Impedance matching low noise amplifier having a bypass switch

• US 6,977,552 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2004
• Issued: 12/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Macedo, José A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mottola, Steven J.
• Application Number:
  US10/896,548
• Publication Number:
  US 20040251960A1
• Time in Patent Office: 517 Days
• Field of Search: 330/51, 330/129, 330/151, 330/278, 330/302, 330/283, 330/294, 330/307
• US Class Current: 330/283
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/302 in bipolar transistor amplifiers H03F1/303, H03F1/305, H03F1/307 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/565 using inductive elements
• 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: H03F 3/72 Gated amplifiers, i.e. amplifiers which are rendered operative or inoperative by means of a control signal
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 1/0088 using discontinuously variable devices, e.g. switch-operated

Abstract

An impedance matching low noise amplifier (“LNA”) having a bypass switch includes an amplification circuit, a bypass switching network and a match adjustment circuit. The amplification circuit has an amplifier input and an amplifier output, and is configured to receive a radio frequency (RF) input signal at the amplifier input and apply a gain to generate an amplified RF output signal at the amplifier output. The bypass switching network is coupled to a low-gain control signal and is also coupled between the amplifier input and the amplifier output. The bypass switching network is configured to couple the amplifier input to the amplifier output when the low-gain control signal is enabled in order to feed the RF input signal through to the RF output signal. The match adjustment circuit is coupled to the low-gain control signal and the RF input signal, and is configured to couple the RF input signal to an impedance when the low-gain control signal is enabled.

Claims

1. A low noise amplifier (LNA) circuit, comprising:

an amplifier for applying a gain to an input signal to generate an amplified output signal, the amplifier including a degeneration inductor; and

an impedance matching inductor coupled to the amplified output signal;

the impedance matching inductor being fabricated on a substrate material in proximity to the degeneration inductor, wherein a negative feedback is induced in the degeneration inductor by the impedance matching inductor.

2. The LNA circuit of claim 1, wherein the polarities of the impedance matching inductor and the degeneration inductor are selected to induce the negative feedback in the degeneration inductor.

3. The LNA circuit of claim 1, further comprising:

a bypass switch network for switching the LNA between a high-gain mode and a low-gain mode, wherein the gain applied by the amplifier in high-gain mode is greater than the gain applied by the amplifier in the low-gain mode.

4. The LNA circuit of claim 2, wherein the impedance matching inductor is fabricated in a first winding pattern and the degeneration inductor is fabricated in a second winding pattern, the first winding pattern winding in an opposite direction as the second winding pattern.

5. The LNA circuit of claim 4, wherein the first and second winding patterns are octagonal spiral patterns.

6. The LNA circuit of claim 4, wherein the first and second winding patterns are square spiral patterns.

7. The LNA circuit of claim 1, wherein the amplifier is a single-stage amplifier.

8. The LNA circuit of claim 7, wherein the amplifier includes a transistor, and wherein the degeneration inductor is coupled between a current-carrying terminal of the transistor and a ground potential.

9. The LNA circuit of claim 7, wherein the amplifier includes a transistor that is sized to achieve a high gain and a minimum noise figure in the amplifier.