Variable capacitance circuit arrangement
AssigneeIntel Corporation
InventorsColin Leslie Perry, Stephen John Parry, Alessandro F. Deidda, Christopher R. Shepherd
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A variable capacitance network is disclosed, comprising a plurality of capacitance arms connected in parallel with each other between first and second terminals of the network. Each capacitance arm has a varactor and a series capacitor in series with the varactor A control input applies a common control signal to the junctions between the varactors and their associated series capacitors, to allow for simultaneous control of each varactor.
Claims18
A variable capacitance network comprising:
- a plurality of capacitance arms connected in parallel with each other between first and second terminals of the network, each capacitance arm comprising a respective varactor and an associated series capacitor in series with that varactor;
- control input means coupled to the junctions between the varactors and their associated series capacitors, and arranged to apply a control signal to each varactor;
- and
- a modulator circuit arm connected in parallel with the said capacitance arms and comprising a modulation varactor and an associated series capacitor in series with the varactor, and modulation input means coupled to the junction between the modulation varactor and its associated series capacitor.
A voltage-controllable oscillator comprising:
- an inductance;
- a plurality of tuning circuit arms connected in parallel with each other across the inductance, each tuning circuit arm comprising a respective varactor and an associated series capacitor in series with that varactor;
- control input means coupled to the junctions between the varactors and their associated series capacitors, and arranged to apply a common control signal to each varactor;
- and
- a modulator circuit arm connected in parallel with the tuning circuit arms across the inductance, the modulation circuit arm comprising a modulation varactor and an associated series capacitor in series with the varactor, and modulation input means coupled to the junction of the modulation varactor and its associated series capacitor.
A tunable radio frequency (RF) circuit comprising:
- a circuit arrangement having a variable tuning capacitance, including:
- a plurality of tuning varactors effectively connected in parallel, and coupled to the tuning varactors;
- control means arranged to apply a control signal to each varactor for electronically controlling the capacitances of the varactors;
- and
- at least one inductor, wherein the control means has a control range over which the varactors cause the capacitance of the circuit arrangement to vary, and
- wherein each of the varactors has a respective fixed capacitor connected in series coupled to the at least one inductor, the control means being coupled to the at nodes between the varactors and their respective fixed capacitors;
- and
- a modulator comprising:
- a modulation varactor arranged in parallel with the tuning varactors and isolated from the tuning varactors by a DC blocking capacitor;
- and
- a modulation input coupled to the modulation varactor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.