Tunable microwave devices with auto-adjusting matching circuit

• US 8,896,391 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2013
• Issued: 11/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NXP USA, Inc. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: du Toit, Cornelis Frederik, Ryan, Deirdre A., Mendolia, Gregory, Martin, James, Khayo, Izz, Bachmann, Heinz, McKinzie, William E.
• Primary Examiner(s): JONES, STEPHEN E
• Application Number:
  US13/745,610
• Publication Number:
  US 20130127561A1
• Time in Patent Office: 676 Days
• Field of Search: 333/32, 333/33, 333/17.3
• US Class Current: 333/17.3
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 5/04 with variable factor of coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/242 specially adapted for hand-held use
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/50 Structural association of antennas with earthing switches, lead-in devices or lightning protectors
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/56 Modifications of input or output impedances, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/60 Amplifiers in which coupling networks have distributed constants, e.g. with waveguide resonators H03F3/54 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 7/38 Impedance-matching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 7/40 Automatic matching of load impedance to source impedance
• 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

Abstract

An embodiment of the present disclosure provides an impedance matching circuit including a matching network. The matching network includes a first port and a second port, and one or more variable reactance components. The one or more variable reactance components are operable to receive one or more variable voltage signals to cause the one or more variable reactance components to change an impedance of the matching network. At least one of the one or more variable reactance components includes a first conductor coupled to one of the first port or the second port of the matching network, a second conductor, and a tunable material positioned between the first conductor and the second conductor. Additionally, at least one of the first conductor and the second conductor are adapted to receive the one or more variable voltage signals to cause the change in the impedance of the matching network. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. An impedance matching circuit, comprising:

a matching network to couple to a variable load;

wherein the matching network comprises a first port and a second port;

wherein the variable load is coupled to one of the first port or the second port;

wherein the matching network comprises one or more variable dielectric capacitors;

wherein the one or more variable dielectric capacitors are operable to receive one or more variable voltage signals to cause the one or more variable dielectric capacitors to change an impedance of the matching network;

wherein at least one of the one or more variable dielectric capacitors comprises;

a first conductor coupled to one of the first port or the second port;

a second conductor; and

a tunable dielectric material having a top surface and a bottom surface positioned between the first conductor and the second conductor, wherein at least one of the first conductor or the second conductor, or both are adapted to receive the one of the one or more variable voltage signals to cause the change in the impedance of the matching network;

a sensor coupled to the matching network for providing sensing data; and

a voltage source used to produce the one or more variable voltage signals to change the impedance of the matching network, wherein the voltage source receives voltage values for producing the one or more variable voltage signals, and wherein the voltage values are determined from comparisons of the sensing data.

2. The impedance matching circuit of claim 1, wherein the one or more variable dielectric capacitors comprises a composition of barium strontium titanate.

3. The impedance matching circuit of claim 1, wherein the change in the impedance of the matching network causes an increase in power transferred from the first port to the second port or from the second port to the first port.

4. The impedance matching circuit of claim 1, wherein the change in the impedance of the matching network causes a reduction in reflected power transferred from the first port to the second port or from the second port to the first port.

5. The impedance matching circuit of claim 1, wherein the variable load comprises an antenna.

6. The impedance matching circuit of claim 1, wherein the one or more variable dielectric capacitors comprises a tunable dielectric material.

7. The impedance matching circuit of claim 6, wherein the tunable dielectric material comprises a composition of barium strontium titanate.

8. An impedance matching circuit, comprising:

a matching network for coupling to a variable load;

wherein the matching network comprises a first port and a second port;

wherein the variable load is coupled to one of the first port or the second port;

wherein the matching network comprises one or more variable capacitors;

wherein the one or more variable capacitors are operable to receive one or more variable voltage signals to cause the one or more variable capacitors to change an impedance of the matching network; and

wherein at least one of the one or more variable capacitors comprises;

a first conductor coupled to one of the first port or the second port;

a second conductor; and

a tunable reactive material having a top surface and a bottom surface positioned between the first conductor and the second conductor, wherein at least one of the first conductor and the second conductor are adapted to receive the one or more variable voltage signals to cause the change in the impedance of the matching network;

a sensor coupled to the matching network for providing sensing data; and

a voltage source used to produce the one or more variable voltage signals to change the impedance of the matching network, wherein the voltage source receives voltage values for producing the one or more variable voltage signals, and wherein the voltage values are determined from comparisons of the sensing data.

9. The impedance matching circuit of claim 8, wherein the tunable reactive material comprises a composition of barium strontium titanate.

10. The impedance matching circuit of claim 8, wherein the variable load is an antenna.

11. The impedance matching circuit of claim 8, wherein the change in the impedance of the matching network causes an increase in power transferred from the first port to the second port or from the second port to the first port.

12. The impedance matching circuit of claim 8, wherein the one or more variable capacitors comprises one or more variable dielectric capacitors.

13. The impedance matching circuit of claim 8, wherein the change in the impedance of the matching network causes a reduction in reflected power transferred from the first port to the second port or from the second port to the first port.

14. The impedance matching circuit of claim 8, wherein the tunable reactive material comprises a tunable dielectric material.

15. The impedance matching circuit of claim 8, wherein the tunable reactive material comprises a composition of barium strontium titanate.

16. An impedance matching circuit, comprising:

a matching network;

wherein the matching network comprises a first port and a second port;

wherein the matching network comprises one or more variable reactance components;

wherein the one or more variable reactance components are operable to receive one or more variable voltage signals to cause the one or more variable reactance components to change an impedance of the matching network; and

wherein at least one of the one or more variable reactance components comprises;

a first conductor coupled to one of the first port or the second port;

a second conductor; and

a tunable material having a top surface and a bottom surface positioned between the first conductor and the second conductor, wherein at least one of the first conductor and the second conductor are adapted to receive the one or more variable voltage signals to cause the change in the impedance of the matching network;

a sensor coupled to the matching network for providing sensing data used to produce the one or more variable voltage signals to change the impedance of the matching network; and

a voltage source used to produce the one or more variable voltage signals to change the impedance of the matching network, wherein the voltage source receives voltage values for producing the one or more variable voltage signals, and wherein the voltage values are determined from comparisons of the sensing data.

17. The impedance matching circuit of claim 16, wherein the change in the impedance of the matching network causes a change in power transferred from the first port to the second port or from the second port to the first port.

18. The impedance matching circuit of claim 16, wherein the tunable material comprises a composition of barium strontium titanate.

19. The impedance matching circuit of claim 16, wherein the one or more variable reactance components comprise one or more variable capacitors.

20. The impedance matching circuit of claim 16, wherein the tunable material comprises a composition of barium strontium titanate.