Reconfigurable output matching network for multiple power mode power amplifiers

• US 8,963,644 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2013
• Issued: 02/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co Limited
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc. (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Ma, Rui, Goswami, Sushmit, Teo, Koon Hoo, Duan, Chunjie
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Khanh V
• Application Number:
  US13/849,787
• Publication Number:
  US 20140285264A1
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 330/302, 333/32
• US Class Current: 330/302
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/0277 Selecting one or more amplifiers from a plurality of amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/565 using inductive elements
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/387 A circuit being added at the output of an amplifier to adapt the output impedance of the amplifier
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/391 the output circuit of an amplifying stage comprising an LC-network
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/417 A switch coupled in the output circuit of an amplifier being controlled by a circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/421 Multiple switches coupled in the output circuit of an amplifier are controlled by a circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2203/7215 the gated amplifier being switched on or off by a switch at the input of the amplifier
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2203/7221 the gated amplifier being switched on or off by a switch at the output of the amplifier
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2203/7236 the gated amplifier being switched on or off by putting into parallel or not, by choosing between amplifiers by (a ) switch(es)
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/189 High-frequency amplifiers, e.g. radio frequency amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/191 Tuned amplifiers H03F3/193, H03F3/195 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/245 with semiconductor devices only
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/72 Gated amplifiers, i.e. amplifiers which are rendered operative or inoperative by means of a control signal
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/008 Control by switched capacitors

Abstract

An impedance matching network for a radio frequency (RF) amplifier includes multiple stages connected to each other in a first to last order. A first stage produces an RF output signal, and a last stage receives an RF input signal. Each stage includes a first inductor connected to produce an output signal, a second inductor connected to receive an input signal from a next stage, a capacitor connected between the first and second inductors and a ground. In addition, each stage other than the first stage further includes a first switch to by-pass the first and second inductors, a second switch connected between the first and second inductors and the ground, and a controller for controlling, the first and second switches to select a particular power level of a set of power levels.

Claims

1. An apparatus for matching impedances in a radio frequency (RF) amplifier, comprising:

a plurality of stages, wherein the plurality of stages are serially connected to each other in a first to last order, and a first stage produces an RF output signal, and a last stage receives an RF input signal, wherein the each stage further comprises;

a first inductor connected to produce an output signal;

a second inductor connected to receive an input signal from a next stage;

a capacitor connected between the first and second inductors and a ground, and wherein each stage other than the first stage further comprises;

a first switch to by-pass the first and second inductors;

a second switch connected between the first and second inductors and the ground; and

means for controlling the first and second switches to select a particular power level of a set of power levels.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is installed in a wireless communication device.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the wireless communication device is a cellular network.