frequency divider

Abstract

This invention discloses a frequency divider. The frequency divider includes at least two filtering units, with the first end of each filtering unit connected to the first end of the frequency divider, and the second end of each filtering unit serving as a second end of the frequency divider. Each filtering unit includes at least one inductor, and the signal transmission directions of adjacent inductors are opposite, which can reduce the mutual interference between the magnetic fields generated by adjacent inductors, thereby reducing the mutual interference between filtering units and improving the isolation between different channels of the frequency divider.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of signal processing technology, and more particularly to a frequency divider. Background Technology

[0002] Frequency dividers (FBDs) have carrier aggregation capabilities. In modern communications, with the increasing demand for carrier aggregation, FBDs are being used more and more widely, leading to a greater need for FBDs with low insertion loss and high isolation (such as duplexers, tripplexers, and multiplexers). In existing technologies, the filters for different channels in a FBD can be inductive-capacitive filters (LC filters). In FBDs with relatively close passband and stopband separation (e.g., 100-200MHz), ensuring both the insertion loss requirements and the isolation requirements between different channels presents a significant challenge in the design of the LC filters. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This invention provides a frequency divider to improve the isolation between different channels of the frequency divider.

[0004] In a first aspect, embodiments of the present invention provide a frequency divider, including at least two filtering units, wherein a first end of each filtering unit is connected to a first end of the frequency divider, and a second end of each filtering unit serves as a second end of the frequency divider;

[0005] Each of the filtering units includes at least one inductor element, and the signal transmission directions of the inductors at adjacent locations are opposite.

[0006] Optionally, at least one of the filtering units includes at least two of the inductors, and in the same filtering unit, the signal transmission directions of the inductors at adjacent positions are opposite.

[0007] Optionally, the signal transmission directions of the inductors in adjacent filter units are opposite; wherein at least two filter units are arranged along a first direction, and the filter units in adjacent positions are filter units arranged adjacently along the first direction, the first direction being the intersection direction from the first end to the second end of the frequency divider.

[0008] Optionally, the number of inductors in adjacent filter units is the same, and the inductors in different filter units are arranged along the first direction; the signal transmission directions of adjacent inductors arranged along the first direction are opposite.

[0009] Optionally, the number of inductors in adjacent filter units is different, and the inductors in the same filter unit are arranged along a second direction; a filter unit includes at least one first inductor, and a filter unit adjacent to a filter unit includes at least two second inductors, the overlapping area of ​​the vertical projection of the first inductor in the first direction and the vertical projection of the second inductor in the first direction is greater than the overlapping area of ​​the vertical projection of the other second inductors in the first direction, and the signal transmission directions of the first inductor and the second inductor are opposite; wherein, the second direction is the direction from the first end to the second end of the frequency divider.

[0010] Optionally, the inductor element is a wound structure; when the winding directions of the inductor elements at adjacent positions are the same, the winding start ends of the inductor elements at adjacent positions are the signal input end and the signal output end, respectively.

[0011] Optionally, the inductor element is a wound structure; the winding directions of the inductor elements at adjacent positions are opposite, and the starting ends of the windings of the inductor elements at adjacent positions are both signal input or signal output terminals.

[0012] Optionally, the filtering unit includes at least one conductive layer, which is used to form the inductor element.

[0013] The technical solution of this invention, by setting the inductor in the frequency divider to have the signal transmission direction opposite to that of the inductor in adjacent positions, can reduce the mutual interference between the magnetic fields generated by the inductors in adjacent positions, thereby reducing the mutual interference between the filter units and improving the isolation between different channels of the frequency divider. Attached Figure Description

[0014] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a frequency divider provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0015] Figure 2 This is a partial planar layout diagram of a frequency divider provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0016] Figure 3 This is a partial planar layout diagram of another frequency divider provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0017] Figure 4 This is a partial planar layout diagram of another frequency divider provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 5 This is a partial planar layout diagram of another frequency divider provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 6 This is a partial planar layout diagram of another frequency divider provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0020] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the invention and not intended to limit it. Furthermore, it should be noted that, for ease of description, the accompanying drawings show only the parts relevant to the present invention, and not all of the structures.

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a frequency divider provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 As shown, the frequency divider includes at least two filter units 110. The first end of each filter unit 110 is connected to the first end C1 of the frequency divider, and the second end of each filter unit 110 serves as a second end C2 of the frequency divider. Each filter unit 110 includes at least one inductor L1, and the signal transmission directions of adjacent inductors L1 are opposite.

[0022] Specifically, the filter unit 110 can be an LC filter. Different filter units 110 can correspond to the same or different filter types to meet the operating requirements of the frequency divider. The filter type can include various types; for example, the filter can be at least one of a low-pass filter, a high-pass filter, and a band-stop filter. The first terminal of each filter unit 110 is connected to the first terminal C1 of the frequency divider, and the second terminal of each filter unit 110 serves as a second terminal C2 of the frequency divider, such that each filter unit 110 is connected in series between the first terminal C1 and the second terminal C2 of the frequency divider, and serves as one channel of the frequency divider. For example, as... Figure 1 As shown, the frequency divider exemplarily includes multiple filter units 110. The first end of each filter unit 110 is connected to the first end C1 of the frequency divider. The second end of the first filter unit 110 serves as the first second end C21 of the frequency divider, the second end of the second filter unit 110 serves as the second second end C22 of the frequency divider, and the second end of the nth filter unit 110 serves as the second second end C2n of the frequency divider. At this time, the frequency divider has n channels, and each channel corresponds to one filter unit 110.

[0023] Figure 2 This is a partial planar layout diagram of a frequency divider provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 As shown, each filter unit 110 includes at least one inductor L1, and each filter unit 110 also includes at least one capacitor L1. Figure 2(Not shown in the diagram), such that each filter unit 110 forms a filter through an inductor L1 and a capacitor. When each filter unit 110 includes at least one inductor L1, the overall structure of the frequency divider includes at least two inductor L1s. In the layout design, the signal transmission directions of adjacent inductor L1s are opposite, which can make the magnetic field directions generated by adjacent inductor L1s opposite, thereby reducing the mutual interference between the magnetic fields generated by adjacent inductor L1s, and further reducing the mutual interference between filter units 110, thus improving the isolation between different channels of the frequency divider. The isolation between different channels of the frequency divider is used to characterize the degree of mutual interference between different channels. The higher the isolation between different channels of the frequency divider, the lower the degree of mutual interference between different channels. When at least one filter unit 110 includes at least two inductor L1s, the inductor L1s at adjacent positions can be inductors in the same filter unit 110 or inductors in different filter units 110.

[0024] For example, such as Figure 2 As shown, an exemplary frequency divider includes two filtering units 110, each including an inductor L1, and the two inductors L1 are arranged adjacent to each other in the layout, that is, spatially adjacent. By setting the signal transmission direction of one inductor L1 to counterclockwise and the signal transmission direction of the other inductor L1 to clockwise, the direction of the magnetic field generated by the counterclockwise inductor L1 is opposite to the direction of the magnetic field generated by the clockwise inductor L1. This reduces the mutual interference between the magnetic fields generated by the two inductors L1, thereby reducing the mutual interference between the filtering units 110 and improving the isolation between different channels of the frequency divider.

[0025] The technical solution of this embodiment, by setting the inductor in the frequency divider to have the signal transmission direction opposite to that of the inductor in adjacent positions, can reduce the mutual interference between the magnetic fields generated by the inductors in adjacent positions, thereby reducing the mutual interference between the filter units and improving the isolation between different channels of the frequency divider.

[0026] Continue to refer to Figure 2 The inductor L1 has a winding structure; when the winding directions of adjacent inductor L1 are the same, the starting ends of the winding of adjacent inductor L1 are the signal input end and the signal output end, respectively.

[0027] Specifically, the inductor element L1 can be a wound structure, for example, a conductive coil. The winding directions of adjacent inductor elements L1 can be the same. Figure 2The example illustrates that the winding direction of adjacent inductor elements L1 is either counterclockwise from the outside in or clockwise from the inside out. In this case, the starting end of the winding of one of the adjacent inductor elements L1 is the signal input terminal, and the ending end is the signal output terminal. Similarly, the starting end of the winding of the other adjacent inductor element L1 is the signal output terminal, and the ending end is the signal input terminal. This allows the signal transmission directions of the adjacent inductor elements L1 to be opposite to the winding direction, thus reducing mutual interference between the magnetic fields generated by the adjacent inductor elements L1. The starting end of the winding is the external starting end when the inductor element L1 is wound from the outside in, and the ending end is the internal ending end when the inductor element L1 is wound from the outside in. Alternatively, the winding start end is the internal start end when the inductor L1 is wound from the inside out, and the winding end end is the external end when the inductor L1 is wound from the inside out.

[0028] It should be noted that in other embodiments, the winding direction of the inductor L1 at adjacent positions can also be clockwise from the outside to the inside. In this case, the winding direction of the inductor L1 at adjacent positions is also the same, and it is not limited here.

[0029] Figure 3 This is a partial planar layout diagram of another frequency divider provided in an embodiment of the present invention. (See diagram below.) Figure 3 As shown, the inductor L1 has a winding structure; the winding directions of adjacent inductor L1 are opposite, and the starting ends of the windings of adjacent inductor L1 are both signal input or signal output terminals.

[0030] Specifically, the winding directions of adjacent inductor elements L1 can be opposite. Figure 3 The example illustrates two adjacent inductor elements L1, one with a winding direction of counterclockwise from the outside in (or clockwise from the inside out), and the other with a winding direction of clockwise from the outside in (or counterclockwise from the inside out). In this case, the starting ends of the windings of the adjacent inductor elements L1 are both signal input terminals, and the ending ends are both signal output terminals; or the starting ends of the windings of the adjacent inductor elements L1 are both signal output terminals, and the ending ends are both signal input terminals. The signal transmission direction within each inductor element L1 is consistent with the winding direction of that inductor element L1, thereby making the signal transmission directions of inductor elements L1 with opposite winding directions opposite, reducing the mutual interference between the magnetic fields generated by adjacent inductor elements L1.

[0031] Figure 4This is a partial planar layout diagram of another frequency divider provided in an embodiment of the present invention. (See diagram below.) Figure 4 As shown, at least one filter unit 110 includes at least two inductor elements L1, and in the same filter unit 110, the signal transmission directions of inductor elements L1 at adjacent positions are opposite.

[0032] Specifically, Figure 4 The example illustrates a filter unit 110 that may include two inductor elements L1. These two inductor elements L1 can be spatially adjacent, meaning adjacent inductor elements L1 belong to the same filter unit 110. In this case, the signal transmission directions of adjacent inductor elements L1 within the same filter unit 110 can be arranged to be opposite, resulting in opposite magnetic field directions generated by the two inductor elements L1. This reduces mutual interference between the magnetic fields generated by adjacent inductor elements L1, improving the isolation of the filter unit 110, i.e., improving the channel isolation of the frequency divider. Simultaneously, it reduces interference from the filter unit 110 to other filter units 110, thereby improving the isolation between different channels of the frequency divider.

[0033] It should be noted that, Figure 4 This illustration merely demonstrates that a filter unit 110 includes two inductor elements L1, and the two inductor elements L1 in a filter unit 110 achieve signal transmission directions by having opposite winding directions. In other embodiments, the two inductor elements L1 in a filter unit 110 further achieve signal transmission directions by having their winding start ends as signal input and signal output ends, respectively. Additionally, a filter unit 110 may include multiple inductor elements L1, which can be arranged adjacent to each other in spatial positions. In this case, the signal transmission directions of adjacent inductor elements L1 can be set to opposite directions. Alternatively, in other embodiments, at least two filter units 110 include at least two inductor elements L1, in which case the signal transmission directions of at least two inductor elements L1 in each filter unit 110 can be set to opposite directions when they are arranged adjacent to each other in spatial positions.

[0034] Figure 5 This is a partial planar layout diagram of another frequency divider provided in an embodiment of the present invention. (See diagram below.) Figure 5 As shown, the signal transmission directions of the inductor L1 in the filter unit 110 at adjacent positions are opposite; wherein, at least two filter units 110 are arranged along the first direction X, and the filter units 110 at adjacent positions are filter units arranged adjacently along the first direction X, and the first direction X is the intersection direction of the first end C1 of the frequency divider pointing to the second end C2.

[0035] Specifically, Figure 5The example illustrates that the inductor L1 at adjacent positions is an inductor in an adjacent filter unit 110. When two filter units 110 are arranged adjacently, the inductors L1 in the adjacent filter units 110 can be arranged adjacently in spatial position. At this time, the signal transmission directions of the inductors L1 in the adjacent filter units 110 can be set to be opposite, so that the magnetic fields generated by the two inductors L1 are opposite in direction, thereby reducing the mutual interference between the magnetic fields generated by the two inductors L1 and improving the isolation between the filter units 110.

[0036] It should be noted that, Figure 5 The image only exemplifies the frequency divider including two filter units 110. In other embodiments, the frequency divider may include multiple filter units 110 arranged along a first direction X, adjacent to each other. In this case, the signal transmission directions of the inductors L1 in adjacent filter units 110 may be opposite.

[0037] Continue to refer to Figure 5 The number of inductor elements L1 in adjacent filter units 110 is the same, and the inductor elements L1 in different filter units 110 are arranged along the first direction X; the signal transmission directions of adjacent inductor elements L1 arranged along the first direction X are opposite.

[0038] Specifically, Figure 5The example illustrates that each adjacent filter unit 110 contains two inductor elements L1. At least one inductor element L1 in each filter unit 110 can be arranged in the same direction, meaning that the inductor elements L1 in each filter unit 110 are adjacent in the same arrangement direction, and these adjacent inductor elements L1 belong to different filter units 110. By arranging the adjacent inductor elements L1 in different filter units 110 with opposite signal transmission directions, at least one inductor element L1 in each filter unit 110 can generate magnetic fields with opposite directions. This reduces mutual interference between the magnetic fields generated by the two inductor elements L1, further improving the isolation between filter units 110, i.e., improving the isolation between different channels of the frequency divider. For example, each filter unit 110 includes two inductor elements L1 arranged along a second direction Y, where Y is the direction from the first terminal C1 to the second terminal C2 of the frequency divider. The inductor elements L1 in different filter units 110 are arranged along a first direction X, such that all inductor elements L1 in different filter units 110 can be arranged in a matrix along the first direction X and the second direction Y, for example, the first direction X can be a row direction and the second direction Y can be a column direction. In this case, the signal transmission directions of adjacent inductor elements L1 in the same row of different filter units 110 can be set to be opposite, so that all inductor elements L1 in the same filter unit 110 can have signal transmission directions opposite to those of adjacent inductor elements L1. This allows the inductor elements L1 in different filter units 110 to generate magnetic fields with opposite directions, thereby better reducing mutual interference between the magnetic fields generated by two inductor elements L1 and further improving the isolation between filter units 110.

[0039] It should be noted that, Figure 5 The example shown illustrates that each filter unit 110 has two inductor elements L1. In other embodiments, the number of inductor elements L1 in each filter unit 110 may be multiple, as long as the number is the same in different filter units 110.

[0040] Figure 6 This is a partial planar layout diagram of another frequency divider provided in an embodiment of the present invention. (See diagram below.) Figure 6As shown, the number of inductor elements L11 in adjacent filter units 110 is different, and the inductor elements L1 in the same filter unit 110 are arranged along the second direction Y. A filter unit 110 includes at least one first inductor element L11, and a filter unit 110 arranged adjacent to a filter unit 110 includes at least two second inductor elements L12. The overlapping area of ​​the vertical projection of the first inductor element L11 in the first direction X and the vertical projection of the second inductor element L12 in the first direction X is greater than the overlapping area of ​​the vertical projection of the other second inductor elements L12 in the first direction X. The signal transmission directions of the first inductor element L11 and the second inductor element L12 are opposite. Wherein, the second direction Y is the direction from the first terminal C1 to the second terminal C2 of the frequency divider.

[0041] Specifically, with Figure 5 The difference lies in the number of inductors L1 in adjacent filter units 110. In this case, at least one inductor L1 in each filter unit 110 does not have adjacent inductors L1 arranged in the same direction. The overlapping area of ​​the vertical projections of the inductors L1 in the first direction X can be used to determine whether an inductor L1 in one filter unit 110 is adjacent to an inductor L1 in another adjacent filter unit 110. When inductors L1 in different filter units 110 are arranged adjacently, the signal transmission directions of the two inductors L1 are opposite, allowing them to generate magnetic fields with opposite directions. This reduces mutual interference between the magnetic fields generated by the two inductors L1, further improving the isolation between filter units 110, i.e., improving the isolation between different channels of the frequency divider. For example, Figure 6The example shows a frequency divider including two filter units 110, one filter unit 110 including a first inductor L11, and the other filter unit 110 including two second inductor L12. The first inductor L11 and the second inductor L12 are arranged along a first direction X, and the two second inductor L12 are arranged along a second direction Y. If the overlapping area of ​​the first inductor L11 and the first second inductor L12 in the vertical projection of the first inductor L11 and the second second inductor L12 in the first direction X is greater than the overlapping area of ​​the first inductor L11 and the second second inductor L12 in the vertical projection of the first inductor L11 and the second second inductor L12 in the first direction X, then it can be determined that the first inductor L11 and the first second inductor L12 are adjacent inductors in different filter units 110. In this case, the signal transmission directions of the first inductor L11 and the first second inductor L12 can be set to be opposite, so that the magnetic field directions generated by the first inductor L11 and the first second inductor L12 are opposite, thereby better reducing the mutual interference between the magnetic fields generated by the two inductors L11 and further improving the isolation between filter units 110.

[0042] Based on the above technical solutions, the filter unit includes at least one conductive layer, which is used to form an inductor.

[0043] Specifically, the inductor in the filter unit can be formed through a conductive layer. For example, the conductive layer can be a metal layer. When the filter unit includes one conductive layer, the inductor is formed within that layer, resulting in a two-dimensional inductor, which simplifies the inductor's fabrication process. When the filter unit includes at least two conductive layers, the inductor can be formed within at least two layers, resulting in a three-dimensional inductor, which reduces the area occupied by the inductor.

[0044] Note that the above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and the technical principles employed. Those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described herein, and various obvious changes, readjustments, and substitutions can be made without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, although the present invention has been described in detail through the above embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and may include many other equivalent embodiments without departing from the concept of the present invention, the scope of which is determined by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A frequency divider, characterized in that, It includes at least two filtering units, with the first end of each filtering unit connected to the first end of the frequency divider, and the second end of each filtering unit serving as a second end of the frequency divider; Each of the filtering units includes at least one inductor element, and the signal transmission directions of the inductor elements at adjacent positions are opposite; wherein, the inductor elements at adjacent positions are arranged adjacently in space along a first direction or along a second direction, the first direction being the intersection direction from the first end of the frequency divider to the second end, and the second direction intersecting with the first direction; The signal transmission directions of the inductors in adjacent filter units are opposite; wherein at least two filter units are arranged along a first direction, and the filter units in adjacent positions are filter units arranged adjacently along the first direction. The number of inductors in adjacent filter units is different, and the inductors in the same filter unit are arranged along a second direction; a filter unit includes at least one first inductor, and a filter unit adjacent to a filter unit includes at least two second inductors, the overlapping area of ​​the vertical projection of the first inductor in the first direction and the vertical projection of the second inductor in the first direction is greater than the overlapping area of ​​the vertical projection of the other second inductors in the first direction, and the signal transmission directions of the first inductor and the second inductor are opposite; wherein, the second direction is the direction from the first end to the second end of the frequency divider.

2. The frequency divider according to claim 1, characterized in that, At least one of the filtering units includes at least two of the inductors, and in the same filtering unit, the signal transmission directions of the inductors at adjacent positions are opposite.

3. The frequency divider according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inductor element has a winding structure; when the winding directions of the inductor elements at adjacent positions are the same, the starting ends of the winding of the inductor elements at adjacent positions are the signal input end and the signal output end, respectively.

4. The frequency divider according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inductor has a winding structure; the winding directions of adjacent inductors are opposite, and the starting ends of the windings of adjacent inductors are both signal input or signal output terminals.

5. The frequency divider according to claim 1, characterized in that, The filtering unit includes at least one conductive layer, and the at least one conductive layer is used to form the inductor element.

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