IP Library Granted Patent US 7,369,834
Granted Patent B2
US 7,369,834 · App. 10/682,652 · Granted May 6, 2008

Impedance-matched IQ network for an image rejection circuit

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,369,834
App. No.
10/682,652
Granted
May 6, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

An impedance-matched IQ network includes a phase shift circuit and a back termination. The phase shift circuit includes an in-phase mixer port for receiving the in-phase signal, a quadrature-phase mixer port for receiving the quadrature phase signal, a termination port, and an output port. The back termination is coupled to the termination port of the phase shift circuit, the back termination having an impedance value substantially equal to the characteristic impedance of the phase shift circuit at the termination port.

Claims (54)

1. An impedance-matched IQ network configured to provide substantially a ±90 degree phase shift to a received quadrature phase signal relative to a received an in-phase signal, and to provide a summation of the ±90 degree phase-shifted quadrature phase signal and the received in-phase signal, the impedance matched IQ network comprising:

a phase shift circuit having an in-phase mixer port configured to receive the in-phase signal, a quadrature-phase mixer port configured to receive the quadrature-phase signal, a termination port, and an output port, the phase shift circuit configured to provide substantially a ±90 degree phase shift between the in-phase mixer and quadrature-phase mixer ports; and

a back termination coupled to the termination port of the phase shift circuit, the back termination having an impedance value substantially equal to the characteristic impedance of the phase shift circuit at the termination port,

wherein said termination port of the phase shift circuit couples to either the in-phase mixer port or the quadrature-phase mixer port of the phase shift circuit, wherein the in-phase or quadrature-phase mixer port to which the termination port is coupled comprises either: (i) a single-ended signal port, or (ii) one of two ports that collectively form a differential signal line.

2. The impedance-matched IQ network of claim 1 , wherein the phase shift circuit comprises at least one phase shifter.

3. The impedance-matched IQ network of claim 2 , wherein the at least one phase shifter comprises a plurality of series-coupled pi- or T-type phase shifters.

4. The impedance-matched IQ network of claim 2 , wherein the at least one phase shifter comprises a plurality of series-coupled distributed pi- or T-type phase shifters.

5. The impedance-matched IQ network of claim 2 , wherein the at least one phase shifter comprises a plurality of series-coupled transmission line phase shifters.

6. The impedance-matched IQ network of claim 1 , further comprising a matching network coupled to the output port.

7. The impedance-matched IQ network of claim 1 , wherein the back termination comprises a resistive element.

8. The impedance-matched IQ network of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of phase shifters comprises three series coupled pi-type L-C phase shifters, comprising:

a first pi-type L-C phase shifter comprising a first shunt inductor, a second shunt inductor, and a first series capacitor coupled therebetween;

a second pi-type L-C phase shifter comprising the second shunt inductor, a third shunt inductor, and a second series capacitor coupled therebetween; and

a third pi-type L-C phase shifter comprising the third shunt inductor a fourth shunt inductor, and a fourth series capacitor coupled therebetween.

9. The impedance-matched IQ network of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of phase shifters comprises three series-coupled T-type L-C phase shifters, comprising:

a first T-type L-C phase shifter comprising a first series capacitor, a second series capacitor, and a first shunt inductor coupled therebetween;

a second T-type L-C phase shifter comprising the second series capacitor, a third series capacitor, and a second shunt inductor coupled therebetween; and

a third T-type L-C phase shifter comprising the third series capacitor, a fourth series capacitor, and a third shunt inductor coupled therebetween.

10. An image rejection circuit, comprising:

an in-phase mixer;

a quadrature phase mixer; and

an impedance-matched IQ network coupled to the in-phase mixer and to the quadrature phase mixer, the impedance-matched IQ network comprising:

a phase shift circuit having an in-phase mixer port coupled to the in-phase mixer, a quadrature-phase mixer port coupled to the quadrature-phase mixer, a termination port, and an output port, the phase shift circuit configured to provide substantially a ±90 degree phase shift between the in-phase and quadrature-phase ports; and

a back termination coupled to the termination port of the phase shift circuit, the back termination having an impedance value substantially equal to the characteristic impedance of the phase shift circuit at the termination port,

wherein said termination port of the phase shift circuit couples to either the in-phase mixer port or the quadrature-phase mixer port of the phase shift circuit, wherein the in-phase or quadrature-phase mixer port to which the termination port is coupled comprises either: (i) a single-ended signal port, or (ii) one of two ports that collectively form a differential signal line.

11. The image rejection circuit of claim 10 , wherein the phase shift circuit comprises at least one phase shifter.

12. The image rejection circuit of claim 11 , wherein the at least one phase shifter comprises a plurality of series-coupled pi- or T-type phase shifters.

13. The image rejection circuit of claim 11 , wherein the at least one phase shifter comprises a plurality of series-coupled distributed pi- or T-type phase shifters.

14. The image rejection circuit of claim 11 , wherein the at least one phase shifter comprises a plurality of series-coupled transmission line phase shifters.

15. The image rejection circuit of claim 10 , further comprising a matching network coupled to the output port.

16. The image rejection circuit of claim 10 , wherein the back termination comprises a resistive element.

17. The image rejection circuit of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of phase shifters comprises three series coupled pi-type L-C phase shifters, comprising:

a first pi-type L-C phase shifter comprising a first shunt inductor, a second shunt inductor, and a first series capacitor coupled therebetween;

a second pi-type L-C phase shifter comprising the second shunt inductor, a third shunt inductor, and a second series capacitor coupled therebetween; and

a third pi-type L-C phase shifter comprising the third shunt inductor a fourth shunt inductor, and a fourth series capacitor coupled therebetween.

18. The image rejection circuit of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of phase shifters comprises three series-coupled T-type L-C phase shifters, comprising:

a first T-type L-C phase shifter comprising a first series capacitor, a second series capacitor, and a first shunt inductor coupled therebetween;

a second T-type L-C phase shifter comprising the second series capacitor, a third series capacitor, and a second shunt inductor coupled therebetween; and

a third T-type L-C phase shifter comprising the third series capacitor, a fourth series capacitor, and a third shunt inductor coupled therebetween.

19. The image rejection circuit of claim 10 , further comprising a first bypass capacitor coupled to the in-phase mixer, and a second bypass capacitor coupled to the quadrature-phase mixer.

20. The image rejection circuit of claim 10 , wherein the in-phase and quadrature-phase mixers each comprise differential mixer ports coupled to the impedance-matched IQ network, the impedance-matched network further comprising bypass capacitors coupled to each of the in-phase and quadrature-phase differential mixer ports.

21. An impedance-matched IQ network configured to provide substantially a ±90 degree phase shift to a received quadrature phase signal relative to a received an in-phase signal, and to provide a summation of the ±90 degree phase-shifted quadrature phase signal and the received in-phase signal, the impedance matched IQ network comprising:

phase shifting means having an in-phase mixer port configured to receive the in-phase signal, a quadrature-phase mixer port configured to receive the quadrature phase signal, a termination port, and an output port, the phase shifting means configured to provide substantially a ±90 degree phase shift between the in-phase and quadrature-phase mixer ports; and

termination means coupled to the termination port of the phase shifting means, the termination means having an impedance value substantially equal to the characteristic impedance of the phase shifting means at the termination port,

wherein said termination port of the phase shift circuit couples to either the in-phase mixer port or the quadrature-phase mixer port of the phase shift circuit, wherein the in-phase or quadrature-phase mixer port to which the termination port is coupled comprises either: (i) a single-ended signal port, or (ii) one of two ports that collectively form a differential signal line.

22. The impedance matched IQ network of claim 1 ,

wherein at least one of the in-phase mixer port or the quadrature-phase mixer port comprises two ports that collectively form a differential signal line; and

wherein the back termination is coupled to one of the ports forming the differential signal line of the in-phase mixer port or the quadrature phase mixer port.

23. The impedance matched IQ network of claim 10 ,

wherein at least one of the in-phase mixer port or the quadrature-phase mixer port comprises two ports that collectively form a differential signal line; and

wherein the back termination is coupled to one of the ports forming the differential signal line of the in-phase mixer port or the quadrature phase mixer port.

24. The impedance matched IQ network of claim 21 ,

wherein at least one of the in-phase mixer port or the quadrature-phase mixer port comprises two ports that collectively form a differential signal line; and

wherein the back termination is coupled to one of the ports forming the differential signal line of the in-phase mixer port or the quadrature phase mixer port.

Assignments (7)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 23, 2021
From: MUFG UNION BANK, N.A.
To: MAXLINEAR, INC.; EXAR CORPORATION; MAXLINEAR COMMUNICATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 056656/0204 →
SUCCESSION OF AGENCY (REEL 042453 / FRAME 0001) Recorded Jul 1, 2020
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: MUFG UNION BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053115/0842 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 12, 2017
From: MAXLINEAR, INC.; ENTROPIC COMMUNICATIONS, LLC (F/K/A ENTROPIC COMMUNICATIONS, INC.); EXAR CORPORATION
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 042453/0001 →
MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 19, 2015
From: ENTROPIC COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; EXCALIBUR SUBSIDIARY, LLC; ENTROPIC COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
To: ENTROPIC COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
Reel/Frame 035717/0628 →
MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 18, 2015
From: EXCALIBUR ACQUISITION CORPORATION; ENTROPIC COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; ENTROPIC COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
To: ENTROPIC COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 035706/0267 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 8, 2014
From: RF MAGIC, INC.
To: ENTROPIC COMMUNICATIONS INC.
Reel/Frame 032629/0792 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 20, 2005
From: BARGROFF, KEITH P.
To: RF MAGIC, INC.
Reel/Frame 016260/0814 →