Tunable matching network
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsAlfred Erik Raidl, Antonio Passamani, Chia-Yu Hsieh
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods for generating a radio frequency (RF) signal by a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) with transmission frequency within a wide transmission frequency range are described. An output reactance of the DAC coupled (directly or indirectly) to one or more antennas corresponds to the transmission frequency of the RF signals. Multiple embodiments of the DAC are described to include circuitry for tuning the output reactance of the DAC, and therefore, shifting a center frequency to select a transmission frequency range (from multiple transmission frequency ranges) for providing the RF signals.
Claims20
An electronic device, comprising:
- one or more antennas configured to transmit one or more radio frequency (RF) signals;
- and
- a transmitter coupled to the one or more antennas, the transmitter comprising a transformer comprising,
- a primary portion configured to receive one or more analog signals indicative of the one or more RF signals, the primary portion having
- a first inductor,
- a second inductor, and
- an impedance tuning circuit coupled in series between the first inductor and the second inductor, the impedance tuning circuit comprising a first auxiliary capacitor configured to increase a transmission frequency range of the transmitter, and
- a secondary portion configured to provide the one or more analog signals to one or more downstream components of the electronic device for transmission via the one or more antennas, the secondary portion having a third inductor configured to inductively couple to the first inductor, and a fourth inductor configured to inductively couple to the second inductor.
A tunable matching network, comprising:
- a primary portion configured to receive one or more analog signals, the primary portion having
- a first inductor,
- a second inductor, and
- a first impedance tuning circuit comprising at least a first auxiliary capacitor, the first impedance tuning circuit coupled in series between the first inductor and the second inductor, and
- a secondary portion configured to convey the one or more analog signals to a downstream load, the secondary portion having
- a third inductor configured to inductively couple to the first inductor, and
- a fourth inductor coupled in series with the third inductor and configured to inductively couple to the second inductor.
A method comprising:
- receiving, by a processor of an electronic device, a first request to transmit a first radio frequency (RF) signal with a first transmission frequency;
- adjusting, by the processor, an impedance tuning circuit coupled in series with a first inductor and a second inductor of a primary portion of a transformer based on the first transmission frequency, wherein the transformer is coupled to an output of a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) of the electronic device;
- and
- providing, by the processor, first data bits associated with generating the first RF signal to the DAC to cause generation of the first RF signal with the first transmission frequency.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.