ES2252445T3 - ANTENNA INTERFACE UNIT. - Google Patents

Abstract

A ferro-electric tunable duplexer is provided, integrated with one or more of the following parts: a power amplifier, an isolator, a diplexer, a low noise amplifier and an antenna matching circuit. More specifically, in addition to adding F-E tunability, one or more of the above components is integrated with the duplexer on one substrate. The components are integrated on one substrate either by placing each component, with the appropriate matching circuit directly on the substrate, or by direct fabrication of the component and matching circuit into or onto the substrate.

Description

Antenna interface unit.

Background

Wireless communication devices, such such as, but not limited to, phones without threads, use many electronic components to transmit and Receive signals over the air. A transceiver is part of a Wireless phone that really sends and receives signals. The extreme The front of a transceiver is the part of the transceiver closest to the air interface in the signal path. The extreme front includes an antenna and various components near the antenna in the signal path. Many of the components required at the front end of the transceiver are amplifiers of power (PA - Power amplifiers), disconnectors, amplifiers Low noise (LNA) and multiplexers. Each of these components is typically manufactured as devices packed. In the case of a power amplifier or a low noise amplifier, this package typically includes the active device and internal input and output circuits that are coupled to bring the input and output resistors to The industry standard of 50 ohms.

In a common embodiment, the amplifier of power comprises a field effect transistor (FET - Faithful high-performance transistor) (for example, GaAs) placed on ceramics or another substrate. They can be used other active devices, such as, for example, transistors Bipolar junction (BJT - Bipolar junction transistor) and transistors high electron mobility (HEMT - High electron mobility transistors). The adaptation circuits can be configured on the ceramic substrate, or they can be manufactured using surface mount technology components with features concentrated (SMT - Surface mount technology). The transistor of Field effect is attached to the substrate of the package, possibly to a hot metal collector, then typically connected to its connection, input and polarization connection points using cables United.

Depending on the requirements, they can also be use multiple power amplifier devices stages This means that an amplifier device Power may include more than one amplification transistor. This It may be necessary for a number of reasons. One possible reason is Produce the required profit. In the case of a device multistage power amplifier, you can also use impedance matching circuits between stages, to the adaptation between the output of a stage and the entrance of the stage next.

The input, output and polarization lines at field effect transistor are routed down to ceramic substrate. After going through the circuits of adaptation, the input and output lines are routed outside from the substrate to the underlying printed circuit board (manufactured in many cases FR-4) through connectors in the power amplifier package. Additionally it can be  required cable connections to connect the connection points from the package to the input, output and polarization lines.

The package additionally includes some kind of packaging (typically polymer) that wraps, in total or in part, the field effect transistor and the ceramic substrate that Holds adaptive circuits. The input cables and output and polarization can be found at the edge of the packaging.

Disconnectors, duplexers, diplexers and Low noise amplifiers (LNA) are manipulated in much of the the same way. As packaged devices, they have their substrates separated with their separate adaptation circuits carrying their input and output impedances at 50 ohms.

Most test equipment radio frequency can only check parts with impedance of approximately 50 ohms Manufacturers and designers typically They want to be able to check each piece separately. Historically, the only way this could be done was if each of the pieces had input and output impedances of approximately 50 ohms For this reason, pieces such as power amplifiers and low noise amplifiers, by For example, they have typically been manufactured with impedances equal to approximately 50 ohms This has required the use of extensive input and output adaptation circuits for many of these pieces.

A duplexer is one of the components main front end of a transceiver. The duplexer It has three ports (a port is an input or an output). A port is coupled to the antenna. A second port is coupled to The transmission signal path of the transceiver. He duplexer couples the transmission path to the antenna, of so that the transmitted signal can be transmitted in the antenna.

A third port is coupled to the path of reception of the transceiver. The antenna couples the antenna to the reception path, so that the received signal can be received by the reception path of the transceiver.

An important function of the duplexer is section the signal transmitted from the reception path of the transceiver. The transmitted signal is typically much more Strong than the signal received. Some of the transmitted signal inherently lowers the reception path. But this signal transmitted that lowers the reception path must be greatly reduced (or attenuated). Otherwise, the signal transmitted that lowers the reception path will download, or over cover, the received signal. Then the wireless phone does not will be able to identify or decode the signal received by the Username.

An antenna interface is described in the US 5,973,568 (Motorola Inc.) of October 26, 1999 (26.10.1999). The antenna interface comprises a multiplexer, a power amplifier and an adaptation circuit of the power amplifier coupled between the multiplexer and the Power amplifier.

Another antenna interface is described in the US 5,652,599 (Qualcomm, Incorporated) of July 29, 1997 (29.07.1997). The antenna interface comprises a first multiplexer, a diplexer and an adaptive circuit coupled between the diplexer and the multiplexer.

Tunable filters with capacitors Ferroelectric are described in EP 843374A (Sharp Kabushii Kaisha) of April 9, 2003 (09.04.2003) and WO 00/35042 (Paratek Microwave, Inc.) of June 15, 2000 (06.15.2000).

The required attenuation of the signal from transmission that lowers the reception path is achieved with some cost The duplexer also attenuates the transmission signal which passes to the antenna for transmission. It is attenuation in the Transmission signal that goes to the antenna is known as lost. It will be beneficial to reduce the loss of the trajectory of Transmission in the duplexer.

Additionally, the duplexer should typically generally perform the attenuation of the reception trajectory of The transmission signal. Consumers continuously request smaller and smaller wireless phones with more and more Features and better features. Therefore, it will be beneficial to reduce the size of the duplexer while maintaining or the attenuation of the transmission signal in the path is improved of reception and simultaneously it maintains or improves the loss of the transmission signal to the antenna.

Summary

The transceivers represent a significant part of the cost, size and power consumption of the devices Wireless communication The front end, including antennas, Duplexers, diplexers, disconnectors, amplifiers power, low noise amplifiers and their adaptive circuits they represent a significant part of the cost, size and consumption of transceiver power It would be beneficial to reduce the cost, size and power consumption of these pieces, individually and jointly.

Briefly, the present invention provides a integrated tunable ferroelectric duplexer with one or more of The other pieces. This combination is referred to here as the unit of antenna interface. More specifically, in addition to adding the ferroelectric tuning capacity, the present invention integrates one or more of the above components in a substrate. The components are integrated into a substrate both placing each component, with the appropriate adaptation circuit directly in the substrate, such as by direct manufacturing of the component and of the adaptation circuit in or on the substrate.

For example, in the case of the integration of power amplifier, disconnector and duplexer, the active power amplifier device (for example, the GaAs field effect transistor) is placed directly on the common substrate. As part of the integration of the components, the adaptation circuits for the components may be configured or placed in the common substrate. Circuits of adaptation for the power amplifier will be set or placed in this substrate. The disconnector, if used, can be manufactured directly on this common substrate or mounted as separate component.

The adaptation circuit between the disconnector and The duplexer will be configured or manufactured in the substrate. He disconnector will have its union configured in this substrate, with the ferrite stick, magnet and protection placed on it.

For the purpose of integration, you can prefer a tape line duplexer since it uses the substrate common as one half of each resonator. Additionally, its length It is shorter than a corresponding micro-tape embodiment. Whatever type of duplexer is used, any tuning and adaptation capacitor will be set in the common substrate. It will be understood that the same kind of integration is can be carried out for the adaptation circuits of the Low noise amplifiers, diplexer and antenna. If a loss minimum is a key requirement for a bandpass filter of a power amplifier (BPF - Band-Pass Filter), duplexer or multiplexer, then you should use a low loss substrate as is known by those experts in The technique.

The topology of the adaptation circuits will be typical adaptation circuit topologies with two exceptions key: (1) will be integrated with the other parts and circuits of adaptation in the common substrate and (2) may comprise components tunable ferroelectric, although not everyone needs to understand tunable ferroelectric components. Circuits of adaptation of the power amplifier and disconnector typically they will be pi adaptation circuits (capacitor in shunt, series inductors or micro tape lines, capacitor in derivation). The disconnector typically uses reactive circuits in series or in derivation. The diplexer adaptation circuits and the duplexer will typically be simply capacitors of serial input and output. The antenna adaptation circuit it will be a pi or T circuit, with staggered inductance-capacitance that create a circuit of higher order adaptation. Preferably, the duplexer will be as claimed in US 2002/0163400 (Toncich) of 7 November 2002 (07.11.2002).

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 is a block diagram of a side view of an antenna interface unit.

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a Adaptation circuit of a power amplifier.

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a Adaptation circuit of an expanded power amplifier.

Figure 4A is a schematic diagram of a adaptation circuit of a multi power amplifier bands.

Figure 4B is a schematic diagram of another adaptation circuit of a multi power amplifier bands.

Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a disconnector and its three adaptation circuits.

Figure 6A is a schematic diagram of a Adaptation circuit of a low noise amplifier.

Figure 6B is a graph of the figure of the Noise response from a low noise amplifier.

Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of a adaptive circuit of an antenna.

Figure 8 is a block diagram of a antenna interface unit.

Figure 9 is a block diagram of a antenna interface unit.

Figure 10 is a block diagram of a antenna interface unit.

Figure 11 is a block diagram of a antenna interface unit.

Figure 12 is a block diagram of a antenna interface unit.

Figure 13 is a block diagram of a antenna interface unit.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiments

With reference now to figure 1, it is represented an integrated antenna interface unit (AIU - Antenna interface unit) 12. Although a duplexer is represented, as is common in a multi-access handset by code differentiation (CDMA - Code division multiple access), can also be used to a multiplexor. While the following description specifies through of it a duplexer, it should be understood that a multiplexer or a Band pass filter can replace the duplexer. A unit of power amplifier 20, a disconnector unit 24 and a duplexer 28 are all fixed to common substrate 16, eliminating the need for individual substrates for each of these components.

The substrate is preferably made of a carefully selected material. The substrate parameters that are typically critical are the dielectric constant, the tangent of loss angle, thermal properties, cost and the ease of processing. Typically, the constant dielectric should be less than about 40 and the tangent of the angle of losses should be less than about 0.001 in The frequency range of interest. A low loss substrate It will be more expensive than a high loss substrate. A designer frequently you must seek balance between aspects of cost and behavioral parameters such as losses. Additionally, the losses of the metal. You must choose a substrate that can accommodate a metal of low losses

The advantages of component integration with a multiplexer include: (1) reduction of overall losses associated with the integrated device compared to those that they would appear using separate pieces, thereby making more easy to meet specifications; (2) reduction of the footprint of the Tx chain in the subsystem; (3) reduction of the number of pieces global, specifically in terms of manufacturing a wireless communication device; (4) cost reduction due to packaging and a small number of pieces; (5) integration of tunable ferroelectric components with lower added losses and taking up less space than if introduced as components of individual elements concentrated.

An amplifier adaptation circuit of power to disconnector 41, arranged in the substrate 16, couples the power amplifier unit to disconnector unit 24. An adaptation circuit from disconnector to duplexer 44, arranged on the substrate 16, attach the disconnector to the duplexer.

Preferably, a disconnector is used, but it's optional. If a disconnector is not used, it will be understood that the disconnector is removed and the amplifier adaptation circuit of power to the disconnector and the circuit breaker adaptation circuit to the duplexer they are replaced by an adaptation circuit of the power amplifier to the duplexer. There are two reasons main reasons why a designer will choose the use of a disconnector in a project as described here. The reasons are: (1) provide a certain load impedance to device that precedes the disconnector (in this case the amplifier of power); and (2) prevent signals from spreading back not desired in the device that precedes the disconnector (in this case the power amplifier). The unwanted signals that are propagate back to the power amplifier cause the creation of an unacceptable mix or distortion, or both, that can do Unacceptable global design.

As is well known in the art, there are many cases in which the disconnector can be removed. This is true when: (1) the power amplifier can present a acceptable load under operating conditions; or (2) the disconnector can be replaced by a coupler or device suitable passive hybrid that reduces the effect of propagation Inverse of the power in the desired signal path. Passive couplers or passive hybrid couplers can be implant more easily by direct manufacturing in the substrate as outlined in this application.

This particular configuration of the unit antenna interface 12 is represented and described in detail with the purpose only to be an example and an illustration. The antenna interface unit 12 may not include an amplifier power 20 or a disconnector 24. As more generally described with reference to figures 8-13, the unit of antenna interface always has a tunable multiplexer and some another component in a common substrate. Apart from that, there are many possible components that can be integrated with the multiplexer to form the antenna interface unit. The amplifier of power and the disconnector are just two examples.

In addition, the power amplifier may include Multiple active devices. This is called an amplifier of multi-stage power The discussion will be done in terms of a active device, but those skilled in the art will understand that this discussion can be applied to power amplifiers of multiple stages

Since the adaptation circuits and components are in a common substrate 16, adapting the impedance does not have to be the industry standard of 50 ohms. In change, the impedance adaptation can be from the natural output impedance, Zo, from one component to the Natural input impedance, Zi, of the following component.

For example, with reference again to the figure 1, if the power amplifier unit 20 has an impedance output of approximately 2.5 ohms and disconnector unit 24 It has an input impedance of approximately 12.5 ohms, the adaptation circuit from the power amplifier to the disconnector 41 will adapt the impedance from 2.5 ohms in the unit of power amplifier 20 to 12.5 ohms in the unit disconnector 24. This contrasts with the prior art. In the prior art, the power amplifier unit typically would have its own substrate and the disconnector unit would have typically its own substrate. The amplifier unit of power would have its own adaptation circuit which would adapt from the power amplifier output (for example, 2.5 ohms) up to 50 ohms The disconnector unit would have its own circuit of adaptation which would adapt from 50 ohms down to the disconnector (for example, 12.5 ohms). There will be an additional loss. in the signal in this adaptation up to 50 ohms from 2.5 ohms and back down to 12.5 ohms from 50 ohms.

An additional advantage in adapting from the natural output impedance of a device to the impedance of natural input of another device is that, often, you can use a simpler typology of the adaptation network when Zo and Zi are closer in value than they are from the norm of 50 ohms industry, for example. One more adaptation network simple will result in fewer added variations due to variations of the components of those that occur in a network more complex. In the limit where, for example, Zo = Zi, I don't know needs adaptive network between adjacent devices in the signal path In the prior art, each device It is typically adapted to the industry standard of 50 ohms.

With reference again to Figure 1, the Duplexer 28 is a tunable low loss duplexer, such as is described in US 2002/0163400 (Toncich) of 7 of November 2002 (07.11.2002). Such ferroelectric components as ferroelectric capacitors are used to tune the duplexer

The integrated antenna interface unit has significantly less transmission path losses than the non-integrated transmission chains. The components integrated, the power amplifier for example, eliminate dissipative connections, which are described in the US document 2002/0175878 (Kyocera Wireless Corp.) of November 28, 2002 (28.11.2002). Specifically, the electrical connection is removed between the power amplifier substrate and the common substrate. In the prior art, the power amplifier is typically manufactured in its own substrate. When a communication device, incorporating an amplifier power, an electrical connection must be made between the substrate of the power amplifier and the common substrate. Anyone that be the way this is achieved, by mounting technology surface (SMT), hand welding, wire bonding, or some other connection procedure, connection losses are added. Mounting the power amplifier directly on the substrate common, these losses are avoided.

With reference now to figure 2, it is represented a power amplifier adaptation circuit 48. A Power amplifier 50 has an input 52 and an output 54. In A preferred embodiment, the outlet 54 is coupled to the first capacitor 56. The first capacitor 56 is also grounded. The output 54 is also coupled to an inductive element 58. The inductive element 58 may be an element inductor concentrate, a micro tape line, or any other element inductive known in the art. The inductive element 58 is also coupled to a second capacitor 60. The junction between the inductive element 58 and the second capacitor 60 forms at the output 65 of the adaptation circuit 48 of the power amplifier. The output 54 of power amplifier 50 is also coupled to A polarization circuit. The polarization circuit typically comprises an inductor 68, a third capacitor 71 and a voltage source 74.

Another example of circuit typology of adaptation is represented in figure 3. The circuit of adaptation 72 is similar to adaptation circuit 48 represented in Figure 2, except that the adaptation circuit 72 in the Figure 3 has an additional inductive element 74 and a capacitor additional 76. Also, output 78 of this adaptation circuit 72 is at the junction of the inductor element 74 and the capacitor 76. Any or all inductive and capacitive components can Be tunable.

Those skilled in the art will understand that they can use different adaptation circuit topologies to implement the amplifier adaptation circuit of power. In general a more complex adaptation circuit will allow greater control in adaptation at the expense of losses insertion loss (I.L. Insertion loss) due to the component finite Q, as well as a higher cost and an increased space of the card.

With reference again to Figure 1, the power amplifier is placed directly on the substrate 16 and the adaptation circuit described with reference to Figure 2 It is manufactured directly on the substrate 16. The capacitors they can be manufactured directly in the substrate 16 as interdigital capacitors, iron capacitors or overlay capacitors, as is known in the art. Manufacturing the power amplifier unit 20, the circuit of adaptation of the power amplifier to disconnector 41 and the disconnector unit 24 directly on the same substrate 16, it prevent connection losses, in addition to losses described above resulting from adaptation impedances up and back down from 50 Ohms. In the prior art, the separate substrates for the power amplifier unit and the disconnector unit should be electrically connected and mechanically to a common substrate or card. There are losses associated with the connection of these additional substrates. Finally, there is an additional loss in the power line that connect the separated substrates on the common substrate or card. Combining the power amplifier and the disconnector in one common substrate are removed or significantly reduced these losses.

With reference again to Figure 2, the Capacitors 56 and 60 can be tunable, using materials Low loss tunable ferroelectric and procedures as described in documents US 2002/0163400 (Toncich) of 7 November 2002 (07.11.2002) and US 2002/0175878 (Kyocera Wireless Corp.) of November 28, 2002 (28.11.2002). This will even further reduce losses, providing a Optimal impedance adaptation. The adaptation circuits represented in figures 2 and 3 are used to adapt a single band, such as the band of services Personal communications (PCS - Personal communication services), or the cell band. Currently, these adaptation circuits they can achieve a tuning capacity of at least the fifteen%.

This allows tuning even above various bands of personal communications services international, such as from the band of services personal communications from India to the band of personal communications services of the United States. For tune in to a wider frequency, for example, from the band of personal communications services of the States United at approximately 1900 MHz to the cell band of the United States at approximately 800 MHz, the adaptation circuit from the power amplifier to the disconnector you have to have a increased tuning capacity

To tune a power amplifier over more than one band of personal communications services, the input adaptation circuit may also need to be Tuned. If tuning the adaptation circuit of Entry is necessary or cannot be determined on a case by case basis. In this case the same technique that is used for the circuit is used output adaptation.

An increased tuning capacity is achieved by adding electromechanical micro switches
(MEMS - micro-electro-mechanical switches) to the adaptation circuit. Referring now to Figure 4A, an adaptation circuit of the multi-band power amplifier 31 is shown. The adaptation circuit 31 is similar to that of Figure 2, except that various additional components have been added, with the capacity of switching those components outside and inside circuit 31 with the electromechanical micro switches. The output 75 of a power amplifier 33 is coupled, as in Figure 2, to a first capacitor 37 and a first inductive element 39. The first inductive element 39 is coupled to a second capacitor 43. But here, output 35 of the Power amplifier 33 is also coupled to a first electromechanical micro switch 45 to selectively couple a third capacitor 47. The first inductive element 39 and the second capacitor 43 are also coupled to a second electromechanical micro switch 80 to selectively couple a fourth capacitor 83. These switches 45 and 80 and capacitors 47 and 83 change the capacitance of the adaptation circuit
31.

Additionally, the first inductive element 39 is coupled at each end to the micro switches electromechanical 86 and 89 to selectively couple a second inductive element 92. These switches 86 and 89 and the element inductive 92 change the inductance of the adaptation circuit 31. Thus, the adaptation circuit 31 can be used to adapt power amplifier 33 for use in any band, cell phone or personal communications services. Be understand that the techniques and those of the devices described here they can be used to adapt other bands other than cell bands and communications services personal Cell bands and those of the services of Personal communications are chosen as examples. I also know understand that other types of circuit circuits can be chosen adaptation.

With reference again to Figure 4A, represents a power amplifier adaptation circuit multi-band 31 which is similar to the adaptation circuit of the single band power amplifier described with reference to figure 2. As said the adaptation circuit of the multi-band power amplifier 93 has the advantage of which can be tuned over a wider range of frequencies, due to the addition of electromechanical micro switches 86, 89, 45 and 80 and the components that accompany them. Capacitors tunable 37 and 43 and the tunable reactive element 39 is they can use for precise tuning on a band of specific frequency The specific band is selected by the electromechanical micro switches 86, 89, 45 and 80.

In addition to electromechanical micro switches 86, 89, 45 and 80, the amplifier adaptation circuit of multi-band power 93 has additional capacitors 47 and 83 and an additional reactive element 92. Capacitor 83 is connected in series with capacitor 43 and in series with 80 electromechanical micro switch. When you want to switch to another band, such as for example another band of the services of personal communications, the micro switch is activated electromechanical 80, coupling capacitor 83 to capacitor 43 and to reactive element 39 to change the circuit impedance of adaptation 93. Similarly, the electromechanical micro switch 45 can be activated to couple capacitor 47 to capacitor 37 and to reactive element 39 to change the impedance of the circuit of adaptation 93. Also similarly, the micro switches electromechanical 86 and 89 can be activated to couple the element reagent 92 in parallel to reagent component 39 to change the impedance of the adaptation circuit 93.

An alternative configuration of the components reagents 92 and 39 and of the electromechanical micro-switches 86 and 89 is depicted in Figure 4B. In Figure 4B the Electromechanical micro switches 86 and 89 are coupled to the reactive elements 92 and 39 such that only one of the reactive elements 92 and 39 is coupled to capacitors 37 and 43. Reactive element 39 can be disconnected from the circuit, from so that it disconnects at both ends, while in the Figure 4A, the reactive element 39 is always coupled to the circuit in capacitors 37 and 43. Reactive element 92 is only connect and disconnect from the circuit. It will be noted that in both Figures 4A and 4B any of the elements 92, 39, 47, 37, 83 and 43 It can be tuned. At least one is tunable, but so Only one, or all of them, can be tunable.

For handset applications, the electromechanical micro switches described here must have the lower practical losses, for example a resistance to direct current less than about 0.01 ohms. The switching speed is not critical as long as it is less than about 1.0 meters / second. Obviously others applications may require other critical specifications in the electromechanical micro switches.

With reference now to Figure 5, it will be described then a circuit breaker adaptation circuit. A port input 97 is coupled to a power amplifier (no represented), to a first impedance element 99 and a second impedance element 101. The impedance elements first and second 99 and 101 form an input adaptation circuit for the disconnector 95. The second impedance element 101 is coupled to ground and the first impedance element 99 is coupled to switch 95 to transmit a signal from an amplifier of power (not shown) to switch 95. Both elements of impedance, first and second, can be tunable components ferroelectric, as described in US 2002/0175878 (Kyocera Wireless Corp.) of November 28, 2002 (28.11.2002).

An output of disconnector 95 is coupled to a third impedance element 103, which is coupled to a fourth impedance element 105. The impedance elements third and fourth 103 and 105 together form an adaptation circuit output and an output port 107 for disconnector 95. The Output port 107 is coupled to a duplexer (pictured). Both third and fourth impedance elements can be tunable ferroelectric components, as described in the US 2002/0175878 (Kyocera Wireless Corp.) of 28 of November 2002 (28.11.2002).

A port of the disconnector 104, is coupled to a impedance element 109. Impedance element 109 is coupled to another impedance element 115 and a resistor 118. Together impedance elements 109 and 115 and resistance 118 They comprise a circuit breaker adaptation circuit.

One skilled in the art will understand that input, output and disconnector adaptation circuits described with reference to figures 5 using sections of "L" adaptation are illustrative only. They can be used other typologies for these adaptation circuits, such as by example, inductance-capacitance circuits in parallel, "T", or Pi networks, as described in US document 2002/0175878 (Kyocera Wireless Corp.) of November 28, 2002 (28.11.2002).

Advantageously, each of the elements of impedance 99, 101, 103, 105, 109 and 115 are preferably formed directly on the common substrate described with reference to Figure 1. This reduces the losses associated with the connection of separate units to the substrate, reduce costs and eliminate need to adopt components up to 50 ohms of the standard of the industry.

With respect to the power amplifier, its characteristic output impedance for access handsets multiple by code differentiation is typically approximately 2-4 ohms near the output power level maximum required for it. The characteristic impedance of disconnector is typically about 8-12 ohms Filters can be designed with input impedance and output that can assume a wide range of values. Since the Duplexers and diplexers are mainly manufactured from filters, may be designed to allow a wide range of input and output impedances. Therefore, they can be designed to fit any impedance that is convenient Based on the rest of the circuit.

With reference now to Figure 6A, will describe below an adaptation circuit of Low noise amplifiers 117 preferred. An entry port 118 is coupled to a first inductor 121 and a capacitor 124. The capacitor is coupled to a second inductor 127. The second inductor 127 is coupled to a third inductor, 130 and a low noise amplifier 133.

The adaptation circuits will be used to adapt the impedance between the various pieces to avoid or reduce power losses in the signal traveling from a piece to the other. For bass amplifier applications Noise, there is another purpose. The amplifier applications of low noise, networks or circuits transforming the impedance are mainly used to maintain an adaptation of the optimum noise impedance between the signal source of input and active device chosen for the amplifier low noise In fixed tuning circuits, the adaptation of the Optimum noise impedance is obtained at a frequency and depends both the temperature and the variations of the components. In the tunable circuit approach described here, the Optimal noise impedance adaptation can be performed adjustable to cover multiple bands or more frequency range wide of what is possible in the case of fixed tuning. A added advantage when using tunable components is the ability to compensate for temperature variations.

The introduction of ferroelectric components or well other tunable components allows flexibility Increased design of low noise amplifiers. At conventional design using fixed elements, usually It can compensate for the optimum noise figure and maximum gain. With tunable components, cases in which the Input adaptation circuit can be varied from a figure of  Minimum noise and maximum gain, as desired.

An optimal noise figure will now be described tunable with reference to figure 6B. Figure 6B is a graph showing the noise figure 120 plotted in relation to the frequency 122. Typically, such as in a device of wireless communication of multiple access by differentiation of code, there will be a maximum noise figure 126 specified for a given design of a low noise amplifier. Noise figure specified maximum is represented as a dashed line horizontal 126. A curve representing a digit number response of Typical noise 128 is represented as a continuous curve. The line typically, the low noise amplifier and its circuits adaptation will be designed in such a way that the response of the noise figure 128 is below the maximum noise figure 126 a an operating frequency, f_ {0} 130. A circuit of Tuning tuning low noise amplifier allows Low noise amplifier noise figure response 128 be tuned above the frequency. The answer of the tuned noise figure 132 and 134 is represented by two dashed curves in a similar way to that of the answer of the typical noise figure 128. Tuning the response of the noise figure at 132 and 134, you can make the response of the noise figure is below the maximum noise figure 126 a alternative operating frequencies f_ {1} 138 and f_ {2} 140. It will be understood that f_ {138} and f_ {140} are chosen as representative frequencies only. The answer of the figure of Noise can be tuned over a wide range of frequencies. Additionally, one skilled in the art will understand that they can add electromechanical micro switches to the adaptation circuit of the low noise amplifier to further expand the range of capabilities tuning the response of the figure of noise.

With reference now to Figure 7, it will be described then a preferred antenna adaptation circuit based on a multi-access handset by code differentiation. An antenna 136 is coupled to a first inductor 139 and a second inductor 142. The first inductor 139 preferably it has an inductance equal to about 8.2 nH. The second inductor 142 preferably has an inductance equal to approximately 3.9 nH.

The second inductor 142 is coupled to a first capacitor 145 and a second capacitor 148. The first capacitor 145 preferably it has a capacitance equal to about 0.5 pF. The second capacitor 148 preferably has a capacitance equal to approximately 2.7 pF. It will be understood that they can be use other component values and other typologies of adaptation circuits

One side of the second capacitor forms a port of input and output 149 for the antenna adaptation circuit for coupling to a duplexer (not shown), diplexer (not represented), multiplexer (not represented) or other types of filter (not shown).

The antenna adaptation circuit typically it will be a pi or T circuit with a scaling of inductance-capacitance that make it an order higher. This provides more tolerance for the variation of the impedance. Typically, the antenna of a system will be adapted to 50 ohms However, there may be an ideal impedance for a antenna given that it is different from 50 ohms, although 50 ohms is common for test devices.

For example, an antenna commonly used to wireless communication devices can have a input impedance of 30 ohms. As mentioned previously, the power amplifier can have a output impedance of approximately 2 ohms. The disconnector can have an output impedance of approximately 12.5 ohms. The Diplexer and duplexer filters can easily accommodate a wide range of impedances.

Therefore, the amplifier adaptation of power to the disconnector is from about 2 ohms in the power amplifier up to about 12.5 ohms in the disconnector The adaptation of the disconnector to the duplexer is from approximately 12.5 ohms to approximately 12.5 ohms. He Duplexer is approximately 12.5 ohms. Therefore, the adaptation of the duplexer to the diplexer is approximately 12.5 up to 12.5 ohms The inputs and outputs of the diplexer and duplexers are approximately at the same impedance, for example approximately 12.5 ohms The diplexer adaptation circuit to the antenna can be for an adaptation from approximately 12.5 ohms on the diplexer up to about 30 ohms on the antenna. Every one of these adaptation circuits, in addition to the diplexer and the Duplexer can be tunable ferroelectric.

As mentioned before with reference to the Figure 1, it will be understood that a common substrate can include many different combinations of the pieces mentioned before. In a embodiment, as shown in Figure 8, a common substrate 152 includes a duplexer 154, a disconnector 156, an amplifier of power 157 and the required adaptation circuits (no represented). In another embodiment, as depicted in the Figure 9, a common substrate 160 includes an adaptation circuit of the antenna 163, a diplexer 166 and a duplexer 169. In still another embodiment, as shown in Figure 10, a common substrate 172 includes an antenna adaptation circuit 175, a diplexer 178 and two duplexers 181 and 184. In still another embodiment, as is depicted in figure 11, a common substrate 186 includes a antenna adaptation circuit 188, a diplexer 190, two 192 and 194 duplexers, two 194 and 196 disconnectors, two 198 and 200 power amplifiers and two bass amplifiers noise 202 and 204. In another embodiment, as depicted in the Figure 12, a common substrate 206 includes everything mentioned above with reference to figure 11, except the adaptation circuit of antenna 188. In another embodiment, as shown in the figure 13, a common substrate includes everything mentioned above with reference to figure 10, except the adaptation circuit of the antenna 175.

The integration of an amplifier module power, disconnector and duplexer for a TX access chain Multiple code differentiation eliminates the requirement that each individual device must be adapted to 50 ohms in the entry and exit. Allowing an impedance adaptation more gradual (from about 2 ohms to about 30 ohms in the given example) the induced losses of adaptation. Additionally, tunable components ferroelectrics are exposed to a radio frequency voltage lower, for a given power.

The reduced radiofrequency voltage, for a given power, reduces nonlinear distortion because the films Ferroelectrics are typically not linear. Alternatively, a ferroelectric component may be subject to a power increased while maintaining an acceptable level of distortion not linear. Therefore, the design of integrated components that operate at lower input and output impedances allows the ferroelectric components are incorporated into applications in those that require higher power levels than those that are possible with ferroelectric components adapted to the standard of 50 ohms industry

Manufacturing in a common substrate additionally reduces the losses that appear naturally when the components involved are packaged and assembled individually on a printed circuit board.

Reducing the losses of the Tx chain can be more easily meet the specifications of the Tx chain. This means that you can relax the specifications for one or More pieces involved. For example, you can relax the Specifications of the power amplifier or other part high value A high value piece is a piece with one or more of the following characteristics: high cost, high benefits, high level of difficulty in meeting specifications such as gain, output power, stability, ACPR, overheating and repeatability of unit a unity.

Since the amplifier specifications of power, for example, you can relax, there are many Possible benefits For example, the power amplifier can be able to meet specifications while consuming less power. This results in longer talk times or longer standby times or both. In another example, since the losses of the Tx chain are reduced, a manufacturer Wireless handsets may be able to meet the specifications with a power amplifier that has tolerances or less strict requirements. The manufacturer of handsets may be able to choose an amplifier from cheaper power, reducing the cost of handsets without threads. These benefits of reduced losses of the Tx chain they are provided as examples only. Those experts in the technique will understand that other benefits will appear for reduced losses of the Tx chain. Additionally it will be understood that these benefits can be used to improve wireless communication devices in ways other than mentioned here.

Claims (16)

1. Tunable antenna interface unit comprising: a multiplexer (154) provided with a component tunable ferroelectric comprising a capacitor; a substrate mechanically coupled to capacitor; a control line functionally coupled to the tunable ferroelectric component; a control source electrically coupled to the control line, the control source configured for transmit a control signal on the control line; in which the ferroelectric component tunable, sensitive to the control signal, adjusts a frequency resonant of the multiplexer; a power amplifier (157); an output adaptation circuit of the power amplifier coupled between the multiplexer (154) and the power amplifier (157) and provided with a component tunable ferroelectric; in which the multiplexer (154), the amplifier of power (157) and the output adaptation circuit of the Power amplifier are integrated into the substrate; Y in which the output adaptation circuit of the power amplifier adapts the natural output impedance of the power amplifier (157) to the natural input impedance of the multiplexer (154) thereby reducing distortion not linear of the ferroelectric component of the adaptation circuit and allowing operation at higher power levels. 2. The tunable antenna interface unit of claim 1 wherein the adaptation circuit of the power amplifier output, for a signal of approximately 1900 MHz, adapts from an impedance of approximately 2.5 ohms up to an impedance of approximately 10 ohms 3. The tunable antenna interface unit of claim 1 further comprising: a disconnector (156) coupled between the circuit adapting the output of the power amplifier and the multiplexer (154); a circuit breaker adaptation circuit to multiplexer coupled between disconnector (156) and multiplexer (154) and provided with a ferroelectric component; in which the disconnector (156) and the circuit of adaptation of the disconnector to the multiplexer are integrated in the substratum; Y in which the adaptation circuit of the disconnector to multiplexer adapts the natural output impedance from the disconnector (156) to the natural input impedance of the multiplexer (154), thereby reducing nonlinear distortion of the ferroelectric component of the adaptation circuit of the disconnector to the multiplexer and allowing operation to higher power levels. 4. The tunable antenna interface unit of claim 3 wherein the adaptation circuit of the disconnector to the multiplexer, for a signal of approximately 1900 MHz, adapts from an impedance of approximately 10 ohms in the disconnector output up to an impedance of approximately 10 ohms at the input of the multiplexer. 5. Tunable antenna interface unit comprising: a first multiplexer (192) provided with a tunable ferroelectric component comprising a capacitor
tor; a substrate mechanically coupled to capacitor; a control line functionally coupled to the tunable ferroelectric component; a control source electrically coupled to the control line, the control source configured for transmit a control signal on the control line;

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in which the ferroelectric component tunable, sensitive to the control signal, adjusts a frequency resonant of the multiplexer; a diplexer (190); an adaptation circuit of the diplexer to the first multiplexer coupled between the diplexer (190) and the first multiplexer (192) and provided with a ferroelectric component tunable; in which the first multiplexer (192), the diplexer (190) and the diplexer adaptation circuit to the first multiplexers are integrated into the substrate; Y in which the diplexer adaptation circuit to the first multiplexer adapts the natural impedance of the diplexer (190) to the natural impedance of the first multiplexer (192) thereby reducing the nonlinear distortion of the component ferroelectric of the diplexer adaptation circuit to the first multiplexer and allowing operation at power levels Taller. 6. The tunable antenna interface unit of claim 5 wherein the diplexer (10) comprises a tunable ferroelectric component. 7. The tunable antenna interface unit of claim 6 and further comprising a second multiplexer (14) integrated in the substrate. 8. The tunable antenna interface unit of claim 7 wherein the first multiplexer (192) is configured to transmit and receive duplex signals in a band of personal communications services and in which the second multiplexer (194) is configured to transmit and receive signals Duplex in a cell band. 9. The tunable antenna interface unit of claim 7 and further comprising: a first power amplifier (198) a first disconnector (194); an adaptation circuit of the first amplifier of power to the first disconnector coupled between the first power amplifier (198) and the first disconnector (194) and provided with a tunable ferroelectric component; an adaptation circuit of the first disconnector to the first multiplexer coupled between the first disconnector (194) and the first multiplexer (192) provided with a ferroelectric component tunable; in which the first power amplifier (198), the first disconnector (194), the adaptation circuit of the first power amplifier to the first disconnector and circuit of adaptation of the first disconnector to the first multiplexer are integrated into the substrate; Y in which the adaptation circuit of the first power amplifier to the first disconnector adapts the impedance natural of the first power amplifier (198) to the impedance natural of the first disconnector (194), thereby reducing the non-linear distortion of the ferroelectric component of the circuit adaptation of the first power amplifier to the first disconnector and allowing operation at power levels Taller; Y in which the adaptation circuit of the first disconnector to the first multiplexer adapts the natural impedance of the first disconnector (194) to the natural impedance of the first multiplexer (192), thereby reducing nonlinear distortion of the ferroelectric component of the adaptation circuit of the first disconnector to the first multiplexer and allowing operation to higher power levels. 10. The tunable antenna interface unit of claim 9 and further comprising: a second power amplifier (200) a second disconnector (196); an adaptation circuit of the second power amplifier to the second disconnector coupled between the second power amplifier (200) and the second disconnector (196) and provided with a tunable ferroelectric component; an adaptation circuit of the second disconnector to the second multiplexer coupled between the second disconnector (196) and the second multiplexer (194) provided with a component tunable ferroelectric; in which the second power amplifier (200), the second disconnector (196), the adaptation circuit of the second power amplifier to the second disconnector and the adaptation circuit from the second switch to the second multiplexers are integrated into the substrate; Y in which the adaptation circuit of the second power amplifier to the second disconnector adapts the natural impedance of the second power amplifier (200) to the natural impedance of the second disconnector (196), reducing from that nonlinear distortion mode of the ferroelectric component of the adaptation circuit of the second power amplifier to second disconnector and allowing operation at levels of higher power; Y in which the adaptation circuit of the second switch to the second multiplexer adapts the natural impedance of the second disconnector (196) to the natural impedance of the second multiplexer (194), thereby reducing nonlinear distortion of the ferroelectric component of the second adaptation circuit disconnector to the second multiplexer and allowing operation at higher power levels. 11. The tunable antenna interface unit of claim 5 further comprising: an antenna adaptation circuit (175) coupled to the diplexer (178) and configured to be coupled to the antenna; in which the antenna adaptation circuit (175) is integrated into the substrate. 12. The tunable antenna interface unit of claim 11 wherein the diplexer (178) comprises a tunable ferroelectric component. 13. The tunable antenna interface unit of claim 11 wherein the adaptation circuit of the antenna comprises a ferroelectric component, and in which the antenna adaptation circuit adapts the natural impedance from the diplexer (178) to the natural impedance of the antenna, reducing thereby the nonlinear distortion of the ferroelectric component of the antenna adaptation circuit and allowing the operation at higher power levels. 14. The tunable antenna interface unit of claim 13 wherein the adaptation circuit of the antenna adapts from an impedance of approximately 10 ohms in the diplexer up to an impedance of approximately 30 ohms in the antenna. 15. The tunable antenna interface unit of claim 11 and further comprising a second multiplexer (184) integrated in the substrate. 16. The tunable antenna interface unit of claim 15 wherein the first multiplexer (181) is configured to transmit and receive duplex signals in a band of personal communications services and in which the second multiplexer (184) is configured to transmit and receive signals Duplex in a cell band.