Shunt device for switch

• US 8,385,845 B1
• Filed: 10/09/2009
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc. (Qorvo, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TriQuint Semiconductor Incorporated (Qorvo, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cortese, Philippe
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Nay A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Perez, Angelica
• Application Number:
  US12/577,101
• Time in Patent Office: 1,236 Days
• Field of Search: 455/78, 455/83, 455 79- 82, 370/278, 370/282
• US Class Current: 455/78
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/102 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

Embodiments include but are not limited to apparatuses and systems including a first active device located on a signal path between an antenna terminal and a transmit and/or receive (T/R) terminal, and a self-biasing shunt device coupled to the first active device and including a second active device having a DC-blocked source terminal and a non-DC-blocked drain terminal. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a positive-voltage controlled switch including a first active device located on a signal path between an antenna terminal and a transmit and/or receive (T/R) terminal; and

a self-biasing shunt device coupled to the first active device and including a second active device having a DC-blocked source terminal and a non-DC-blocked drain terminal directly coupled to a gate terminal of the first active device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a capacitor between a source terminal of the first active device and the T/R terminal.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first active device and the second active device comprises a field effect transistor.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a third active device, wherein the third active device and the first active device are coupled in series and located on the signal path between the antenna terminal and the T/R terminal.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the self-biasing shunt device further includes a resistor coupled between a gate terminal of the second active device and a local ground terminal, and a capacitor coupled between the DC-blocked source terminal and the local ground terminal.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the non-DC-blocked drain terminal of the second active device and the gate terminal of the first active device are coupled at a node, and wherein the apparatus further includes a resistor coupled between the node and a control terminal configured to receive a control signal.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the signal path is a first signal path, wherein the T/R terminal is a first T/R terminal, and wherein the apparatus further comprises a second signal path between the antenna terminal and a second T/R terminal.

8. A system comprising:

an antenna switch module configured to receive a radio frequency (RF) input signal, the antenna switch module including;

a positive-voltage controlled switch including a first active device located on a signal path between an antenna terminal and a transmit and/or receive (T/R) terminal; and

a self-biasing shunt device coupled to the first active device and including a second active device having a DC-blocked source terminal and a non-DC blocked drain terminal directly coupled to a gate terminal of the first active device; and

a transceiver coupled with the T/R terminal of the antenna switch module and configured to receive the RF input signal.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the antenna switch module further comprises a third active device, wherein the third active device and the first active device are coupled in series and located on the first signal path between the antenna terminal and the T/R terminal.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the signal path is a first signal path, wherein the T/R terminal is a first T/R terminal, and wherein the antenna switch module further comprises a second signal path between the antenna terminal and a second T/R terminal.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the antenna switch module is further configured to effectuate transmission of an RF output signal.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising an antenna structure coupled with the antennal terminal of the antenna switch module and configured to facilitate the transmission of the RF output signal.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the system is a radar device, a satellite communication device, a mobile handset, a base station, a broadcast radio, or a television amplifier system.

14. A method of manufacturing a switch comprising:

providing a first active device, of a positive-voltage controlled switch, on a signal path between an antenna terminal and a transmit and/or receive (T/R) terminal;

directly coupling a gate terminal of the first active device to a non-DC blocked drain terminal of a second active device of a self-biasing shunt device; and

coupling a capacitor between a DC-blocked source terminal of the second active device and a local ground terminal.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising coupling a third active device in series with the first active device on the signal path between the antenna terminal and the T/R terminal.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises coupling a resistor between a gate terminal of the second active device and the local ground terminal.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising coupling a resistor between a node coupled to a non-DC-blocked drain terminal of the second active device and the gate terminal of the first active device, and coupling the node to a control terminal configured to receive a control signal.

18. A method comprising:

providing a positive-voltage controlled switch including a first active device on a signal path between an antenna terminal and a transmit and/or receive (T/R) terminal;

directly coupling a non-DC blocked drain terminal of a second active device of a self-biasing shunt device to a gate terminal of the first active device;

isolating the antenna terminal from the T/R terminal by switching off the first active device; and

shunting a signal on the signal path to a local ground terminal coupled via a resistor to the self-biasing shunt device by switching on the second active device.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising coupling the antenna terminal to the T/R terminal by switching on the first active device, and by switching off the second active device.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising providing a control signal via another resistor to the gate terminal of the first active device and to the non-DC blocked drain terminal of the second active device, wherein the control signal controls switching off of the first active device and switching on of the second active device.