Apparatus and method for obtaining power voltage from control signals

A radio frequency (RF) switch, comprising:

• an RF common terminal, a first RF output, and a second RF output;
• a first semiconductor switching device controlled by a first control signal and disposed between the RF common terminal and the first RF output in a first path of the RF switch;
• a second semiconductor switching device controlled by a second control signal and disposed between the RF common terminal and the second RF output in a second path of the RF switch;
• first and second branches, connected to the first and second paths, respectively, comprising third and fourth semiconductor switching devices, respectively;
• first and second inverting circuits having respective outputs connected to respective control terminals of the third and fourth switching devices;
• and
• a voltage generating unit comprising first and second inputs to receive the first and second control signals, respectively, and a first output coupled to the first and second inputs through respective first and second voltage drop circuits, and a first power voltage and a second power voltage based on the first and second control signals are derived from the first output;
• wherein:
• the first power voltage and the second power voltage are configured to power the first and second inverting circuits of the first and second branches, respectively;
• and
• the first and second inverting circuits receive and invert respective ones of the first and second control signals.

A method of generating one or more voltages used to operate a radio frequency switch, comprising:

• receiving at first and second inputs respective first and second control signals that are used to enable first and second paths of the radio frequency switch, respectively;
• coupling the first and second inputs to a first output through respective first and second voltage drop circuits such that a first power voltage and a second power voltage based on the first and second control signals are derived from the first output;
• and
• powering first and second inverting circuits respectively by the first power voltage and the second power voltage;
• wherein the first and second inverting circuits supply first and second inverted versions of the first and second control signals, respectively, to first and second branches of the radio frequency switch, respectively.