Parallel-structured switched variable inductor circuit

• US 8,102,218 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2008
• Issued: 01/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Eo, Yun-seong, Bang, Hee-mun, Lee, Kwang-du, Lee, Heung-bae
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US12/275,608
• Publication Number:
  US 20090102572A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,159 Days
• Field of Search: 331/181, 331/117.R, 331/36.L
• US Class Current: 331/181
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 21/12 discontinuously variable, e.g. tapped
• CPC Class Codes: H03B 2200/0048 including measures to switch the frequency band, e.g. by harmonic selection
• CPC Class Codes: H03B 2201/0216 the means being an element with a variable inductance
• CPC Class Codes: H03B 2201/025 the means being an electronic switch for switching in or out oscillator elements
• CPC Class Codes: H03B 5/1203 the amplifier being a single transistor
• CPC Class Codes: H03B 5/1218 the generator being of the balanced type
• CPC Class Codes: H03B 5/1228 the amplifier comprising one or more field effect transistors
• CPC Class Codes: H03B 5/1268 switched inductors
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 2200/15 Tuning of resonator by means of digitally controlled inductor bank
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 5/244 using electronic means

Abstract

An inductor circuit includes a pair of inductors connected in parallel with each other and a switch for turning on and off electric power to one of the pair of inductors. The inductance of the inductor circuit can be varied and the quality factor Q can be improved. Further, RF circuits employing the inductor circuit can generate an intended operating frequency.

Claims

1. A mobile communication device comprising a circuit, the circuit comprising:

a first inductor;

a first resistor connected in series with the first inductor;

a second inductor;

a second resistor connected in series with the second inductor; and

a metal oxide field effect transistor which electrically connects the second inductor and the second resistor with the first inductor and the first resistor in parallel when the metal oxide field effect transistor is turned on,

wherein the first resistor and the second resistor have a same resistance value and,

wherein the circuit changes a resonance frequency by connecting and disconnecting the first and second inductors through the metal oxide field effect transistor to generate an operation frequency of the circuit, but does not use a capacitor to change the resonance frequency to generate the operating frequency.

2. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein no current flows through the second inductor when the metal oxide field effect transistor is turned off.

5. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein an operating frequency of the mobile communication device changes according to whether the metal oxide field effect transistor is turned on or off.

6. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second inductors are a same size.

7. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 6, wherein an operating frequency of the mobile communication device changes according to whether the switch is turned on or off.

8. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first and second inductors are supplied with electric power from a single electric power source.

9. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 8, wherein, if the switch is turned on, mutual inductance occurs between the first and second inductors so an entire inductance increases and the operating frequency increases.

10. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 9, wherein, if the switch is turned off, inductance occurs in one of the first and second inductors so that the operating frequency decreases.

11. The mobile communication device as claimed in claim 2, wherein when the metal oxide field effect transistor is turned off, electric power is continuously supplied to the first inductor and no current flows through the second inductor.

3. A radio-frequency (RF) circuit, comprising:

a first inductor;

a first resistor connected in series with the first inductor;

a second inductor;

a second resistor connected in series with the second inductor; and

a metal oxide field effect transistor which electrically connects the second inductor and the second resistor with the first inductor and the first resistor in parallel when the metal oxide field effect transistor is turned on,

wherein the first resistor and the second resistor have a same resistance value, and

wherein the circuit changes a resonance frequency by connecting and disconnecting the first and second inductors trough the metal oxide field effect transistor to generate an operation frequency of the circuit, but does not use a capacitor to change the resonance frequency to generate the operating frequency.

4. The RF circuit as claimed in claim 3, wherein no current flows through the second inductor when the metal oxide field effect transistor is turned off.

12. The RF circuit as claimed in claim 3, wherein an operating frequency of the RF circuit changes according to whether the metal oxide field effect transistor is turned on or off.

13. The RF circuit as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first and second inductors are a same size.

14. The RF circuit as claimed in claim 13, wherein an operating frequency of the RF circuit changes according to whether the switch is turned on or off.

15. The RF circuit as claimed in claim 14, wherein the first and second inductors are supplied with electric power from a single electric power source.

16. The RF circuit as claimed in claim 15, wherein, if the switch is turned on, mutual inductance occurs between the first and second inductors so an entire inductance increases and the operating frequency increases.

17. The RF circuit as claimed in claim 16, wherein, if the switch is turned off, inductance occurs in one of the first and second inductors so that the operating frequency decreases.

18. The RF circuit as claimed in claim 4, wherein when the metal oxide field effect transistor is turned off, electric power is continuously supplied to the first inductor and no current flows through the second inductor.