Common anode varactor tuned LC circuit

• US 6,504,443 B1
• Filed: 05/17/2000
• Issued: 01/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation of America (NEC Corporation)
• Original Assignee: NEC America (NEC Corporation)
• Inventors: Eguizabal, Antonio L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mis, David C.
• Application Number:
  US09/573,786
• Time in Patent Office: 965 Days
• Field of Search: 331/36.C, 331/116.R, 331/116.FE, 331/117.R, 331/117.FE, 331/177.V, 331/177.R, 331/179, 333/174
• US Class Current: 331/177.00V
• CPC Class Codes: H03B 5/1206 using multiple transistors for amplification
• CPC Class Codes: H03B 5/1243 the means comprising voltage variable capacitance diodes
• CPC Class Codes: H03B 5/1293 having means for achieving a desired tuning characteristic, e.g. linearising the frequency characteristic across the tuning voltage range
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 3/185 with varactors, i.e. voltage variable reactive diodes
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 3/20 of single resonant circuit by varying inductance only or capacitance only

Abstract

A voltage controlled oscillator circuit in which the principal frequency determining circuit or tuning circuit comprises a pair of common anode varactor diodes. The circuit functions as a variable frequency oscillator controlled by an external DC control voltage, when utilized in conjunction with a parallel connected inductor and bypass or coupling capacitors to an oscillator circuit. This circuit has applicability as a basic building block or subcircuit for use in frequency synthesizer circuits, filter circuits, or the like, and which operate in baseband, I/F or R/F. The oscillator is a type which can be used in cellular or handheld telephones, both digital and analog, and in radio or communication equipment in general. The tuning circuit is symmetrical in form, and can isolate direct current (DC) paths of the tuning circuit from the alternating current (AC) or I/F or R/F current paths of the connected active circuit or drive circuit.

Claims

1. A varactor tuning circuit comprising a pair of first and second varactor diodes having a common anode connection connected at a common node which is grounded for direct current (DC) and a shifting capacitor effectively connected to the cathodes of the first and second varactor diodes, wherein the resonant frequency of the tuning circuit is altered by the shifting capacitor and wherein the diodes change their capacitances or reactances in response to an applied voltage thereby effecting the functioning of a connected active circuit and wherein the diodes are effectively connected in parallel to the applied voltage.

2. A varactor tuning circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tuning circuit is isolated from DC current paths of the active circuit.

3. A varactor tuning circuit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the isolation is implemented using one or more coupling capacitors.

4. A varactor tuning circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tuning circuit further comprises at least one parallel connected capacitor.

5. A varactor tuning circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tuning circuit further comprises at least one parallel connected inductor.

6. A varactor tuning circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the active circuit is an oscillator drive circuit.

7. A oscillator drive circuit as claimed in claim 6, wherein the tuning circuit operates to provide an oscillating output signal in a frequency range in one or more of the baseband, I/F, or R/F, frequency ranges.

8. A varactor tuning circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the active circuit is a filter circuit.

9. A filter circuit as claimed in claim 8, wherein the filter circuit operates to filter an input signal at a resonant frequency in a frequency range in either the baseband, I/F, or R/F, frequency range.

10. A varactor tuning circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tuning circuit operates substantially symmetrically.

11. A varactor tuning circuit as claimed in claim 10, wherein the tuning circuit has components which are parametrically matched.

12. A varactor tuning circuit as claimed in claim 11, wherein the matched components are the varactor diodes.

13. A varactor tuning circuit as claimed in claim 12, wherein the varactor diodes are formed in the same semiconductor substrate.

14. A varactor tuning circuit as claimed in claim 11, wherein the matched components are resistors.

15. A varactor tuning circuit as claimed in claim 11, wherein the active circuit is connected in a radio frequency communication circuit.

16. A varactor tuning circuit as claimed in claim 15, wherein the frequency communication circuit is in a handheld telephone.

17. A varactor tuning circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second varactor diodes are hyperabrupt junction varactor diodes, characterized by an exponential parameter gamma of value approximately equal to two, whereby the variation in resonant frequency over a range of the control voltage is substantially linear.

18. A varactor tuning circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the common node is in contact with semiconductor material, and wherein a portion of the semiconductor material in contact with the common node is used as a heat sink for the first and second varactor diodes.

19. A varactor tuning circuit including:

a first varactor diode and second varactor diode having a common anode connection, the common anode connection connected to a direct current ground node;

a first input resistor connected to the cathode of the first varactor diode and a control voltage node;

a second input resistor connected to the cathode of the second varactor diode and the control voltage node;

a shifting capacitor effectively connected to the cathodes of the diodes;

a first coupling capacitor connected to the cathode of the first varactor diode; and

,

a second coupling capacitor connected to the cathode of the second varactor diode.

20. The varactor tuning circuit of claim 19 further including an active circuit connected to the first coupling capacitor and the second coupling capacitor and for driving an oscillating output node of the active circuit such that the active circuit is responsive to a resonant frequency and wherein the resonant frequency is controlled by a voltage at the control node.

21. A varactor tuning circuit comprising two hyperabrupt varactor diodes connected in a common anode configuration and two coupling capacitors, each capacitor connected to a cathode of one of the varactor diodes and the active circuit, thereby direct current isolating the active circuit from the tuning circuit, and, wherein the small signal loading of the tuning circuit with respect to a ground node is approximately equal at each of the nodes connecting the active circuit to one of the two coupling capacitors.

22. A varactor tuning circuit as claimed in claim 21, further comprising two resistors, each resistor connected to a cathode of one of the varactor diodes and each connected to a control voltage.

23. A varactor tuning circuit as claimed in claim 21, wherein the tuning circuit further comprises at least one parallel connected capacitor.

24. A varactor tuning circuit as claimed in claim 21, wherein the tuning circuit filter comprises at least one parallel connected inductor.

25. A varactor tuning circuit as claimed in claim 21, wherein the active circuit is an oscillator drive circuit.

27. A varactor tuning circuit as claimed in claim 21, wherein the active circuit is a filter circuit.

28. A filter circuit as claimed in claim 27, wherein the filter circuit operates to filter an input signal at a resonant frequency in a frequency range in either the baseband, I/F, or R/F, frequency range.

29. A varactor tuning circuit as claimed in claim 21, wherein the tuning circuit operates substantially symmetrically.

30. A varactor tuning circuit as claimed in claim 21, wherein the tuning circuit has components which are parametrically matched.

31. A varactor tuning circuit as claimed in claim 30, wherein the matched components are the varactor diodes.

32. A varactor tuning circuit as claimed in claim 31, wherein the varactor diodes are formed in the same semiconductor substrate.

33. A varactor tuning circuit as claimed in claim 32, wherein the active circuit is connected in a radio frequency communication circuit.

34. A varactor tuning circuit as claimed in claim 33, wherein the frequency communication circuit is in a handheld telephone.

26. A oscillator drive circuit as claimed in clam 25, wherein the tuning circuit operates to provide an oscillating output signal in a frequency range in one or more of the baseband, I/F, or R/F, frequency ranges.