Dual inductor circuit for multi-band wireless communication device

• US 8,331,978 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2012
• Issued: 12/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Bhagat, Maulin Pareshbhai, Woolfrey, John, Cabanillas, Jose
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, NHAN T
• Application Number:
  US13/533,032
• Publication Number:
  US 20120264482A1
• Time in Patent Office: 168 Days
• Field of Search: 455/323, 455/333, 455/334, 455/550.1, 455/552.1, 341/155, 336/200, 336/223
• US Class Current: 455/550.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 17/0006 Printed inductances printed coils for dynamo-electric machines H02K3/26; printed circuits H05K
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 2017/0046 with a conductive path having a bridge
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 2017/0073 with a special conductive pattern, e.g. flat spiral
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/5227 Inductive arrangements or effects of, or between, wiring layers other inductive arrangements H01L23/645
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/08 including only semiconductor components of a single kind
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0053 with common antenna for more than one band
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/006 using switches for selecting the desired band H04B1/0057 takes precedence

Abstract

A wireless communication device includes a component operating in a single frequency mode. The component includes a first differential branch that includes first input nodes and first output nodes. The first output nodes are coupled to ground. A second differential branch includes second input nodes, second output nodes, and a first planar inductor coupling a first terminal and a second terminal to ground. A third differential branch includes third input nodes, third output nodes, and a second planar inductor. The second planar inductor is formed within the first planar inductor of the second differential branch and couples a third terminal and a fourth terminal to ground. The third and fourth terminals are electrically independent from the first planar inductor and the first and second terminals. The second and third differential branches form a dual inductor circuit.

Claims

1. A wireless communication device comprising a component operating in a single frequency mode, the component comprising:

a first differential branch comprising first input nodes and first output nodes, wherein the first output nodes are coupled to a ground terminal;

a second differential branch comprising second input nodes, second output nodes, and a first planar inductor coupling a first terminal and a second terminal to the ground terminal; and

a third differential branch comprising third input nodes, third output nodes, and a second planar inductor formed within the first planar inductor of the second differential branch and coupling a third terminal and a fourth terminal to the ground terminal, wherein the third and fourth terminals are electrically independent from the first planar inductor and the first and second terminals, wherein the second and third differential branches form a dual inductor circuit.

2. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the third and fourth terminals are not tapped from the first planar inductor.

3. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the first input nodes, second input nodes, and third input nodes are configured to be coupled to an input signal operating at a same frequency.

4. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the first differential branch possesses a first set of gain and linearity characteristics, the second differential branch possesses a second set of gain and linearity characteristics, and the third differential branch possesses a third set of gain and linearity characteristics, wherein the first, second, and third set of gain and linearity characteristics are each different from one another.

5. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the second planar inductor is separated from the first planar inductor by greater than approximately 20 microns.

6. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the third differential branch is separated from the first planar inductor by greater than approximately 20 microns.

7. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein a surface area associated with the dual inductor circuit is less than approximately 0.3 square millimeters.

8. The wireless communication device of claim 3, wherein the input signal is operating at a personal communication service (PCS) frequency band.

9. The wireless communication device of claim 3, wherein the input signal is operating at a cell frequency band.

10. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the first differential branch does not include an inductor.

11. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the component operating in the single frequency mode is a low noise amplifier.

12. A method comprising:

providing an input signal to a component of a wireless communication device, wherein the component is configured to operate in a single frequency mode and wherein the component comprises;

a first differential branch comprising first input nodes and first output nodes, wherein the first output nodes are coupled to a ground terminal;

a second differential branch comprising second input nodes, second output nodes, and a first planar inductor coupling a first terminal and a second terminal to the ground terminal; and

a third differential branch comprising third input nodes, third output nodes, and a second planar inductor formed within the first planar inductor of the second differential branch and coupling a third terminal and a fourth terminal to the ground terminal, wherein the third and fourth terminals are electrically independent from the first planar inductor and the first and second terminals, wherein the second and third differential branches form a dual inductor circuit,

wherein the input signal is provided to the first input nodes, the second input nodes, the third input nodes, or a combination thereof; and

receiving an output from the first output nodes, the second output nodes, the third output nodes, or a combination thereof.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the third and fourth terminals are not tapped from the first planar inductor.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the first differential branch possesses a first set of gain and linearity characteristics, the second differential branch possesses a second set of gain and linearity characteristics, and the third differential branch possesses a third set of gain and linearity characteristics, wherein the first, second, and third sets of gain and linearity characteristics are each different from one another.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the first differential branch, the second differential branch, and the third differential branch are configured to operate at a same frequency as the input signal.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the frequency of the input signal is within a personal communication service (PCS) frequency band.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the frequency of the input signal is within at a cell frequency band.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the first differential branch does not include an inductor.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the component includes a low noise amplifier.

20. An apparatus configured to operate in a single frequency mode, the apparatus comprising:

first differential means for generating a first output at first output nodes, wherein the first output nodes are coupled to a ground;

second differential means for generating a second output at second output nodes, wherein the second differential means includes a first inductive means, the first inductive means coupling a first terminal and a second terminal to the ground; and

third differential means for generating a third output at third output nodes, wherein the third differential means includes a second inductive means, the second inductive means coupling a third terminal and a fourth terminal to the ground, wherein the third terminal and the fourth terminals are electrically independent from the first inductive means and the first and second terminals, and wherein the second differential means and the third differential means form a dual inductor circuit.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the third and fourth terminals are not tapped from the first inductive means.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein first input nodes of the first differential means, second input nodes of the second differential means, and third input nodes of the third differential means are configured to be coupled to an input signal operating at a same frequency.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein a first set of gain and linearity characteristics of the first differential means, a second set of gain and linearity characteristics of the second differential means, and a third set of gain and linearity characteristics of the third differential means are each different from one another.

24. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

provide an input signal to a component of a wireless communication device, wherein the component is configured to operate in a single frequency mode and wherein the component comprises;

a first differential branch comprising first input nodes and first output nodes, wherein the first output nodes are coupled to ground;

a second differential branch comprising second input nodes, second output nodes, and a first planar inductor coupling a first terminal and a second terminal to ground; and

a third differential branch comprising third input nodes, third output nodes, and a second planar inductor formed within the first planar inductor of the second differential branch and coupling a third terminal and a fourth terminal to ground, wherein the third and fourth terminals are electrically independent from the first planar inductor and the first and second terminals, wherein the second and third differential branches form a dual inductor circuit; and

receive an output from the first output nodes, the second output nodes, the third output nodes, or a combination thereof.

25. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 24, wherein a first set of gain and linearity characteristics of the first differential branch, a second set of gain and linearity characteristics of the second differential branch, and a third set of gain and linearity characteristics of the third differential branch are each different from one another.

26. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 24, wherein the first differential branch, the second differential branch, and the third differential branch are configured to operate at a same frequency as the input signal.