CN219304802U

CN219304802U - Amplifier, radio frequency circuit and electronic equipment

Info

Publication number: CN219304802U
Application number: CN202320184312.7U
Authority: CN
Inventors: 李青; 游晓东; 刘朋
Original assignee: Shanghai Awinic Technology Co Ltd
Current assignee: Shanghai Awinic Technology Co Ltd
Priority date: 2023-02-02
Filing date: 2023-02-02
Publication date: 2023-07-04
Anticipated expiration: 2033-02-02

Abstract

The application provides an amplifier, a radio frequency circuit and electronic equipment. The amplifier comprises an input unit, an output unit, an amplifying unit, a first switch unit and a second switch unit; the amplifying unit is electrically connected between the input unit and the output unit and is configured to amplify the input signal received by the input unit and transmit the amplified input signal to the output unit; a first switching unit electrically connected between the input unit and the output unit and configured to be manually operable to enter an on state when the second switching unit is in an off state to transmit an input signal to the output unit; the second switching unit is electrically connected between the input unit and the output unit and is configured to be able to enter an on state based on the intensity of the input signal being greater than a predetermined threshold value when the first switching unit is in an off state to transmit the input signal to the output unit. The amplifier of this scheme can satisfy the different demands under the different application scenes better, has better compatibility.

Description

Amplifier, radio frequency circuit and electronic equipment

Technical Field

The embodiment of the application relates to the technical field of circuits, in particular to an amplifier, a radio frequency circuit and electronic equipment.

Background

In some radio frequency circuits, amplifiers, including but not limited to low noise amplifiers, are often used to amplify the radio frequency signals. The radio frequency signal is input from an input port of the amplifier and is output from an output port of the amplifier after being amplified by an amplification single path therein. Taking the amplifier as a low noise amplifier for example, a signal attenuation circuit is often required to attenuate the radio frequency signal to be led out to an output end when the radio frequency signal strength is too high, so as to protect an amplifying circuit in the amplifier when the radio frequency signal strength is too high. Because amplifiers (including but not limited to low noise amplifiers) may be applied in different application scenarios, the tendency and requirements of the different application scenarios for signal attenuation may be different, and existing amplifiers are difficult to meet the different requirements in the different application scenarios, and the compatibility is poor. Therefore, a new solution is needed to at least partially solve these problems.

Disclosure of Invention

In order to solve the above problems, embodiments of the present application provide an amplifier, a radio frequency circuit, and an electronic device, so as to at least partially solve the above problems.

According to a first aspect of the present application there is provided an amplifier comprising: the device comprises an input unit, an output unit, an amplifying unit, a first switch unit and a second switch unit;

The amplifying unit is electrically connected between the input unit and the output unit and is configured to amplify an input signal received by the input unit and transmit the amplified input signal to the output unit;

the first switch unit is electrically connected between the input unit and the output unit and is configured to be manually operated to enter an on state when the second switch unit is in an off state so as to transmit the input signal to the output unit;

the second switching unit is electrically connected between the input unit and the output unit and is configured to be able to enter an on state based on the intensity of the input signal being greater than a predetermined threshold value when the first switching unit is in an off state to transmit the input signal to the output unit.

In some optional embodiments, the amplifier further comprises a third switching unit, the first switching unit and the second switching unit are each electrically connected to the third switching unit, and the first switching unit and the second switching unit are each electrically connected to the input unit through the third switching unit.

In some alternative embodiments, the input unit includes N input terminals, the amplifying unit includes N amplifying modules, each input terminal of the N input terminals is electrically connected to one amplifying module, a different input terminal is electrically connected to a different amplifying module, and the amplifying module is configured to amplify an input signal received by the input terminal and transmit the amplified signal to the output unit, where N is a positive integer and N is greater than or equal to 2; the third switch unit comprises at least N first switches, the first end of each first switch in the N first switches is electrically connected with one input end, the second end of each first switch is electrically connected with the first switch unit and the second switch unit, and different first switches are electrically connected with different input ends.

In some alternative embodiments, the amplifying unit includes a second switching element and N first switching elements, each of the N first switching elements being electrically connected to the second switching element to constitute N amplifying modules.

In some alternative embodiments, the first switch unit includes a second switch and a third switch, a first end of the second switch is electrically connected to the output unit, a second end of the second switch is electrically connected to a first end of the third switch, and a second end of the third switch is grounded; the input unit is electrically connected to an electrical connection line between the second end of the second switch and the first end of the third switch.

In some alternative embodiments, the amplifier further comprises a fourth switch, a first end of the fourth switch being electrically connected to an electrical connection between a second end of the second switch and a first end of the third switch, the second end of the fourth switch being electrically connected to the second switching unit.

In some alternative embodiments, the second switching unit includes a third switching element and a fourth switching element; the first end of the third switching element is electrically connected with the second end of the fourth switching element, the second end of the third switching element is grounded, and the first end of the fourth switching element is electrically connected with the output unit; a third end of the third switching element is electrically connected with a second end of the fourth switch, and the third end of the third switching element is electrically connected with an external first signal port, so as to obtain a first signal for adjusting the on or off state of the third switching element from the first signal port; the third end of the fourth switching element is electrically connected with an external second signal port so as to obtain a second signal for adjusting the on or off state of the fourth switching element from the second signal port.

In some alternative embodiments, the amplifier further comprises a first capacitor electrically connected between the second and third terminals of the third switching element.

In some alternative embodiments, the amplifier further comprises a first resistor, and the first end of the second switch is electrically connected to the output unit through the first resistor.

According to a second aspect of the present application, there is provided a radio frequency circuit comprising: an amplifier as in any one of the first aspects.

According to a third aspect of the present application, there is provided an electronic device comprising: the radio frequency circuit as provided in the second aspect.

According to the amplifier, the amplifying unit can amplify the input signal received by the input unit and then transmit the amplified signal to the output unit, so that the amplifier can amplify the radio frequency signal when the input signal is the radio frequency signal; the first switch unit can be manually controlled to be in an on state when the second switch unit is in an off state so as to transmit an input signal to the output unit, and the second switch unit can be manually controlled to be in an on state when the first switch unit is in an off state so as to transmit the input signal to the output unit based on the intensity of the input signal being larger than a preset threshold value, so that the first switch unit and the second switch unit in the amplifier can be used as required, and the second switch unit can be turned off when the amplifier is applied to an application scene requiring attenuation through a passive signal, and the first switch unit is turned on so as to meet corresponding requirements by using the first switch unit; when the amplifier is applied to an application scene requiring attenuation through an active signal, the first switch unit can be turned off, and the second switch unit can be turned on, so that the corresponding requirement is met by the second switch unit. Therefore, the amplifier of the scheme can better meet different requirements under different application scenes, and has better compatibility.

Drawings

In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present application or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following description will briefly introduce the drawings that are required to be used in the embodiments or the description of the prior art, and it is obvious that the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments described in the embodiments of the present application, and other drawings may also be obtained according to these drawings for a person having ordinary skill in the art.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of an exemplary amplifier according to the present application.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic circuit configuration of an exemplary amplifier according to the present application.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic circuit configuration of a further exemplary amplifier according to the present application.

Fig. 4 shows a schematic circuit configuration of still another exemplary amplifier according to the present application.

Fig. 5 shows a schematic diagram of an exemplary radio frequency circuit according to the present application.

Fig. 6 shows a schematic diagram of an exemplary electronic device according to the present application.

Detailed Description

In order to better understand the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application, the following descriptions will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present application, and it is obvious that the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present application, but not all embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by a person of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments in the embodiments of the present application shall fall within the scope of protection of the embodiments of the present application.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of an exemplary amplifier according to the present application. According to a first aspect of the underlying application, the present application provides an amplifier 100 comprising: an input unit 10, an output unit 20, an amplifying unit 30, a first switching unit 40, and a second switching unit 50; an amplifying unit 30 electrically connected between the input unit 10 and the output unit 20 and configured to be capable of amplifying an input signal received by the input unit 10 and transmitting the amplified input signal to the output unit 20; a first switching unit 40 electrically connected between the input unit 10 and the output unit 20 and configured to be manually manipulated into an on state when the second switching unit 50 is in an off state to transmit an input signal to the output unit; the second switching unit 50 is electrically connected between the input unit 10 and the output unit 20, and is configured to be able to enter an on state based on the intensity of the input signal being greater than a predetermined threshold value when the first switching unit 40 is in an off state, to transmit the input signal to the output unit 20.

The amplifier 100 in the present application is described in detail below, and it should be understood that the following description is not intended to limit the present application in any way.

It should be appreciated that the application scenarios of the amplifier 100 are mainly due to the different radio frequency circuits or circuit structures within the electronic devices to which the amplifier 100 is applied, and that the tendencies and requirements for signal attenuation supported in different electronic devices may be different, for example, some support passive attenuation and others support active attenuation, so that the existing amplifier has difficulty in meeting the requirements and compatibility issues.

Alternatively, the amplifier 100 may be, but is not limited to, a low noise amplifier.

In some alternative embodiments, the amplifier 100 further includes a third switching unit 60, the first switching unit 40 and the second switching unit 50 are electrically connected to the third switching unit 60, and the first switching unit 40 and the second switching unit 50 are electrically connected to the input unit 10 through the third switching unit 60.

In the circuit structure, on one hand, the state that the first switch unit 40 and the second switch unit 50 are electrically connected with the input unit 10 can be flexibly adjusted through the on and off of the third switch unit 60, the third switch unit 60 can be turned on when needed, and the first switch unit 40 and the second switch unit 50 are electrically connected with the input unit 10, so that the first switch unit 40 or the second switch unit 50 of the amplifier 100 can flexibly and conveniently realize the function of transmitting an input signal to the output unit 20; on the other hand, since the first switching unit 40 and the second switching unit 50 are electrically connected to the third switching unit 60, the states of the first switching unit 40 and the second switching unit 50 electrically connected to the input unit 10 can be controlled together by the third switching unit 60, and it is not necessary to separately provide circuit structures for separately controlling the first switching unit 40 and the second switching unit 50, so that the number of electronic components can be reduced, the chip layout area of the amplifier 100 can be reduced, and the cost of the amplifier 100 can be reduced.

As for the effect of this aspect, fig. 4 shows a schematic circuit configuration of still another exemplary amplifier according to the present application, which shows an example of controlling the circuit configurations provided for the first switching unit 40 and the second switching unit 50, respectively, the amplifier 100 in fig. 4 includes the fourth switching unit 70 and the fifth switching unit 80, the fourth switching unit 70 is electrically connected to the first switching unit 40, the first switching unit 40 is electrically connected to the input unit 10 through the fourth switching unit 70, the fifth switching unit 80 is electrically connected to the second switching unit 50, the second switching unit 50 is electrically connected to the input unit 10 through the fifth switching unit 80, and compared with the circuit configuration of the third switching unit 60 in fig. 2 and the circuit configurations of the fourth switching unit 70 and the fifth switching unit 80 in fig. 4, the number of switches used for the third switching unit 60 in fig. 2 is smaller than the number of switches used for the fourth switching unit 70 and the fifth switching unit 80 in fig. 4, so that the amplifier 100 in fig. 2 can obtain the effect of reducing the number of electronic components and the cost of the amplifier 100, and the cost of the amplifier 100 on the other hand. It should be understood that the circuit configuration of the amplifier 100 of fig. 2 and 4 is only an example, and is not intended to limit the present application.

IN this application, the input unit 10 includes at least one input terminal IN, and an input signal may be input to the amplifier 100 from each input terminal IN, and the input signal may be a radio frequency signal. For example, the input unit 10 may be connected to an antenna, and obtain a radio frequency signal from the antenna. The output unit 20 includes at least one output terminal OUT to which an input signal is amplified by the amplifying unit 30.

The specific structure of the amplifying unit 30 is not limited in this application as long as the operational requirement of the amplifier 100 can be satisfied. For example, the amplifying unit 30 may include one or more amplifying modules. IN some alternative embodiments, the amplifier 100 may be a single input channel amplifier, that is, the input unit 10 IN the amplifier 100 includes only one input terminal IN and the amplifying unit 30 includes only one amplifying module, so that the amplifying process of a single input signal (for example, a radio frequency signal) may be implemented. IN alternative embodiments, the amplifier 100 may be a multi-input channel amplifier, that is, the input unit 10 IN the amplifier 100 includes a plurality of input terminals IN and the amplifying unit 30 includes a plurality of amplifying modules, so as to amplify multiple input signals (e.g., radio frequency signals). For the single input channel amplifier 100 described above, the amplification module used in the present application may be any suitable circuit structure; for the multi-input channel amplifier 100, the multiple amplifying modules may be any suitable circuit structure, and the multiple amplifying modules may have the same or different circuit structures, or may be formed by the same or different circuit elements, which is not limited in this application.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic circuit configuration of an exemplary amplifier according to the present application. IN some alternative embodiments, for the case that the amplifier 100 is a multi-input channel amplifier, referring to fig. 2, IN the amplifier 100, the input unit 10 includes N input terminals IN, the amplifying unit 30 includes N amplifying modules, each input terminal IN of the N input terminals IN is electrically connected to one amplifying module, different input terminals IN are electrically connected to different amplifying modules, and the amplifying modules are configured to amplify an input signal received by the input terminal 10 and transmit the amplified signal to the output unit 20, where N is a positive integer and N is greater than or equal to 2; the third switching unit 60 includes at least N first switches K1, a first end of each first switch K1 of the N first switches K1 is electrically connected to one input terminal IN, and a second end of the first switch K1 is electrically connected to the first switching unit 40 and the second switching unit 50, and different first switches K1 are electrically connected to different input terminals IN.

Through such a structure, the amplifier 100 of the present application on one hand makes the amplifying unit 10 perform simultaneous amplifying processing on multiple paths of input signals, and also makes the amplifying unit 10 flexibly perform amplifying processing on any one or multiple paths of input signals, so as to be convenient for meeting different requirements of users; on the other hand, any one of the input signals may be transmitted from the corresponding input terminal IN to the output unit 20 (e.g., to the output terminal OUT included IN the output unit 20) through the first switch unit 40 or the second switch unit 50 by adjusting each of the first switches K1 of the third switch unit 60, so that flexible adjustment of the states IN which the first switch unit 40 and the second switch unit 50 are electrically connected to the input unit 10 may be achieved, and the corresponding first switch K1 may be turned on when necessary to electrically connect the first switch unit 40 and the second switch unit 50 to the output terminal IN, thereby enabling the first switch unit 40 or the second switch unit 50 of the amplifier 100 to flexibly and conveniently achieve the function of transmitting the input signals to the output unit 20.

Optionally, the first switch K1 is a mechanical switch, and can be switched to an on or off state under manual operation.

As described above, the specific circuit configuration of the amplifying module is not limited in the present application, and in some exemplary embodiments, referring to fig. 2, the amplifying unit 30 includes a second switching element M2 and N first switching elements M1, each of the N first switching elements M1 being electrically connected with the second switching element M2 to constitute N amplifying modules. With such a structure, N amplification modules can be effectively formed to realize the input signal amplification function of the amplifier 100.

Specifically, referring to fig. 2, one first switching element M1 and one second switching element M2 may be electrically connected to form one amplifying module, and N different first switching elements M1 are electrically connected to the same second switching element M2 to form N amplifying modules.

The specific types of the first switching element M1 and the second switching element M2 are not limited in this application, and may be controllable switching elements. Referring to the example in fig. 2, the N first switching elements M1 and the second switching elements M2 are NMOS transistors, and the amplifying module may be a cascode amplifying module formed by the first switching element M1 and the second switching element M2. For an amplification module, the circuit connection structure may be as follows: the source electrode of the first switching element M1 is grounded, the drain electrode of the first switching element M1 is electrically connected with the source electrode of the second switching element M2, and the drain electrode of the second switching element M2 is electrically connected with an external power supply; the gate of the first switching element M1 is electrically connected to the input terminal IN, and the gate of the first switching element M1 is electrically connected to the external first signal source Vbias1 to obtain a first adjustment signal for turning on or off the first switching element M1 from the first signal source Vbias 1; the gate of the second switching element M2 is electrically connected to the external second signal source Vbias2 to obtain a second adjustment signal for turning the second switching element M2 on or off from the second signal source Vbias 2.

For example, when the first signal source Vbias1 inputs the high-level first adjustment signal to the gate of the first switching element M1, the first switching element M1 is in the linear region, the first switching element M1 is turned on, and when the first signal source Vbias1 inputs the low-level first adjustment signal to the gate of the first switching element M1, the first switching element M1 is in the off region, and the first switching element M1 is turned off; the second signal source Vbias2 inputs a high level second adjustment signal to the gate of the second switching element M2, so that the second switching element M2 is in the linear region, the second switching element M2 enters the on state, the second signal source Vbias2 inputs a low level second adjustment signal to the gate of the second switching element M2, so that the second switching element M2 is in the off region, and the second switching element M2 enters the off state.

Describing the amplifying unit 10 of the above part with reference to the example shown IN fig. 2, the amplifier 100 includes N input channels (n=4 IN fig. 2, but this is only an example), the input unit 10 includes N input terminals IN (IN fig. 2, for convenience of distinction, also denoted as IN1, IN2, IN3, IN 4), the amplifying unit 30 includes 4 first switching elements M1 (IN fig. 2, for convenience of distinction, also denoted as m1_1, m1_2, m1_3, m1_4) and a second switching element M2; wherein, the gate of the first switching element m1_1 is electrically connected to the input terminal IN1, and the gate of the first switching element m1_1 is electrically connected to the first signal source Vbias 1; the gate of the first switching element m1_2 is electrically connected to the input terminal IN2, and the gate of the first switching element m1_2 is electrically connected to the first signal source Vbias 1; the gate of the first switching element m1_3 is electrically connected to the input terminal IN3, and the gate of the first switching element m1_3 is electrically connected to the first signal source Vbias 1; the gate of the first switching element m1_4 is electrically connected to the input terminal IN4, and the gate of the first switching element m1_4 is electrically connected to the first signal source Vbias 1; the first signal source Vbias1 may supply a first adjustment signal for turning on or off the gate of the first switching element m1_1, the gate of the first switching element m1_2, the gate of the first switching element m1_3, and the gate of the first switching element m1_4, respectively; the source of the first switching element m1_1, the source of the first switching element m1_2, the source of the first switching element m1_3, and the source of the first switching element m1_4 are electrically connected to each other and then grounded; the drain electrode of the first switching element m1_1, the drain electrode of the first switching element m1_2, the drain electrode of the first switching element m1_3, and the drain electrode of the first switching element m1_4 are electrically connected to each other and then electrically connected to the source electrode of the second switching element M2; the gate of the second switching element M2 is electrically connected to an external second signal source Vbias2, and the gate of the second switching element M2 is electrically connected to the output terminal OUT of the output unit 20, and the second signal source Vbias2 is capable of providing a second adjustment signal for turning on or off the gate of the second switching element M2; the drain electrode of the second switching element M2 is electrically connected with a power supply VDD; here, the first switching element m1_1 and the second switching element M2 form an amplifying module, the first switching element m1_2 and the second switching element M2 form an amplifying module, the first switching element m1_3 and the second switching element M2 form an amplifying module, and the first switching element m1_4 and the second switching element M2 form an amplifying module, and each amplifying module is capable of amplifying an input signal received by the input terminal IN and transmitting the amplified signal to the output terminal OUT IN the output unit 20. It should be understood that the circuit configuration in fig. 2 is not intended as any limitation in the present application.

Optionally, referring to fig. 2, the amplifier 100 further includes a first inductor L1, a first end of the first inductor L1 is electrically connected to the power supply VDD, and a second end of the first inductor L1 is electrically connected to a drain of the second switching element M2, so that the drain of the second switching element M2 is electrically connected to the power supply VDD through the first inductor L1. The first inductor L1 may be used for impedance matching.

Optionally, referring to fig. 2, the amplifier 100 further includes a second inductor L2, wherein first ends of the second inductors L2 are electrically connected to the sources of the N first switching elements M1, respectively, and second ends of the second inductors L2 are grounded, so that the sources of the N first switching elements M1 are grounded through the second inductors L2. The second inductor L2 may be used for impedance matching.

Optionally, referring to fig. 2, the output unit 20 further includes a sixth capacitor C6, a first terminal of the sixth capacitor C6 is electrically connected to the drain of the second switching element M2, and a second terminal of the sixth capacitor C6 is electrically connected to the output terminal OUT in the output unit 20. The sixth capacitor C6 may be used for impedance matching.

Optionally, referring to fig. 2, the amplifier 100 further includes N second capacitors C2, each second capacitor C2 of the N second capacitors C2 being electrically connected between one input terminal IN and the gate of one first switching element M1, respectively. The second capacitor C2 may be used to isolate the direct current such that the alternating current signal is separated from the direct current signal. Specifically, IN the example of fig. 2, n=4, the first second capacitor C2 is electrically connected between the gate of the first switching element m1_1 and the input terminal IN1, the second capacitor C2 is electrically connected between the gate of the first switching element m1_2 and the input terminal IN2, the third second capacitor C2 is electrically connected between the gate of the first switching element m1_3 and the input terminal IN3, and the fourth second capacitor C2 is electrically connected between the gate of the first switching element m1_4 and the input terminal IN 4. The capacitance values of the N second capacitors C2 may be the same or different, and may be selected as needed. It should be understood that the circuit configuration in fig. 2 is not intended as any limitation in the present application.

Optionally, referring to fig. 2, the amplifier 100 further includes N fifth switches K5, a first end of each fifth switch K5 of the N fifth switches K5 is electrically connected to one input terminal IN, a second end of the fifth switch K5 is grounded, a first end of a different fifth switch K5 is electrically connected to a different input terminal IN, N is a positive integer, and N is equal to or greater than 2. Optionally, the fifth switch K5 in the present application is a mechanical switch, and can be switched to an on or off state under manual operation. The fifth switch K5 may be used to increase the isolation between the different inputs IN. When the amplifier 100 is used to amplify the input signal by using the different input channels IN, the fifth switch K5 may be turned on or off according to different needs, for example, when only the input channel with the input terminal IN1 is used, the fifth switch K5 of the input channel with the input terminal IN1 may be turned off, and the fifth switches K5 of the input channels with the input terminals IN2, IN3, and IN4 are turned on, which may be similar to other situations, and will not be described herein.

Optionally, referring to fig. 2, the amplifier 100 further includes a third capacitor C3, a first end of the third capacitor C3 is electrically connected to the gate of the second switching element M2, and a second end of the third capacitor C3 is grounded. The third capacitor C3 may provide an ac ground for the second switching element M2.

The specific circuit configuration of the first switch unit 40 is not limited in the present application, and may satisfy the use requirement. In some alternative embodiments, referring to fig. 2, the first switching unit 40 includes a second switch K2 and a third switch K3, a first end of the second switch K2 is electrically connected to the output unit 20, a second end of the second switch K2 is electrically connected to a first end of the third switch K3, and a second end of the third switch K3 is grounded; the input unit 10 is electrically connected to an electrical connection line between the second terminal of the second switch K2 and the first terminal of the third switch K3.

With such a structure of the first switch unit 40, when the input signal needs to be passively attenuated, the protection of the amplifying unit 30 may be achieved by manually turning off the second switch K2 (i.e., even if the second switch K2 is turned on) and turning off the third switch K3 (i.e., even if the third switch K3 is turned on), so that the input signal is passively attenuated by the second switch K2 and transmitted to the output unit 20; when passive attenuation of the input signal is not required, the second switch K2 may be manually turned on (i.e., even if the second switch K2 is turned off), and the amplification unit 30 may amplify the input signal.

Optionally, the second switch K2 and the third switch K3 in the present application may be mechanical switches, and may be capable of switching on or off under manual operation.

Referring to fig. 2, N first switches K1 IN the third switching unit 60 are electrically connected to an electrical connection line between the second end of the second switch K2 and the first end of the third switch K3, so that N output ends IN of the input unit 10 are electrically connected to the first switching unit 40 through the N first switches K1 IN the third switching unit 60, respectively. With this configuration, the first switch K1, the second switch K2, and the third switch K3 form a T-type attenuation circuit, and the isolation of the amplifying unit 30 can be improved.

Optionally, referring to fig. 2, the first switching unit 40 further includes a fourth capacitor C4, and the first terminal of the second switch K2 is electrically connected to the output unit 20 through the fourth capacitor C4. The fourth capacitor C4 may be used for blocking direct current, and by adjusting the capacitance value of the fourth capacitor C4, the radio frequency performance of the first switch unit 40, such as insertion loss, noise coefficient, and input/output reflection coefficient, for passive attenuation of signals may be adjusted.

As further described with reference to fig. 2, IN fig. 2, there are four first switches K1 (k1_1, k1_2, k1_3, k1_4 IN fig. 2 for convenience of distinction), by manually controlling the first switches k1_1, k1_2, k1_3, k1_4, K2, and K3 to be turned on, IN this case, IN the first path input channel (the input channel where the input terminal IN1 is located), the first switches k1_1, K2, and K3 form a T-type attenuation circuit, and after the first signal source Vbias1 outputs a low-level first adjustment signal to the first switch element m1_1 to turn off the first switch element m1_1, the input signal is input from the input terminal IN1, attenuated by the T-type attenuation circuit formed by the first switches k1_1, K2, K3, and then attenuated by the fourth capacitor C4 and transmitted to the output terminal OUT 6; IN the second input channel (the input channel where the input end IN2 is located), the first switch k1_2, the second switch K2 and the third switch K3 form a T-type attenuation circuit, after the first signal source Vbias1 outputs a low-level first adjustment signal to the first switch element m1_2 to enable the first switch element m1_2 to be turned off, an input signal is input from the input end IN2, attenuated by the T-type attenuation circuit formed by the first switch k1_2, the second switch K2 and the third switch K3, attenuated by the fourth capacitor C4 and the sixth capacitor C6 and transmitted to the output end OUT; IN the third input channel (the input channel where the input end IN3 is located), the first switch k1_3, the second switch K2 and the third switch K3 form a T-type attenuation circuit, after the first signal source Vbias1 outputs a low-level first adjustment signal to the first switch element m1_3 to enable the first switch element m1_3 to be turned off, an input signal is input from the input end IN3, and after the attenuation of the T-type attenuation circuit formed by the first switch k1_3, the second switch K2 and the third switch K3 is performed, the attenuation of the first signal source Vbias1, the attenuation of the second signal source Vbias1, the attenuation of the third signal source Vbias 3, the attenuation of the sixth signal source Vbias 6 are performed through the fourth capacitor C4 and the transmission of the first signal source Vbias 1_3 to the output end OUT; IN the fourth input channel (the input channel where the input end IN4 is located), the first switch k1_4, the second switch K2 and the third switch K3 form a T-type attenuation circuit, after the first signal source Vbias1 outputs a low-level first adjustment signal to the first switch element m1_4 to turn off the first switch element m1_4, the input signal is input from the input end IN4, attenuated by the T-type attenuation circuit formed by the first switch k1_4, the second switch K2 and the third switch K3, attenuated by the fourth capacitor C4 and the sixth capacitor C6 and transmitted to the output end OUT;

When any one or more input channels of the amplifier 100 do not need the first switch unit 40 to operate (i.e., when the input signal is not passively attenuated), the corresponding first switch K1 IN the one or more input channels can be manually controlled to be turned off (for example, if the first channel of the input end IN1 does not need the first switch unit 40 to operate, the corresponding first switch k1_1 can be turned off, and the other cases can be similarly and are not repeated); alternatively, the second switch K2 may be manually controlled to be turned off and the third switch K3 may be manually controlled to be turned on, so that the first switch unit 40 can no longer transmit the input signal to the output terminal OUT of the output unit 20; alternatively, the third switch K3 may be manually controlled to be turned on and the second switch K2 may be manually controlled to be turned off, and the second switch unit 50 may be used to perform active attenuation of the input signal and transmit the input signal to the output unit 20 through the second switch unit 50. Alternatively, the first signal source Vbias1 may output the first adjustment signal to the first switching elements m1_1, m1_2, m1_3, m1_4 through different signal output ports, respectively. It should be understood that the circuit configuration in fig. 2 is not intended as any limitation in the present application.

In some alternative embodiments, referring to fig. 2, the amplifier 100 further includes a fourth switch K4, a first terminal of the fourth switch K4 is electrically connected to an electrical connection line between a second terminal of the second switch K2 and a first terminal of the third switch K3, and a second terminal of the fourth switch K4 is electrically connected to the second switching unit 50.

Optionally, the fourth switch K4 in the present application is a mechanical switch, and can be switched to an on or off state under manual operation. Alternatively, referring to fig. 2, the first end of the fourth switch K4 is electrically connected to the point a on the electrical connection line between the second end of the second switch K2 and the first end of the third switch K3.

By means of such a circuit structure, on the one hand, the fourth switch K4 can conveniently and flexibly adjust the electrical connection between the second switch unit 50 and the first protection unit 40, so that the second switch unit 50 can be directly connected between the input unit 10 and the output unit 20 when the second switch unit 50 needs to be used, and the second switch unit 50 can be disconnected between the input unit 10 and the output unit 20 when the second switch unit 50 does not need to be used; on the other hand, IN the embodiment where the third switch unit 60 and the first switch K1 thereof exist, since the first end of the fourth switch K4 is electrically connected to the electrical connection line between the second end of the second switch K2 and the first end of the third switch K3, the third switch K3 IN the first switch unit 50 may also be multiplexed, the first switch K1, the third switch K3 and the fourth switch K4 may form a T-type attenuation circuit (for example, as shown IN fig. 2, for the input end IN1, the first switch k1_1, the third switch K3 and the fourth switch K4 form a T-type attenuation circuit, and the remaining input ends IN2, IN3 and IN4 are similar and are not repeated here), the isolation of the amplifying unit 30 can be improved, and the second switch unit 50 does not need to be separately provided with a grounded switch, so that the number of switches can be reduced, the chip area of the amplifier 100 can be reduced, and the cost of the amplifier 100 can be reduced.

As for the effect of this other aspect, a schematic circuit structure of still another exemplary amplifier according to the present application is shown in fig. 4, and in the amplifier 100 of fig. 4, the grounded sixth switch K3 is separately provided for the first switch unit 40, and the grounded sixth switch K6 is separately provided for the second switch unit 50, and as can be seen from comparison of the two, the number of switches can be reduced in the amplifier 100 of fig. 2, the chip layout area of the amplifier 100 can be reduced, and the cost of the amplifier 100 can be reduced. It should be understood that neither the circuit configuration of the amplifier 100 of fig. 2 nor fig. 4 is a limitation of the present application.

In this application, the predetermined threshold may be set as needed, and is not limited herein. The determination of whether the strength of the input signal is greater than a predetermined threshold may be made in any suitable manner, such as by an acquisition circuit to acquire the input signal and measure its strength.

The circuit configuration of the second switching unit 50 is not particularly limited in this application, and may satisfy the use requirement. In some alternative embodiments, referring to fig. 2, the second switching unit 50 includes a third switching element M3 and a fourth switching element M4; the first end of the third switching element M3 is electrically connected to the second end of the fourth switching element M4, the second end of the third switching element M3 is grounded, and the first end of the fourth switching element M4 is electrically connected to the output unit 20; the third end of the third switching element M3 is electrically connected with the second end of the fourth switch K4, and the third end of the third switching element M3 is electrically connected with the external first signal port Vg1 to obtain a first signal for adjusting the on or off state of the third switching element M3 from the first signal port Vg 1; the third terminal of the fourth switching element M4 is electrically connected to the external second signal port Vg2 to obtain a second signal for adjusting the on or off state of the fourth switching element M4 from the second signal port Vg 2.

Alternatively, the first signal port Vg1 may be one signal output port of the first signal source Vbias1, or may be a signal output port of another signal source, which is not limited herein; the second signal port Vg2 may be one signal output port of the second signal source Vbias2, or may be a signal output port of another signal source, which is not limited herein.

Alternatively, referring to fig. 2, the third switching element M3 and the fourth switching element M4 may both be NMOS transistors. The first end of the third switching element M3 is a drain electrode, the second end of the third switching element M3 is a source electrode, and the third end of the third switching element M3 is a grid electrode; the first end of the fourth switching element M4 is a drain, the second end of the fourth switching element M4 is a source, and the third end of the fourth switching element M4 is a gate. Specifically, the third switching element M3 and the fourth switching element M4 constitute a cascode amplifying circuit, when the intensity of the input signal is greater than a predetermined threshold, the first signal port Vg1 inputs a first signal of a high level (which may be a bias voltage signal) to the third terminal (gate) of the third switching element M3 to provide a static operating point for the third switching element M3 to be in a saturation region, and the second signal port Vg2 inputs a second signal of a high level (which may be a bias voltage signal) to the third terminal (gate) of the fourth switching element M4 to provide a static operating point for the fourth switching element M4 to be in a saturation region, so that the input signal is actively amplified by the second switching unit 50 to the output unit 20.

Through such a circuit structure, the third switching element M3 and the fourth switching element M4 can be effectively controlled, so that the second switching unit 50 can effectively realize the function of actively attenuating the input signal, thereby better meeting different requirements of the amplifier 100 in different application scenarios on the basis of the existence of the first switching unit 40, and having better compatibility.

Optionally, referring to fig. 2, the amplifier 100 further includes a fifth capacitor C5, a first terminal of the fifth capacitor C5 is electrically connected to a second terminal of the fourth switch K4, and a second terminal of the fifth capacitor C5 is electrically connected to a third terminal of the third switching element M3. The fifth capacitor C5 can be used for blocking direct current, so that the alternating current signal and the direct current signal are separated, and by adjusting the capacitance value of the fifth capacitor C5, the radio frequency performance of the second switch unit 50, such as insertion loss, noise coefficient, linearity, and the like, of signal active attenuation can be adjusted.

Optionally, referring to fig. 2, the amplifier 100 further includes a seventh capacitor C7, a first end of the seventh capacitor C7 is electrically connected to the gate of the fourth switching element M4, and a second end of the seventh capacitor C7 is grounded. The seventh capacitor C7 may provide an ac ground for the fourth switching element M4.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic circuit configuration of a further exemplary amplifier according to the present application. Optionally, referring to fig. 3, the amplifier 100 further includes a first capacitor C1, and the first capacitor C1 is electrically connected between the second terminal and the third terminal of the third switching element M3. The third switching element M3 may be an NMOS transistor, the second end of the third switching element M3 is a source, and the third end of the third switching element M3 is a gate. By adjusting the capacitance value of the first capacitor C1, the radio frequency performance of the second switch unit 50, such as insertion loss, noise coefficient, linearity, etc., of signal active attenuation can be adjusted.

Optionally, referring to fig. 3, the amplifier 100 further includes a first resistor R1, and the first end of the second switch K2 is electrically connected to the output unit 20 through the first resistor R1. Specifically, referring to fig. 3, the output unit 20 includes a sixth capacitor C6 and an output terminal OUT, a first terminal of the second switch K2 is connected to a second terminal of the first resistor R1, the first terminal of the first resistor R1 is electrically connected to the first terminal of the sixth capacitor C6, and the second terminal of the sixth capacitor C6 is electrically connected to the output terminal OUT. By adjusting the resistance value of the first resistor R1, the radio frequency performance of the first switching unit 40, such as insertion loss, noise figure, and input/output reflection coefficient, for passive attenuation of signals can be adjusted.

The operation of the amplifier 100 of the present application will be described with reference to the example of fig. 2. The amplifier 100 includes a plurality of input channels, exemplified by the input channel IN which the input terminal IN1 is located: an input signal (for example, a radio frequency signal obtained at an antenna) is amplified by an amplifying module formed by a first switching element m1_1 and a second switching element M2 of the amplifying unit 30 and then transmitted to an output terminal OUT of the output unit 20;

when passive attenuation of an input signal is required, the third switch K3 is turned on, the second switch K2 is turned on, the first switch k1_1 is turned on, the fourth switch K4 is turned off to turn off the second switch unit 50, the first signal source Vbias1 outputs a low-level signal to turn off the first switch element m1_1, the first signal source Vbias1 outputs a low-level signal to turn off the second switch element M2, and the input signal is transmitted to the output end OUT through a T-type attenuation circuit (consisting of the first switch k1_1, the second switch K2 and the third switch K3), the fourth capacitor C4 and the sixth capacitor C6, so that passive attenuation of the input signal by the first switch unit 40 is realized;

when active attenuation of an input signal is required, the first switch k1_1, the second switch K2 and the third switch K3 can be manually controlled to be turned on, the fourth switch K4 is turned on, the first signal source Vbias1 outputs a low level signal to turn off the first switch element m1_1, the first signal source Vbias1 outputs a low level signal to turn off the second switch element M2, the first signal output port Vg1 outputs a high level first signal to turn on the third switch element M3, the second signal output port Vg2 outputs a high level second signal to turn on the fourth switch element M4, and the input signal is transmitted to the output terminal OUT through the T-type attenuation circuit (composed of the first switch k1_1, the fourth switch K4 and the third switch K3), the fifth capacitor C5, the third switch unit M3, the fourth switch unit M4 and the sixth capacitor C6, so that active attenuation of the input signal by the second switch unit 50 is realized.

It should be understood that the above described operation is for ease of understanding only and is not intended to be limiting in any way in the embodiments of the present application.

In summary, in the amplifier of the embodiment of the present application, since the amplifying unit is capable of amplifying the input signal received by the input unit and transmitting the amplified input signal to the output unit, the amplifier may implement the function of amplifying the radio frequency signal when the input signal is a radio frequency signal; the first switch unit can be manually controlled to be in an on state when the second switch unit is in an off state so as to transmit an input signal to the output unit, and the second switch unit can be manually controlled to be in an on state when the first switch unit is in an off state so as to transmit the input signal to the output unit based on the intensity of the input signal being larger than a preset threshold value, so that the first switch unit and the second switch unit in the amplifier can be used as required, and the second switch unit can be turned off when the amplifier is applied to an application scene requiring attenuation through a passive signal, and the first switch unit is turned on so as to meet corresponding requirements by using the first switch unit; when the amplifier is applied to an application scene requiring attenuation through an active signal, the first switch unit can be turned off, and the second switch unit can be turned on, so that the corresponding requirement is met by the second switch unit. Therefore, the amplifier of the scheme can better meet different requirements under different application scenes, and has better compatibility.

It should be understood that the various alternative embodiments of the amplifier 100 described above are merely examples for ease of understanding and are not intended to be limiting in any way.

Referring to fig. 5, according to a second aspect of the present application, there is provided a radio frequency circuit 200 comprising: the amplifier 100 of any one of the first aspect. For example, the radio frequency circuit 200 includes, but is not limited to, a radio frequency amplifying circuit, a radio frequency mixing circuit, and the like.

Referring to fig. 6, according to a third aspect of the present application, there is provided an electronic device 300, wherein the electronic device 300 comprises a radio frequency circuit 200 as provided in the second aspect. For example, the electronic device 300 includes, but is not limited to, a portable device such as a cell phone, PAD, or the like.

The term "including" and variations thereof as used herein are intended to be open-ended, i.e., including, but not limited to. The term "based on" is based at least in part on. The term "one embodiment" means "at least one embodiment"; the term "another embodiment" means "at least one additional embodiment"; the term "some embodiments" means "at least some embodiments. It should be noted that the terms "first," "second," and the like herein are merely used for distinguishing between different devices, modules, or units and not for limiting the order or interdependence of the functions performed by such devices, modules, or units. It should be noted that references to "one" or "a plurality" in this application are intended to be illustrative rather than limiting, and those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that "one or more" is intended to be interpreted as "one or more" unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

Other embodiments of the present application will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice. This application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the application following, in general, the principles of the application and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice within the art to which the application pertains. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the application being indicated by the following claims.

Finally, it should be noted that: the above embodiments are only for illustrating the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, and are not limited thereto; although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, it should be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that: the technical scheme described in the foregoing embodiments can be modified or some technical features thereof can be replaced by equivalents; such modifications and substitutions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the corresponding technical solutions.

Claims

1. An amplifier, comprising: the device comprises an input unit, an output unit, an amplifying unit, a first switch unit and a second switch unit;

2. The amplifier of claim 1, further comprising a third switching unit, wherein the first switching unit and the second switching unit are each electrically connected to the third switching unit, and wherein the first switching unit and the second switching unit are each electrically connected to the input unit through the third switching unit.

3. The amplifier of claim 2, wherein the input unit comprises N inputs, the amplifying unit comprises N amplifying modules, each of the N inputs is electrically connected to one amplifying module, a different input is electrically connected to a different amplifying module, the amplifying modules are configured to amplify an input signal received by the input and transmit the amplified signal to the output unit, wherein N is a positive integer and N is greater than or equal to 2;

the third switch unit comprises at least N first switches, the first end of each first switch in the N first switches is electrically connected with one input end, the second end of each first switch is electrically connected with the first switch unit and the second switch unit, and different first switches are electrically connected with different input ends.

4. The amplifier according to claim 3, wherein the amplifying unit includes a second switching element and N first switching elements, each of the N first switching elements being electrically connected to the second switching element to constitute N amplifying modules.

5. The amplifier of any of claims 1-4, wherein the first switching unit comprises a second switch and a third switch, a first end of the second switch being electrically connected to the output unit, a second end of the second switch being electrically connected to a first end of the third switch, a second end of the third switch being grounded;

The input unit is electrically connected to an electrical connection line between the second end of the second switch and the first end of the third switch.

6. The amplifier of claim 5, further comprising a fourth switch having a first end electrically connected to an electrical connection between a second end of the second switch and a first end of the third switch, the second end of the fourth switch being electrically connected to the second switching unit.

7. The amplifier according to claim 6, wherein the second switching unit includes a third switching element and a fourth switching element;

the first end of the third switching element is electrically connected with the second end of the fourth switching element, the second end of the third switching element is grounded, and the first end of the fourth switching element is electrically connected with the output unit;

a third end of the third switching element is electrically connected with a second end of the fourth switch, and the third end of the third switching element is electrically connected with an external first signal port, so as to obtain a first signal for adjusting the on or off state of the third switching element from the first signal port;

The third end of the fourth switching element is electrically connected with an external second signal port so as to obtain a second signal for adjusting the on or off state of the fourth switching element from the second signal port.

8. The amplifier of claim 7, further comprising a first capacitor electrically connected between the second and third ends of the third switching element.

9. The amplifier of claim 5, further comprising a first resistor, wherein the first end of the second switch is electrically connected to the output unit through the first resistor.

10. A radio frequency circuit, comprising: an amplifier as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. An electronic device, comprising: comprising the radio frequency circuit of claim 10.