Carrier aggregation low-noise amplifier with tunable integrated power splitter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017201218-A1
Application number	US-201615178529-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 9, 2016
Priority date	Jan 12, 2016
Publication date	Jul 13, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A device includes a low-noise amplifier (LNA) and a matching circuit. The matching circuit is coupled to an output of the LNA and switchably coupled to at least one of a first and a second output of the device. The device may further include a power splitter switchably coupled between an output of the matching circuit and the first and/or the second output of the device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A device, comprising:
a low-noise amplifier (LNA); a matching circuit coupled to an output of the LNA and switchably coupled to one or more outputs of the device; and a power splitter switchably coupled between an output of the matching circuit and the one or more outputs of the device.

2 . The device of claim 1 , in which the power splitter comprises:
a first variable capacitor coupled between a ground voltage and an input of the power splitter; a transformer coupled between the input of the power splitter and at least one output of the power splitter; and at least one variable capacitor and a variable resistor coupled between the at least one output of the power splitter and the transformer.

3 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising at least one switch configured to couple the matching circuit to the one or more outputs.

4 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising at least one switch configured to couple the matching circuit to the power splitter.

5 . The device of claim 1 , in which the matching circuit comprises:
a variable capacitor coupled between an output of the LNA and a ground; at least one inductor coupled between the ground and the output of the LNA; and a second variable capacitor coupled between the at least one inductor and the output of the matching circuit.

6 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one second LNA; and at least one second matching circuit coupled to an output of the at least one second LNA and switchably coupled to the one or more outputs, the power splitter switchably coupled between an output of the at least one second matching circuit and the one or more outputs.

7 . The device of claim 6 , further comprising at least one switch configured to couple the at least one matching circuit to the one or more outputs.

8 . The device of claim 6 , further comprising at least one switch configured to couple the at least one matching circuit to the power splitter.

9 . The device of claim 1 , in which the LNA comprises:
a first transistor coupled to an output; and a second transistor coupled between the first transistor and a ground, the second transistor further coupled to an input.

10 . The device of claim 9 , further comprising a variable capacitor coupled between a gate of the second transistor and a source of the second transistor.

11 . The device of claim 9 , further comprising at least one of an inductor and a capacitor coupled between the input of the LNA and the second transistor.

12 . The device of claim 1 , in which the power splitter comprises at least one tunable component for tuning the power splitter.

13 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising at least one controller for controlling at least one component of at least one of the matching circuit or the power splitter.

14 . A method, comprising:
amplifying a signal with a low-noise amplifier (LNA); and configuring at least one switch to convey the amplified signal to one or more outputs or to convey the amplified signal to the one or more outputs via a power splitter.

15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising tuning the power splitter to adjust isolation between the one or more outputs.

16 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising adjusting at least one variable component of a matching circuit coupled to the LNA.

17 . A device, comprising:
means for amplifying a signal; and means for configuring at least one switch to convey the amplified signal to one or more outputs or to convey the amplified signal to the one or more outputs via a power splitter.

18 . The device of claim 17 , further comprising means for tuning at least one component of at least one of a matching circuit coupled to the means for amplifying and the power splitter.

19 . The device of claim 17 , further comprising means for matching an impedance at an output of the amplifying means.

20 . The device of claim 17 , in which the means for configuring comprises means for bypassing the power splitter.

Assignees

• Qualcomm Inc

Inventors

• Wang Chuan
• Wang Kevin Hsi Huai
• Narathong Chiewcharn
• Uzunkol Mehmet
• THOPPAY EGAMBARAM Prakash

Classifications

• H04B1/401 Primary

  for selecting or indicating operating mode · CPC title

• H03F2200/294

  the amplifier being a low noise amplifier [LNA] · CPC title

• H03F2200/451

  the amplifier being a radio frequency amplifier · CPC title

• H03F2200/541

  Transformer coupled at the output of an amplifier · CPC title

• H03F3/195 Primary

  in integrated circuits · CPC title