Tunable microwave devices with auto-adjusting matching circuit

• US 9,948,270 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2016
• Issued: 04/17/2018
• 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): Le, Thanh
• Application Number:
  US15/218,857
• Publication Number:
  US 20160336916A1
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• 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 a circuit including an antenna having a tunable component. The tunable component can be operable to receive a variable signal to cause the tunable component to change a reactance of the antenna. The tunable component can include a first conductor coupled to the antenna, a second conductor, and a tunable material positioned between the first conductor and the second conductor, where at least one of the first conductor or the second conductor, or both are adapted to receive the variable signal to cause the change in the reactance of the antenna. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A variable circuit, comprising:

a matching network coupleable to a device;

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

wherein the device 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 a first signal to cause the one or more variable capacitors to change a first reactance of the matching network; and

wherein the device is operable to receive a second signal to cause a change in a second reactance of the device.

2. The variable circuit of claim 1, wherein the device is an antenna.

3. The variable circuit of claim 1, wherein the change in the first reactance 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 variable circuit of claim 1, wherein the change in the second reactance of the device causes an increase in power transferred from the first port to the second port or from the second port to the first port.

5. The variable circuit of claim 1, wherein the one or more variable capacitors comprise tunable material comprising a composition of barium strontium titanate.

6. The variable circuit of claim 5, wherein the device comprises a second tunable material.

7. The variable circuit of claim 6, wherein the second signal is coupled to the second tunable material to cause the change in the second reactance of the device.

8. A tunable circuit, comprising:

a matching network coupleable to an antenna, wherein the antenna comprises an antenna member that is tunable;

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

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

wherein the matching network provides for a variable reactance;

wherein the matching network is operable to receive a first signal to cause a change of a first reactance of the matching network; and

wherein the antenna member is operable to receive a second signal to cause the antenna member to change a second reactance of the antenna.

9. The tunable circuit of claim 8, wherein at least one of the change in the first reactance of the matching network, or the change in the second reactance of the antenna, or both causes a change in power transferred from the first port to the second port or from the second port to the first port.

10. The tunable circuit of claim 8, further comprising a switch, wherein the matching network comprises a group of reactive elements that enable adjusting of the variable reactance.

11. The tunable circuit of claim 10, wherein the group of reactive elements comprise inductors connected with the switch.

12. The tunable circuit of claim 8, wherein the matching network comprises one or more variable capacitors that each include barium strontium titanate.

13. The tunable circuit of claim 12, wherein the antenna member comprises a second tunable material, and wherein the second signal is coupled to the second tunable material to cause the change in the second reactance of the antenna.

14. The tunable circuit of claim 8, wherein the matching network comprises variable reactive components, and wherein at least one of the variable reactive components comprises a tunable material.

15. The tunable circuit of claim 14, wherein the variable reactance is provided by a group of components that operate to vary the reactance.

16. A circuit, comprising:

an antenna comprising a tunable component;

wherein the tunable component is operable to receive a variable signal to cause the tunable component to change a reactance of the antenna; and

wherein the tunable component comprises;

a first element;

a second element; and

one or more reactive elements connected with the first and second elements, wherein at least one of the first element or the second element, or both are adapted to receive the variable signal to cause the change in the reactance of the antenna.

17. The circuit of claim 16, wherein the change in the reactance of the antenna causes a change in power transferred by the antenna.

18. The circuit of claim 16, wherein the one or more reactive elements comprise a tunable material comprising a tunable dielectric material, and wherein the tunable material comprises a composition of barium strontium titanate.

19. The circuit of claim 18, further comprising a throw switch connected with the one or more reactive elements.

20. The circuit of claim 16, wherein the tunable component is arranged in one of a Pi, a T, or a ladder type network.