Active RF Splitter-Combiner Circuitry With Differential Coupled Lines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional radio-frequency dividers and combiners, such as the Wilkinson power divider and combiner, exhibit significant power loss and occupy substantial circuit area due to passive splitter/combiner mechanisms and ohmic loss in transmission lines.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of active power splitter and combiner circuitry using active gain stages and differential coupled lines that provide impedance matching and routing without transformers, reducing power loss and circuit area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional passive power splitters and combiners are used, then signal distribution and combination functions are achieved, but significant power loss occurs due to passive splitter/combiner mechanism and ohmic loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces passive mechanical/electrical splitter/combiner mechanisms with active amplifier-based circuitry. The active power splitter uses amplifiers to actively distribute signals to multiple antennas, while the active power combiner uses amplifiers to actively combine signals from multiple antennas, eliminating the power loss inherent in passive mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters by using active amplifying elements instead of passive components. The amplifiers operate in different modes (e.g., push-pull configuration) to achieve signal distribution and combination with gain, transforming the fundamental operating principle from passive signal division to active signal amplification and distribution.
2Area of stationary object
If conventional passive power splitters and combiners are used, then signal distribution and combination functions are achieved, but substantial circuit area is occupied
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of signal distribution and impedance matching into a single active amplifier stage. The push-pull amplifier configuration simultaneously performs signal amplification, signal distribution to multiple antennas, and impedance matching to the transmission lines, eliminating the need for separate passive matching networks and reducing overall circuit area.
Solution Approach 2:
The active amplifier circuitry performs multiple functions simultaneously: it amplifies the RF signal, distributes it to multiple antennas with proper impedance matching, and provides isolation between antenna ports. This multi-functionality reduces the number of discrete components needed compared to conventional passive splitters that require separate matching networks for each port.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The active power splitter and combiner circuitry achieves lower loss and higher gain performance compared to conventional passive splitters, minimizing power consumption and chip area.
Implementation Method 1
a first set of differential coupled lines coupling the first output amplifier to the first and second output channels and a second set of differential coupled lines coupling the second output amplifier to the third and fourth output channels
Data Source
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AI summary
An electronic device (10) may include wireless circuitry (24) having active circuitry such as active power splitter circuitry (78) and active power combiner circuitry (88). The active power splitter and combiner circuitry can include single-ended or differential amplifiers coupled to one another using single-ended coupled lines or differential coupled lines (120). Each set of differential coupled lines (120) may include first (122-1a, 122-1b) and second (122-2a, 122-2b) pairs of coupled lines. The single-ended coupled lines and the differential coupled lines (120) can provide routing and impedance matching functions. In active power splitter circuitry (78), multiple transmitting amplifiers may be used to drive a plurality of antennas (42) in a phased antenna array (62). In active power combiner circuitry (88), multiple receiving amplifiers may be used to receive radio-frequency signals from the plurality of antennas (42) in the phased antenna array (62).