Adaptive impedance matching apparatus, system and method with improved dynamic range

• US 7,535,312 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2006
• Issued: 05/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NXP USA, Inc. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Original Assignee: Paratek Microwave Incorporated (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: McKinzie, William E. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Takaoka; Dean O
• Application Number:
  US11/594,309
• Publication Number:
  US 20080106350A1
• Time in Patent Office: 923 Days
• Field of Search: 333/17.3, 333/32, 324/600, 455/125
• US Class Current: 333/17.3
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/50 Structural association of antennas with earthing switches, lead-in devices or lightning protectors
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 2007/386 Multiple band impedance matching
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 7/40 Automatic matching of load impedance to source impedance
• 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

Abstract

An embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus, comprising an RF matching network connected to at least one RF input port and at least one RF output port and including one or more voltage or current controlled variable reactive elements, a voltage detector connected to the at least one RF output port via a variable voltage divider to determine the voltage at the at least one RF output port and provide voltage information to a controller that controls a bias driving circuit which provides bias voltage or bias current to the RF matching network, and wherein the RF matching network is adapted to maximize RF power transferred from the at least one RF input port to the at least one RF output port by varying the voltage or current to the voltage or current controlled variable reactive elements to maximize the RF voltage at the at least one RF output port.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

an RF matching network connected to at least one RF input port and at least one RF output port and including one or more voltage or current controlled variable reactive elements;

a voltage detector connected to said at least one RF output port via a variable voltage divider to determine the voltage at said at least one RF output port and provide voltage information to a controller that controls a bias driving circuit which provides voltage or current bias to said RF matching network;

a loop controller associated with said variable voltage divider to make said variable voltage divider programmable; and

wherein said RF matching network is adapted to maximize RF power transferred from said at least one RF input port to said at least one RF output port by varying the voltage or current to said voltage or current controlled variable reactive elements to maximize the RF voltage at said at least one RF output port.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said voltage detector is a diode detector and wherein said variable voltage divider connected to said voltage detector is adapted to improve the dynamic range of said apparatus.

3. A method of adaptive impedance matching, comprising:

connecting an RF matching network to at least one RF input port and at least one RF output port and including one or more voltage or current controlled variable reactive elements;

using a voltage detector connected to said at least one RF output port via a variable voltage divider to determine the voltage at said at least one RF output port and providing said voltage information to a controller that controls a bias driving circuit which provides voltage or current bias to said RF matching network;

associating a loop controller with said variable voltage divider to make said variable voltage divider programmable; and

adapting said RF matching network to maximize RF power transferred from said at least one RF input port to said at least one RF output port by varying the voltage or current to said voltage or current controlled variable reactive elements to maximize the RF voltage at said at least one RF output port.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said voltage detector is a diode detector and wherein said variable voltage divider connected to said voltage detector is adapted to improve the dynamic range of said apparatus.

5. A machine-accessible medium that provides instructions, which when accessed, cause a machine to perform operations comprising:

connecting an RF matching network to at least one RF input port and at least one RF output port and including one or more voltage or current controlled variable reactive elements;

using a voltage detector connected to said at least one RF output port via a variable voltage divider to determine the voltage at said at least one RF output port and providing said voltage information to a controller that controls a bias driving circuit which provides voltage or current bias to said RF matching network;

associating a loop controller with said variable voltage divider to make said variable voltage divider programmable; and

adapting said RF matching network to maximize RF power transferred from said at least one RF input port to said at least one RF output port by varying the voltage or current to said voltage or current controlled variable reactive elements to maximize the RF voltage at said at least one RF output port.