Methods and apparatuses for use in tuning reactance in a circuit device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A tunable inductor, comprising:
- a first RF terminal;
a second RF terminal;
a plurality of inductive elements connected therebetween, wherein each inductive element is an inductor or a portion thereof;
a plurality of switches coupled with the plurality of inductive elements, wherein each switch of the plurality of switches is configured to receive a control signal, and wherein the control signal controls inductance applied between the first RF terminal and the second RF terminal by turning on or off switches in the plurality of switches; and
at least one bypass switch comprising a plurality of series connected switches, wherein the at least one bypass switch is connected to a bypass node within the tunable inductor via a first terminal of the at least one bypass switch and to the second RF terminal via a second terminal of the at least one bypass switch, the at least one bypass switch being configured to selectively exclude, via a first mode of operation of the at least one bypass switch, and to include, via a second mode of operation of the at least one bypass switch, at least two inductive elements of the plurality of inductive elements and corresponding connected switches of the plurality of the series connected switches in a conduction path between the first RF terminal and the second RF terminal,wherein at least one inductive element in the plurality of inductive elements is coupled with at least two switches from among the plurality of switches, the at least two switches being serially connected therebetween.
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Abstract
Methods and apparatuses for use in tuning reactance are described. Open loop and closed loop control for tuning of reactances are also described. Tunable inductors and/or tunable capacitors may be used in filters, resonant circuits, matching networks, and phase shifters. Ability to control inductance and/or capacitance in a circuit leads to flexibility in operation of the circuit, since the circuit may be tuned to operate under a range of different operating frequencies.
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Citations
46 Claims
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1. A tunable inductor, comprising:
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a first RF terminal; a second RF terminal; a plurality of inductive elements connected therebetween, wherein each inductive element is an inductor or a portion thereof; a plurality of switches coupled with the plurality of inductive elements, wherein each switch of the plurality of switches is configured to receive a control signal, and wherein the control signal controls inductance applied between the first RF terminal and the second RF terminal by turning on or off switches in the plurality of switches; and at least one bypass switch comprising a plurality of series connected switches, wherein the at least one bypass switch is connected to a bypass node within the tunable inductor via a first terminal of the at least one bypass switch and to the second RF terminal via a second terminal of the at least one bypass switch, the at least one bypass switch being configured to selectively exclude, via a first mode of operation of the at least one bypass switch, and to include, via a second mode of operation of the at least one bypass switch, at least two inductive elements of the plurality of inductive elements and corresponding connected switches of the plurality of the series connected switches in a conduction path between the first RF terminal and the second RF terminal, wherein at least one inductive element in the plurality of inductive elements is coupled with at least two switches from among the plurality of switches, the at least two switches being serially connected therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A circuital arrangement with a tunable impedance, the circuital arrangement comprising:
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a first RF terminal; a second RF terminal; a fixed reactance, wherein the fixed reactance comprises a fixed inductor or a portion thereof and/or a fixed capacitor; a plurality of switches connected in parallel or series with the fixed reactance, wherein each switch in the plurality of switches is configured, during operation, to receive a control signal; a plurality of individual reactances connected with the plurality of switches, wherein at least one individual reactance is connected with at least two switches from among the plurality of switches, the at least two switches being serially connected therebetween; and at least one bypass switch comprising a plurality of series connected switches, wherein the at least one bypass switch is connected to a first individual reactance of the plurality of individual reactances via a first terminal of the bypass switch and to a second individual reactance of the plurality of reactances via a second terminal of the bypass switch, the bypass switch being configured to selectively exclude and include, via a bypass control signal, a conduction path comprising the first and the second individual reactances in the circuital arrangement, wherein; whether impedance of a particular individual reactance among the plurality of individual reactances contributes to impedance of the circuital arrangement is based on a control signal received, during operation, by a particular switch in the plurality of switches that is connected with the particular individual reactance, the control signal associated with the particular switch turns on or off the particular switch. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method for tuning inductance of a device, comprising:
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providing a plurality of inductive elements connected therebetween, wherein each inductive element is an inductor or a portion thereof; providing a plurality of switches connected with the plurality of inductive elements; providing a bypass switch comprising a plurality of series connected switches, wherein the bypass switch is connected to a first inductive element of the plurality of inductive elements via a first terminal of the bypass switch and to a second inductive element of the plurality of inductive elements via a second terminal of the bypass switch, the bypass switch being configured to selectively exclude and include, via a bypass control signal, a conduction path comprising the first and the second inductive elements; applying a plurality of control signals to the plurality of switches, wherein each control signal turns on or off one or more switches in the plurality of switches, thus tuning the inductance of the device, and based on the applying the plurality of control signals to the plurality of switches, applying the bypass control signal to the bypass switch; wherein; whether a particular inductive element in the plurality of inductive elements contributes to inductance of the device is based on a control signal received by a particular switch in the plurality of switches that is connected with the particular inductive element, and at least one inductive element in the plurality of inductive elements is connected with at least two switches from among the plurality of switches, the at least two switches being serially connected therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A method for tuning impedance of a device, comprising:
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providing a fixed reactance, wherein the fixed reactance comprises a fixed inductor or a portion thereof and/or a fixed capacitor; providing a plurality of switches connected in parallel or series with the fixed reactance; providing a plurality of individual reactances connected with the plurality of switches; providing a bypass switch comprising a plurality of series connected switches, wherein the bypass switch is connected to a first individual reactance of the plurality of individual reactances via a first terminal of the bypass switch and to a second individual reactance of the plurality of individual reactances via a second terminal of the bypass switch, the bypass switch being configured to selectively exclude and include, via a bypass control signal, a conduction path comprising the first and the second individual reactances; and applying a plurality of control signals to the plurality of switches, wherein each control signal turns on or off one or more switches in the plurality of switches, thus tuning the impedance of the device, based on the applying the plurality of control signals to the plurality of switches, applying the bypass control signal to the bypass switch; wherein; whether impedance of a particular individual reactance among the plurality of individual reactances contributes to impedance of the device is based on a control signal received by a particular switch in the plurality of switches that is connected with the particular individual reactance, and at least one individual reactance is connected with at least two switches from among the plurality of switches, the at least two switches being serially connected therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46)
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Specification