IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,177,722
Granted Patent B2
US 10,177,722 · App. 15/178,529 · Granted Jan 8, 2019

Carrier aggregation low-noise amplifier with tunable integrated power splitter

Inventors: Chuan Wang (San Diego, CA); Kevin Hsi Huai Wang (San Diego, CA); Chiewcharn Narathong (Laguna Niguel, CA); Mehmet Uzunkol (San Diego, CA); Prakash Thoppay Egambaram (San Diego, CA)
Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
H03F3/195H03F1/565H04B1/401H03F2200/294H03F2200/378H03F2200/423H03F2200/451H03F2200/541H04W88/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,177,722
App. No.
15/178,529
Granted
Jan 8, 2019
Kind
B2
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.

Claims (48)

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;

a power splitter switchably coupled between an output of the matching circuit and the one or more outputs of the device; and

at least one first switch configured to couple the matching circuit to the power splitter.

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 second switch configured to couple the matching circuit to the one or more outputs.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. The device of claim 5 , further comprising at least one second switch configured to couple the at least one second matching circuit to the one or more outputs.

7. The device of claim 5 , further comprising at least one second switch configured to couple the at least one second matching circuit to the power splitter.

8. 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.

9. The device of claim 8 , further comprising a variable capacitor coupled between a gate of the second transistor and a source of the second transistor.

10. The device of claim 8 , further comprising at least one of an inductor and a capacitor coupled between the input of the LNA and the second transistor.

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

12. The device of claim 1 , further comprising at least one controller configured to control at least one component of at least one of the matching circuit or the power splitter.

13. 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, the configuring comprises bypassing the power splitter.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising tuning the power splitter to adjust isolation between the one or more outputs.

15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising adjusting at least one variable component of a matching circuit coupled to the LNA.

16. 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, in which the means for configuring comprises means for bypassing the power splitter.

17. The device of claim 16 , 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.

18. The device of claim 16 , further comprising means for matching an impedance at an output of the amplifying means.

19. 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, the power splitter comprising:

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.

20. 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;

a power splitter switchably coupled between an output of the matching circuit and the one or more outputs of the device; and

at least one controller configured to control at least one component of at least one of the matching circuit or the power splitter.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 6, 2016
From: WANG, CHUAN; WANG, KEVIN HSI HUAI; NARATHONG, CHIEWCHARN; UZUNKOL, MEHMET; THOPPAY EGAMBARAM, PRAKASH
To: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 039920/0162 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62277880 · Jan 12, 2016
Related Publication 20170201218A1 · Jul 13, 2017
Cited By (3)
US 12,476,342 US 12,549,212 US 12,567,837