Electronically adjustable balanced-to-unbalanced converters (balun)

• US 6,009,318 A
• Filed: 07/23/1997
• Issued: 12/28/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Freed, John G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisenzopf, Reinhard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, DUC M
• Application Number:
  US08/899,263
• Time in Patent Office: 888 Days
• Field of Search: 455/323, 455/326, 455/179.1, 455/188.2, 455/193.3, 327/113
• US Class Current: 455/326
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 7/42 Networks for transforming balanced signals into unbalanced signals and vice versa, e.g. baluns
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 3/20 of single resonant circuit by varying inductance only or capacitance only
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/26 for superheterodyne receivers multiple frequency-changing H03D7/16

Abstract

Electronically adjustable baluns and electronically adjustable balanced-to-unbalanced converting methods are provided. The electronically adjustable baluns are responsive to an electronic tuning signal to electronically vary the frequency range thereof. The baluns may include an electronically variable transformer, capacitor or inductor or switched transformers, inductors or capacitors, or combinations of these elements.

Claims

1. A balanced to unbalanced converter (balun) comprising:

a balanced input;

an unbalanced output;

a balun circuit which converts balanced signals in a predetermined frequency range on the balanced input to unbalanced signals on the unbalanced output, wherein the balun circuit is responsive to an electronic tuning signal to electronically vary the predetermined frequency range;

wherein the balun circuit comprises at least one capacitor or inductor and a switch that switches the at least one capacitor or inductor in or out of the balun circuit in response to the electronic tuning signal to electronically vary the predetermined frequency range;

wherein the balun circuit further comprises at least one variable capacitor or variable inductor which is responsive to the electronic tuning signal to electronically vary the predetermined frequency range; and

wherein the electronic tuning signal comprises a first and a second electronic tuning signal, the switch being responsive to the first electronic tuning signal to switch the at least one capacitor or inductor in or out of the balun circuit to electronically vary the predetermined frequency range by a first increment, and the at least one variable capacitor or variable inductor being responsive to the second electronic tuning signal to electronically vary the predetermined frequency range by a second increment which is less than the first increment.

2. A balun according to claim 1 in combination with a mixer, the mixer comprising a local oscillator and a controller which controls the oscillator frequency of the local oscillator, the controller further generating the first and second electronic tuning signals to thereby electronically vary the predetermined frequency range to include the local oscillator frequency.

3. A balun according to claim 2 in further combination with a radiotelephone system to thereby provide a multiband radiotelephone.

4. A balun according to claim 1 wherein the balun circuit further transforms impedance between the balanced input and the unbalanced output.

5. A balanced to unbalanced converter (balun) comprising:

a balanced input;

an unbalanced output; and

means for converting balanced signals of a predetermined frequency range at the balanced input to unbalanced signals at the unbalanced output and for electronically varying the predetermined frequency range in response to an electronic tuning signal;

wherein the converting and electronically varying means comprises at least one capacitor or inductor and means for switching the at least one capacitor or inductor in or out of the balun in response to the electronic tuning signal to electronically vary the predetermined frequency range;

wherein the converting and electronically varying means further comprises at least one variable capacitor or variable inductor which is responsive to the electronic tuning signal to electronically vary the predetermined frequency range; and

wherein the electronic tuning signal comprises a first and a second electronic tuning signal, the switching means being responsive to the first electronic tuning signal for switching the at least one capacitor or inductor in or out of the balun to electronically vary the predetermined frequency range by a first increment, and the at least one variable capacitor or variable inductor being responsive to the second electronic tuning signal to electronically vary the predetermined frequency range by a second increment which is less than the first increment.

6. A balun according to claim 5 in combination with mixing means comprising a local oscillator and means for controlling the oscillator frequency of the local oscillator, the controlling means further comprising means for generating the first and second electronic tuning signals to thereby electronically vary the predetermined frequency range to include the local oscillator frequency.

7. A balun according to claim 6 in further combination with a radiotelephone system to thereby provide a multiband radiotelephone.

8. A balun according to claim 5 wherein the converting and electronically varying means further comprises means for transforming impedance between the balanced input and the unbalanced output.