Method and apparatus for adaptive impedance matching

• US 10,050,598 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2017
• Issued: 08/14/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NXP USA, Inc. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: McKinzie, III, William E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vuong, Quochien B
• Application Number:
  US15/629,820
• Publication Number:
  US 20170294891A1
• Time in Patent Office: 418 Days
• Field of Search: 455 6711, 455 69, 455522, 333 173, 333 32, 333 33
• 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:

an RF matching network comprising at least one variable reactive element, wherein the RF matching network has a plurality of RF ports, a first one of the RF ports being coupled to a transceiver and a second one of the RF ports being coupled to an antenna; and

a controller coupled with the RF matching network, wherein the controller determines a signal parameter associated with at least one of the RF ports, wherein the controller generates at least one control signal for controlling the at least one variable reactive element based on the signal parameter and based on a mode of operation of the communication device, and

wherein the RF matching network modifies signal power transferred between the first one of the RF ports and the second one of the RF ports according to the at least one control signal applied to the at least one variable reactive element to vary a variable impedance of the RF matching network.

2. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the mode of operation is a transmit mode or a receive mode.

3. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the at least one variable reactive element comprises a plurality of variable reactive elements, wherein the at least one control signal comprises a plurality of control signals, and wherein each of the plurality of control signals is for independently controlling one of the plurality of variable reactive elements.

4. The communication device of claim 3, wherein the plurality of variable reactive elements includes a reactive element controlled with a micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) device.

5. The communication device of claim 3, wherein the plurality of variable reactive elements includes a reactive element configurable with a mechanical switch, a semiconductor device or a combination thereof.

6. The communication device of claim 3, wherein the plurality of variable reactive elements includes a voltage tunable dielectric capacitor.

7. The communication device of claim 3, 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.

8. The communication device of claim 7, wherein the voltage supply includes a negative voltage.

9. The communication device of claim 3, wherein the controller generates the plurality of control signals based on an operating frequency of the communication device.

10. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the controller determines the signal parameter by a process that is performed without determining phase information.

11. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the controller determines the signal parameter by a process that does not utilize a directional coupler.

12. A communication device, comprising:

an RF matching network comprising at least one variable reactive element, wherein the RF matching network has a plurality of RF ports, a first one of the RF ports being coupled to a transceiver and a second one of the RF ports being coupled to an antenna; and

a controller coupled with the RF matching network that determines a voltage magnitude associated with at least one of the RF ports,

wherein the controller generates at least one control signal for controlling the at least one variable reactive element based on the voltage magnitude and based on a mode of operation of the communication device, and

wherein the RF matching network modifies signal power transferred between the first one of the RF ports and the second one of the RF ports according to the at least one control signal applied to the at least one variable reactive element to vary a variable impedance of the RF matching network.

13. The communication device of claim 12, wherein the mode of operation distinguishes between a transmit mode and a receive mode, wherein the at least one variable reactive element comprises a plurality of variable reactive elements, wherein the at least one control signal comprises a plurality of control signals, and wherein the plurality of control signals are for independently controlling the plurality of variable reactive elements.

14. The communication device of claim 13, wherein the plurality of variable reactive elements includes a voltage tunable dielectric capacitor.

15. The communication device of claim 13, wherein the plurality of variable reactive elements includes a reactive element configurable with a semiconductor device.

16. The communication device of claim 13, 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 13, wherein the plurality of variable reactive elements includes a reactive element configurable with a mechanical switch.

18. A communication device, comprising:

an RF matching network comprising at least one voltage tunable dielectric capacitor, wherein the RF matching network has a plurality of RF ports, a first one of the RF ports being coupled to a transceiver and a second one of the RF ports being coupled to an antenna; and

a controller coupled with the RF matching network that determines at least one signal parameter associated with at least one of the RF ports,

wherein the controller generates at least one control signal for controlling the at least one voltage tunable dielectric capacitor based on the at least one signal parameter, based on an operating frequency of the communication device, and based on a mode of operation of the communication device, and

wherein the RF matching network modifies signal power transferred between the first one of the RF ports and the second one of the RF ports according to the at least one control signal applied to the at least one voltage tunable dielectric capacitor to vary a variable impedance of the RF matching network.

19. The communication device of claim 18, wherein the mode of operation is a transmit mode or a receive mode.

20. The communication device of claim 18, wherein the at least one voltage tunable dielectric capacitor comprises a plurality of voltage tunable dielectric capacitors, wherein the at least one control signal comprises a plurality of control signals, and wherein each of the plurality of control signals is for independently controlling one of the plurality of voltage tunable dielectric capacitors.