This application claims priority to Chinese Application No. 201710344725.6, entitled “RADIO FREQUENCY VOLTAGE-TO-CURRENT CONVERTING CIRCUIT AND METHOD,” filed on May 16, 2017 by Beken Corporation, which is incorporated herein by reference.
The present application relates to circuits, and more particularly but not exclusively to a radio frequency (RF) voltage-to-current converting circuit and method of converting voltage to current in a radio frequency receiving circuit.
In a conventional RF receiving front-end circuit, a voltage-to-current converting circuit is connected between a low noise amplifier (LNA) and a mixer and configured to provide current to drive the mixer. To drive the mixer, the voltage-to-current converting circuit should have a higher linearity. In the prior art, the voltage-to-current converting circuit with high linearity always use larger inductors as source-degeneration at the source end or use more current sources to increase extra currents. However, the circuit comprising larger inductors or current sources raises the product costs or result in the increase of direct current (DC) power consumption.
To solve the above problems, a radio frequency voltage-to-current converting circuit with high linearity and low power consumption and a corresponding method may be necessary.
In an embodiment, a voltage-to-current converting circuit comprises a direct current (DC) bias circuit, a first DC-blocking circuit, a second DC-blocking circuit, a first differential input pair and a second differential input pair; wherein the DC bias circuit is connected to the first and second DC-blocking circuits and configured to provide a bias voltage to the first and the second differential input pairs; wherein the first DC-blocking circuit is connected between the DC bias circuit and the first and second differential input pairs and the second DC-blocking circuit is connected between the DC bias circuit and the first and second differential input pairs; and wherein the first differential circuit is connected to the second differential circuit via two resistors.
Another embodiment discloses a method for converting voltage to current by a voltage-to-current converting circuit, wherein the circuit comprises a direct current (DC) bias circuit, a first DC-blocking circuit, a second DC-blocking circuit, a first differential input pair and a second differential input pair; wherein the DC bias circuit is connected to the first and second DC-blocking circuits; wherein the first DC-blocking circuit is connected between the DC bias circuit and the first and second differential input pairs and the second DC-blocking circuit is connected between the DC bias circuit and the first and second differential input pairs; and wherein the first differential circuit is connected to the second differential circuit via two resistors; the method comprises: generating, by the DC bias circuit, a bias voltage; blocking, by the first and second DC-blocking circuits, direct current from the DC bias circuit; outputting, by the first and second differential input pairs, differential output voltage; and outputting a current through the two resistors.
Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified.
Various aspects and examples of the invention will now be described. The following description provides specific details for a thorough understanding and enabling description of these examples. Those skilled in the art will understand, however, that the invention may be practiced without many of these details. Additionally, some well-known structures or functions may not be shown or described in detail, so as to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the relevant description.
In the embodiment, during operation, since the ratio among NMOS transistors in the first differential input pair 140 and the DC bias circuit 110 is equal to the ratio among PMOS transistors in the second differential input pair 150 and the DC bias circuit 110, the DC voltage of the first and second DC-blocking circuits 120, 130 are respectively equal to the DC voltage from the DC bias circuit 110, i.e., Vdd/2. The AC voltage of the first DC-blocking circuits 120 is approximately equal to the AV voltage on the gate of one NMOS transistor in the first differential input pairs 140 and the AV voltage on the gate of one PMOS transistor in the second differential input pair 150 and this AC voltage is the positive input Vinp. And the AC voltage of the second DC-blocking circuit 130 is approximately equal to the AV voltage on the gate of the other NMOS transistor in the first differential input pairs 140 and the AV voltage on the gate of the other PMOS transistor in the second differential input pair 150, and this AC voltage is the negative input Vinn. Thus the AC current passing through one of the two resistors is Vinp/R1 and the AC current passing through the other resistor is Vinn/R2, wherein the resistance value of R1 is equal to the resistance value of R2 and the Vinn is equal to Vinp. The input dynamic range of the voltage-to-current converting circuit 100 can nearly be gnd−Vthp˜Vdd+Vthn, wherein the Vthp is a threshold voltage of the PMOS transistor, the Vthn is as threshold voltage of the NMOS transistor, and the DC voltage Vdd can take a small value, and wherein Vdd>Vthp+Vthn. The input dynamic range is large and thus the DC voltage can be small, which can decrease the DC power consumption and the voltage-to-current converting circuit 100 does not use larger components, such as inductors, and thus can reduces the product costs.
In the embodiment, a first node of the first resistor R1 is connected to a first node of the first MOS transistor M1, and a first node of the second resistor R2 is connected to a first node of the second MOS transistor M2, and any two of a second node of the first MOS transistor M1, a second node of the second MOS transistor M2, a second node of the first resistor R1 and a second node of the second resistor R2 are connected. The first current source I1 is connected between the first node of the first resistor R1 and the first node of the first MOS transistor M1; and the second current source I2 is connected between the first node of the second resistor R2 and the first node of the second MOS transistor M2.
Still in the embodiment, the second node of the first current source I1, and the first and third nodes of the first MOS transistor M1 are connected to the first and the second DC-blocking circuits 220, 250, and the second node of the second current source I2, and the first and third nodes of the second MOS transistor M2 are also connected to the first and the second DC-blocking circuits 220, 250. Then the first and the second DC-blocking circuits 220, 250 are respectively connected to the first and second differential input pairs 240, 230. The first differential input pair 240 is connected to the second differential input pair 230 via a seventh resistor R7 and an eighth resistor R8, wherein both first nodes of the first and second differential input pairs 240, 230 are connected to ground via a voltage source. Wherein, a first node of the first current source I1 is connected to the first node of the first resistor R1 and a power supply, and a second node of the first current source I1 is connected to the first node of the first MOS transistor M1 and a third node of the first MOS transistor M1, and a first node of the second current source I2 is connected to the first node of the second resistor R2 and ground, and a second node of the second current source I2 is connected to the first node of the second MOS transistor M2 and a third node of the second MOS transistor M2.
Wherein the first MOS transistor M1 is a NMOS transistor and the second MOS transistor M2 is a PMOS transistor, and both M1 and M2 adopt a diode connection, that is, a drain and a gate of M1 and M2 are short circuited. The first node of each of the transistors is a drain, the second node of each of the transistors is a source, and the third node of each of the transistors is a gate. The power supply comprises a positive power source Vdd, and the resistance value of R1 is equal to the resistance value of R2. Thus, the voltage value on a point N1 is Vdd/2.
In the embodiment, during operation, since the ratio among NMOS transistors in the first differential input pair 240 and the NMOS transistor M1 in the DC bias circuit 210 is equal to the ratio among PMOS transistors in the second differential input pair 230 and the PMOS transistor M2 in the DC bias circuit 210, the DC voltage of the first and second DC-blocking circuits 220, 250 are respectively equal to the DC voltage on the point N1, i.e., Vdd/2. The AC voltage of the first DC-blocking circuits 220 is approximately equal to the AV voltage on the gate of one NMOS transistor in the first differential input pairs 240 and the AV voltage on the gate of one PMOS transistor in the second differential input pair 230 and this AC voltage is the positive input Vinp. And the AC voltage of the second DC-blocking circuit 250 is approximately equal to the AV voltage on the gate of the other NMOS transistor in the first differential input pairs 240 and the AV voltage on the gate of the other PMOS transistor in the second differential input pair 230, and this AC voltage is the negative input Vinn. Thus the AC current passing through one of the two resistors is Vinp/R7 and the AC current passing through the other resistor is Vinn/R8, wherein the resistance value of R7 is equal to the resistance value of R8 and the Vinn is equal to Vinp. The input dynamic range of the voltage-to-current converting circuit 200 can nearly be gnd−Vthp˜Vdd+Vthn, wherein the Vthp is a threshold voltage of the PMOS transistor, the Vthn is as threshold voltage of the NMOS transistor, and the DC voltage Vdd can take a small value, and wherein Vdd>Vthp+Vthn. The input dynamic range is large and thus the DC voltage can be small, which can decrease the DC power consumption and the voltage-to-current converting circuit 200 does not use larger components, such as inductors, and thus can reduces the product costs.
As shown in
Still in the embodiment, a first node of the third capacitor C3 and a first node of the fourth capacitor C4 are connected and also configured to receive a negative input Vinn; a second node of the third capacitor C3 is connected to a second node of the fifth resistor R5; a second node of the fourth capacitor C4 is connected to a second node of the sixth resistor R6; and any two of a first node of the fifth resistor R5, the first node of the third resistor R3, the first node of the first MOS transistor M1, the third node of the first MOS transistor M1 and the second node of the first current source I1 are connected, and any two of a first node of the sixth resistor R6, the first node of the fourth resistor R4, the first node of the second MOS transistor M2, the third node of the second MOS transistor M2 and the second node of the second current source I2 are connected. Wherein both the second nodes of the first capacitor C1 and the third resistor R3 are connected to the first differential circuit 340 and both second nodes of the second capacitor C2 and the fourth resistor R4 are connected to the second differential circuit 330; and wherein both the second nodes of the second capacitor C3 and the fifth resistor R5 are also connected to the first differential circuit 340 and both second nodes of the fourth capacitor C4 and the sixth resistor R6 are also connected to the second differential circuit 330. The first differential input pair 340 and the second differential input pair 330 are connected via a seventh resistor R7 and an eighth resistor R8, wherein both first nodes of the first and second differential input pairs 240, 230 are connected to ground via a voltage source.
In the embodiment, during operation, since the ratio among NMOS transistors in the first differential input pair 340 and the NMOS transistor M1 in the DC bias circuit 310 is equal to the ratio among PMOS transistors in the second differential input pair 330 and the PMOS transistor M2 in the DC bias circuit 310, the DC voltage of the first and second DC-blocking circuits 320, 350 are respectively equal to the DC voltage on the point N1, i.e., Vdd/2. The AC voltage on the point N2 is approximately equal to the AV voltage on the gate of one NMOS transistor in the first differential input pairs 340 and the AV voltage on the gate of one PMOS transistor in the second differential input pair 330. And the AC voltage on the point N3 is approximately equal to the AV voltage on the gate of the other NMOS transistor in the first differential input pairs 340 and the AV voltage on the gate of the other PMOS transistor in the second differential input pair 330, and this AC voltage is the negative input Vinn. Thus the AC current passing through the seventh resistor R7 is Vinp/R7 and the AC current passing through the eighth resistor is Vinn/R8, wherein the resistance value of R1 is equal to the resistance value of R2 and the Vinn is equal to Vinp. The input dynamic range of the voltage-to-current converting circuit 400 can nearly be gnd−Vthp˜Vdd+Vthn, wherein the Vthp is a threshold voltage of the PMOS transistor, the Vthn is as threshold voltage of the NMOS transistor, and the DC voltage Vdd can take a small value, and wherein Vdd>Vthp+Vthn. The input dynamic range is large and thus the DC voltage can be small, which can decrease the DC power consumption and the voltage-to-current converting circuit 100 does not use larger components, such as inductors, and thus can reduces the product costs.
As shown in
Still in the embodiment, a first node of the seventh resistor R7 is connected to a first node of the eighth resistor R8 and a second node of the seventh resistor R7 is connected to both second nodes of the third MOS transistor M3 and the fifth MOS transistor M5, and a second node of the eighth resistor R8 is connected to both second nodes of the fourth MOS transistor M4 and the sixth MOS transistor M6. Wherein both first nodes of the seventh resistor R7 and eighth resistor R8 are connected to a first node of a voltage source and any two of a second node of the voltage source, the first node of the sixth MOS transistor M6, the first node of the fifth MOS transistor M6, the first node of the second current source I2, the first node of the second resistor R2 are connected and connected to ground.
Wherein the third and the fourth MOS transistors M3, M4 are NMOS transistors, and the fifth and the sixth MOS transistors M5, M6 are PMOS transistors. The first node of each of the transistors is a drain, the second node of each of the transistors is a source, and the third node of each of the transistors is a gate. The voltage source comprises ground (gnd).
Referring to
In an embodiment, during implementing the method 500, since the ratio among the third MOS transistor M3, the fourth MOS transistors M4 and the first MOS transistor M1 is equal to the ratio among the fifth MOS transistors M5, the sixth MOS transistors M6 and the second MOS transistors M2, the DC voltage on point N2 and N3 are respectively equal to the DC voltage on the point N1, i.e., Vdd/2. The AC voltage on the point N2 is approximately equal to the AV voltage on the gate of the third MOS transistor M3 and the AV voltage on the gate of the second MOS transistor M5, and this AC voltage is the positive input Vinp. And the AC voltage on the point N3 is approximately equal to the AV voltage on the gate of the fourth MOS transistor M4 and the AV voltage on the gate of the sixth MOS transistor M6, and this AC voltage is the negative input Vinn. Thus the AC current passing through the seventh resistor R7 is Vinp/R7 and the AC current passing through the eighth resistor is Vinn/R8, wherein the resistance value of R7 is equal to the resistance value of R8 and the Vinn is equal to Vinp. The input dynamic range of the voltage-to-current converting circuit 400 can nearly be gnd−Vthp˜Vdd+Vthp, wherein the Vthp is a threshold voltage of the PMOS transistor, the Vthn is as threshold voltage of the NMOS transistor, and the DC voltage Vdd can take a small value, and wherein Vdd>Vthp+Vthn. The input dynamic range is large and thus the DC voltage can be small, which can decrease the DC power consumption and the voltage-to-current converting circuit 100 does not use larger components, such as inductors, and thus can reduces the product costs.
It should be appreciated by those ordinary skill in the art that components from different embodiments may be combined to yield another technical solution. This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those ordinary skill in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2017 1 0344725 | May 2017 | CN | national |
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