On-package transmit/receive switch and antenna

• US 8,498,586 B2
• Filed: 08/02/2012
• Issued: 07/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rofougaran, Ahmadreza, Rofougaran, Maryam
• Primary Examiner(s): Hernandez, William
• Application Number:
  US13/565,629
• Publication Number:
  US 20120294208A1
• Time in Patent Office: 362 Days
• Field of Search: 343/850, 343/860, 455/78
• US Class Current: 455/78
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2223/6677 for antenna, e.g. antenna included within housing of semiconductor device antennas per se H01Q
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/66 High-frequency adaptations
• 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: H01Q 3/30 varying the relative phase between the radiating elements of an array H01Q3/2605, H01Q3/2658, H01Q3/2682, H01Q3/44 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/34 by electrical means active lenses or reflecting arrays H01Q3/46
• 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

Methods and systems for an on-chip and/or on-package T/R switch and antenna are disclosed and may include selectively coupling one or more low noise amplifiers (LNAs) and/or one or more power amplifiers (PAs) to one or more ports of a multi-port distributed antenna utilizing configurable transmit/receive (T/R) switches integrated on a chip with the LNAs and PAs. The LNAs and PAs may be impedance matched to the antenna by coupling them to a port based on a characteristic impedance at the port. The T/R switches may be integrated on a package to which the chip may be coupled. The signals transmitted and received by the antenna may be time division duplexed. The antenna, which may include a microstrip antenna, may be integrated on the chip or the package. The LNA and the PA may be coupled to different ports on the antenna via the T/R switches.

Claims

1. A method for communication in a wireless device, the method comprising:

configuring one or more transmit/receive (T/R) switches in a package to selectively couple one or more of a plurality of low noise amplifiers (LNAs) and/or one or more of a plurality of power amplifiers (PAs) to one or more of a plurality of ports of a multi-port distributed antenna that are within or on said package.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising coupling said one or more of said plurality of LNAs to said one or more of said plurality of ports based on a characteristic impedance of said multi-port distributed antenna at said one or more of said plurality of ports.

3. The method of claim 1 comprising coupling said one or more of said plurality of PAs to said one or more of said plurality of ports based on a characteristic impedance of said multi-port distributed antenna at said one or more of said plurality of ports.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said T/R switches comprise CMOS switches.

5. The method of claim 1 comprising time division duplexing signals transmitted and received by said multi-port distributed antenna.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said multi-port distributed antenna comprises a microstrip antenna.

7. The method of claim 1 comprising coupling said one or more of said plurality of LNAs and said one or more of said plurality of PAs to different ports on said multi-port distributed antenna by said T/R switches.

8. A system for enabling communication in a wireless device, the system comprising:

one or more transmit/receive (T/R) switches in a package;

one or more circuits operable to selectively couple one or more of a plurality of low noise amplifiers (LNAs) and/or one or more of a plurality of power amplifiers (PAs) to one or more of a plurality of ports of a multi-port distributed antenna that are within or on said package.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said one or more of said plurality of LNAs are coupled to said one or more of said plurality of ports based on a characteristic impedance of said multi-port distributed antenna at said one or more of said plurality of ports.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein said one or more of said plurality of PAs are coupled to said one or more of said plurality of ports based on a characteristic impedance of said multi-port distributed antenna at said one or more of said plurality of ports.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein said T/R switches comprise CMOS switches.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein time division duplexing signals transmitted and received by said multi-port distributed antenna.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein said multi-port distributed antenna comprises a microstrip antenna.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein said one or more of said plurality of LNAs and said one or more of said plurality of PAs are coupled to different ports on said multi-port distributed antenna by said T/R switches.