Integrated radio frequency front-end circuit

A radio frequency front-end circuit, comprising:

• a balun, comprising:
• a single coil center-tapped inductor having a center-tap drawn from center of the single coil, said single coil center-tapped inductor comprising a first node and a second node, said center-tap switchlessly coupled to a fixed voltage, wherein said balun is configured to receive a said single-ended signal through said first node of said single coil center-tapped inductor and convert said single-ended signal to a differential signal, wherein said balun is configured to receive said differential signal through said first node and said second node and convert said differential signal to said single-ended signal, and wherein said differential signal is available at said first node and said second node, and said single-ended signal is available at said first node;
• a receiver radio frequency amplifier having balanced input lines connected to said first node and said second node, said receiver radio frequency amplifier configured for receiving and amplifying said differential signal, wherein said receiver radio frequency amplifier comprises one or more active components;
• a radio frequency power amplifier having a single-ended output line connected to one of said first node and said second node, said radio frequency power amplifier configured for providing an amplified single-ended signal for transmission, wherein said radio frequency power amplifier comprises one or more active components;
• and
• a selector circuit in communication with said receiver radio frequency amplifier and said radio frequency power amplifier, said selector circuit configured for activating said active components of said receiver radio frequency amplifier and deactivating said active components of said radio frequency power amplifier during said conversion of said single-ended signal to said differential signal, and vice versa during said conversion of said differential signal to said single-ended signal;
• whereby said balun is switchlessly and selectively coupled to said receiver radio frequency amplifier during said conversion of said single-ended signal to said differential signal and said radio frequency power amplifier during said conversion of said differential signal to said single-ended signal.

A method of selectively accessing a balun in a radio frequency front-end circuit, comprising:

• providing said balun comprising a single coil center-tapped inductor with a center-tap drawn from center of the single coil;
• switchlessly coupling said center-tap of said single coil center-tapped inductor to a fixed voltage;
• providing a receiver radio frequency amplifier and a radio frequency power amplifier, wherein said receiver radio frequency amplifier and said radio frequency power amplifier comprise active components;
• coupling a first node and a second node of said single coil center-tapped inductor to balanced input lines of said receiver radio frequency amplifier and balanced output lines of said radio frequency power amplifier;
• and
• switchlessly coupling one of said receiver radio frequency amplifier and said radio frequency power amplifier to said single coil center-tapped inductor of said balun by performing one of:
• activating active components of said receiver radio frequency amplifier and converting a single-ended signal received at one of said first node and said second node to a differential signal, wherein said differential signal is obtained at said first node and said second node, and wherein said differential signal is provided to said balanced input lines of said receiver radio frequency amplifier;
• and
• activating active components of said radio frequency power amplifier and constructively combining an amplified differential signal along said first node and said second node for obtaining a single-ended signal at said first node, wherein said amplified differential signal is received from said radio frequency power amplifier through said balanced output lines.

A method of selectively accessing a balun in a radio frequency front-end circuit, comprising:

• providing said balun comprising a single coil center-tapped inductor with a center-tap drawn from center of the single coil;
• switchlessly coupling said center-tap of said single coil center-tapped inductor to a fixed voltage;
• providing a receiver radio frequency amplifier and a radio frequency power amplifier, wherein said receiver radio frequency amplifier and said radio frequency power amplifier comprise active components;
• coupling a first node and a second node of said single coil center-tapped inductor to balanced input lines of said receiver radio frequency amplifier;
• coupling one of said first node and said second node to a single-ended output line of said radio frequency power amplifier;
• and
• switchlessly coupling one of said receiver radio frequency amplifier and said radio frequency power amplifier to said single coil center-tapped inductor of said balun by performing one of:
• activating active components of said receiver radio frequency amplifier and converting a single-ended signal received at one of said first node and said second node to a differential signal, wherein said differential signal is obtained at said first node and said second node, and wherein said differential signal is provided to said balanced input lines of said receiver radio frequency amplifier;
• and
• activating active components of said radio frequency power amplifier and providing an amplified single-ended signal to one of said first node and said second node, wherein said amplified single-ended signal is received from said radio frequency power amplifier through said single-ended output line.

A method of manufacturing a radio frequency front-end circuit, comprising:

• integrating on a single semiconductor integrated circuit chip:
• a balun comprising a single coil center-tapped inductor having a center-tap drawn from center of the single coil, said single coil center-tapped inductor comprising a first node and a second node, said center-tap coupled to a fixed voltage, wherein said single coil center-tapped inductor configured to convert between a single-ended signal and a differential signal;
• a receiver radio frequency amplifier having balanced input lines coupled to said first node and said second node of said single coil center-tapped inductor;
• a radio frequency power amplifier having balanced output lines coupled to said first node and said second node of said single coil center-tapped inductor;
• and
• a selector circuit for selectively activating active components of said receiver radio frequency amplifier and deactivating active components of said radio frequency power amplifier, and vice versa.

A method of manufacturing a radio frequency front-end circuit, comprising:

• integrating on a single semiconductor integrated circuit chip:
• a balun comprising a single coil center-tapped inductor having a center-tap drawn from center of the single coil, said single coil center-tapped inductor comprising a first node and a second node, said center-tap coupled to a supply voltage, wherein said single coil center-tapped inductor configured to convert between a single-ended signal and a differential signal;
• a receiver radio frequency amplifier having balanced input lines coupled to said first node and said second node of said single coil center-tapped inductor;
• a radio frequency power amplifier having a single-ended output line coupled to said first node of said single coil center-tapped inductor;
• and
• a selector circuit for selectively activating active components of said receiver radio frequency amplifier and deactivating active components of said radio frequency power amplifier, and vice versa.