Method and apparatus for use in digitally tuning a capacitor in an integrated circuit device
First Claim
1. A digitally tuned capacitor, DTC, for use in an integrated circuit device, comprising:
- (a) a first RF terminal;
(b) a second RF terminal;
(c) an input terminal; and
(d) one unit cell and replicated unit cells, wherein the replicated unit cells are implemented by instantiating the one unit cell one or more times and by coupling the instantiations in parallel;
wherein the input terminal is configured to receive a digital control word having a selected plurality of b digital control word bits;
wherein the one unit cell and replicated unit cells are coupled in parallel having a first node coupled to the first RF terminal and a second node coupled to the second RF terminal;
wherein the one unit cell and each of the replicated unit cells are coupled via a corresponding network of resistors to an associated and corresponding digital control word bit, in a one-to-one relationship, each corresponding network of resistors for the one unit cell or the replicated unit cells comprising a number of resistors of a same resistance value, said number being the same for each cell, said resistance value for each replicated unit cell being a function of the number of times the one unit cell has been instantiated in parallel in said each replicated unit cell;
wherein each one of the one unit cell and of the replicated unit cells forms, together with the corresponding network of resistors, a sub-circuit;
wherein each unit cell comprises a plurality of stacked switches coupled in series with one or more capacitors; and
wherein a switching operation of the stacked switches is selectively controlled by an associated and corresponding digital control word bit of the digital control word, thereby selectively controlling a capacitance between the first RF terminal and the second RF terminal.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for use in a digitally tuning a capacitor in an integrated circuit device is described. A Digitally Tuned Capacitor DTC is described which facilitates digitally controlling capacitance applied between a first and second terminal. In some embodiments, the first terminal comprises an RF+ terminal and the second terminal comprises an RF− terminal. In accordance with some embodiments, the DTCs comprise a plurality of sub-circuits ordered in significance from least significant bit (LSB) to most significant bit (MSB) sub-circuits, wherein the plurality of significant bit sub-circuits are coupled together in parallel, and wherein each sub-circuit has a first node coupled to the first RF terminal, and a second node coupled to the second RF terminal. The DTCs further include an input means for receiving a digital control word, wherein the digital control word comprises bits that are similarly ordered in significance from an LSB to an MSB.
49 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A digitally tuned capacitor, DTC, for use in an integrated circuit device, comprising:
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(a) a first RF terminal; (b) a second RF terminal; (c) an input terminal; and (d) one unit cell and replicated unit cells, wherein the replicated unit cells are implemented by instantiating the one unit cell one or more times and by coupling the instantiations in parallel; wherein the input terminal is configured to receive a digital control word having a selected plurality of b digital control word bits; wherein the one unit cell and replicated unit cells are coupled in parallel having a first node coupled to the first RF terminal and a second node coupled to the second RF terminal; wherein the one unit cell and each of the replicated unit cells are coupled via a corresponding network of resistors to an associated and corresponding digital control word bit, in a one-to-one relationship, each corresponding network of resistors for the one unit cell or the replicated unit cells comprising a number of resistors of a same resistance value, said number being the same for each cell, said resistance value for each replicated unit cell being a function of the number of times the one unit cell has been instantiated in parallel in said each replicated unit cell; wherein each one of the one unit cell and of the replicated unit cells forms, together with the corresponding network of resistors, a sub-circuit; wherein each unit cell comprises a plurality of stacked switches coupled in series with one or more capacitors; and wherein a switching operation of the stacked switches is selectively controlled by an associated and corresponding digital control word bit of the digital control word, thereby selectively controlling a capacitance between the first RF terminal and the second RF terminal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method of digitally tuning a capacitor in an integrated circuit device, comprising:
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(a) establishing electrical communication with a first RF terminal; (b) establishing electrical communication with a second RF terminal; (c) receiving a digital control word having a selected plurality of b digital control bits; and (d) selectively controlling a capacitance applied between the first and second RF terminals; wherein the integrated circuit device further comprises one unit cell and replicated unit cells, wherein the replicated unit cells are implemented by instantiating the one unit cell one or more times and by coupling the instantiations in parallel; wherein the one unit cell and replicated unit cells are coupled in parallel having a first node coupled to the first RF terminal and a second node coupled to the second RF terminal; wherein the one unit cell and each of the replicated unit cells are coupled, via a corresponding network of resistors, to an associated and corresponding digital control word bit, in a one-to-one relationship, each corresponding network of resistors for the one unit cell or the replicated unit cells comprising a number of resistors of a same resistance value, said number being the same for each cell, said resistance value for each replicated unit cell being a function of the number of times the one unit cell has been instantiated in parallel in said each replicated unit cell; wherein each unit cell comprises a plurality of stacked switches coupled in series with one or more capacitors; and wherein the digital control word selectively controls the capacitance by selectively controlling switching operation of the stacked switches by the associated and corresponding digital control word bit. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
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Specification