Integrated circuit, communication unit and method for phase adjustment
AssigneeFreescale Semiconductor, Inc.
InventorRalf Reuter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An integrated circuit for phase shifting a radio frequency signal, wherein the integrated circuit comprises at least one phase shifter comprising: at least one input for receiving a radio frequency signal, a voltage variable element; and a plurality of active devices operably coupled to the voltage variable element and arranged to receive a variable control voltage. The plurality of active devices comprise at least two active devices coupled in a common base arrangement and arranged to receive the radio frequency signal with the voltage variable element coupling the emitter contacts or source contacts of the at least two active devices, such that a variable control voltage applied to the voltage variable element adjusts a phase of the radio frequency signal.
Claims15
An integrated circuit for phase shifting a radio frequency signal, wherein the integrated circuit comprises:
- at least one phase shifter comprising:
- at least one input for receiving a radio frequency signal,
- a voltage variable element;
- and
- a plurality of active devices operably coupled to the voltage variable element and arranged to receive a variable control voltage,
- wherein the plurality of active devices comprise at least two active devices coupled in a common base arrangement and arranged to receive the radio frequency signal with the voltage variable element coupling the emitter contacts or source contacts of the at least two active devices such that a variable control voltage applied to the voltage variable element adjusts a phase of the radio frequency signal.
A communication unit comprising:
- a radio frequency circuit having at least one phase shifter circuit arranged to phase shift a radio frequency input signal, where the at least one phase shifter circuit comprises:
- a voltage variable element;
- and
- a plurality of active devices, operably coupled to the voltage variable element and arranged to receive a variable control voltage;
- wherein the plurality of active devices comprise at least two active devices coupled in a common base arrangement and arranged to receive the radio frequency input signal with the voltage variable element coupling the emitter contacts or source contacts of the at least two active devices;
- and
- processing logic arranged to apply a variable control voltage to the plurality of active devices to adjust a phase of a radio frequency input signal.
A method for compensating a phase of signals in a communication unit comprising a radio frequency circuit having a phase shifter circuit comprising a plurality of active devices having at least two active devices coupled in a common base arrangement and a voltage variable element coupling the emitter contacts or source contacts of the at least two active devices, the method comprising:
- receiving a radio frequency input signal;
- and
- applying a voltage variable control signal to the voltage variable element in the phase shifter circuit such that the voltage variable element adjusts a phase of the radio frequency input signal.
A non-transitory to computer-readable storage element having computer readable code stored thereon for programming a processor to compensate signal phase in a communication unit comprising a radio frequency circuit having a phase shifter circuit comprising a plurality of active devices having at least two active devices coupled in a common base arrangement and a voltage variable element coupling the emitter contacts or source contacts of the at least two active devices, wherein, when executed, the code causes the processor to apply a voltage variable control signal to the voltage variable element in the phase shifter circuit such that the voltage variable element adjusts a phase of a radio frequency input signal received by the phase shifter circuit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.