REFLECTION COEFFICIENT READER

• US 20170070368A1
• Filed: 07/26/2016
• Published: 03/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc. (Qorvo, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Veesto Ltd.
• Inventors: Mandegaran, Sam
• Granted Patent: US 9,762,416 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/14 Reflecting surfaces; Equivalent structures electromagnetic shields H01Q1/526
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0442 with particular tuning means
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/24 of transmitter output stages
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/0408 with power amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/0278 Arrangements for impedance matching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/03019 adaptive, i.e. capable of adjustment during data reception
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/03031 using only passive components H04L25/03025 takes precedence

Abstract

The disclosure provides circuitry and methods to determine the reflection coefficient of a transmission line connected another physical element or device such as an antenna. The outgoing and the reflected signals on the transmission line are compared using two separate paths, with one path going through a signal conditioning circuitry such as an equalizer. The two paths are then combined and detected. A lookup table may be used for non-linear responses.

Claims

1. A radio frequency (RF) circuitry, comprising:

a device configured to tap a transmission line and to pick up some of electromagnetic signals traveling in both directions on the transmission line;

controllable signal conditioning circuitry configured to condition a portion of a tapped signal that corresponds to the electromagnetic signals traveling in a first direction on the transmission line;

a combiner configured to combine the conditioned portion of the tapped signal with a portion of the tapped signal that corresponds to the electromagnetic signal travelling in a second direction on the transmission line;

a detector configured to receive the combined signal; and

a controller configured to adjust the controllable signal conditioning circuitry based on information from an output of the detector such that the output of the detector reaches a desired minimum signal level.

2. The RF circuitry of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a directional coupler.

3. The RF circuitry of claim 1, wherein a path with the signal conditioning comprises a variable phase-shifter and a variable attenuator.

4. The RF circuitry of claim 1, wherein the detector includes one or more of a power detector, a voltage detector, and a current detector.

5. The RF circuitry of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a digital circuit.

6. The RF circuitry of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises analog circuits and digital circuits.

7. The RF circuitry of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a lookup table.

8. The RF circuitry of claim 1 further comprising a filter that is configured to operate on the combined signal prior to the detector.

9. The RF circuitry of claim 8, wherein the device comprises a directional coupler.

10. The RF circuitry of claim 8, wherein a path with the signal conditioning comprises a variable phase-shifter and a variable attenuator.

11. The RF circuitry of claim 8, wherein the detector includes one or more of a power detector, a voltage detector, and a current detector.

12. The RF circuitry of claim 8, wherein the controller comprises a digital circuit.

13. The RF circuitry of claim 8, wherein the controller comprises analog circuits and digital circuits.

14. The RF circuitry of claim 8, wherein the controller comprises a lookup table.

15. A method for determining a reflection coefficient, the method comprising:

determining, by radio frequency (RF) circuitry that comprises a detector, a phase of a phase-shifter in the RF circuitry so that a signal level at an output of the detector is minimized;

determining an attenuation of an attenuator in the RF circuitry so that the signal level at the output of the detector is minimized;

determining a phase and an amplitude of a reflection coefficient using the determined phase of the phase-shifter and the determined attenuation of the attenuator;

outputting values of the reflection coefficient comprising the determined phase and the determined amplitude; and

monitoring the signal level at the output of the detector, wherein if the monitored signal level increases, repeating the method beginning with the step of determining the phase of the phase-shifter so that the signal level at the output of the detector is minimized.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein if the monitored signal level decreases, maintaining the previous output value of the reflection coefficient.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein if the monitored signal level decreases, outputting the same output value of the reflection coefficient.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising using a lookup table to provide a more accurate result for the determined values of the reflection coefficient.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the detector includes one or more of a power detector, a voltage detector, and a current detector.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the RF circuitry comprises an equalizer that comprises the phase-shifter and the attenuator.