Antenna interface unit

• US 6,816,714 B2
• Filed: 02/12/2002
• Issued: 11/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Wireless Corporation (Kyocera Corporation)
• Inventors: Toncich, Stanley S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vuong, Quochien B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le, Nhan T
• Application Number:
  US10/076,171
• Publication Number:
  US 20020151291A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,001 Days
• Field of Search: 455/107, 455/120, 455/121, 455/124, 455/125, 455/129, 455/80, 455/81, 455/82, 455/280, 455/281, 455/282, 455/178.1, 455/191.1, 455/193.1, 330/302, 330/305, 370/532, 370/533, 370/535, 333/17.1, 333/17.3, 333/32
• US Class Current: 455/107
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 27/2694 Measuring dielectric loss, e.g. loss angle, loss factor or power factor
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 7/06 having a dielectric selected for the variation of its permittivity with applied voltage, i.e. ferroelectric capacitors electrets H01G7/02
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/0808 Varactor diodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 1/203 Strip line filters
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 1/20336 Comb or interdigital filters
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 1/20363 Linear resonators
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 1/20381 Special shape resonators
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 1/2039 Galvanic coupling between Input/Output
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 1/2056 Comb filters or interdigital filters with metallised resonator holes in a dielectric block
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 1/213 combining or separating two or more different frequencies H01P1/215 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 5/04 with variable factor of coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H03B 5/04 Modifications of generator to compensate for variations in physical values, e.g. power supply, load, temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H03B 5/124 the means comprising a voltage dependent capacitance
• CPC Class Codes: H03B 5/1262 the means comprising switched elements
• 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: H03B 5/1841 the frequency-determining element being a strip line resonator H03B5/1805, H03B5/1817, H03B5/1864 and H03B5/1882 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03B 5/362 the amplifier being a single transistor H03B5/364 - H03B5/368 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/56 Modifications of input or output impedances, not otherwise provided for
• 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 2200/294 the amplifier being a low noise amplifier [LNA]
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/372 : Noise reduction and elimination in amplifier
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/191 : Tuned amplifiers H03F3/193, H03F3/195 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 7/0123 : comprising distributed impedance elements together with lumped impedance elements
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 7/12 : Bandpass or bandstop filters with adjustable bandwidth and fixed centre frequency H03H7/09 takes precedence; automatic control of bandwidth in amplifiers H03G5/16
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 7/20 : Two-port phase shifters providing an adjustable phase shift
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 5/246 : using electronic means H03J5/244 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03L 1/022 : by indirect stabilisation, i.e. by generating an electrical correction signal which is a function of the temperature H03L1/021 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03L 7/18 : using a frequency divider or counter in the loop H03L7/20, H03L7/22 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0053 : with common antenna for more than one band
• 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 1/30 : for homodyne or synchrodyne receivers demodulator circuits H03D1/22
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/40 : Circuits

Abstract

A ferro-electric tunable duplexer is provided, integrated with one or more of the following parts: a power amplifier, an isolator, a diplexer, a low noise amplifier and an antenna matching circuit. More specifically, in addition to adding F-E tunability, one or more of the above components is integrated with the duplexer on one substrate. The components are integrated on one substrate either by placing each component, with the appropriate matching circuit directly on the substrate, or by direct fabrication of the component and matching circuit into or onto the substrate.

Claims

1. A tunable antenna interface unit comprising:

a multiplexer, comprising;

a ferro-electric tunable component, the component comprising a capacitor;

a substrate mechanically coupled to the capacitor;

a control line operably coupled to the ferro-electric component;

a control source electrically coupled to the control line, the control source configured to transmit a control signal on the control line;

wherein the ferro-electric component, responsive to the control signal, adjusts a resonant frequency of the multiplexer;

a power amplifier mechanically coupled to the substrate, the power amplifier comprising a transistor;

a power amplifier output matching circuit coupled between the multiplexer and the power amplifier and mechanically coupled to the substrate.

2. The antenna interface unit of claim 1, further comprising:

an isolator disposed on the substrate and coupled between the power amplifier output matching circuit and the multiplexer;

an isolator-to-multiplexer amplifier matching circuit coupled between the isolator and the multiplexer and disposed on the substrate.

3. The antenna interface unit of claim 2, wherein the isolator-to-multiplexer matching circuit comprises a second ferro-electric tunable component.

4. The antenna interface unit of claim 3, wherein the isolator-to-multiplexer matching circuit further comprises a third ferro-electric tunable component.

5. The tunable antenna interface unit of claim 2, wherein:

the isolator-to-multiplexer matching circuit is configured to match a first impedance at the output of the isolator to a second impedance at an input to the multiplexer, and;

the match for a signal at about 1900 megahertz is from an impedance of about 10 ohms at the isolator output to about 10 ohms at the multiplexer input.

6. The tunable antenna interface unit of claim 1, wherein the power amplifier output matching circuit comprises:

a second ferro-electric tunable component.

7. The tunable antenna interface unit of claim 6, wherein the second ferro-electric tunable component comprises a second ferro-electric tunable capacitor.

8. The tunable antenna interface unit of claim 1, wherein:

the power amplifier output matching circuit is configured to match a first impedance at the output of the power amplifier to a second impedance coupled to an input to the multiplexer, and;

the match, for a signal at about 1900 megahertz is from an impedance of about 2.5 ohms at the power amplifier output to about 10 ohms.

9. The tunable antenna interface unit of claim 1, wherein the multiplexer comprises a duplexer.

10. The tunable antenna interface unit of claim 9, wherein the duplexer is configured to duplex transmit and receive signals in a PCS band.

11. The tunable antenna interface unit of claim 10, wherein the duplexer is configured to duplex transmit and receive signals in the United States PCS band.

12. A tunable antenna interface unit comprising:

a first multiplexer comprising a ferro-electric tunable component, the component comprising a capacitor, the capacitor being disposed on a substrate;

a control line operably coupled to the ferro-electric component;

a control source electrically coupled to the control line, the control source configured to transmit a control signal on the control line;

wherein the ferro-electric component, responsive to the control signal, adjusts a resonant frequency of the first multiplexer;

a diplexer;

a diplexer-to-first multiplexer matching circuit coupled between the diplexer and the first multiplexer and disposed on the substrate;

an antenna matching circuit coupled to the diplexer, configured to be coupled to an antenna, and disposed on the substrate.

13. The tunable antenna interface unit of claim 12, wherein the diplexer comprises a second tunable ferro-electric component.

14. The tunable antenna interface unit of claim 12, wherein the diplexer-to-first multiplexer matching circuit comprises a second tunable ferro-electric component.

15. The tunable antenna interface unit of claim 12, wherein the diplexer-to-antenna matching circuit comprises a second tunable ferro-electric component.

16. The tunable antenna interface unit of claim 12, wherein:

the antenna matching circuit is configured to match a first impedance at a port of the antenna to a second impedance at a port of the diplexer, and;

the match for a signal at about 1900 megahertz is from an impedance of about 30 ohms at the antenna port to about 10 ohms at the port of the diplexer.

17. The tunable antenna interface unit of claim 12, wherein the first multiplexer comprises a duplexer.

18. The tunable antenna interface unit of claim 17, wherein the duplexer is configured to duplex transmit and receive signals in a PCS band.

19. The tunable antenna interface unit of claim 18, wherein the duplexer is configured to duplex transmit and receive signals in the United States PCS band.

20. The tunable antenna interface unit of claim 12, further comprising a second multiplexer disposed on the substrate.

21. The tunable antenna interface unit of claim 12, wherein the second multiplexer comprises a duplexer.

22. The tunable antenna interface unit of claim 21, wherein the duplexer is configured to duplex transmit and receive signals in a cellular band at about 800 MHz.

23. A tunable antenna interface unit comprising:

a first multiplexer comprising a ferro-electric tunable component, the component comprising a capacitor, the capacitor being disposed on a substrate;

a control line operably coupled to the ferro-electric component;

a control source electrically coupled to the control line, the control source configured to transmit a control signal on the control line;

wherein the ferro-electric component, responsive to the control signal, adjusts a resonant frequency of the first multiplexer;

a diplexer;

a diplexer-to-first multiplexer matching circuit coupled between the diplexer and the first multiplexer and disposed on the substrate.

24. The tunable antenna interface unit of claim 23, wherein the diplexer comprises a second tunable ferro-electric component.

25. The tunable antenna interface unit of claim 23, wherein the diplexer-to-first multiplexer matching circuit comprises a second tunable ferro-electric component.

26. The tunable antenna interface unit of claim 23, wherein the diplexer-to-antenna matching circuit comprises a second tunable ferro-electric component.

27. The tunable antenna interface unit of claim 23, wherein the first multiplexer comprises a duplexer.

28. The tunable antenna interface unit of claim 27, wherein the duplexer is configured to duplex transmit and receive signals in a PCS band.

29. The tunable antenna interface unit of claim 28, wherein the duplexer is configured to duplex transmit and receive signals in the United States PCS band.

30. The tunable antenna interface unit of claim 23, further comprising a second multiplexer disposed on the substrate.

31. The tunable antenna interface unit of claim 30, wherein the second multiplexer comprises a duplexer.

32. The tunable antenna interface unit of claim 31, wherein the duplexer is configured to duplex transmit and receive signals in a cellular band at about 800 MHz.

33. The tunable antenna interface unit of claim 30, further comprising:

a first power amplifier mechanically coupled to the substrate;

a first power amplifier output matching circuit coupled between the first multiplexer and the first power amplifier and mechanically coupled to the substrate;

a first isolator mechanically coupled to the substrate and coupled between the first power amplifier output matching circuit and the first multiplexer;

a first isolator-to-multiplexer matching circuit coupled between the first isolator and the first multiplexer and disposed on the substrate

a second power amplifier mechanically coupled to the substrate;

a second power amplifier output matching circuit coupled between the second multiplexer and the second power amplifier and mechanically coupled to the substrate;

a second isolator mechanically coupled to the substrate and coupled between the second power amplifier output matching circuit and the second multiplexer;

a second isolator-to-multiplexer matching circuit coupled between the second isolator and the second multiplexer and disposed on the substrate.

34. The tunable antenna interface unit of claim 33, wherein:

the first multiplexer comprises a first duplexer, and;

the second multiplexer comprises a second duplexer.

35. The tunable antenna interface unit of claim 34, wherein the first duplexer is configured to duplex transmit and receive signals in a PCS band.

36. The tunable antenna interface unit of claim 28, wherein the first duplexer is configured to duplex transmit and receive signals in the United States PCS band the second duplexer is configured to duplex transmit and receive signals in a cellular band at about 800 MHz.

37. The tunable antenna interface unit of claim 30, wherein the diplexer comprises a second tunable ferro-electric component.

38. The tunable antenna interface unit of claim 30, wherein the diplexer-to-first multiplexer matching circuit comprises a second tunable ferro-electric component.