Digital tunable inter-stage matching circuit
US8072272B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 1, 2010 |
| Grant date | Dec 6, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 1, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03F2200/318
- WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A tunable inter-stage matching circuit that can improve performance is described. In an exemplary design, an apparatus includes a first active circuit (e.g., a driver amplifier), a second active circuit (e.g., a power amplifier), and a tunable inter-stage matching circuit coupled between the first and second active circuits. The tunable inter-stage matching circuit includes a tunable capacitor that can be varied in discrete steps to adjust impedance matching between the first and second active circuits. In an exemplary design, the tunable capacitor includes (i) a plurality of capacitors coupled in parallel and (ii) a plurality of switches coupled to the plurality of capacitors, one switch for each capacitor. Each switch may be turned on to select an associated capacitor or turned off to unselect the associated capacitor. The tunable capacitor may further include a fixed capacitor coupled in parallel with the plurality of capacitors.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.