RF Switch with RF Pathway Charge-Discharge Circuit
First Claim
1. A radio frequency switch, comprising:
- a common port;
a first port;
a second port;
a first semiconductor switching element disposed in a first RF pathway between the common port and the first port;
a second semiconductor switching element disposed in a second RF pathway between the common port and the second port;
a first pair of direct current (DC) blocking capacitors disposed to isolate the first semiconductor switching element in the first RF pathway;
a second pair of DC blocking capacitors disposed to isolate the second semiconductor switching element in the second RF pathway; and
a charge-discharge (CDC) circuit in electrical communication with at least one node of one the DC blocking capacitors and configured to charge or discharge the at least one of the DC blocking capacitors dependent on whether the first or the second RF pathway in which the at least one of the DC blocking capacitors is disposed is enabled.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A radio frequency (RF) switch includes a common port, a first port, and a second port, a first semiconductor switching element disposed in a first RF pathway between the common port and the first port, a second semiconductor switching element disposed in a second RF pathway between the common port and the second port, a first pair of direct current (DC) blocking capacitors disposed to isolate the first semiconductor switching element in the first RF pathway, and a second pair of DC blocking capacitors disposed to isolate the second semiconductor switching element in the second RF pathway. The respective pairs of DC blocking capacitors allow for different bias voltages to be applied to the respective RF pathways. A charge-discharge circuit may also be employed to decrease transient switching time of the RF switch.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A radio frequency switch, comprising:
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a common port; a first port; a second port; a first semiconductor switching element disposed in a first RF pathway between the common port and the first port; a second semiconductor switching element disposed in a second RF pathway between the common port and the second port; a first pair of direct current (DC) blocking capacitors disposed to isolate the first semiconductor switching element in the first RF pathway; a second pair of DC blocking capacitors disposed to isolate the second semiconductor switching element in the second RF pathway; and a charge-discharge (CDC) circuit in electrical communication with at least one node of one the DC blocking capacitors and configured to charge or discharge the at least one of the DC blocking capacitors dependent on whether the first or the second RF pathway in which the at least one of the DC blocking capacitors is disposed is enabled. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of operating an RF switch, comprising:
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operating the RF switch in a first state with a first RF pathway thereof one of enabled or disabled; detecting that the RF switch is transitioning the first RF pathway to a second state wherein the first RF pathway is the other of enabled or disabled; and responsive to the detecting, establishing a low resistance path between a voltage source and a direct current (DC) blocking capacitor in the first RF pathway of the RF switch. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification