Tunable microwave devices with auto-adjusting matching circuit

• US 9,431,990 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2014
• Issued: 08/30/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NXP USA, Inc. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: du Toit, Cornelis Frederik, Ryan, Deirdre A, Mendolia, Gregory, Martin, James, Khayo, Izz, Bachmann, Heinz, McKinzie, William E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thanh
• Application Number:
  US14/149,849
• Publication Number:
  US 20140118205A1
• Time in Patent Office: 965 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 5/04 with variable factor of coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/242 specially adapted for hand-held use
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/50 Structural association of antennas with earthing switches, lead-in devices or lightning protectors
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/56 Modifications of input or output impedances, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/60 Amplifiers in which coupling networks have distributed constants, e.g. with waveguide resonators H03F3/54 takes precedence
• 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 1/0458 Arrangements for matching and coupling between power amplifier and antenna or between amplifying stages matching circuits in general H03H

Abstract

An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a circuit including an antenna having a tunable component. The tunable component can be operable to receive a variable signal to cause the tunable component to change a reactance of the antenna. The tunable component can include a first conductor coupled to the antenna, a second conductor, and a tunable material positioned between the first conductor and the second conductor, where at least one of the first conductor or the second conductor, or both are adapted to receive the variable signal to cause the change in the reactance of the antenna. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A variable circuit, comprising:

a matching network coupleable to a tunable device;

wherein the matching network comprises a first port and a second port;

wherein the tunable device is coupled to one of the first port or the second port;

wherein the matching network comprises one or more variable capacitors;

wherein the one or more variable capacitors are operable to receive a first of one or more variable voltage signals to cause the one or more variable capacitors to change a first reactance of the matching network;

wherein the tunable device is operable to receive a second of one or more variable voltage signals to cause a change in a second reactance of the tunable device; and

wherein at least one of the one or more variable capacitors comprises;

a first conductor coupled to one of the first port or the second port;

a second conductor; and

a tunable material positioned between the first conductor and the second conductor, wherein at least one of the first conductor or the second conductor, or both are adapted to receive the first of the one or more variable voltage signals to cause the change in the first reactance of the matching network.

2. The variable circuit of claim 1, wherein the change in the first reactance of the matching network causes an increase in power transferred from the first port to the second port or from the second port to the first port.

3. The variable circuit of claim 1, wherein the change in the second reactance of the tunable device causes an increase in power transferred from the first port to the second port or from the second port to the first port.

4. The variable circuit of claim 1, wherein the tunable material comprises a composition of barium strontium titanate.

5. The variable circuit of claim 1, wherein the tunable device comprises a second tunable material.

6. The variable circuit of claim 5, wherein the second of the one or more variable voltage signals is coupled to the second tunable material to cause the change in the second reactance of the tunable device.

7. The variable circuit of claim 1, wherein the tunable device is a tunable antenna.

8. A tunable circuit, comprising:

a matching network coupleable to an antenna, wherein the antenna comprises an antenna member that is tunable;

wherein the matching network comprises a first port and a second port;

wherein the antenna is coupled to one of the first port or the second port;

wherein the matching network comprises one or more variable reactive components;

wherein the one or more variable reactive components are operable to receive a first of one or more variable voltage signals to cause the one or more variable reactive components to change a first reactance of the matching network;

wherein the antenna member is operable to receive a second of one or more variable voltage signals to cause the member to change a second reactance of the antenna;

wherein at least one of the one or more variable reactive components comprises;

a first conductor coupled to one of the first port or the second port;

a second conductor; and

a tunable material positioned between the first conductor and the second conductor, wherein at least one of the first conductor or the second conductor, or both are adapted to receive the first of the one or more variable voltage signals to cause the change in the first reactance of the matching network.

9. The tunable circuit of claim 8, wherein at least one of the change in the first reactance of the matching network, or the change in the second reactance of the antenna, or both causes a change in power transferred from the first port to the second port or from the second port to the first port.

10. The tunable circuit of claim 8, wherein each of the one or more variable reactive components comprises one or more variable capacitors.

11. The tunable circuit of claim 8, wherein the tunable material comprises a composition of barium strontium titanate.

12. The tunable circuit of claim 8, wherein the antenna member comprises a second tunable material.

13. The tunable circuit of claim 12, wherein the second of the one or more variable voltage signals is coupled to the second tunable material to cause the change in the second reactance of the antenna.

14. The tunable circuit of claim 8, wherein at least one of the one or more variable reactive components of the matching network comprises the tunable material.

15. The tunable circuit of claim 14, wherein the tunable material comprises a composition of barium strontium titanate.

16. A circuit, comprising:

an antenna comprising a tunable component;

wherein the tunable component is operable to receive a variable signal to cause the tunable component to change a reactance of the antenna; and

wherein the tunable component comprises;

a first conductor coupled to the antenna;

a second conductor; and

a tunable material positioned between the first conductor and the second conductor, wherein at least one of the first conductor or the second conductor, or both are adapted to receive the variable signal to cause the change in the reactance of the antenna.

17. The circuit of claim 16, wherein the change in the reactance of the antenna causes a change in power transferred by the antenna.

18. The circuit of claim 16, wherein the tunable material comprises a tunable dielectric material.

19. The circuit of claim 18, wherein the tunable dielectric material comprises a composition of barium strontium titanate.

20. The circuit of claim 16, wherein the tunable material comprises a composition of barium strontium titanate.