Methods and Apparatuses for use in Tuning Reactance in a Circuit Device

• US 20160191019A1
• Filed: 10/14/2015
• Published: 06/30/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: pSemi Corporation (Murata Manufacturing Co Limited)
• Original Assignee: Peregrine Semiconductor Corporation (Murata Manufacturing Co Limited)
• Inventors: Reedy, Ronald Eugene, Nobbe, Dan William, Ranta, Tero Tapio, Liss, Cheryl V., Kovac, David
• Granted Patent: US 9,806,694 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 21/12 discontinuously variable, e.g. tapped
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 4/002 Details
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 7/00 Capacitors in which the capacitance is varied by non-mechanical means; Processes of their manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/5223 Capacitor integral with wiring layers
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/0629 in combination with diodes, or resistors, or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/1203 the substrate comprising an insulating body on a semiconductor body, e.g. SOI three-dimensional layout H01L27/0688
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 28/60 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 11/28 Impedance matching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 7/0153 Electrical filters; Controlling thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 7/38 Impedance-matching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 2200/10 Tuning of a resonator by means of digitally controlled capacitor bank
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 3/20 of single resonant circuit by varying inductance only or capacitance only
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/102 in field-effect transistor switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/162 without feedback from the output circuit to the control circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/687 the devices being field-effect transistors
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 1/1061 using digitally programmable trimming circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 1/804 with charge redistribution

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for use in tuning reactance are described. Open loop and closed loop control for tuning of reactances are also described. Tunable inductors and/or tunable capacitors may be used in filters, resonant circuits, matching networks, and phase shifters. Ability to control inductance and/or capacitance in a circuit leads to flexibility in operation of the circuit, since the circuit may be tuned to operate under a range of different operating frequencies.

Claims

1. A tunable inductor, comprising:

a first RF terminal;

a second RF terminal;

one or more inductive elements connected therebetween, wherein each inductive element is an inductor or a portion thereof; and

a plurality of switches coupled with the one or more inductive elements, wherein each switch in the plurality of switches is configured to receive a control signal, and wherein the control signal controls inductance applied between the first RF terminal and the second RF terminal by turning on or off switches in the plurality of switches,

and wherein at least one inductive element in the one or more inductive elements is coupled with at least two switches from among the plurality of switches, the at least two switches being serially connected therebetween.