High throw-count RF switch

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10771059-B2
Application number	US-201916239444-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 3, 2019
Priority date	Feb 9, 2016
Publication date	Sep 8, 2020
Grant date	Sep 8, 2020

Abstract

A high throw-count multiple-pole FET-based RF switch architecture that provides good RF performance in terms of insertion loss, return loss, isolation, linearity, and power handling. A common port RFC is coupled along a common path to multiple ports RFn. Embodiments introduce additional common RF path branch isolation switches which are controlled by state dependent logic. The branch isolation switches help to isolate the unused branch ports RFn and the unused portion of the common path from the active portion of the common path, and thereby reduce the reactive load attributable to such branches that degrades RF performance of the ports RFn “closer” to the common port RFC. The branch isolation switches can also be used to reconfigure the switch architecture for a multiplex function as well as separate switch path banks for re-configurability of purpose, tuning, or varying switch throw counts and packaging options.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An RF switch including:
(a) at least one common path;
(b) at least one common port coupled to the at least one common path;
(c) a plurality of sections each containing at least one signal port coupled to at least one common path through a series-shunt switching element; and
(d) at least one isolation switch connected to at least one common path between two adjacent sections, each isolation switch including at least one series switch configured to isolate connected adjacent sections;
wherein when a selected signal port is coupled to at least one common port through at least one common path, any isolation switches between the selected signal port and the at least one common port are configured in a conducting state.

2. The RF switch of claim 1 , wherein when the selected signal port is coupled to at least one common port through at least one common path, any isolation switches between the selected signal port and the at least one common port are configured in a conducting state and all other isolation switches are configured in a blocking state.

3. The RF switch of claim 1 , wherein at least one common port of the at least one common port is coupled between the ends of two of the common paths to define at least two groups of sections.

4. The RF switch of claim 1 , wherein at least one isolation switch series switch has a first terminal and a second terminal each connected to corresponding adjacent sections, and further including a shunt switch coupled between the first terminal and circuit ground.

5. The invention RF switch of claim 4 , wherein the at least one isolation switch series switch has a second first terminal and a second terminal each connected to corresponding adjacent sections, and further including a shunt switch coupled between the second terminal and circuit ground.

6. The RF switch of claim 1 , wherein the at least one series switch comprises one or more series-connected FETs.

7. The RF switch of claim 1 , wherein at least one series-shunt switching element comprises (1) a series FET coupled between a corresponding signal port and one of the at least one common path, and (2) a shunt FET coupled between such corresponding signal port and circuit ground.

8. The RF switch of claim 1 , wherein each common port is unconnected and the RF switch is configured to operate as a matrix switch allowing connection of a selected signal port to any of a selected group of other signal ports.

9. The RF switch of claim 1 , wherein at least one series-shunt switching element is a high-isolation series-shunt switching element.

10. The RF switch of claim 1 , further including a termination circuit operatively coupled to the common port.

11. An RF switch including:
(a) at least one common port;
(b) at least two series-coupled sections of branches, each section of branches including at least one corresponding signal port coupled to the corresponding branch by an independently selectable switching element; and
(c) at least one branch isolation switch, each branch isolation switch connected between corresponding adjacent sections of branches and including at least one series switch configured to isolate the corresponding connected adjacent sections;
wherein when a selected signal port is coupled to at least one common port, any branch isolation switches between the selected signal port and the at least one common port are configured in a conducting state.

12. The RF switch of claim 11 , wherein when a the selected signal port is coupled to at least one common port, any branch isolation switches between the selected signal port and the at least one common port are configured in a conducting state and all other branch isolation switches are configured in a blocking state.

13. The RF switch of claim 11 , wherein at least one branch isolation switch series switch has a first terminal and a second terminal each connected to corresponding adjacent sections of branches, and further including a shunt switch coupled between the first terminal and circuit ground.

14. The RF switch of claim 13 , wherein the at least one branch isolation switch series switch has a first terminal and a second terminal each connected to corresponding adjacent sections of branches, and further including a shunt switch coupled between the second terminal and circuit ground.

15. The RF switch of claim 11 , wherein the at least one series switch comprises one or more series-connected FETs.

16. The RF switch of claim 11 , wherein at least one independently selectable switching element comprises (1) a series FET coupled between a corresponding signal port and one of the at least one common port, and (2) a shunt FET coupled between such corresponding signal port and circuit ground.

17. The RF switch of claim 11 , wherein each common port is unconnected and the RF switch is configured to operate as a matrix switch allowing connection of a selected signal port to any of a selected group of other signal ports.

18. The RF switch of claim 11 , wherein at least one independently selectable switching element is a high-isolation series-shunt switching element.

19. The RF switch of claim 11 , further including a termination circuit operatively coupled to the common port.

20. An RF switch including:
(a) a common port;
(b) at least two sections, each section including at least one branch, each branch including at least one signal port, at least one branch including a high-isolation series-shunt switching element that includes:
(1) a series switch;
(2) a shunt switch coupled between the series switch and circuit ground; and
(3) an absorptive switch module, connected in series between the series switch and the port, and including a high-isolation switch and a termination resistor coupled in parallel with the high-isolation switch; and

(c) at least one branch isolation switch, wherein adjacent sections are connected by one of the at least one branch switch, and optionally, the common port is coupled to at least one adjacent section by one of the at least one branch switch;

wherein when a selected signal port is coupled to the common port, any branch isolation switches between the selected signal port and the common port are configured in a conducting state.

Assignees

• Psemi Corp

Inventors

• Shapiro Eric S
• Shanjani Payman

Classifications

• H03K17/76

  Switching arrangements with several input- or output-terminals, e.g. multiplexers, distributors (logic circuits H03K19/00; code converters H03M5/00, H03M7/00) · CPC title

• H04B2001/485

  inhibiting unwanted transmission · CPC title

• H04B1/0458

  Arrangements for matching and coupling between power amplifier and antenna or between amplifying stages (matching circuits in general H03H) · CPC title

• H03K2017/066

  Maximizing the OFF-resistance instead of minimizing the ON-resistance · CPC title

• H03K17/693 Primary

  Switching arrangements with several input- or output-terminals, e.g. multiplexers, distributors (logic circuits H03K19/00; code converters H03M5/00, H03M7/00) · CPC title