Rocking potential-well switch and mixer
AssigneeMotorola, Inc.
InventorKenneth David Cornett
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Channelizing an applied current and applying a voltage to the channelized current enables switching of the applied current. According to the present invention, an applied current enters through a signal input carrier (12) and is channelized by a plurality of lateral potential wells created by a plurality of polysilicon fingers gates (14). A first voltage is applied to a first set of the plurality of polysilicon finger gates (32) and a second differential voltage is applied to a second set of the plurality of polysilicon finger gates (34), which results in a differential current flow among the lateral potential wells beneath the first and second sets of polysilicon fingers (32, 34), respectively. The differential current then flows to first and second signal output carriers (40, 42).
Claims22
A semiconductor signal manipulating device comprising:
- a signal input carrier for inputting an applied electrical signal and comprising an input terminal in electrical communication with a input contact, the input contact being within a well region, the input contact and the well region being of a same conductivity type;
- a plurality of conductive fingers in electrical communication with the input contact;
- and
- signal manipulating means in electrical communication with the plurality of conductive fingers and the well region for manipulating the applied electrical signal upon being activated by application of an electrical manipulating signal to the plurality of conductive fingers.
An RF signal control device comprising:
- an RF signal input;
- a plurality of polysilicon conductive finger gates in electrical communication with the RF signal input, the plurality of polysilicon conductive finger gates further comprising first and second groups arranged in an alternating configuration;
- a differential voltage terminal means in electrical communication with the ffirst and second groups of the plurality of polysilicon conductive finger gates;
- and
- an IF signal output in electrical communication with the plurality of polysilicon conductive finger gates for outputting a first differential current from the first group and the second group.
A method of mixing an applied current comprising:
- channelizing the applied current by a series of isolated lateral potential wells;
- applying a first voltage to a first set of the series of isolated lateral potential wells and a second voltage to a second set of the series of isolated lateral potential wells;
- subsequently directing a current flow from the first set of the series of isolated lateral potential wells to a first output terminal and a current flow from the second set of the series of isolated lateral potential wells to a second output terminal as a result of applying the first and second voltages.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.