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US 12,756,388 B2Granted
RF switch with bypass topology
AssigneepSemi Corporation
InventorsEthan Prevost, Michael Conry
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An RF signal switch circuit that allows connection of any of N radio frequency (RF) input terminals to a switch output port, either in a low loss mode, in a bypass mode, or, optionally, in a signal function mode. Embodiments of the invention allow for both a single switch in the series input path to a target circuit while still having the ability to isolate the bypass path from the target circuit. In the low loss and bypass mode, the circuit simultaneously exhibits low input insertion loss (and thus a low noise factor) and high bypass mode isolation.
Claims20
A radio frequency (RF) signal switch circuit comprising:
- at least one RF input port;
- at least one shunt switch, wherein each shunt switch is respectively coupled between a corresponding RF input port of the at least one RF input port and circuit ground and configured to selectively shunt the corresponding RF input port to the circuit ground;
- at least one bypass switch, wherein each bypass switch is respectively coupled between a corresponding RF input port of the at least one RF input port and a switch output port;
- at least one set of in-path connector switches, wherein each set of in-path connector switches of the at least one set of in-path connector switches is respectively coupled to a corresponding RF input port of the at least one RF input port and respectively coupled to the shunt switch that corresponds to the RF input port coupled to the set of in-path connector switches;
- at least one in-circuit path, wherein each in-circuit path is respectively coupled to a corresponding isolation shunt switch and respectively coupled to a corresponding one in-path connector switch of each set of the at least one set of in-path connector switches, and wherein each in-circuit path is configured to be respectively coupled to an input of a corresponding target circuit;
- at least one switch return path, wherein each switch return path is configured to be respectively coupled to an output of a corresponding target circuit, and wherein each switch return path is respectively coupled to a corresponding output connector shunt switch;
- and
- at least one output connector switch, wherein each output connector switch is respectively coupled to a corresponding switch return path of the at least one switch return path and coupled to the switch output port.
5 more elements
A radio frequency (RF) signal switch circuit comprising:
- at least one RF input port;
- at least one shunt switch, wherein each shunt switch is respectively coupled between a corresponding RF input port of the at least one RF input port and circuit ground and configured to selectively shunt the corresponding RF input port to the circuit ground;
- at least one bypass switch, wherein each bypass switch is respectively coupled between a corresponding RF input port of the at least one RF input port and a switch output port;
- at least one in-path connector switch, wherein each in-path connector switch is respectively coupled to a corresponding RF input port and the shunt switch that corresponds to the RF input port coupled to the in-path connector switch;
- an in-circuit path coupled to an isolation shunt switch and coupled to each in-path connector switch of the at least one in-path connector switch, wherein the in-circuit path is configured to be coupled to an input of a target circuit;
- a switch return path configured to be coupled to an output of the target circuit, wherein the switch return path is coupled to an output connector shunt switch;
- and
- an output connector switch coupled to the switch return path and coupled to the switch output port.
5 more elements
A method for switching radio frequency (RF) signals, the method comprising:
- controlling each shunt switch of at least one shunt switch of an RF signal switch circuit to selectively open or close the shunt switch to selectively shunt a corresponding RF input port of at least one RF input port of the RF signal switch circuit to circuit ground, wherein each shunt switch is respectively coupled between the corresponding RF input port and the circuit ground;
- controlling each bypass switch of at least one bypass switch of the RF signal switch circuit to selectively open or close the bypass switch, wherein each bypass switch is respectively coupled between a corresponding RF input port of the at least one RF input port and a switch output port;
- controlling each in-path connector switch of at least one in-path connector switch of the RF signal switch circuit to selectively open or close the in-path connector switch, wherein each in-path connector switch is respectively coupled to a corresponding RF input port of the at least one RF input port, respectively coupled to the shunt switch that corresponds to the RF input port coupled to the in-path connector switch, and coupled to an in-circuit path, wherein the in-circuit path is coupled to an input of a target circuit;
- controlling an isolation shunt switch of the RF signal switch circuit to selectively open or close the isolation shunt switch to selectively shunt the in-circuit path, wherein the isolation shunt switch is coupled to the in-circuit path and coupled to each in-path connector switch of the at least one in-path connector switch;
- controlling an output connector shunt switch of the RF signal switch circuit to selectively open or close the output connector shunt switch to selectively shunt a switch return path, wherein the switch return path is coupled to an output of the target circuit;
- and
- controlling an output connector switch of the RF signal switch circuit to selectively open or close the output connector switch, wherein the output connector switch is coupled to the switch return path and coupled to the switch output port.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.