Method and apparatus for adaptive impedance matching

#The present disclosure relates generally to matching networks, and more specifically to a method and apparatus for adaptive impedance matching.

#A function of an adaptive impedance matching module can be to adaptively maximize the RF power transfer from its input port to an arbitrary load impedance that changes as a function of time.

#A consideration of an impedance matching control system is the dynamic range of input power over which it will operate. Low cost RF voltage detectors such as a diode detector have been used, but with a limited dynamic range. Logarithmic amplifiers (that detect a signal envelope) can have a higher dynamic range than diode detectors, but their cost, complexity, chip area, and current drain can be higher.

#FIG. 1 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a block diagram of a control system;

#FIG. 2 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a control system for a multi-port adaptive impedance matching module;

#FIG. 3 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a closed loop control system; and

#In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present disclosure may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components and circuits have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the present disclosure.

#Some portions of the detailed description that follows are presented in terms of algorithms and symbolic representations of operations on data bits or binary digital signals within a computer memory. These algorithmic descriptions and representations may be the techniques used by those skilled in the data processing arts to convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art.

#An algorithm is here, and generally, considered to be a self-consistent sequence of acts or operations leading to a desired result. These include physical manipulations of physical quantities. Usually, though not necessarily, these quantities take the form of electrical or magnetic signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared, and otherwise manipulated. It has proven convenient at times, principally for reasons of common usage, to refer to these signals as bits, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers or the like. It should be understood, however, that all of these and similar terms are to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and are merely convenient labels applied to these quantities.