Circuit to add and subtract two differential signals

• US 7,299,012 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2003
• Issued: 11/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Gordon, Meir
• Primary Examiner(s): Milord; Marceau
• Application Number:
  US10/734,122
• Publication Number:
  US 20050130600A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,436 Days
• Field of Search: 455/67.15, 455/67.16, 455/41.1, 455/137, 455/176.1, 375/268, 375/261, 333/35, 333/165
• US Class Current: 455/67.15
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/22 Capacitive coupling

Abstract

An electrical circuit to add and subtract differential input signals may be implemented using distributed differential transmission lines having a length substantially equal to one quarter of a wavelength of the differential input signals according to an effective electrical permeability of the transmission line. Alternatively, the electrical circuit may be implemented with lumped reactive elements.

Claims

1. A combiner comprising:

a circuit comprising a first group of six reactive elements to couple two differential input ports to two differential output ports in a first manner;

a second group of two reactive elements to couple one of said two differential input ports to one of said two differential output ports in a second, different manner; and

a third group of four reactive elements, each to couple a positive terminal and a negative terminal of a respective one of said two differential input ports and said two differential output ports;

wherein reactive elements of said first group and said second group have substantially equivalent inductive impedances and reactive elements of said third group have substantially equivalent capacitive impedances.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first manner is to couple positive terminals to positive terminals and to couple negative terminals to negative terminals, and said second manner is to couple positive terminals to negative terminals.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first manner is to couple positive terminals to negative terminals, and said second manner is to couple positive terminals to positive terminals and to couple negative terminals to negative terminals.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of said reactive elements is a discrete component.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein reactive elements of said first group and said second group have substantially equivalent capacitive impedances and reactive elements of said third group have substantially equivalent inductive impedances.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising:

a supply coupled to center taps of said reactive elements of said third group.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising:

a supply return coupled to center taps of said reactive elements of said third group.

8. A communication device comprising:

a dipole antenna;

a power amplifier coupled to said dipole antenna; and

a combiner coupled to said power amplifier, wherein said combiner includes at least;

a first group of six reactive elements to couple two differential input ports to two differential output ports in a first manner;

a second group of two reactive elements to couple one of said two differential input ports to one of said two differential output ports in a second, different manner; and

a third group of four reactive elements, each to couple a positive terminal and a negative terminal of a respective one of said two differential input ports and said two differential output ports.

9. The communication device of claim 8, wherein said first manner is to couple positive terminals to positive terminals and to couple negative terminals to negative terminals, and said second manner is to couple positive terminals to negative terminals.

10. The communication device of claim 8, wherein said first manner is to couple positive terminals to negative terminals, and said second manner is to couple positive terminals to positive terminals and to couple negative terminals to negative terminals.

11. The communication device of claim 8, wherein reactive elements of said first group and said second group have substantially equivalent inductive impedances and reactive elements of said third group have substantially equivalent capacitive impedances.

12. The communication device of claim 8, wherein reactive elements of said first group and said second group have substantially equivalent capacitive impedances and reactive elements of said third group have substantially equivalent inductive impedances.

13. A communication system comprising:

a first communication device; and

a second communication device, said second communication device including at least;

a combiner including at least;

a first group of six reactive elements to couple two differential input ports to two differential output ports in a first manner;

a second group of two reactive elements to couple one of said two differential input ports to one of said two differential output ports in a second, different manner; and

a third group of four reactive elements, each to couple a positive terminal and a negative terminal of a respective one of said two differential input ports and said two differential output ports.

14. The communication device of claim 13, wherein said first manner is to couple positive terminals to positive terminals and to couple negative terminals to negative terminals, and said second manner is to couple positive terminals to negative terminals.

15. The communication device of claim 13, wherein said first manner is to couple positive terminals to negative terminals, and said second manner is to couple positive terminals to positive terminals and to couple negative terminals to negative terminals.

16. The communication device of claim 13, wherein reactive elements of said first group and said second group have substantially equivalent inductive impedances and reactive elements of said third group have substantially equivalent capacitive impedances.

17. The communication device of claim 13, wherein reactive elements of said first group and said second group have substantially equivalent capacitive impedances and reactive elements of said third group have substantially equivalent inductive impedances.