Variable impedance matching network and method for the same

• US 8,447,255 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2008
• Issued: 05/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Mobile Communications Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Asokan, Ramanathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Lu, Zhiyu
• Application Number:
  US12/259,472
• Publication Number:
  US 20100105425A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,666 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 455/273
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/406 with more than one transmission mode, e.g. analog and digital modes

Abstract

An improved variable matching network for use in a multi-band, multi-mode communications device provides dynamic, fine-tune impedance matching based on current operational conditions associated with a given signal. In one embodiment, gross parameters are selected based on one or more of the operational conditions. Delta parameters are provided using an optimization algorithm based on one or more of the operational conditions. And the gross and delta parameters are combined to obtain overall matching parameters that dynamically fine-tune discrete matching circuitry.

Claims

1. A variable matching network for use in a multi-band, multi-mode communications device, comprising:

a gross parameter selector configured to select a first set of parameters for impedance tuning tunable components of the variable matching network from a plurality of predefined gross parameters based on one or more operational conditions associated with a given signal;

a matching optimizer configured to obtain a second set of delta parameters for adjusting the first set of parameters using an optimization algorithm based on one or more of the operational conditions;

a parameter combiner configured to obtain overall matching parameters by adjusting the first set of parameters based on the second set of parameters; and

discrete matching circuitry including the tunable components configurable based on the overall matching parameters to provide dynamic, fine-tune impedance matching.

2. The variable matching network of claim 1, wherein the one or more operational conditions on which the first set of parameters is based includes a selected radio access technology, a selected frequency band, and a selected one of a transmitting mode or a receiving mode.

3. The variable matching network of claim 1, wherein the one or more operational conditions on which the second set of parameters is based includes information pertaining to signal quality and a selected one of a transmitting mode or a receiving mode.

4. The variable matching network of claim 3, wherein the signal quality information includes at least one of an uplink signal quality or a downlink signal quality.

5. The variable matching network of claim 4, wherein the matching optimizer compares the uplink signal quality and the downlink signal quality to determine which link is weaker, and optimizes the second set of parameters based on the signal quality of the weaker link.

6. The variable matching network of claim 2, wherein at least one predefined gross parameter is assigned to each possible combination of frequency band, radio access technology, and transmitting/receiving mode.

7. The variable matching network of claim 2, wherein the gross parameter selector selects the first set of parameters based on the transmitting mode for one time period and selects the first set of parameters based on the receiving mode for a next time period.

8. The variable matching network of claim 1, wherein the operational conditions are continuously updated.

9. A method of providing fine-tune impedance matching at an antenna port of a multi-band, multi-mode communications device, comprising:

receiving operational conditions associated with a given signal;

selecting a first set of parameters for impedance tuning tunable components of matching circuitry from a plurality of predefined gross parameters based on one or more of the operational conditions;

obtaining a second set of delta parameters for adjusting the first set of parameters using an optimization algorithm based on one or more of the operational conditions;

obtaining overall matching parameters by adjusting the first set of parameters based on the second set of parameters; and

dynamically tuning discrete matching circuitry including the tunable components based on the overall matching parameters.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the one or more operational conditions on which the first set of parameters is based includes a selected radio access technology, a selected frequency band, and a selected one of a transmitting mode or a receiving mode.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the one or more operational conditions on which the second set of parameters is based includes information pertaining to signal quality and a selected one of a transmitting mode or a receiving mode.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the signal quality information includes at least one of an uplink signal quality or a downlink signal quality.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein obtaining a second set of parameters includes:

comparing the uplink signal quality and the downlink signal quality to determine which link is weaker; and

optimizing the second set of parameters based on the signal quality of the weaker link.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein at least one predefined gross parameter is assigned to each possible combination of frequency band, radio access technology, and transmitting/receiving mode.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein selecting a first set of parameters includes:

for one time period, selecting the first set of parameters based on the transmitting mode; and

for a next time period, selecting the first set of parameters based on the receiving mode.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the operational conditions are continuously updated.