Filter device for suppressing harmonics in radio frequency signals when dual frequencies exist

• US 6,023,611 A
• Filed: 02/13/1998
• Issued: 02/08/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Bolin, Tomas, Imberg, Ulrik, Brandt, Per-Olof
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Redmon, Joy
• Application Number:
  US09/023,162
• Time in Patent Office: 725 Days
• Field of Search: 455/114, 455/553, 455/296, 455/307, 455/127, 455/179.1, 455/188.1, 455/103, 333/174, 333/175, 333/176, 330/149
• US Class Current: 455/114.1
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/1935 with junction-FET devices
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/72 Gated amplifiers, i.e. amplifiers which are rendered operative or inoperative by means of a control signal
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 7/0123 comprising distributed impedance elements together with lumped impedance elements
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 7/0153 Electrical filters; Controlling thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 7/1775 Parallel LC in shunt or branch path H03H7/1791 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 7/1791 Combined LC in shunt or branch path
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 7/38 Impedance-matching networks

Abstract

The present invention relates to a power amplifier device (10), switchable for at least two separate basic frequency bands, for radio frequency signals with effective suppression of harmonics, where harmonics, corresponding to a first basic frequency band, can be permitted to overlap the frequency range of at least one second basic frequency band. The power amplifier device (10) comprises a power amplifier (1) and an impedance matching circuit (2), switchable by means of a PIN-diode, which provides a load impedance adapted to each individual basic frequency band. Furthermore, the power amplifier device comprises a filter device (3) comprising a fixed low-pass filter (3b) and a switchable filter (3b) acting as an engageable and disengageable notch filter, which comprises at least one reversible PIN-diode. This switchable filter (3a) allows to pass, in a first mode, signals in the first basic frequency band and suppresses at the same time at least one order of harmonics corresponding to this basic frequency band. In a second mode, the second basic frequency band is transmitted without appreciable losses, and harmonics are suppressed by the fixed low-pass filter (3a).

Claims

1. Filter device (3) intended for suppressing harmonics in radio frequency signals (S1,S2,S3,S4), comprising a first filter (3b) with fixed characteristic, and a second filter (3a,90,110), which is arranged in series with the first filter (3b), characterized in that the second filter (3a,90,110) is switchable and comprises at least one resonance circuit device (22,24,94,122,124) with a first and a second terminal, where the first terminal is connected to a transmission conducting element (25,96,125) included in the resonance circuit device, and the second terminal is connected to a reference potential (V_REF), where the resonance circuit device (22,24,94,122,124) comprises:

firstly, a first parallel connection of a first reactive element (L₂₂,L₂₄,L₉₄,C₁₂₂,C₁₂₄) and at least one reversible PIN-diode (D₂₂), and

secondly, a second reactive element (C₂₁,C₂₃,C₉₃,L₁₂₂,L₁₂₄), where it is arranged in series with the first parallel connection, the second, switchable filter (3a,90,110) being arranged;

to, in a first mode, provide good transmission of the radio frequency signal (S1,S3) in a first, lower, basic frequency band (51,81) and suppress at least one order of harmonics corresponding to this first basic frequency band (51,81), and

to, in a second mode, provide good transmission of the radio frequency signal (S2,S4) in a second, higher, basic frequency band (61,91), the first filter (3b) suppressing at least one order of harmonics (62,92) corresponding to this second basic frequency band (61,91).

2. Filter device according to claim 1, characterized in that said PIN-diode (D₂₂) in the resonance circuit device (22,24,94,122,124) is disposed to assume, in one of said first and second modes, a low-resistive state, where the characteristic of the PIN-diode (D₂₂) is essentially inductive, and in another of said first and second modes, to assume a high-resistive state, where the characteristic of the PIN-diode (D₂₂) is essentially capacitive.

3. Filter device according to claim 2, characterized in that the PIN-diode (D₂₂) in combination with said second reactive component (C₂₁,C₂₃,C₉₃,L₁₂₁,L₁₂₃) in a first position, corresponding to one of said first and second modes, is disposed to form a series resonance circuit with a first resonance frequency adapted to the frequency bands in question, and that the PIN-diode in the corresponding second position is disposed, in combination with said first reactive component (L₂₂,L₂₄,L₉₄,C₁₂₂,C₁₂₄), to form a parallel resonance circuit with a second resonance frequency adapted to the frequency bands in question, this second resonance frequency being able to show the same value as said first resonance frequency.

4. Filter device according to claims 1, characterized in that said first reactive element (L₂₂,L₂₄,L₉₄) is inductive, and that said second reactive element (C₂₁,C₂₃,C₉₃) is capacitive.

5. Filter device according to claim 4, characterized in that said resonance circuit device (22,24,94) is disposed so that the PIN-diode (D₂₂) in low-resistive state, where the PIN-diode shows inductive characteristic, is disposed to form a series resonance circuit with said second reactive elements (C₂₁,C₂₃,C₉₃), and that the same PIN-diode (D₂₂) in high-resistive state, where the PIN-diode has capacitive characteristic, is disposed to form a parallel resonance circuit with said first reactive element (L₂₂,L₂₄,L₉₄).

6. Filter device according to claim 5, characterized in that said series resonance circuit gives the second filter (3a) a band elimination characteristic for at least one order of harmonics corresponding to the first basic frequency band (51,81).

7. Filter device according to claim 5, characterized in that said parallel resonance circuit gives the second filter (3a) a passband characteristic for the second, higher basic frequency band (61,91).

8. Filter device according to one of claim 4, characterized in that a third reactive element (L₂₁,L₂₃,L₉₃) in the form of an inductance, is arranged in parallel to said second reactive element (C₂₁,C₂₃,C₉₃) in such a manner that a parallel resonance circuit is formed, where this parallel resonance circuit displays a resonance frequency which essentially corresponds to the center frequency (f₁,f₃) of the first frequency band (51,81).

9. Filter device according to claim 1, characterized in that the filter device (3) comprises two resonance circuit devices (22,24,122,124).

10. Filter device according to claim 9, characterized in that said two resonance circuit devices (22,24,122,124) are separated by a transmission conducting element (25,125), the length of which substantially corresponding to a quarter wavelength at the center frequency (f₂,f₄) of said second basic frequency band (61,91).

11. Process for suppression of harmonics in a radio frequency signal (S1,S2,S3,S4) in a filter device according to claim 1, characterized by the following steps:

setting the second, switchable filter (3a,90,110) in a first mode;

transmitting the radio frequency signal (S1,S3) in the first, lower frequency band (51,81) and suppressing at least one order of harmonics (52,82) corresponding to said first basic frequency band;

setting the second, switchable filter (3a,90,110) in a second mode;

transmitting the radio frequency signal (S2,S4) in the second, higher basic frequency band (61,91), said first filter (3b) suppressing at least one harmonic (62,92) corresponding to this second basic frequency band (61,91).

12. Power amplifier device (10) for radio frequency signals, comprising:

a power amplifier (1);

an impedance matching circuit (2) arranged at the outlet of the power amplifier (1), and

a filter device (3) connected to the outlet of the impedance matching circuit (2) for suppression of harmonics, the function of which corresponds to a combination of;

a first filter (3b) with fixed characteristic, and

a second filter (3a,90,110) arranged in series with the first filter (3b), characterized in that the power amplifier device (10) has at least two modes, where the modes correspond to adapting the properties of the power amplifier device (10) to at least one basic frequency band (51,61) each, and that the second filter (3a,90,110) is switchable and arranged;

in a first mode of said modes, to provide good transmission for a first, lower basic frequency band (51,81) and suppress at least one order of harmonics corresponding to this first basic frequency band (51,81), and

in a second mode of said modes, to provide good transmission for a second, higher basic frequency band (61,91).

13. Power amplifier device according to claim 12, characterized in that the impedance matching circuit (2) comprises a PIN-diode functioning as switching means (S₂₉) with the aid of which an element (C₂₈) can be connected and disconnected, whereby the load impedance of the power amplifier (1) is adapted to the respective first and second modes.

14. Power amplifier device according to claim 13, characterized in that said element (C₂₈) consists of a capacitance.

15. Mobile station (100) in a cellular communication network, where the mobile station is intended for communication with at least one base station over at least two alternative, separate radio frequency bands, the mobile station comprising at least one power amplifier device (10) for radio frequency signals, comprising:

a power amplifier (1);

an impedance matching circuit (2) arranged at the outlet of the power amplifier (1), and

a filter device (3) connected to the outlet of the impedance matching circuit (2) for suppression of harmonics, the function of which corresponding to a combination of;

a first filter (3b) with fixed characteristic, and a second filter (3a,90,110) arranged in series with the first filter (3b), characterized in that the power amplifier device (10) has at least two modes, where the modes correspond to adapting of the properties of the power amplifier device (10) to at least one basic frequency band (51,61) each, and that the second filter (3a,90,110) is switchable and arranged;

in a first mode of said modes, to provide good transmission of a first, lower basic frequency band (51,81), and suppress at least one order of harmonics corresponding to this first basic frequency band (51,81), and

in a second mode of said modes, to provide good transmission of a second, higher basic frequency band (61,91).