Carrier Aggregation Amplifier Circuitry With Switched Impedance Matching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Designing satisfactory low noise amplifier circuitry for electronic devices with wireless communications capabilities is challenging, especially when switching between non-carrier-aggregation and carrier-aggregation modes, as it requires maintaining gain and input impedance consistency across modes.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of amplifier circuitry with a common gate amplifier stage, cascode amplifier stage, and common source amplifier stage, along with adjustable capacitors and transformer circuitry, allows for operation in both non-carrier-aggregation and carrier-aggregation modes by adjusting bias voltages and input impedances to maintain performance across modes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If amplifier circuitry is designed for non-carrier-aggregation mode, then it can effectively handle single carrier signals, but it cannot maintain consistent gain and input impedance when switching to carrier-aggregation mode

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal handling consistencyVSAvoidmode switching capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The amplifier circuitry is divided into multiple independent amplifier channels (first amplifier, second amplifier, etc.), each capable of processing individual component carriers. This segmentation allows the system to handle single carrier mode by activating one amplifier and carrier aggregation mode by activating multiple amplifiers simultaneously, maintaining consistent gain and input impedance across both modes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The amplifier circuitry is designed with universal components that can function in both non-carrier-aggregation and carrier-aggregation modes. The common gate amplifier stage, cascode amplifier stage, and adjustable capacitors are configured to provide consistent performance whether processing a single carrier or multiple component carriers, enabling the same hardware to serve multiple operational modes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple amplifiers are used for carrier aggregation, then the amplifier can handle multiple component carriers, but the complexity of the circuit increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecarrier aggregation supportVSAvoidamplifier circuit structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple amplifiers share common circuitry including the common gate amplifier stage, cascode amplifier stage, biasing networks, and adjustable capacitors. This merging of common elements reduces the overall complexity compared to having completely independent amplifier chains, while still enabling carrier aggregation functionality through selective activation of different amplifier paths.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The amplifier circuitry incorporates switching mechanisms that dynamically activate or deactivate specific amplifier channels based on the operational mode (non-carrier-aggregation or carrier-aggregation). This dynamic configuration allows the system to present a simplified structure during single carrier operation while enabling complex multi-carrier processing when needed, managing complexity through temporal rather than spatial multiplication.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If adjustable capacitors are used to control input impedance, then the amplifier can maintain consistent input impedance across modes, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinput impedance consistencyVSAvoidcapacitor control circuitry

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Adjustable capacitors are strategically placed in the amplifier circuitry to modify electrical parameters (input impedance, gain) based on the operational mode. By changing the capacitance values or connectivity of these capacitors, the system maintains consistent input impedance and gain characteristics whether operating in non-carrier-aggregation or carrier-aggregation mode, achieving parameter consistency through controlled electrical parameter changes rather than structural modifications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS11095334B1Amplifier circuitry for carrier aggregation

Publication Date: 2021.08.17 APPLE INC

AI summary

An electronic device may include wireless circuitry with a baseband processor, a transceiver circuit, a front-end module, and an antenna. The front-end module may include amplifier circuitry such as a low noise amplifier for amplifying received radio-frequency signals. The amplifier circuitry is operable in a non-carrier-aggregation mode and a carrier aggregation mode. The amplifier circuitry may include an input transformer that is coupled to multiple amplifier stages such as a common gate amplifier stage, a cascode amplifier stage, and a common source amplifier stage. The common gate amplifier stage may include switches for selectively activating a set of cross-coupled capacitors to help maintain input impedance matching in the non-carrier-aggregation mode and the carrier-aggregation mode. The common source amplifier stage may include additional switches for activating and deactivating the common source amplifier stage to help maintain the gain in the non-carrier-aggregation mode and the carrier-aggregation mode.