Method and apparatus for adaptive impedance matching

• US 9,130,543 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2013
• Issued: 09/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NXP USA, Inc. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: McKinzie, William E.
• Primary Examiner(s): TAKAOKA, DEAN O
• Application Number:
  US14/030,439
• Publication Number:
  US 20140015619A1
• Time in Patent Office: 720 Days
• Field of Search: 333/17.3, 333/32, 333/33
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/50 Structural association of antennas with earthing switches, lead-in devices or lightning protectors
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 11/30 Automatic matching of source impedance to load impedance
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 7/38 Impedance-matching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 7/40 Automatic matching of load impedance to source impedance
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/44 Transmit/receive switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/0278 Arrangements for impedance matching
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/18 TPC being performed according to specific parameters

Abstract

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an adaptive impedance matching network having an RF matching network coupled to at least one RF input port and at least one RF output port and comprising one or more controllable variable reactive elements. The RF matching network can be adapted to reduce a level of reflected power transferred from said at least one input port by varying signals applied to said controllable variable reactive elements. The one or more controllable variable reactive elements can be coupled to a circuit adapted to map one or more control signals that are output from a controller to a signal range that is compatible with said one or more controllable variable reactive elements. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A communication device, comprising:

a transceiver;

an antenna; and

an RF matching network comprising a plurality of variable reactive elements, wherein the RF matching network has an RF input port coupled to the transceiver producing an RF signal supplied to the RF input port, and wherein the RF matching network comprises an RF output port coupled to the antenna;

a detector that obtains a signal from the RF output port of the RF matching network and determines a signal parameter associated with the signal; and

a controller coupled with the detector and with the RF matching network, wherein the controller generates a plurality of control signals for independently controlling the plurality of variable reactive elements based on the signal parameter,

wherein the plurality of control signals is generated by the controller based on a mode of operation of the communication device,

wherein the mode of operation distinguishes between a transmit mode and a receive mode, and

wherein the RF matching network modifies signal power transferred from the RF input port to the RF output port according to the plurality of control signals applied to the plurality of variable reactive elements to vary a variable impedance of the RF matching network.

2. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of variable reactive elements includes a voltage tunable dielectric capacitor.

3. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the determining of the signal parameter associated with the signal does not utilize a directional coupler.

4. The communication device of claim 3, wherein the determining of the signal parameter is performed without determining phase information associated with the signal.

5. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of variable reactive elements includes a reactive element configurable with a semiconductor device.

6. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of variable reactive elements includes a reactive element controlled with a micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) device.

7. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of variable reactive elements includes a reactive element configurable with a mechanical switch.

8. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of control signals includes digital signals.

9. The communication device of claim 1, further comprising a charge pump that increases a voltage supply to each of the plurality of variable reactive elements, wherein the voltage supply is based on the plurality of control signals from the controller.

10. The communication device of claim 9, wherein the controller generates the plurality of control signals based on an operating frequency of the communication device.

11. The communication device of claim 9, wherein the voltage supply includes a negative voltage.

12. A communication device, comprising:

a transceiver;

an antenna; and

an RF matching network comprising a plurality of variable reactive elements, wherein the RF matching network has an RF input port coupled to the transceiver producing an RF signal supplied to the RF input port, and wherein the RF matching network comprises an RF output port coupled to the antenna;

a detector that obtains a signal from the RF output port of the RF matching network and determines a voltage magnitude associated with the signal; and

a controller coupled with the detector and with the RF matching network, wherein the controller generates a plurality of control signals for independently controlling the plurality of variable reactive elements based on the voltage magnitude and based on a mode of operation of the communication device that distinguishes between a transmit mode and a receive mode,

wherein the RF matching network modifies signal power transferred from the RF input port to the RF output port according to the plurality of control signals applied to the plurality of variable reactive elements to vary a variable impedance of the RF matching network.

13. The communication device of claim 12, wherein the determining of the voltage magnitude associated with the signal does not utilize a directional coupler.

14. The communication device of claim 12, wherein the plurality of variable reactive elements includes a voltage tunable dielectric capacitor.

15. The communication device of claim 12, wherein the plurality of variable reactive elements includes a reactive element configurable with a semiconductor device.

16. The communication device of claim 12, wherein the plurality of variable reactive elements includes a reactive element controlled with a micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) device.

17. The communication device of claim 12, wherein the plurality of variable reactive elements includes a reactive element configurable with a mechanical switch.

18. A communication device, comprising:

a transceiver;

an antenna; and

an RF matching network comprising a plurality of voltage tunable dielectric capacitors, wherein the RF matching network has an RF input port coupled to the transceiver producing an RF signal supplied to the RF input port, and wherein the RF matching network comprises an RF output port coupled to the antenna;

a detector that obtains a signal from the RF output port of the RF matching network and determines a signal parameter associated with the signal; and

a controller coupled with the detector and with the RF matching network, wherein the controller generates a plurality of control signals for independently controlling the plurality of voltage tunable dielectric capacitors based on the signal parameter and based on an operating frequency of the communication device,

wherein the plurality of control signals is generated by the controller based on a mode of operation of the communication device,

wherein the mode of operation distinguishes between a transmit mode and a receive mode,

wherein the RF matching network modifies signal power transferred from the RF input port to the RF output port according to the plurality of control signals applied to the plurality of voltage tunable dielectric capacitors to vary a variable impedance of the RF matching network.

19. The communication device of claim 18, wherein the determining of the signal parameter associated with the signal does not utilize a directional coupler.

20. The communication device of claim 19, wherein the determining of the signal parameter is performed without determining phase information associated with the signal.