Patent · US Active

RF front-end with on-chip transmitter/receiver isolation and noise-matched LNA

US8208865B2 · kind B2 · utility

21Cited by
10References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 25, 2009
Grant dateJun 26, 2012
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 22, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04B1/18
  • WIPO fieldTelecommunications
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Embodiments of an RF front-end are presented herein. In an embodiment, the RF front end comprises a power amplifier (PA), a noise-matched low-noise amplifier (LNA), a balance network, and a four-port isolation module. A first port of the isolation module is coupled to an antenna. The second port of the isolation module is coupled to the balancing network. The third port is coupled an output of the PA. The fourth port is coupled to a differential input of the noise-matched LNA. The isolation module effectively isolates the third port from the fourth port to prevent strong outbound signals received at the third port from saturating the LNA coupled to the fourth port. Isolation is achieved via electrical balance. In an embodiment, the signal path coupling the antenna at the first port to the differential input of the LNA at the fourth port is shorter than a wavelength of the inbound signal received by the antenna.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.