Control Unit for Providing Bias To a Radio Frequency (RF) Switch

A control unit for providing a reverse or a forward bias signal to a radio frequency (RF) switch module, the control unit comprising:

• a reverse bias source configured to provide the reverse bias signal at a first output of the reverse bias source;
• a forward bias source configured to provide the forward bias signal at a second output of the forward bias source;
• an internal switch having at least a first input, a second input and an output, the first input of the internal switch being configured to receive the reverse bias signal from the first output of the reverse bias source, the second input of the internal switch being configured to receive the forward bias signal from the second output of the forward bias source, the output of the internal switch being configured to be connected to the RF switch module to transmit one of (i) the reverse bias signal and (ii) the forward bias signal to the RF switch module, and the internal switch being configured to control, via a switching action, transmission of the reverse bias signal and the forward bias signal towards the RF switch module;
• and
• a local control module electrically connected to the internal switch to control the switching action of the internal switch and electrically connected to the reverse bias source to control provision of the reverse bias signal at the first output of the reverse bias source.

A method for providing a reverse or a forward bias signal from a control unit to a radio frequency (RF) switch module, the control unit comprising a reverse bias source configured to provide the reverse bias signal at a first output of the reverse bias source, a forward bias source configured to provide the forward bias signal at a second output of the forward bias source, an internal switch having at least a first input, a second input, an output and a switching element connected between the second input and the output, the first input of the internal switch being configured to receive the reverse bias signal from the first output of the reverse bias source, the second input of the internal switch being configured to receive the forward bias signal from the second output of the forward bias source and the output of the internal switch being configured to be connected to the RF switch module to transmit one of (i) the reverse bias signal and (ii) the forward bias signal to the RF switch module, and the internal switch being configured to control, via a switching action, transmission of the reverse bias signal and the forward bias signal towards the RF switch module, and a local control module electrically connected to the internal switch and configured to control the switching action of the internal switch and electrically connected to the reverse bias source and configured to induce the reverse bias source to provide the reverse bias signal at the first output of the reverse bias source, and a gate terminal of the switching element being electrically controlled by the local control module such that transmission of the forward bias signal from the second input to the output of the internal switch is controlled by the local control module, the method comprising:

• providing a first control signal from the local control module to the reverse bias source;
• and
• providing a second control signal from the local control module to the gate terminal of the switching element.