ELECTRONIC SWITCH AND COMMUNICATION DEVICE INCLUDING SUCH A SWITCH

• US 20120157011A1
• Filed: 09/23/2011
• Published: 06/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stmicroelectronics France (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Original Assignee: STMicroelectronics SA (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Inventors: Martineau, Baudouin
• Granted Patent: US 8,981,882 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/78
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/44 Transmit/receive switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/48 in circuits for connecting transmitter and receiver to a common transmission path, e.g. by energy of transmitter H04B1/46 takes precedence

Abstract

Switch including a terminal of a first type and at least two terminals of a second type, and a number of circuits capable of ensuring exclusive connection of one of the terminals of the second type to the terminal of the first type as a function of a set of control orders wherein the terminal of the first type is connected to a common point by a first circuit; each terminal of the second type is connected to the common point by a second circuit, with each second circuit including a portion that is magnetically coupled to the first circuit, a static switch mounted in parallel with the portion and capable of being controlled in the “off” state in order to connect the terminal of the first type to the terminal of the second type associated with the second circuit in question.

Claims

1. Switch comprising a terminal of a first type and at least two terminals of a second type, and a number of circuits capable of ensuring exclusive connection of one of the terminals of the second type to the terminal of the first type as a function of a set of control orders wherein:

the terminal of the first type is connected to a common point by a first circuit;

each terminal of the second type is connected to said common point by a second circuit, with each second circuit comprising;

a portion that is magnetically coupled to said first circuit,

a static switch mounted in parallel with said portion and capable of being controlled in the “

off”

state in order to connect the terminal of the first type to the terminal of the second type associated with the second circuit in question.

2. Switch as claimed in claim 1 wherein the coupling coefficient between the first circuit and the magnetically coupled portion of each second circuit exceeds 0.5.

3. Switch as claimed in claim 2 wherein the coupling coefficient between the first circuit and the magnetically coupled portion of each second circuit exceeds 0.7.

4. Switch as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first circuit and the magnetically coupled portions of the second circuits form substantially coaxial loops.

5. Switch as claimed in claim 4 wherein the first circuit and the magnetically coupled portions of the second circuits form substantially superposed loops.

6. Switch as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first circuit and the magnetically coupled portions of the second circuits form substantially concentric loops that are located in the same plane.

7. Switch as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first circuit and the magnetically coupled portions of the second circuits form substantially straight, parallel lines.

8. Switch as claimed in claim 1 wherein a pair of back-to-back diodes connect the terminal of the first type and the common point.

9. Communication device comprising an antenna, at least one receive chain and at least one transmit chain and a switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein the antenna is connected to the terminal of the first type and said receive and transmit chains are each connected to a terminal of the second type.