This invention relates generally to auto transformers, and more particularly, to an auto transformer with load switch providing dual mode operation for a power amplifier (PA).
Auto transformers have been in use for many years. For example, auto transformers have been used as matching circuits for impedance transformation. Auto transformers have typically been implemented for DC operation to 100 MHz and are fabricated from magnetic materials to boost the inductance of the usual multi-turn design.
In wireless communications, the concept of maintaining high efficiency in both Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) and Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) modes of operation in a low band mobile phone power amplifier (PA) is achieved by changing the load impedance that the PA sees in each mode. The method employed to implement this concept is based on switching a component (e.g., one or more capacitors) in and out of the circuit. However, the problem with this implementation is that the switching in/out of the component to change the load impedance has the effect of compromising the in-band frequency performance of the PA. Moreover, if the component is switched into the circuit (i.e., connecting the component to the circuit using a switching means) at the 50 ohm end of a matching circuit, the switching causes general frequency shift and slope in the pass band (although the far out harmonic performance is improved).
Known circuits for switching loads at the high voltage end (50 ohms) of a matching circuit that have a pass band frequency shift have difficulty maintaining harmonic rejection. For example, rejection of the 2nd harmonics of 880-915 MHz, especially where the ETSI specification is challenging (e.g., where ETSI equals −36 dBm), can be particularly difficult.
Matching circuit designs are also known where the matching circuit is formed from transmission line inductors and high Q chip capacitors. The overall circuit also contains some harmonic rejection elements. The conventional implementation is a layout where all components are on the top of a printed circuit board (PCB) to maintain the lowest losses and highest Q for the inductances. A problem with this design is poor utilization of area available by using only the top layer of a PCB, as well as poor functionality of the circuit. These conventional designs have DC separated from the radio frequency (RF) and simple transmission line matching circuits.
In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a power amplifier output network architecture is provided that includes a load switch and an auto transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding. The load switch is connected to the secondary winding of the auto transformer.
The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of certain embodiments of the present invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. To the extent that the figures illustrate diagrams of the functional blocks of various embodiments, the functional blocks are not necessarily indicative of the division between components. Thus, for example, one or more of the functional blocks may be implemented in a single element. It should be understood that the various embodiments are not limited to the arrangements and instrumentality shown in the drawings.
For simplicity and ease of explanation, the invention will be described herein in connection with various embodiments thereof. Those skilled in the art will recognize, however, that the features and advantages of the various embodiments may be implemented in a variety of configurations. It is to be understood, therefore, that the embodiments described herein are presented by way of illustration, not of limitation.
As used herein, an element or step recited in the singular and proceeded with the word “a” or “an” should be understood as not excluding plural said elements or steps, unless such exclusion is explicitly stated. Furthermore, references to “one embodiment” of the present invention are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features. Moreover, unless explicitly stated to the contrary, embodiments “comprising” or “having” an element or a plurality of elements having a particular property may include additional such elements not having that property. Additionally, the arrangement and configuration of the various components described herein may be modified or change, for example, replacing certain components with other components or changing the order or relative positions of the components.
Various embodiments of the invention provide an auto transformer 50 as illustrated in
The auto transformer 50 with a DC feed may be implemented in a planar design, and in particular, using planar inductors to minimize space utilization. The various embodiments combine the DC feed with the matching circuit component (i.e., auto transformer) that can be used, for example, in a wave shaping power amplifier, such as formed as the PA 20.
The top layer 76 (or first layer) of the auto transformer 50, rotating clockwise in
Looking now to
In operation, the auto transformer 50 provides a 4:1 transformation ratio that can transform a PA impedance of 3 ohms up to 12 ohms. This 4:1 transformation ratio results from a 2:1 turn ratio of the auto transformer 50 (as described above). It should be noted that different turn ratios will result in different transformation ratios.
It should be noted that the series leakage inductance, which is undesirable, is typically high due to two factors. One factor is that the construction of the four layer laminate is not optimal for good coupling at these frequencies. The other factor is that the DC feed extends the first turn with no extra coupling to the second turn. This has the effect of adding to the leakage inductance or lack of coupling. Leakage inductance has a direct correlation to the co-efficient of coupling “K” in the equation below.
LP=magnetizing inductance (H)
K=coefficient of coupling
To improve the operation and reduce the series leakage inductance, small capacitors (not shown) across the output may be used from a center tap (defined by the via 72a) to ground and has the effect of reducing the leakage and increasing the bandwidth of the design.
According to various embodiments, a planar auto transformer 50 implemented on printed circuit boards, for example, the PCB 70 can be represented as shown in the schematic of
In particular, a model of the auto transformer 50 may be defined by a physical transformer model as shown by the equivalent model 30 of
Inductor (Lp) 32=magnetizing inductance, in henries
Resistor (Rc) 34=core loss resistance, in ohms
Resistor (R1) 36=primary loss resistance, in ohms
Resistor (R2) 38=secondary loss resistance, in ohms
Capacitor (C1) 40=primary capacitance, in farads
Capacitor (C2) 42=secondary capacitance, in farads
and wherein,
N=turns ratio N1/N2
K=coefficient of coupling
C=interwinding capacitance, in farads
Equation 1 below defines the primary leakage inductance and Equation 2 below defines the secondary leakage inductance of the model 30:
It should be noted that C140 and C242 represent the parasitic capacitances in the auto-transformer 50. Moreover, Rc 34 represents the loss due to the PCB material, for example, Bismaleimide Triazine (BT). R136 and R238 represent the losses due to the copper in the PCB on each layer of the laminate structure. It further should be noted that the mutual and self inductances are relevant in an auto transformer design.
With turn 1 (T1) 102 (i.e., primary winding) and turn 2 (T2) 104 (i.e. secondary winding) connected as shown in
Having described various embodiments of auto transformers, the load switch 55 will now be described. The load switch 55 as shown in
In operation, the capacitance of the second harmonic resonator tunes the leakage inductance of the secondary winding 104 of the auto transformer 50 and increases the coupling factor (k). In particular, two capacitors 93, shown as 13 pico-Farad (pF) capacitors 93 connected to the load switch 55 resonate with the leakage inductance of the secondary winding 104 of the auto transformer 50. Reducing the impedance seen by the PA 20 increases the power out from the PA 20. In a cellular telephone application, for example, the load switch 55 is conducting (i.e., switched on such that the capacitors 93 are connected to the secondary winding 104) when operating in a GSM mode and not conducting (i.e., switched off such that the capacitors 93 are not connected to the secondary winding 104) in an EDGE mode. Thus, this means that for maximum power, for example in the GSM mode, the load switch 55 is conducting and for reduced power, for example, in the EDGE mode, the load switch 55 is not conducting.
It should be noted that the load switch 55 may be implemented, for example, using a pHEMT process and to achieve a low loss through path in GSM mode. The load switch 55 may include any number of switching elements 57, for example, more or less than three (e.g., five switching elements 57). When the load switch 55 is off, partial isolation of the secondary winding 104 from the capacitors 93 is provided (e.g., 10 dB isolation) and consequently the load switch 55 is effectively partially conducting. When the load switch is on, the capacitors 93 are connected to the secondary winding 104. Thus, the switching affects the degree to which the capacitors 93 resonate with the leakage inductance (or current) of the secondary winding 104. Accordingly, the capacitors 93 are still partially affecting the circuit (i.e., partial isolation) and still resonate with the leakage inductance (or current) of the secondary winding 104. In one embodiment, the switching causes a 3 dB change in power in operation, for example, from a GSM mode to an EDGE mode.
High voltages are not applied to the load switch 55 as the load switch 55 is implemented at the low impedance end (around 12 ohms) of the system (even with the poor mismatches that are experienced from the antenna). There is a lower voltage swing than if the load switch 55 were connected at the 50 ohm end of system. The harmonics developed from the PA 20 are larger than any developed from the load switch 55. The load switch 55 used as the through path to ground for the second harmonic also helps short to ground any harmonics developed in the load switch 55 and PA 20, which is most relevant in the GSM mode (which is the higher power and on mode of the load switch 55). In the off mode (e.g., EDGE mode), the power is 3 dB less and the harmonics are significantly reduced. Thus, when the load switch 55 is on, the capacitors 93 resonate with the transmission line to create a high resonance circuit to short out second harmonics.
Thus, in a cellular telephone application the various embodiments may be used to control switching operation in the cellular telephone. For example, when a user is traveling within different cellular networks with a cellular telephone having the PA 20 therein, a determination is made as to the particular network in which the cellular telephone is operating, for example, if the cellular telephone has switched networks while moving or roaming. For example, if the cellular telephone has entered an EDGE network coverage area and needs to operate in an EDGE mode, then a determination is made as to whether the load switch 55 (shown in
As another example, if the cellular telephone has entered a GSM network coverage area from an EDGE network coverage area, a determination is made as to whether the load switch 55 is off (i.e., partially conducting). If load switch 55 is off, then the load switch 55 is turned on (i.e., conducting) automatically by the cellular telephone. In this on state, the load switch 55 is conducting such that the capacitive effect of the capacitors 93 is included in the circuit of the PA 20 (shown in
Thus, the various embodiments provide an auto transformer implemented, for example, on two layers of a System In Package (SIP) with the bottom layer or first turn doubling as half of the DC feed to the PA 20. However, any suitable chip packaging technology (other than a SIP) may be used. The remaining half of the DC feed is implemented down the side of the SIP utilizing dead space previously unused due to SIP design rules relating to the die flag to edge of SIP. The top layer of the auto transformer provides the first element of the matching circuit. The various embodiments may be implemented as a power amplifier matching circuit employed with improved wave shaping. In the wave shaping design the DC feed length is significantly shorter than a quarter wave and therefore some RF will travel down this line, which is terminated, for example with a 100 pF capacitor to ground.
Various embodiments also provide a load switch connected to the secondary winding of an auto transformer, for example, the planar auto transformer of the various embodiments. However, the load switch may be connected to different types of auto transformers. In limited space applications (e.g., cellular telephone applications), the high leakages in planar auto transformers is reduced to improve the performance of the auto transformer (e.g., improve the lossy power performance).
It should be noted that modifications and variations to the various embodiments are contemplated. For example, the number, relative positioning and operating parameters of the various components may be modified based on the particular application, use, etc. The modification may be based on, for example, different desired or required operating characteristics.
Accordingly, it is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-described embodiments (and/or aspects thereof) may be used in combination with each other. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its scope. Dimensions, types of materials, orientations of the various components, and the number and positions of the various components described herein are intended to define parameters of certain embodiments, and are by no means limiting and are merely exemplary embodiments. Many other embodiments and modifications within the spirit and scope of the claims will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description.
The scope of the various embodiments of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. In the appended claims, the terms “including” and “in which” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms “comprising” and “wherein.” Moreover, in the following claims, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third,” etc. are used merely as labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on their objects. Further, the limitations of the following claims are not written in means-plus-function format and are not intended to be interpreted based on 35 U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph, unless and until such claim limitations expressly use the phrase “means for” followed by a statement of function void of further structure.