Matching circuits for phase change material switches

Inventor: Jean-Luc Erb (San, CA)

Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

H03H7/38

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12,231,107
App. No.: 18/338,952
Granted: Feb 18, 2025
Kind: B2

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Abstract

Circuits and methods that provide wider bandwidth and smaller IM inductances for phase change material (PCM) based RF switch networks. The present invention recognizes that it is beneficial to consider the total high parasitic capacitance to ground of the various PCM switches in an RF switch network as constituting two or more separate capacitive contributions. This leads to several “split capacitance” concepts, including signal-path splitting, switch-block splitting, stacked-switch splitting, and splitting parasitic capacitances due to layout discontinuities, in which compensating impedance matching inductances are inserted between additive capacitances.

Claims (53)

1. A method of impedance matching a radio frequency switch network that includes a plurality of branches each including at least one phase change material (PCM) switch, the method including coupling each branch of the radio frequency switch network to a common terminal through a respective separate and distinct inductor corresponding to such branch, and coupling each branch of the radio frequency switch network to a corresponding separate and distinct signal terminal, wherein each branch defines a switchable signal path between the common terminal and the corresponding signal terminal.

2. A method of impedance matching a radio frequency switch network that includes a plurality of branches each including at least one phase change material (PCM) switch, the method including coupling each branch of the radio frequency switch network to a common terminal through a respective separate and distinct inductor corresponding to such branch, wherein at least one branch of the plurality of branches includes:

(a) the respective separate and distinct inductor coupled to the common terminal;

(b) a second inductor coupled to a corresponding signal terminal; and

(c) a series-shunt PCM switch block coupled between the respective separate and distinct inductor and the second inductor, and configured to be coupled to a reference voltage;

wherein the at least one branch defines a switchable signal path between the common terminal and the corresponding signal terminal.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the series-shunt PCM switch block includes:

(a) a series PCM switch including first and second ports; and

(b) a shunt PCM switch including first and second ports, the first port of the shunt PCM switch coupled to the first port of the series PCM switch and the second port of the shunt PCM switch configured to be coupled to the reference voltage.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the series-shunt PCM switch block includes:

(a) a series PCM switch including first and second ports and comprising a stack of two or more PCM switch components coupled in series between the first and second ports; and

(b) a shunt PCM switch including first and second ports and comprising a stack of two or more PCM switch components coupled in series between the first and second ports of the shunt PCM, the first port of the shunt PCM switch coupled to the first port of the series PCM switch and the second port of the shunt PCM switch configured to be coupled to the reference voltage.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the series-shunt PCM switch block includes:

(a) a series PCM switch including first and second ports and comprising a stack of two or more PCM switch components coupled in series between the first and second ports and at least one inductor coupled in series between a pair of adjacent PCM switch components; and

6. A method of impedance matching a radio frequency switch network that includes a plurality of branches each including at least one phase change material (PCM) switch, the method including, for each branch:

(a) coupling a first inductor to a corresponding branch signal terminal;

(b) coupling a series PCM switch between the first inductor and a common terminal of the radio frequency switch network; and

(c) coupling a first port of a shunt PCM switch between the first inductor and the corresponding signal terminal of the branch and coupling a second port of the shunt PCM switch to a reference voltage.

7. The method of claim 6 , further including coupling a second inductor between the common terminal and the series PCM switch.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein: