# US 10,771,096 B2 · Antenna impedance tuner > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,771,096 B2 - Document ID: US10771096B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/273,333 - Filed: 2019-02-12 - Published: 2019-08-15 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2018-02-12 - Assignees: Skyworks Solutions, Inc. - Applicants: Skyworks Solutions, Inc. - Inventors: William J. Domino - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10771096B2 ## CPC - H04B 1/0458: {Arrangements for matching and coupling between power amplifier and antenna or between amplifying stages (matching circuits in general H03H)} - H03H 7/38: Impedance-matching networks - H03H 7/40: Automatic matching of load impedance to source impedance - H03J 1/0008: {using a central processing unit, e.g. a microprocessor (digital tuning in general H03J5/0245)} - H03J 5/24: with a number of separate pretuned tuning circuits or separate tuning elements selectively brought into circuit, e.g. for waveband selection or for television channel selection - 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) - H03H 2007/386: {Multiple band impedance matching} - H03J 2200/06: Tuning of antenna - H04B: TRANSMISSION - H03H: IMPEDANCE NETWORKS, e.g. RESONANT CIRCUITS; RESONATORS (waveguides, resonators, lines or other devices of the waveguide type H01P) - H03J: TUNING RESONANT CIRCUITS; SELECTING RESONANT CIRCUITS ## Abstract An antenna impedance tuner can include first and second nodes, a bypass path, first and second series capacitance paths, and an inductance path, with each path being implemented between the first and second nodes and including a switch configured to allow the path to couple or uncouple the first and second nodes. The tuner can further include first and second shunt paths, with each shunt path being implemented between the second node and ground and including a switch configured to allow the shunt path to couple or uncouple the second node and the ground. The tuner can further include a switchable grounding path implemented along the inductance path and configured to allow the inductance path to function as a series inductance path between the first and second nodes, or as a shunt inductance path between the ground and a node along the inductance path. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An impedance tuner comprising: a first node configured to be connected to a radio circuit, and a second node configured to be connected to an antenna; a bypass path, a first series capacitance path, a second series capacitance path, and an inductance path, each path implemented between the first node and the second node, each path including a respective switch configured to allow the path to couple or uncouple the first and second nodes; a first shunt path and a second shunt path, each shunt path implemented between the second node and ground, and including a shunt switch configured to allow the shunt path to couple or uncouple the second node and the ground; and a switchable grounding path including a grounding switch and implemented along the inductance path and configured to allow the inductance path to provide a series inductance path when the inductance path couples the first and second nodes, or a shunt inductance path between the first node and the ground when the inductance path uncouples the first and second nodes. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The impedance tuner of claim 1 wherein each of the first and second shunt paths is a capacitance path. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The impedance tuner of claim 2 wherein each of the first series capacitance path, the second series capacitance path, the first shunt capacitance path, and the second shunt capacitance path includes a respective capacitance element, and the inductance path includes an inductance element. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The impedance tuner of claim 3 wherein the capacitance element of each of the first shunt capacitance path and the second shunt capacitance path is implemented between the respective shunt switch and the ground. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The impedance tuner of claim 3 wherein the series inductance path between the first node and the second node is provided when the switch of the inductance path is closed and the grounding switch of the switchable grounding path is open. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The impedance tuner of claim 3 wherein the shunt inductance path between the first node and the ground is provided when the switch of the inductance path is open and the grounding switch of the switchable grounding path is closed. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The impedance tuner of claim 3 wherein the switch of the inductance path and the grounding switch of the switchable grounding path are configured to be capable of being operated as complementary switches. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The impedance tuner of claim 3 wherein the switch of the bypass path is S1, the switch of the first series capacitance path is S2, the switch of the second series capacitance path is S3, the switch of the inductance path is S4, the grounding switch of the switchable grounding path is S5, the shunt switch of the first shunt capacitance path is S6, and the shunt switch of the second shunt capacitance path is S7, the switches S1 to S7 configured to be capable of introducing zero, one or two elements between the first and second nodes to provide a bypass functionality or an impedance transformation functionality, each element being a capacitance element or an inductance element. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The impedance tuner of claim 8 wherein the impedance transformation state is one of a plurality of impedance transformations each from an initial impedance to a desired impedance. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The impedance tuner of claim 8 wherein the bypass functionality includes S1 being ON and each of S2 to S7 being OFF, such that the bypass path connects the first and second nodes. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The impedance tuner of claim 8 wherein the bypass functionality includes each of S1 and S4 being ON and each of S2, S3, S5, S6 and S7 being OFF, such that a parallel combination of the bypass path and the inductance path connects the first and second nodes. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The impedance tuner of claim 1 wherein the first node is a signal node for the radio circuit, and the second node is an antenna node. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The impedance tuner of claim 1 wherein the first shunt path is a capacitance path and the second shunt path is an inductance path. ### Claim 14 A packaged module comprising: a packaging substrate configured to receive and support a plurality of components; and an impedance tuner circuit implemented on the packaging substrate, and including a first node configured to be connected to a radio circuit and a second node configured to be connected to an antenna, the impedance tuner circuit further including a bypass path, a first series capacitance path, a second series capacitance path, and an inductance path, each path implemented between the first node and the second node, each path including a respective switch configured to allow the respective path to couple or uncouple the first and second nodes, the impedance tuner circuit further including a first shunt path and a second shunt path, each shunt path implemented between the second node and ground, and including a shunt switch configured to allow the shunt path to couple or uncouple the second node and the ground, the impedance tuner circuit further including a switchable grounding path having a grounding switch and implemented along the inductance path and configured to allow the inductance path to provide a series inductance path when the inductance path couples the first and second nodes, or a shunt inductance path between the first node and the ground when the inductance path uncouples the first and second nodes. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The packaged module of claim 14 wherein each of the first series capacitance path, the second series capacitance path, the first shunt capacitance path, and the second shunt capacitance path includes a respective capacitance element, and the inductance path includes an inductance element. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The packaged module of claim 15 wherein each capacitance element is implemented as a capacitor, and the inductance element includes an inductor. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The packaged module of claim 16 wherein all of the switches associated with the impedance tuner circuit are implemented on a semiconductor die. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The packaged module of claim 17 wherein the semiconductor die further includes all of the capacitors associated with the impedance tuner circuit. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The packaged module of claim 18 wherein each of one or more inductors associated with the impedance tuner circuit is implemented off of the semiconductor die. ### Claim 20 An impedance tuner comprising: a first node configured to be connected to a radio circuit and a second node configured to be connected to an antenna; and an inductance circuit including an inductor and a first switch connected in series such that the inductor is connected to the first node and the first switch is connected to the second node, the inductance circuit further including a second switch implemented between ground and a node between the inductor and the first switch, such that the inductance circuit is capable of providing a series inductance path between the first and second nodes or a shunt inductance path between the first node and the ground.