Compact Low Loss Signal Coupler
AssigneepSemi Corporation
InventorNorman L. Frederick, JR.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A bi-directional coupler architecture that allows an entire radio frequency coupler to be fully integrated with other circuitry on a single IC substrate. Embodiments of the invention use a lumped component architecture instead of quarter-wave transmission lines to reduce area and limit loss on the primary signal line. In some embodiments, two directional couplers of opposite polarities are implemented at least in part using spiral secondary inductors electromagnetically coupled to a shared primary inductor signal line, thus providing a bi-directional coupler architecture.
Claims27
A radio frequency (RF) coupler, including:
- (a) a first coupler of a first polarity having at least an input port, a coupled port, an isolated port, an output port;
- (b) a second coupler of a second polarity having at least an input port, a coupled port, an isolated port, an output port;
- (c) an electrical connection between the respective output ports of the first and second couplers;
- and
- (d) at least one tuning element connected to at least one of the coupled port and/or the isolated port of at least one of the first and/or the second coupler;
- wherein the RF coupler is configured to provide bi-directional coupling such that the input port of the first coupler is essentially isolated from the coupled port of the second coupler, and the input port of the second coupler is essentially isolated from the coupled port of the first coupler.
A radio frequency (RF) coupler, including:
- (a) a first coupler of a first polarity;
- (b) a second coupler of a second polarity connected to the first coupler;
- and
- (c) at least one tuning element connected to at least one of a coupled port and/or an isolated port of at least one of the first and/or the second coupler;
- wherein the first coupler and second coupler are configured to provide bi-directional coupling such that an input port of the first coupler is essentially isolated from the coupled port of the second coupler, and an input port of the second coupler is essentially isolated from the coupled port of the first coupler.
An integrated circuit including a bi-directional radio frequency (RF) coupler, including:
- (a) a lumped component first inductor having a first polarity, a coupled port, and an isolated port;
- (b) a lumped component second inductor having a second polarity, a coupled port, and an isolated port;
- (c) a primary strip inductor electromagnetically coupled to the first and second inductors and having a first input port and a second input port;
- and
- (d) at least one tuning element connected to at least one of the coupled port and/or the isolated port of at least one of the first and/or the second inductor;
- wherein the RF coupler is configured to provide bi-directional coupling such that the first input port is essentially isolated from the coupled port of the second inductor, and the second input port is essentially isolated from the coupled port of the first inductor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.