Linear antenna switch arm

• US 7,692,514 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2007
• Issued: 04/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc. (Qorvo, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: RFMD (UK) Limited (Qorvo, Inc.)
• Inventors: LeToux, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Takaoka; Dean O
• Application Number:
  US11/769,938
• Publication Number:
  US 20080042913A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,013 Days
• Field of Search: 333/101, 333/103, 333/104, 333/262
• US Class Current: 333/101
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/102 in field-effect transistor switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/6871 the output circuit comprising more than one controlled field-effect transistor
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/693 Switching arrangements with several input- or output-terminals, e.g. multiplexers, distributors logic circuits H03K19/00; code converters H03M5/00, H03M7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/48 in circuits for connecting transmitter and receiver to a common transmission path, e.g. by energy of transmitter H04B1/46 takes precedence

Abstract

A linear antenna switch arm comprising

• a plurality of field effect transistors connected in series, the drain of each transistor being connected to the source of the next transistor at a join, the end source comprising one of a signal input or output port and the end drain comprising the complementary signal output port or input port;
• a signal line extending between the input and output ports;
• at least one of the joins being connected to the signal line at a node by a connection line;
• the signal line comprising at least one resistor between signal input and output ports; and
• the connection line comprising at least one resistor.

Claims

1. A linear antenna switch arm comprising:

a plurality of field effect transistors connected in series, a drain of each transistor being connected to a source of the next transistor at a join, an end source comprising one of a signal input or output port and an end drain comprising a complementary signal output port or input port;

a signal line extending between the input and output ports;

at least one of the joins being connected to the signal line at a node by a connection line;

the signal line comprising at least one resistor between signal input and output ports; and

the connection line comprising at least one resistor.

2. A linear antenna switch arm as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of joins are connected to the signal line at nodes by connection lines, each connection line including a resistor.

3. A linear antenna switch arm as claimed in claim 2, where adjacent nodes are electrically shorted together by the signal line.

4. A linear antenna switch arm as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signal line comprises a resistor between the signal input port and a first node in the signal line.

5. A linear antenna switch arm as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signal line comprises a resistor between the signal output port and a last node in the signal line.

6. A linear antenna switch arm as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the connection lines comprises a diode.

7. A linear antenna switch arm as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signal line further comprises at least one diode.

8. A linear antenna switch arm as claimed in claim 1, wherein gates of the field effect transistors are connected to a control line by resistors.

9. A linear antenna switch arm as claimed in claim 3, wherein the signal line comprises a resistor between the signal input port and a first node in the signal line.

10. A linear antenna switch arm as claimed in claim 9, wherein the signal line comprises a resistor between the signal output port and a last node in the signal line.

11. A linear antenna switch arm as claimed in claim 4, wherein the signal line comprises a resistor between the signal output port and a last node in the signal line.