IP Library Granted Patent US 12706367
Granted Patent B2
US 12706367 · App. 18/754,898 · Granted Aug 11, 2026

Directional coupler, high frequency module, and communication device

Inventors: Kenta Seki (Kyoto, JP); Ryangsu Kim (Kyoto, JP); Kazuhito Osawa (Kyoto, JP)
Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
H01P5/187H01P1/18H01P5/185H01P5/188H01Q5/50
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12706367
App. No.
18/754,898
Granted
Aug 11, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Degrees of a change in an insertion loss of a main line and a change in a phase of a signal are small regardless of whether or not detection is performed by using a sub-line. A directional coupler includes a main line, a sub-line, a first termination circuit, a second termination circuit, and a switch. The sub-line has a first end and a second end. The first termination circuit terminates the first end and the second end of the sub-line. The switch switches connection and disconnection between the sub-line and the first termination circuit.

Claims (48)

1 . A directional coupler further comprising:

a main line;

a first sub-line having a first end and a second end;

a first termination circuit and a second termination circuit configured to terminate the first end and the second end of the first sub-line, respectively;

a first switch configured to selectively connect the first sub-line and the first termination circuit;

a second sub-line that is connected in series with the first sub-line, the first sub-line and the second sub-line constituting a series circuit;

a third termination circuit;

a second switch; and

a phase-shift circuit that is connected between the first sub-line and the second sub-line,

wherein the third termination circuit is connected to the series circuit, and

wherein the second switch is configured to selectively connect the series circuit and the third termination circuit.

2 . A directional coupler comprising:

a main line;

a first sub-line having a first end and a second end;

a first termination circuit and a second termination circuit configured to terminate the first end and the second end of the first sub-line, respectively;

a first switch configured to selectively connect the first sub-line and the first termination circuit;

a multilayer board having at least the main line therein; and

an integrated circuit (IC) chip comprising the first termination circuit and the first switch,

wherein the IC chip overlaps the main line in a plan view of the multilayer board.

3 . A directional coupler comprising:

a main line;

a first sub-line having a first end and a second end;

a first termination circuit and a second termination circuit configured to terminate the first end and the second end of the first sub-line, respectively; and

a first switch configured to selectively connect the first sub-line and the first termination circuit,

wherein the first termination circuit comprises:

a first circuit having a third end and a fourth end, and

a second circuit having a fifth end and a sixth end,

wherein the third end of the first circuit is connected to the first end of the first sub-line, and the fourth end of the first circuit is connected to ground, and

wherein the fifth end of the second circuit is connected to the second end of the first sub-line, and the sixth end of the second circuit is connected to ground.

4 . The directional coupler according to claim 3 , further comprising:

a second sub-line that is connected in series with the first sub-line, the first sub-line and the second sub-line constituting a series circuit;

a third termination circuit; and

a second switch,

wherein the third termination circuit is connected to the series circuit, and

wherein the second switch is configured to selectively connect the series circuit and the third termination circuit.

5 . The directional coupler according to claim 3 , wherein the first termination circuit and the second termination circuit each comprise a variable resistor, a variable capacitor, or a variable inductor.

6 . The directional coupler according to claim 3 , further comprising:

a multilayer board having at least the main line therein; and

an integrated circuit (IC) chip comprising the first termination circuit and the first switch.

7 . A high frequency module comprising:

the directional coupler according to claim 3 ;

an antenna terminal;

a plurality of filters; and

an antenna switch configured to selectively connect a first signal path leading to the antenna terminal and each of a plurality of second signal paths leading to the plurality of filters.

8 . The high frequency module according to claim 7 , wherein the antenna switch is integral with the first switch of the directional coupler.

9 . A communication device comprising:

the high frequency module according to claim 7 ; and

a signal processing circuit that is connected to the high frequency module and configured to perform signal processing on a high frequency signal.