Dual band radio frequency transmitter

• US 8,095,082 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2007
• Issued: 01/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Deng, Junxiong, Bhagat, Maulin Pareshbhai, Sahota, Gurkanwal Singh
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Simon
• Application Number:
  US11/870,365
• Publication Number:
  US 20090098831A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,553 Days
• Field of Search: 455/91, 455/120, 455124-125, 455/127.1, 455/127.4, 455/292, 455/118
• US Class Current: 455/91
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0067 with one or more circuit blocks in common for different bands
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0458 Arrangements for matching and coupling between power amplifier and antenna or between amplifying stages matching circuits in general H03H
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0483 Transmitters with multiple parallel paths

Abstract

A transmitter includes a transformer and a transformer tuning circuit. The transformer transforms a differential radio frequency (RF) signal to a single-ended RF signal. The transformer tuning circuit tunes the transformer to permit the transmitter to transmit the single-ended RF signal in a first frequency band (e.g., cellular frequency band) or a second frequency band (e.g., PCS frequency band).

Claims

1. A transmitter comprising:

a transformer adapted to transform a differential radio frequency (RF) signal to a single-ended RF signal;

a transformer tuning circuit adapted to tune the transformer to permit the transmitter to transmit the single-ended RF signal in one of a first frequency band and a second frequency band, different from the first frequency band;

at least one amplifier coupled to the transformer and operable over both the first and second frequency bands; and

at least one switch coupled to an output of the at least one amplifier and adapted to connect the single-ended RF signal to one of a first transmit path and a second transmit path, the transformer, the at least one switch, and the at least one amplifier formed on a common integrated circuit.

2. The transmitter, according to claim 1, wherein the transformer tuning circuit comprises:

a first capacitor adapted to tune an input side of the transformer, which is adapted to receive the differential RF signal.

3. The transmitter, according to claim 2, wherein the transformer tuning circuit comprises:

a second capacitor adapted to tune an output side of the transformer, which is adapted to produce the single-ended RF signal.

4. The transmitter, according to claim 1, comprising:

a mixer adapted to convert a differential baseband signal to the differential RF signal in response to receiving one of a first reference frequency signal and a second reference frequency signal to permit the transmitter to transmit the single-ended RF signal in one of the first frequency band and the second frequency band, respectively.

5. The transmitter, according to claim 1, comprising:

an output matching network adapted to maintain an output impedance of the transmitter at a predetermined value to provide a desired output power level for the single-ended RF signal in one of the first frequency band and the second frequency band;

an output matching network tuning circuit adapted to tune the output matching network to permit the transmitter to transmit the single-ended RF signal at the desired output power level in one of the first frequency band and the second frequency band.

6. The transmitter, according to claim 5, wherein the output matching network tuning circuit comprises:

a third capacitor adapted to tune the output matching network.

7. The transmitter, according to claim 1, comprising:

first and second switches adapted to connect the single-ended RF signal to one of a first transmit path and a second transmit path to permit the transmitter to transmit the single-ended RF signal in one of the first frequency band and the second frequency band, respectively.

8. The transmitter, according to claim 1, comprising:

an amplifier adapted to adjust a gain of the differential RF signal to permit the transmitter to transmit the single-ended RF signal at a desired output power level in one of the first frequency band and the second frequency band, respectively.

9. The transmitter, according to claim 8, comprising:

a power detector adapted to measure an output power level of a transmit signal, representative of the single-ended RF signal, transmitted by the transmitter,

wherein the amplifier adjusts the gain of the differential RF signal in response to the output power level of the transmit signal.

10. The transmitter, according to claim 8, wherein the amplifier comprises:

a baseband variable gain amplifier adapted to adjust a gain of a differential baseband signal before being converted to the differential RF signal.

11. The transmitter, according to claim 8, wherein the amplifier comprises:

a radio frequency variable gain amplifier adapted to adjust the gain of the differential RF signal.

12. The transmitter, according to claim 1, wherein the first frequency band and the second frequency band comprise a cellular frequency band and a personal communication services (PCS) frequency band, respectively.

13. A transmitter comprising:

a baseband filter adapted to filter a differential baseband signal to produce a filtered differential baseband signal;

a mixer adapted to convert the filtered differential baseband signal to a differential RF signal in response to receiving one of a first reference frequency signal and a second reference frequency signal to permit the transmitter to transmit a single-ended RF signal in one of the first frequency band and the second frequency band, respectively

an amplifier adapted to adjust a gain of the differential RF signal to permit the transmitter to transmit the single-ended RF signal at a desired output power level in one of the first frequency band and the second frequency band, respectively;

a transformer adapted to transform the differential RF signal to the single-ended RF signal;

a transformer tuning circuit adapted to tune the transformer to permit the transmitter to transmit the single-ended RF signal in one of the first frequency band and the second frequency band;

a driver amplifier adapted to amplify the single-ended RF signal, at least one of the amplifier and the driver amplifier coupled to the transformer and operable over both the first and second frequency bands;

an output matching network adapted to maintain an output impedance of the transmitter at a predetermined value to provide the desired output power level for the single-ended RF signal in one of the first frequency band and the second frequency band;

an output matching network tuning circuit adapted to tune the output matching network to permit the transmitter to transmit the single-ended RF signal at the desired output power level in one of the first frequency band and the second frequency band; and

first and second switches adapted to connect the single-ended analog RF signal to one of a first transmit path and a second transmit path to permit the transmitter to transmit the single-ended analog RF signal in one of the first frequency band and the second frequency band, respectively, the transformer, the first and second switches, and at least one the amplifier and the driver amplifier formed on a common integrated circuit.

14. The transmitter, according to claim 13, wherein the transmitter comprises an integrated circuit on a semiconductor die.

15. The transmitter, according to claim 13, wherein the transformer tuning circuit comprises:

a first capacitor adapted to tune an input side of the transformer, which is adapted to receive the differential RF signal.

16. The transmitter, according to claim 15, wherein the transformer tuning circuit comprises:

a second capacitor adapted to tune an output side of the transformer, which is adapted to produce the single-ended RF signal.

17. The transmitter, according to claim 13, wherein the output matching network tuning circuit comprises:

a third capacitor adapted to tune the output matching network.

18. The transmitter, according to claim 13, comprising:

a power detector adapted to measure an output power level of a transmit signal, representative of the single-ended RF signal, transmitted by the transmitter,

wherein the amplifier adjusts the gain of the differential RF signal in response to the output power level of the transmit signal.

19. The transmitter, according to claim 13, wherein the amplifier comprises:

a baseband variable gain amplifier adapted to adjust a gain of a differential baseband signal before being converted to the differential RF signal.

20. The transmitter, according to claim 13, wherein the amplifier comprises:

a radio frequency variable gain amplifier adapted to adjust the gain of the differential RF signal.

21. The transmitter, according to claim 13, wherein the first frequency band and the second frequency band comprise a cellular frequency band and a personal communication services (PCS) frequency band, respectively.

22. A method for operating a transmitter comprising:

transforming a differential radio frequency (RF) signal to a single-ended RF signal;

tuning the transformer to permit the transmitter to transmit the single-ended RF signal in one of a first frequency band and a second frequency band, different from the first frequency band;

amplifying one of the differential RF signal and the single-ended RF signal over one of the first and second frequency bands; and

connecting the single-ended analog RF signal to one of a first transmit path and a second transmit path, the transforming, connecting, and amplifying configured to occur on a common integrated circuit.

23. The method for operating a transmitter according to claim 22, further comprising:

filtering the differential baseband signal to filtered differential baseband signal;

converting the filtered differential baseband signal to a differential RF signal in response to receiving one of a first reference frequency signal and a second reference frequency signal to permit the transmitter to transmit the single-ended RF signal in one of the first frequency band and the second frequency band, respectively

adjusting a gain of the differential RF signal to permit the transmitter to transmit the single-ended RF signal at a desired output power level in one of the first frequency band and the second frequency band, respectively;

amplifying the single-ended RF signal;

maintaining an output impedance of the transmitter at a predetermined value to provide the desired output power level for the single-ended RF signal in one of the first frequency band and the second frequency band;

tuning the output matching network to permit the transmitter to transmit the single-ended RF signal at the desired output power level in one of the first frequency band and the second frequency band; and

connecting the single-ended analog RF signal to one of a first transmit path and a second transmit path to permit the transmitter to transmit the single-ended analog RF signal in one of the first frequency band and the second frequency band, respectively.

24. A wireless communication device, comprising:

a transmitter comprising;

a transformer adapted to transform a differential radio frequency (RF) signal to a single-ended RF signal;

a transformer tuning circuit adapted to tune the transformer to permit the transmitter to transmit the single-ended RF signal in one of a first frequency band and a second frequency band, different from the first frequency band;

at least one amplifier coupled to the transformer and operable over both the first and second frequency bands, the transformer and the at least one amplifier formed on a common integrated circuit; and

at least one switch coupled to an output of the at least one amplifier and adapted to connect the single-ended RF signal to one of a first transmit path and a second transmit path, the transformer, the at least one switch, and the at least one amplifier formed on a common integrated circuit; and

a controller adapted to select one of the first frequency band and the second frequency band by controlling the transformer tuning circuit and adapted to adjust a gain of the differential RF signal to permit the transmitter to transmit the single-ended RF signal at a desired output power level in one of the first frequency band and the second frequency band.

25. A signal bearing medium embodying a set of machine-readable instructions executable by a data processor for controlling a transmitter adapted to transmit a signal in one of a first frequency band and a second frequency band, different from the first frequency band, comprising:

selecting one of a first reference frequency signal and a second reference frequency signal for converting a differential baseband signal to a differential RF signal to permit the transmitter to transmit a single-ended RF signal in one of the first frequency band and the second frequency band, respectively;

adjusting a gain of at least one of the differential baseband signal and the differential RF signal to permit the transmitter to transmit the single-ended RF signal at a desired output power level in one of the first frequency band and the second frequency band, respectively;

tuning a transformer, adapted to transform the differential RF signal to the single-ended RF signal, to permit the transmitter to transmit the single-ended RF signal in one of the first frequency band and the second frequency band;

amplifying one of the differential RF signal and the single-ended RF signal over one of the first and second frequency bands;

tuning an output matching network to permit the transmitter to transmit the single-ended RF signal at the desired output power level in one of the first frequency band and the second frequency band; and

connecting the single-ended RF signal to one of a first transmit path and a second transmit path to permit the transmitter to transmit the single-ended analog RF signal in one of the first frequency band and the second frequency band, respectively, the transforming, connecting, and amplifying configured to occur on a common integrated circuit.

26. A transmitter comprising:

means for transforming a differential radio frequency (RF) signal to a single-ended RF signal;

means for tuning the transformer to permit the transmitter to transmit the single-ended RF signal in one of a first frequency band and a second frequency band, different from the first frequency band;

means for amplifying one of the differential RF signal and the single-ended signal over one of the first and second frequency bands; and

means for connecting the single-ended analog RF signal to one of a first transmit path and a second transmit path, the transforming, connecting, and amplifying configured to occur on a common integrated circuit.