Methods and Apparatuses for use in Tuning Reactance in a Circuit Device

• US 20130222075A1
• Filed: 08/27/2012
• Published: 08/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: pSemi Corporation (Murata Manufacturing Co Limited)
• Original Assignee: Peregrine Semiconductor Corporation (Murata Manufacturing Co Limited)
• Inventors: Reedy, Ronald Eugene, Nobbe, Dan William, Ranta, Tero Tapio, Liss, Cheryl V., Kovac, David
• Granted Patent: US 9,197,194 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 333/32
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 21/12 discontinuously variable, e.g. tapped
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 4/002 Details
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 7/00 Capacitors in which the capacitance is varied by non-mechanical means; Processes of their manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/5223 Capacitor integral with wiring layers
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/0629 in combination with diodes, or resistors, or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/1203 the substrate comprising an insulating body on a semiconductor body, e.g. SOI three-dimensional layout H01L27/0688
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 28/60 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 11/28 Impedance matching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 7/0153 Electrical filters; Controlling thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 7/38 Impedance-matching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 2200/10 Tuning of a resonator by means of digitally controlled capacitor bank
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 3/20 of single resonant circuit by varying inductance only or capacitance only
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/102 in field-effect transistor switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/162 without feedback from the output circuit to the control circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/687 the devices being field-effect transistors
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 1/1061 using digitally programmable trimming circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 1/804 with charge redistribution

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.

Claims

1. A tunable inductor, comprising:

a first RF terminal;

a second RF terminal;

one or more inductive elements connected therebetween, wherein each inductive element is an inductor or a portion thereof; and

a plurality of switches connected with the one or more inductive elements, wherein each switch in the plurality of switches is configured, during operation, to receive a control signal, the control signal controlling inductance applied between the first RF terminal and the second RF terminal by turning on or off switches in the plurality of switches,

wherein at least one inductive element in the one or more inductive elements is connected with at least two switches from among the plurality of switches, the at least two switches being serially connected therebetween.

2. The tunable inductor according to claim 1, wherein:

each inductive element in the one or more inductive elements is connected with at least one switch in the plurality of switches, and

each switch in the at least one switch is configured, during operation, to receive the same control signal.

3. The tunable inductor according to claim 2, wherein each switch in the at least one switch is serially connected therebetween.

4. The tunable inductor according to claim 1, wherein at least one inductive element in the one or more inductive elements is connected in parallel with at least one switch in the plurality of switches.

5. The tunable inductor according to claim 1, wherein the one or more inductive elements is serially connected therebetween.

6. The tunable inductor according to claim 1, wherein at least one inductive element in the one or more inductive elements is serially connected with at least one switch in the plurality of switches.

7. The tunable inductor according to claim 1, the one or more inductive elements comprising at least two inductive elements, wherein at least one inductive element in the one or more inductive elements is connected in parallel with another inductive element in the plurality of inductive elements.

8. The tunable inductor according to claim 1, wherein each 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.

9. The tunable inductor according to claim 1, wherein:

the one or more inductive elements comprises at least two inductive elements, and

the at least two inductive elements are connected in parallel or in series with each other.

10. The tunable inductor according to claim 1, the one or more inductive elements comprising at least a first inductive element, a second inductive element, and a third inductive element, wherein inductance values of the first inductive element and the second inductive element differ by a first scaling factor and inductance values of the second inductive element and the third inductive element differ by a second scaling factor.

11. The tunable inductor according to claim 10, wherein the first scaling factor is equal to the second scaling factor.

12. The tunable inductor according to claim 1, wherein at least one switch in the plurality of switches is selected from the group consisting of a field effect transistor, an accumulated charge control field effect transistor, a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) switch, a diode, and a bipolar junction transistor.

13. The tunable inductor according to claim 1, wherein each inductive element in the one or more inductive elements is either a lumped element or a distributed element.

14. The tunable inductor according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of switches is integrated onto a chip and each inductive element in the one or more inductive elements is either integrated onto the chip or off-chip.

15. The tunable inductor according to claim 14, wherein the plurality of switches and each inductive element in the one or more inductive elements are integrated onto the chip.

16. The tunable inductor according to claim 14, wherein the chip is a silicon-on-insulator chip.

17. The tunable inductor according to claim 14, wherein the chip is a silicon-on-sapphire chip.

44. A system for tuning reactance to generate a target signal, the system comprising:

the circuital arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the circuital arrangement is configured, during operation, to receive a first signal and generate a second signal; and

a controller configured, during operation, to provide a plurality of control signals to the circuital arrangement, wherein the plurality of control signals is a function of the second signal and the target signal.

47. A method for tuning reactance of a circuital arrangement to generate a target signal, the method comprising:

providing the circuital arrangement according to claim 1;

applying a first signal and a plurality of control signals to the circuital arrangement, wherein reactance of the circuital arrangement is a function of the plurality of control signals;

generating a second signal based on the applying; and

adjusting the plurality of control signals based on the second signal and the target signal.

18. A circuital arrangement with a tunable impedance, the circuital arrangement comprising:

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; and

one or more 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,

wherein;

whether impedance of a particular individual reactance among the one or more 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, and

the control signal associated with the particular switch turns on or off the particular switch.

19. The circuital arrangement according to claim 18, wherein:

each individual reactance in the one or more individual reactances is connected with at least one switch in the plurality of switches, and

each switch in the at least one switch is configured, during operation, to receive the same control signal.

20. The circuital arrangement according to claim 19, wherein each switch in the at least one switch is serially connected therebetween.

21. The circuital arrangement according to claim 18, wherein, when a switch connected with a particular individual reactance is turned on, impedance of the particular individual reactance contributes to impedance of the circuital arrangement.

22. The circuital arrangement according to claim 18, wherein, when a switch connected with a particular individual reactance is turned off, impedance of the particular individual reactance contributes to impedance of the circuital arrangement.

23. The circuital arrangement according to claim 18, further comprising a plurality of resistors connected with the plurality of switches.

24. The circuital arrangement according to claim 18, wherein each individual reactance in the one or more individual reactances is connected with at least two switches from among the plurality of switches, the at least two switches being serially connected therebetween.

25. The circuital arrangement according to claim 18, wherein at least one switch in the plurality of switches is selected from the group consisting of a field effect transistor, an accumulated charge control field effect transistor, a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) switch, a diode, and a bipolar junction transistor.

26. The circuital arrangement according to claim 18, wherein the fixed reactance and each individual reactance in the one or more individual reactances is either a lumped element or a distributed element.

27. The circuital arrangement according to claim 18, wherein:

the plurality of switches is integrated onto a chip, and

the fixed reactance and each individual reactance in the one or more individual reactances is either integrated onto the chip or off-chip.

28. The circuital arrangement according to claim 27, wherein the plurality of switches, the fixed reactance, and each inductive reactance in the one or more individual reactances are integrated onto the chip.

29. The circuital arrangement according to claim 27, wherein the chip is a silicon-on-insulator chip.

30. The circuital arrangement according to claim 27, wherein the chip is a silicon-on-sapphire chip.

45. A system for tuning impedance to generate a target signal, the system comprising:

the circuital arrangement according to claim 18, wherein the circuital arrangement is configured, during operation, to receive a first signal and generate a second signal; and

a controller configured, during operation, to provide a plurality of control signals to the circuital arrangement, wherein the plurality of control signals is a function of the second signal and the target signal.

48. A method for tuning impedance of a circuital arrangement to generate a target signal, the method comprising:

providing the circuital arrangement according to claim 18;

applying a first signal and a plurality of control signals to the circuital arrangement, wherein impedance of the circuital arrangement is a function of the plurality of control signals;

generating a second signal based on the applying; and

adjusting the plurality of control signals based on the second signal and the target signal.

31. A method for tuning inductance of a device, comprising:

providing one or more inductive elements connected therebetween, wherein each inductive element is an inductor or a portion thereof;

providing a plurality of switches connected with the one or more inductive elements; 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 inductance of the device,

wherein;

whether a particular inductive element in the one or more 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 one or more inductive elements is connected with at least two switches from among the plurality of switches, the at least two switches being serially connected therebetween.

32. The method according to claim 31, wherein an inductive element in the one or more inductive elements is connected with at least one switch in the plurality of switches, and wherein the applying comprises:

applying the same control signal to each switch in the at least one switch.

33. The method according to claim 32, wherein each switch in the at least one switch is serially connected therebetween.

34. The method according to claim 31, wherein an inductive element contributes to inductance of the device when a switch connected with the inductive element is turned on.

35. The method according to claim 31, wherein an inductive element contributes to inductance of the device when a switch connected with the inductive element is turned off.

36. A method for tuning impedance of a device, comprising:

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 one or more individual reactances connected with the plurality of switches; 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,

wherein;

whether impedance of a particular individual reactance among the one or more 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.

37. The method according to claim 36, wherein an individual reactance in the plurality of individual reactances is connected with at least one switch in the plurality of switches, and wherein the applying comprises:

applying the same control signal to each switch in the at least one switch.

38. The method according to claim 36, wherein each switch in the at least one switch is serially connected therebetween.

39. A system for tuning impedance to generate a target signal, the system comprising:

a tunable element configured, during operation, to receive a first signal and generate a second signal; and

a controller configured, during operation, to provide a plurality of control signals to the tunable element, wherein impedance of the tunable element is a function of the plurality of control signals and the plurality of control signals is a function of the second signal and the target signal.

40. The system according to claim 39, wherein:

the tunable element comprises at least one tunable reactance, each tunable reactance being a tunable capacitor or a tunable inductor, and each tunable reactance is either a lumped element or a distributed element.

41. The system according to claim 39, wherein:

the tunable element comprises at least one tunable reactance, each tunable reactance being a tunable capacitor or a tunable inductor, and

each tunable reactance is either integrated on a chip or off-chip.

42. The system according to claim 41, wherein the chip is a silicon-on-insulator chip.

43. The system according to claim 41, wherein the chip is a silicon-on-sapphire chip.

46. A method for tuning impedance to generate a target signal, the method comprising:

providing a tunable element;

applying a first signal and a plurality of control signals to the tunable element, wherein impedance of the tunable element is a function of the plurality of control signals;

generating a second signal based on the applying; and

adjusting the plurality of control signals based on the second signal and the target signal.