim 25, wherein the fixed voltage node is ground.

27. A front end radio architecture (FERA) comprising:

a power amplifier (PA) having a first input terminal, a second input terminal, and a PA die having a first half amplifier cell with an output stage and a second half amplifier cell with an output stage, wherein the first half amplifier cell is communicably coupled to the first input terminal and the second half amplifier cell is communicably coupled to the second input terminal;

a first PA transformer having a first winding, a second winding, and a third winding, wherein the first winding is coupled to the output amplifier stage of the first half amplifier cell;

a second PA transformer having a first winding, a second winding, and a third winding, wherein the first winding is coupled to the output amplifier stage of the second half amplifier cell;

a first output terminal coupled to the second winding of the first PA transformer which is coupled in series with the second winding of the second PA transformer, wherein the second winding of the second PA includes an end coupled to a fixed voltage node; and

a second output terminal coupled to the third winding of the second PA transformer which is coupled in series with the second winding of the first PA transformer, wherein the second winding of the first PA transformer includes an end coupled to the fixed voltage node.

28. The FERA of claim 27, wherein the fixed voltage node is ground.

29. The FERA of claim 27, wherein the first half amplifier cell includes a differential pre-amplifier stage coupled to a first impedance matching transformer via a pair of differential terminals that are selectively crisscrossed by a multiplexer switch that is responsive to a control signal.

30. The FERA of claim 29, wherein the second half amplifier cell includes a differential pre-amplifier stage coupled to a second impedance matching transformer via a pair of differential terminals that are selectively crisscrossed by a multiplexer switch that is responsive to a control signal.

31. The FERA of claim 27, wherein the second half amplifier cell includes a differential pre-amplifier stage coupled to a second impedance matching transformer via a pair of differential terminals that are selectively crisscrossed by a multiplexer switch that is responsive to a control signal.

32. The FERA of claim 27, further including a transmitter block comprises:

a first radio frequency (RF) modulator;

a second RF modulator; and

a first modulator transformer and a second modulator transformer each having a first winding, a second winding, and a third winding, wherein the first winding of the first modulator transformer is coupled to the first RF modulator, and the first winding of the second modulator transformer is coupled to the second RF modulator, and wherein the second winding of the first modulator transformer is coupled in series with the second winding of the second modulator transformer, the second winding of the first modulator transformer having an end that makes up the first output terminal of the transmitter block, and the second winding of the second modulator transformer having an end that is coupled to a fixed voltage node, and wherein the third winding of the first modulator transformer is coupled in series with the third winding of the second modulator transformer, the third winding of the first modulator transformer having an end coupled to the fixed voltage node, and the third winding of the second modulator transformer having an end for coupling to the second output terminal of the transmitter block.

33. The FERA of claim 32, wherein the fixed voltage node is ground.

34. The FERA of claim 32, further including a single pole double throw (SPDT) switch having a first throw coupled to the first output terminal of the transmitter block, a second throw coupled to the end of the third winding of the second modulator transformer for coupling to the second output terminal of the transmitter block, and a pole coupled to the second output terminal of the transmitter block.

35. The FERA of claim 27, further including a first duplexer coupled to the first output terminal and a second duplexer coupled to the second output terminal.

36. The FERA of claim 35, wherein the first duplexer and the second duplexer are split band duplexers.

37. The FERA of claim 36, wherein a first carrier and a second carrier do not occur simultaneously within the first duplexer and the second duplexer, thus not allowing generation of forward inter-modulation (IMD) products.

38. The FERA of claim 36, wherein only one of the first duplexer or the second duplexer is active when a first carrier or a second carrier has a frequency offset that is less than an associated half duplex frequency within a same split band duplex band, thus preventing third order IMD products from falling within an associated receive band.

39. The FERA of claim 35, wherein the first duplexer and the second duplexer are split transmitter band duplexers that only split a transmitter band and do not split a receiver band.

40. The FERA of claim 38, further including a diversity receiver and a main receiver.