High frequency switch circuit

• US 20050179506A1
• Filed: 05/19/2003
• Published: 08/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Numata, Keiichi, Takahashi, Yuji
• Granted Patent: US 7,345,521 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 333/104
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/063 in field-effect transistor switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/693 Switching arrangements with several input- or output-terminals, e.g. multiplexers, distributors logic circuits H03K19/00; code converters H03M5/00, H03M7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/48 in circuits for connecting transmitter and receiver to a common transmission path, e.g. by energy of transmitter H04B1/46 takes precedence

Abstract

A high-frequency switch circuit has a plurality of high-frequency switches for passing and blocking a high-frequency signal between an input terminal and an output terminal depending on a control potential applied as a control signal, a high-frequency detecting terminal for detecting high-frequency signal passing through the high-frequency switch which is in ON-state, and a voltage boosting circuit for generating a potential for increasing the control potential applied to the high-frequency switch which is in ON-state in order to increase difference between the control potential applied to the high-frequency switch which is in an ON-state and the control potential applied to the high-frequency switch which is in an OFF-state, depending on an intensity or amplitude of the detected high-frequency signal.

Claims

1. A high-frequency switch circuit comprising:

a plurality of high-frequency switch means for passing and blocking a high-frequency signal between an input terminal and an output terminal depending on a control potential applied as a control signal;

detecting means for detecting the high-frequency signal which passes through said high-frequency switch means; and

a control potential generating circuit for changing the control potential applied to at least one of said plurality of high-frequency switch means in order to increase difference between the control potential applied to the high-frequency switch means which is in an ON-state and the control potential applied to the high-frequency switch means which is in an OFF-state, depending on an amplitude of the high-frequency signal detected by said detecting means.

2. The high-frequency switch circuit according to claim 1, wherein said control potential generating circuit has means for increasing said control potential applied to at least the high-frequency switch means which is in said ON-state and/or means for decreasing said control potential applied to at least the high-frequency switch means which is in said OFF-state.

3. The high-frequency switch circuit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said control potential generating circuit has a voltage boosting circuit for increasing a potential depending on an amplitude of an input signal and/or a voltage lowering circuit for decreasing a potential depending on the amplitude of said input signal.

4. The high-frequency switch circuit according to claim 1, wherein said control potential generating circuit has a voltage boosting circuit for increasing a potential depending on the amplitude of an input signal in order to increase said control potential applied to at least the high-frequency switch means which is in said ON-state, depending on the amplitude of the high-frequency signal detected by said detecting means.

5. The high-frequency switch circuit according to claim 1, wherein said control potential generating circuit has a voltage lowering circuit for decreasing a potential depending on the amplitude of an input signal in order to decrease said control potential applied to at least the high-frequency switch means which is in said OFF-state, depending on the amplitude of the high-frequency signal detected by said detecting means.

6. The high-frequency switch circuit according to claim 1, wherein said control potential generating circuit has a voltage boosting circuit for increasing a potential depending on an amplitude of an input signal, a voltage lowering circuit for decreasing a potential depending on the amplitude of said input signal and a potential combining circuit for combining an output potential from said voltage boosting circuit and an output potential from said voltage lowering circuit into a control potential applied to at least one of said plurality of high-frequency switch means;

and

wherein the control potential applied to at least the high-frequency switch means which is in said ON-state is increased, and/or the control potential applied to at least the high-frequency switch means which is in said OFF-state is decreased.

7. The high-frequency switch circuit according to claim 4, wherein each of said high-frequency switch means has one or more high frequency switches connected in cascade for passing and blocking the high-frequency signal between an input end and an output end depending on said control signal which is applied;

wherein said detecting means has first and second potential dividing elements connected in cascade between two points which are selected from junctions between the high frequency switches connected in cascade, the input terminals of said high-frequency switch means, and output terminals of said high-frequency switch means, and a junction between said first and second potential dividing elements serves as a detecting terminal.

8. The high-frequency switch circuit according to claim 6, wherein each of said high-frequency switch means has one or more high frequency switches connected in cascade for passing and blocking the high-frequency signal between an input end and an output end depending on said control signal which is applied;

wherein said detecting means has first and second potential dividing elements connected in cascade between two points which are selected from junctions between the high frequency switches connected in cascade, input terminals of said high-frequency switch means, and output terminals of said high-frequency switch means, and a junction between said first and second potential dividing elements serves as a detecting terminal.

9. The high-frequency switch circuit according to claim 5, wherein each of said high-frequency switch means has one or more high frequency switches connected in cascade for passing and blocking the high-frequency signal between an input end and an output end depending on said control signal which is applied;

wherein said detecting means has first and second potential dividing elements connected in cascade between two points which are selected from junctions between the high frequency switches connected in cascade, input terminals of said high-frequency switch means, and output terminals of said high-frequency switch means, and a junction between said first and second potential dividing elements serves as a detecting terminal.

10. The high-frequency switch circuit according to claim 6, wherein each of said high-frequency switch means has one or more high frequency switches connected in cascade for passing and blocking the high-frequency signal between an input end and an output end depending on said control signal which is applied;

wherein said detecting means has first and second potential dividing elements connected in cascade between two points which are selected from junctions between the high frequency switches connected in cascade, input terminals of said high-frequency switch means, and output terminals of said high-frequency switch means, and a junction between said first and second potential dividing elements serves as a detecting terminal.

11. The high-frequency switch circuit according to claim 6, wherein each of said high-frequency switch means has one or more high frequency switches connected in cascade for passing and blocking the high-frequency signal between an input end and an output end depending on said control signal which is applied;

wherein said detecting means has first, second, and third potential dividing elements connected in cascade between two points which are selected from junctions between the high frequency switches connected in cascade, input terminals of said high-frequency switch means, and output terminals of said high-frequency switch means, and a first junction between said first and second potential dividing elements and a second junction between said second and third potential dividing elements serve as detecting terminals.

12. The high-frequency switch circuit according to any one of claims 7 to 11, wherein each of said potential dividing elements comprises at least one selected from a resistive element, a capacitive element, and an inductive element.

13. The high-frequency switch circuit according to claim 4, wherein each of said high-frequency switch means has two high frequency switches connected in cascade for passing and blocking the high-frequency signal between an input end and an output end depending on said control signal which is applied;

wherein said detecting means has either one of a junction between said two high frequency switches, input terminals of said high-frequency switch means, and output terminals of said high-frequency switch means, as a detecting terminal.

14. The high-frequency switch circuit according to claim 5, wherein each of said high-frequency switch means has two high frequency switches connected in cascade for passing and blocking the high-frequency signal between an input end and an output end depending on said control signal which is applied;

wherein said detecting means has either one of a junction between said two high frequency switches, input terminals of said high-frequency switch means, and output terminals of said high-frequency switch means, as a detecting terminal.

15. The high-frequency switch circuit according to claim 6, wherein each of said high-frequency switch means has two or more high frequency switches connected in cascade for passing and blocking the high-frequency signal between an input end and an output end depending on said control signal which is applied;

wherein said detecting means has either two of junctions between said high frequency switches connected in cascade, input terminals of said high-frequency switch means, and output terminals of said high-frequency switch means, as detecting terminals.

16. The high-frequency switch circuit according to claim 7, wherein said voltage boosting circuit has a control potential output terminal for outputting the control potential applied to said high-frequency switch means, a signal detector connected between said detecting terminal and said control potential output terminal, a control signal input terminal for being supplied with said control signal from an external circuit, and a circuit including a rectifying element connected between said control potential output terminal and said control signal input terminal.

17. The high-frequency switch circuit according to claim 8, wherein said voltage boosting circuit has a control potential output terminal for outputting the control potential applied to said high-frequency switch means, a signal detector connected between said detecting terminal and said control potential output terminal, a control signal input terminal for being supplied with said control signal from an external circuit, and a circuit including a rectifying element connected between said control potential output terminal and said control signal input terminal.

18. The high-frequency switch circuit according to claim 13, wherein said voltage boosting circuit has a control potential output terminal for outputting the control potential applied to said high-frequency switch means, a signal detector connected between said detecting terminal and said control potential output terminal, a control signal input terminal for being supplied with said control signal from an external circuit, and a circuit including a rectifying element connected between said control potential output terminal and said control signal input terminal.

19. The high-frequency switch circuit according to claim 9, wherein said voltage lowering circuit has a control potential output terminal for outputting the control potential applied to said high-frequency switch means, a signal detector connected between said detecting terminal and said control potential output terminal, a control signal input terminal for being supplied with a control signal from an external circuit, and a circuit including a rectifying element connected between said control potential output terminal and said control signal input terminal.

20. The high-frequency switch circuit according to claim 10, wherein said voltage lowering circuit has a control potential output terminal for outputting the control potential applied to said high-frequency switch means, a signal detector connected between said detecting terminal and said control potential output terminal, a control signal input terminal for being supplied with a control signal from an external circuit, and a circuit including a rectifying element connected between said control potential output terminal and said control signal input terminal.

21. The high-frequency switch circuit according to claim 14, wherein said voltage lowering circuit has a control potential output terminal for outputting the control potential applied to said high-frequency switch means, a signal detector connected between said detecting terminal and said control potential output terminal, a control signal input terminal for being supplied with a control signal from an external circuit, and a circuit including a rectifying element connected between said control potential output terminal and said control signal input terminal.

22. The high-frequency switch circuit according to any one of claims 16 to 21, wherein said circuit including the rectifying element has a resistive element connected between said control potential output terminal and said control signal input terminal, and a circuit connected parallel to said resistive element;

wherein said circuit connected parallel to said resistive element comprises a rectifying element or a series-connected circuit of a rectifying element and a circuit including a resistive element;

wherein said circuit including the resistive element has a circuit comprising a resistive element and/or an inductive element, or a circuit comprising a parallel-connected arrangement of a circuit comprising a resistive element and/or an inductive element and a circuit comprising at least one of a resistive element, an inductive element, and a capacitive element.

23. The high-frequency switch circuit according to claim 11 or 15, wherein said voltage boosting circuit has an increased potential output terminal for outputting a boosted potential, a first control signal input terminal for being supplied with a control signal from an external circuit, a first detecting terminal for detecting a high-amplitude signal, a circuit including a rectifying element connected between said first control signal input terminal and said increased potential output terminal, and a first signal detector connected between said increased potential output terminal and said first detecting terminal;

wherein said voltage lowering circuit has a decreased potential output terminal for outputting a lowered potential, a second control signal input terminal for being supplied with a control signal from an external circuit, a second detecting terminal for detecting a high-amplitude signal, a circuit including a rectifying element connected between said second control signal input terminal and said decreased potential output terminal, and a second signal detector connected between said decreased potential output terminal and said second detecting terminal;

wherein said potential combining circuit has a circuit including a first resistive element connected between said increased potential output terminal and a control potential output terminal for outputting the control potential applied to said high-frequency switch means, and a circuit including a second resistive element connected between said decreased potential output terminal and said control potential output terminal;

wherein each of said circuits including the resistive element has a circuit comprising a resistive element and/or an inductive element, or a circuit comprising a parallel-connected arrangement of a circuit comprising a resistive element and/or an inductive element and a circuit comprising at least one of a resistive element, an inductive element, and a capacitive element.

24. The high-frequency switch circuit according to claim 23, wherein said circuit including the rectifying element in said voltage boosting circuit has a rectifying element or a series-connected circuit of a rectifying element and a circuit including a first resistive element, connected between said increased potential output terminal and said first control signal input terminal;

wherein said circuit including the rectifying element in said voltage lowering circuit has a rectifying element or a series-connected circuit of a rectifying element and a circuit including a second resistive element, connected between said decreased potential output terminal and said second control signal input terminal;

wherein each of said circuits including the resistive element has a circuit comprising a resistive element and/or an inductive element, or a circuit comprising a parallel-connected arrangement of a circuit comprising a resistive element and/or an inductive element and a circuit comprising at least one of a resistive element, an inductive element, and a capacitive element.

25. The high-frequency switch circuit according to claim 23, wherein said voltage boosting circuit has a circuit including a third resistive element parallel to said rectifying element between said increased potential output terminal and said first control signal input terminal;

wherein said circuit including the third resistive element has a circuit comprising a resistive element and/or an inductive element or a circuit comprising a parallel-connected arrangement of a circuit comprising a resistive element and/or an inductive element and a circuit comprising at least one of a resistive element, an inductive element, and a capacitive element.

26. The high-frequency switch circuit according to claim 23, wherein said voltage lowering circuit has a circuit including a fourth resistive element parallel to said rectifying element between said decreased potential output terminal and said second control signal input terminal;

wherein said circuit including the fourth resistive element has a circuit comprising a resistive element and/or an inductive element, or a circuit comprising a parallel-connected arrangement of a circuit comprising a resistive element and/or an inductive element and a circuit comprising at least one of a resistive element, an inductive element, and a capacitive element.

27. The high-frequency switch circuit according to any one of claims 16 to 21, wherein each of said signal detectors has a circuit connected by only a capacitive element or a circuit including a capacitive element, between the corresponding detecting terminal and the corresponding potential output terminal, and said circuit including the capacitive element has a circuit comprising a series-connected arrangement of an element group comprising at least one of a resistive element, an inductive element, and a capacitive element, and a capacitive element.

28. The high-frequency switch circuit according to any one of claims 7 to 11, 13 to 21, wherein each of said high-frequency switches has a plurality of field-effect transistors having channels connected in cascade between said input terminal and said output terminal of the high-frequency switch, and a plurality of resistive elements associated respectively with said field-effect transistors and having ends connected to the gates of the corresponding field-effect transistors and other ends connected in common for application of said control signal thereto.

29. The high-frequency switch circuit according to claim 28, further including resistive elements associated respectively with said field-effect transistors and interconnecting drains and sources thereof.

30. The high-frequency switch circuit according to any one of claims 1, 2, 4 to 11, 13 to 21, wherein said control potential generating circuit is associated with each of said high-frequency switch means.