# US 10,122,332 B2 · Low-noise amplifier with integrated wideband transformer-based power splitter > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,122,332 B2 - Document ID: US10122332B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/607,145 - Filed: 2017-05-26 - Published: 2018-06-14 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-12-14 - Assignees: QUALCOMM Incorporated - Applicants: QUALCOMM Incorporated - Inventors: Serkan Sayilir; Chuan Wang; Kevin Hsi Huai Wang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10122332B2 ## CPC - H03F 3/191: Tuned amplifiers (H03F3/193, H03F3/195 take precedence) - H03F 3/005: {using switched capacitors, e.g. dynamic amplifiers; using switched capacitors as resistors in differential amplifiers (H03F3/45 takes precedence)} - H03F 3/211: {using a combination of several amplifiers (H03F3/60 takes precedence)} - H03F 3/26: Push-pull amplifiers; Phase-splitters therefor (duplicated single-ended push-pull arrangements or phase-splitters therefor H03F3/30) - H03F 3/3098: {using a transformer as phase splitter} - H03F 3/68: Combinations of amplifiers, e.g. multi-channel amplifiers for stereophonics {(power amplifiers using a combination of several semiconductor amplifiers H03F3/211; combinations of amplifiers using coupling networks with distributed constants H03F3/602)} - H03F 3/72: Gated amplifiers, i.e. amplifiers which are rendered operative or inoperative by means of a control signal - H03H 7/487: {particularly adapted as coupling circuit between transmitters and antennas} - H04B 1/0067: {with one or more circuit blocks in common for different bands} - H04L 5/001: {the frequencies being arranged in component carriers} - H03F 2200/111: the amplifier being a dual or triple band amplifier, e.g. 900 and 1800 MHz, e.g. switched or not switched, simultaneously or not - H03F 2200/294: the amplifier being a low noise amplifier [LNA] - H03F 2200/378: A variable capacitor being added in the output circuit, e.g. collector, drain, of an amplifier stage - H03F 2200/541: Transformer coupled at the output of an amplifier - H03F 2200/543: A transmission line being used as coupling element between two amplifying stages - H03H 7/48: Networks for connecting several sources or loads, working on the same frequency or frequency band, to a common load or source (phase shifters providing two or more output signals H03H7/21) - H04B 1/18: Input circuits, e.g. for coupling to an antenna or a transmission line (coupling networks between antennas or lines and receivers independent of the nature of the receiver H03H) - H04L 27/2647: {Arrangements specific to the receiver only (equalisation H04L27/01)} - H03F: AMPLIFIERS - H03H: IMPEDANCE NETWORKS, e.g. RESONANT CIRCUITS; RESONATORS (waveguides, resonators, lines or other devices of the waveguide type H01P) - H04B: TRANSMISSION - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract A wireless communication device includes a first low-noise amplifier (LNA). The wireless communication device also includes a first LNA load circuit coupled to an output of the LNA. The wireless communication device further includes a power splitter switchably coupled to the first LNA load circuit. The power splitter includes a negatively coupled transformer and is switchably coupled to multiple outputs. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A wireless communication device, comprising: a first low-noise amplifier (LNA); a first LNA load circuit coupled to an output of the LNA; and a power splitter switchably coupled to the first LNA load circuit, the power splitter comprising a negatively coupled transformer, wherein the negatively coupled transformer comprises a first inductor and a second inductor, and further wherein the first inductor is switchably coupled to a first output and the second inductor is switchably coupled to a second output. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the first inductor is tapped at a first point and negatively coupled to the second inductor tapped at a second point and the power splitter further comprises a tuning component. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The wireless communication device of claim 2, in which the tuning component comprises a variable capacitor and a variable resistor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The wireless communication device of claim 2, in which the negatively coupled transformer includes at least one additional tapping point. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The wireless communication device of claim 1, in which the first LNA load circuit comprises a plurality of different tapping points, a first tapping point matched to the power splitter and a second tapping point matched to at least one of the outputs first output and the second output. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The wireless communication device of claim 1, in which the first LNA load circuit comprises a variable capacitor and a transformer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The wireless communication device of claim 1, further comprising at least one switch configured to couple the first LNA load circuit to the one or more of the outputs. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The wireless communication device of claim 1, further comprising: a second LNA; and a second LNA load circuit coupled to an output of the second LNA and switchably coupled to the power splitter. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The wireless communication device of claim 8, in which the second LNA load circuit comprises a variable capacitor and a transformer, the transformer tapped in at least two different points. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The wireless communication device of claim 1, further comprising at least one controller configured to control at least one component of the first LNA load circuit or the power splitter. ### Claim 11 A method for isolating outputs in a wireless communication device, comprising: selectively supplying an amplified signal to a power splitter, the power splitter comprising a negatively coupled transformer, wherein the negatively coupled transformer comprises a first inductor and a second inductor, and further wherein the first inductor is switchably coupled to a first output and the second inductor is switchably coupled to a second output; and isolating the first output and the second output when the amplified signal is supplied to the power splitter. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, in which the selectively supplying is based at least in part on a mode of operation. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, in which the amplified signal is supplied to the power splitter in an intra carrier aggregation (CA) mode. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, in which the isolating is based at least in part on a coupling factor. ### Claim 15 A wireless communication device, comprising: means for selectively supplying an amplified signal to a power splitter, the power splitter comprising a negatively coupled transformer, wherein the negatively coupled transformer comprises a first inductor and a second inductor, and further wherein the first inductor is switchably coupled to a first output and the second inductor is switchably coupled to a second output; and means for isolating the first output and the second output when the amplified signal is supplied to the power splitter. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The device of claim 15, in which the means for selectively supplying supplies is configured to supply the amplified signal based at least in part on a mode of operation. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The device of claim 16, in which the means for selectively supplying is configured to supply the amplified signal to the power splitter in an intra carrier aggregation (CA) mode. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The device of claim 15, in which the means for isolating isolates the one or more outputs based at least in part on a coupling factor. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The wireless communication device of claim 1, further wherein the negatively coupled transformer is configured such that a positive change in current flowing from a first terminal to a second terminal of the first inductor results in a negative change in voltage drop from a first terminal to a second terminal of the second inductor, wherein the second terminal of the first inductor is switchably connected to the first output and the second terminal of the second inductor is switchably connected to the second output. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The wireless communication device of claim 15, further wherein the negatively coupled transformer is configured such that a positive change in current flowing from a first terminal to a second terminal of the first inductor results in a negative change in voltage drop from a first terminal to a second terminal of the second inductor, wherein the second terminal of the first inductor is switchably connected to the first output and the second terminal of the second inductor is switchably connected to the second output.