Tunable duplexing circuit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9819324-B2
Application number	US-201615182412-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 14, 2016
Priority date	Feb 4, 2014
Publication date	Nov 14, 2017
Grant date	Nov 14, 2017

Abstract

A tunable duplexer circuit is described, wherein the frequency response as well as bandwidth and transmission loss characteristics can be dynamically altered, providing improved performance for transceiver front-end applications. The rate of roll-off of the frequency response can be adjusted to improve performance when used in duplexer applications. A method is described where the duplexer circuit characteristics are optimized in conjunction with a specific antenna frequency response to provide additional out-of-band rejection in a communication system. Dynamic optimization of both the duplexer circuit and an active antenna system is described to provide improved out-of-band rejection when implemented in RF front-end circuits of communication systems. Other features and embodiments are described in the following detailed descriptions.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tunable band-pass circuit comprising:
a first tuning section comprising:
a first inductor in series with a first tunable capacitor, the first tunable capacitor being further connected to ground;

a second tuning section comprising:
a second inductor, a first phase shifter, and a second tunable capacitor in a series configuration, with the second tunable capacitor being further connected to ground;
a third inductor connected in parallel across the second inductor and first phase shifter;
a first fixed capacitor positioned between the second inductor and the third inductor; and

a third tuning section comprising
a fourth inductor and a second fixed capacitor in a series configuration forming a first series LC circuit;
a fifth inductor and a third fixed capacitor in a series configuration forming a second series LC circuit;
a sixth inductor in series with a third tunable capacitor forming a third series LC circuit, a first terminal end of the third series LC circuit connected to a common junction of the first and second series LC circuits, and a second terminal end of the third series LC circuit being connected to ground;
a fourth fixed capacitor positioned between the first series LC circuit and the second series LC circuit;

the first, second, and third tuning sections being connected in series between a first port and a second port to form a band-pass frequency response;
wherein each of the first through third tunable capacitors is configured for variable tuning for changing the frequency response of the circuit.

2. The tunable band pass circuit of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first through sixth inductors comprises a tunable inductor.

3. A tunable duplexer, said tunable duplexer comprising:
a first tunable band-pass circuit, the first tunable band-pass circuit comprising:
a first tuning section comprising:
a first inductor in series with a first tunable capacitor, the first tunable capacitor being further connected to ground;

a second tuning section comprising:
a second inductor, a first phase shifter, and a second tunable capacitor in a series configuration, with the second tunable capacitor being further connected to ground;
a third inductor connected in parallel across the second inductor and first phase shifter;
a first fixed capacitor positioned between the second inductor and the third inductor; and

a third tuning section comprising
a fourth inductor and a second fixed capacitor in a series configuration forming a first series LC circuit;
a fifth inductor and a third fixed capacitor in a series configuration forming a second series LC circuit;
a sixth inductor in series with a third tunable capacitor forming a third series LC circuit, a first terminal end of the third series LC circuit connected to a common junction of the first and second series LC circuits, and a second terminal end of the third series LC circuit being connected to ground;
a fourth fixed capacitor positioned between the first series LC circuit and the second series LC circuit;

the first, second, and third tuning sections being connected in series between a first port and a second port to form a band-pass frequency response;

a second tunable band-pass circuit; and
memory comprising a lookup table, said lookup table containing data for configuring one or more or the tunable capacitors of the tunable duplexer;
said first and second tunable band-pass circuits coupled at a common input port.

4. The tunable duplexer of claim 3 , wherein the first tunable band-pass circuit further comprises a transmit port formed at an end opposite the common input port.

5. The tunable duplexer of claim 3 , wherein the second tunable band-pass circuit further comprises a receive port formed at an end opposite the common input port.

6. The tunable duplexer of claim 3 , combined with a second tunable duplexer and a third tunable duplexer; wherein the input ports of the first and second tunable duplexers are each connected to a first and second output port of the third tunable duplexer to form a tunable quadplexer.

7. The tunable duplexer of claim 3 , wherein each of the first through third tunable capacitors is configured for variable tuning for changing the frequency response of the circuit.

8. The tunable duplexer of claim 3 , wherein the second tuning section further comprises: a second phase shifter in series with the second inductor, the first phase shifter, and the second tunable capacitor.

9. The tunable duplexer of claim 8 , further comprising a first switch connected in parallel to the first phase shifter.

10. The tunable duplexer of claim 9 , wherein the third inductor is connected in parallel across the second inductor and first and second phase shifters.

Assignees

• Ethertronics Inc

Inventors

• Desclos Laurent

Classifications

• H03H7/18

  Networks for phase shifting · CPC title

• H03H17/08

  Networks for phase shifting · CPC title

• H03H7/465

  having variable circuit topology, e.g. including switches · CPC title

• H03H7/0161 Primary

  Bandpass filters (H03H7/12 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H03H7/1758

  Series LC in shunt or branch path (H03H7/1791 takes precedence) · CPC title