Matching network for a dual mode RF amplifier

• US 6,658,265 B1
• Filed: 04/25/2000
• Issued: 12/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc. (Qorvo, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: RF Micro Devices Incorporated (Qorvo, Inc.)
• Inventors: Dening, David C., Steel, Victor E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Torres, Marcos L
• Application Number:
  US09/557,547
• Time in Patent Office: 1,316 Days
• Field of Search: 455/91, 455/115, 455/127, 455/552, 455/129, 455/80, 455/83, 455/82, 455/553, 455/67.13, 455/570
• US Class Current: 455/553.1
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/111 the amplifier being a dual or triple band amplifier, e.g. 900 and 1800 MHz, e.g. switched or not switched, simultaneously or not
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/451 the amplifier being a radio frequency amplifier
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/191 Tuned amplifiers H03F3/193, H03F3/195 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 2007/386 Multiple band impedance matching
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 7/38 Impedance-matching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0003 Software-defined radio [SDR] systems, i.e. systems wherein components typically implemented in hardware, e.g. filters or modulators/demodulators, are implented using software, e.g. by involving an AD or DA conversion stage such that at least part of the signal processing is performed in the digital domain digital baseband systems H04L25/00; digital modulation/demodulation H04L27/00; CDMA H04B1/707; TDMA H04B7/2643; image transmission H04N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0458 Arrangements for matching and coupling between power amplifier and antenna or between amplifying stages matching circuits in general H03H
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/406 with more than one transmission mode, e.g. analog and digital modes

Abstract

The present invention provides a dual mode amplifier capable of operating in a common (even) mode for one frequency band and a differential (odd) mode for a second frequency band. In the common mode, the amplifier provides two identical signals to a matching network, and in the differential mode, the amplifier provides two signals that are 180° out-of-phase from one another to the matching network. The matching network is configured to maintain the same input and output impedance regardless of whether the amplifier is operating in the common or differential mode. Furthermore, the matching network is preferably configured to terminate second harmonics for each frequency band without affecting the fundamental tone for the other bands, even if the bands are an octave apart. Since the matching network operates on two signals, either common or differential signals, a power combining network is typically required to combine the two signals into a single signal for transmission.

Claims

1. A matching network for dual mode radio frequency (RF) power amplifier circuitry wherein an RF input signal is split into either two identical signals in a common mode or two signals 180 degrees out-of-phase from one another in a differential mode, said matching network comprising:

a. a first transmission path extending between a first input and a first output, said first input for receiving one common mode signal or one differential mode signal;

b. a second transmission path extending between a second input and a second output;

said second input for receiving one common mode signal or one differential mode signal;

c. a first passive network to ground from said first and second transmission paths resonating at about a second harmonic frequency of the common mode RF signal when said common mode RF signal is applied to said first and second inputs;

d. a second passive network to ground from said first and second transmission paths resonating at about a second harmonic frequency of the differential mode RF signal when said differential mode RF signal is applied to one said input and 180 degrees out-of-phase to the other said input; and

e. a third passive network cooperating with said first and second networks to provide a select input impedance and a select output impedance at either common mode or differential mode signals;

f. wherein said network provides a select input and output impedance and is configured to terminate second harmonics for a given frequency in differential or common mode operation.

2. The network as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first passive network includes an inductor coupled to ground, a first capacitor coupled between said inductor and said first transmission path and a second capacitor coupled between said inductor and said second transmission path.

3. The network as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second passive network includes a first series resonant circuit coupled between ground and said first transmission path and a second series resonant circuit coupled between ground and said second transmission path, each said resonant circuit resonating at a second harmonic of the differential mode RF signal.

4. The network as claimed in claim 3 wherein said first and second series resonant circuits include a series capacitor and an inductive device.

5. The network as claimed in claim 1 wherein said third passive network includes an inductor coupled to ground, a first capacitor coupled between said inductor and said first transmission path and a second capacitor coupled between said inductor and said second transmission path.

6. The network as claimed in claim 1 wherein said third passive network includes a first capacitor coupled to ground, a second capacitor coupled between said first capacitor and said first transmission path and a third capacitor coupled between said first capacitor and said second transmission path.

7. The network as claimed in claim 1 wherein

a. said first passive network includes a first inductor coupled to ground, a first capacitor coupled between said first inductor and said first transmission path and a second capacitor coupled between said first inductor and said second transmission path, and

b. said second passive network includes a first series resonant circuit coupled between ground and said first transmission path and a second series resonant circuit coupled between ground and said second transmission path, each said resonant circuit resonating at a second harmonic of the differential mode RF signal.

8. The network as claimed in claim 7 wherein said third passive network includes a second inductor coupled to ground, a third capacitor coupled between said second inductor and said first transmission path and a fourth capacitor coupled between said second inductor and said second transmission path.

9. The network as claimed in claim 7 wherein said third passive network includes a third capacitor coupled to ground, a fourth capacitor coupled between said third capacitor and said first transmission path and a fifth capacitor coupled between said third capacitor and said second transmission path.

10. The network as claimed in claim 7 wherein said first and second series resonant circuits include a series capacitor and inductor.

11. The network as claimed in claim 1 wherein said differential mode RF signal frequency is about an octave apart from said common mode RF signal frequency.

12. The network as claimed in claim 1 wherein said common mode RF signal frequency is about 900 MHz.

13. The network as claimed in claim 1 wherein said common mode RF signal frequency is an audio frequency.

14. The network as claimed in claim 1 wherein said common mode RF signal frequency is a millimeter wave frequency.

15. The network as claimed in claim 1 wherein said common mode RF signal frequency is between an audio frequency and a millimeter wave frequency.

16. The network as claimed in claim 1 wherein said differential mode RF signal frequency is about 1750 MHz.

17. The network as claimed in claim 1 wherein said differential mode RF signal frequency is an audio frequency.

18. The network as claimed in claim 1 wherein said differential mode RF signal frequency is a millimeter wave frequency.

19. The network as claimed in claim 1 wherein said differential mode RF signal frequency is between an audio frequency and a millimeter wave frequency.

20. The network as claimed in claim 1 wherein said common mode RF signal is a GSM signal and said differential RF signal is a DCS signal.

21. The network as claimed in claim 1 wherein said differential mode RF signal frequency is about the second harmonic of said common mode RF signal frequency.

22. A matching network and dual mode radio frequency (RF) amplifier circuitry comprising:

a. a first stage configured to receive an RF input signal and split it into either two identical signals in a common mode or two signals 180 degrees out-of-phase from one another in a differential mode;

b. a second stage having power amplifier circuitry to amplify said RF signals;

c. a matching network comprising;

i. a first transmission path extending between a first input and a first output, said first input for receiving one common mode signal or one differential mode signal;

ii. a second transmission path extending between a second input and a second output;

said second input for receiving one common mode signal or one differential mode signal;

iii. a first passive network to ground from said first and second transmission paths resonating at about a second harmonic frequency of the common mode RF signal when said common mode RF signal is applied to said first and second inputs;

iv. a second passive network to ground from said first and second transmission paths resonating at about a second harmonic frequency of the differential mode RF signal when said differential mode RF signal is applied to one said input and 180 degrees out-of-phase to the other said input; and

v. a third passive network cooperating with said first and second networks to provide a select input impedance and a select output impedance at either common mode or differential mode signals, wherein said network provides a select input and output impedance and is configured to terminate second harmonics for a given frequency in differential or common mode operation;

d. a third stage comprising power combining circuitry configured to combine RF signals at said first and second outputs for transmission via an antenna.

23. The matching network and dual mode radio frequency amplifier circuitry of claim 22 wherein said power combining circuitry is a lumped element high-pass transmission line and is configured to receive the two GSM signals or the out-of-phase DCS signals at said outputs in and sum the two GSM signals or the two DCS signals in-phase with one another.

24. The matching network and dual mode radio frequency amplifier circuitry of claim 23 wherein said power combining circuitry is configured to shift the phase of one of the GSM signals 360 degrees before combining the GSM signals and shift the phase of one of the DCS signals 180 degrees before combining the DCS signals.

25. The network as claimed in claim 22 wherein said first passive network includes an inductor coupled to ground, a first capacitor coupled between said inductor and said first transmission path and a second capacitor coupled between said inductor and said second transmission path.

26. The network as claimed in claim 22 wherein said second passive network includes a first series resonant circuit coupled between ground and said first transmission path and a second series resonant circuit coupled between ground and said second transmission path, each said resonant circuit resonating at a second harmonic of the differential mode RF signal.

27. The network as claimed in claim 22 wherein said third passive network includes an inductor coupled to ground, a first capacitor coupled between said first inductor and said first transmission path and a second capacitor coupled between said first inductor and said second transmission path.

28. The network as claimed in claim 22 wherein said third passive network includes a first capacitor coupled to ground, a second capacitor coupled between said first capacitor and said first transmission path and a third capacitor coupled between said first capacitor and said second transmission path.

29. The network as claimed in claim 22 wherein said differential mode RF signal frequency is about an octave apart from said common mode RF signal frequency.

30. The network as claimed in claim 22 wherein said common mode RF signal frequency is about 900 MHz.

31. The network as claimed in claim 22 wherein said differential mode RF signal frequency is about 1750 MHz.

32. The network as claimed in claim 22 wherein said common mode RF signal is a GSM signal and said differential RF signal is a DCS signal.

33. The network as claimed in claim 22 wherein said differential mode RF signal frequency is about the second harmonic of said common mode RF signal frequency.

34. A matching network for a radio frequency transmission circuitry comprising:

a. two parallel transmission paths configured to receive two identical signals about a first frequency that are in-phase with one another during operation in a first mode and two identical signals about a second frequency that are 180 degrees out-of-phase with one another during operation in a second mode;

b. first passive circuit means for shorting frequencies about a second harmonic frequency of the first frequency to ground from said transmission paths when operating in said first mode;

c. second passive circuit means for shorting frequencies about a second harmonic frequency of the second frequency to ground from said transmission paths when operating in said second mode; and

d. third passive circuit means cooperating with said first and second circuit means for providing a select input impedance and a select output impedance at either the first or second mode wherein said network provides a select input and output impedance and is configured to terminate second harmonics for a given frequency in either mode of operation.

35. The network as claimed in claim 34 wherein the frequency for said second mode of operation is about the second harmonic of said frequency for said first mode of operation.

36. A dual mode radio frequency power amplifier matching network comprising:

a. a first transmission path extending between a first input and a first output, the first input configured to receive a radio frequency signal of a type selected from the group consisting of common mode and differential mode;

b. a second transmission path extending between a second input and a second output, the second input configured to receive a radio frequency signal of a type selected from the group consisting of common mode and differential mode;

c. a first passive network to ground from the first and second transmission paths resonating at about a second harmonic frequency of a differential mode radio frequency signal for a differential mode radio frequency signal applied to the first input and further applied 180 degrees out-of-phase to the second input, the first passive network further resonating at about a second harmonic frequency of a common mode radio frequency signal for a common mode radio frequency signal applied to the first and second inputs; and

d. a second passive network cooperating with the first passive network to provide a select input impedance and a select output impedance for a radio frequency input signal of a type selected from the group consisting of common mode and differential mode.

37. The network as claimed in claim 36 wherein the first passive network includes a first series resonant circuit coupled between ground and the first transmission path and a second series resonant circuit coupled between ground and the second transmission path.

38. The network as claimed in claim 37 wherein the first and second series resonant circuits include a series capacitor and inductive device.

39. The network as claimed in claim 36 wherein the second passive network includes an inductor coupled to ground, a first capacitor coupled between the inductor and the first transmission path, and a second capacitor coupled between the inductor and the second transmission path.