RF Voltage Generation Circuit for RF Switch Gate-Source Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing RF electronic products face challenges in generating a power supply voltage for drive circuits using control signals, as existing solutions do not effectively utilize both control signals to manage voltage levels for RF switchers.

Innovation Solution

A voltage generating device comprising a first and second transistor and a voltage dividing circuit, where the transistors receive control signals to generate divided voltages, with one divided voltage used as an output and the other as a control voltage to manage transistor operation, coupled with a voltage regulating unit to produce positive and negative voltages for RF circuit control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If a voltage generating device uses control signals to generate power supply voltage for drive circuits, then the power supply voltage can be derived from control signals, but the voltage levels may not be sufficient to prevent transistor breakdown

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower supply voltage generation from control signalsVSAvoidtransistor breakdown prevention
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a voltage boosting circuit as an intermediary component between the control signal and the drive circuit. This circuit receives the control signal voltage and transforms it into a higher voltage level that can reliably drive the RF switcher without causing transistor breakdown. The voltage boosting circuit acts as a mediator that bridges the voltage gap between the low-voltage control signal and the high-voltage requirement of the power supply.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If the voltage of control signals is directly used to drive RF switcher, then the circuit complexity is reduced, but the gate-source voltage cannot be properly controlled

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecircuit structure simplificationVSAvoidgate-source voltage control
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the voltage control function into two distinct parts: a voltage generating device that produces the power supply voltage from control signals, and a voltage dividing circuit that generates the gate-source control voltage. This segmentation allows each circuit to specialize in its function - the voltage generating device handles power supply generation while the voltage dividing circuit handles precise gate-source voltage control, thereby maintaining ease of operation despite increased circuit complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If voltage dividing circuit generates control voltage from control signal, then the control voltage can be properly regulated, but the output voltage may be insufficient for power supply

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol voltage regulationVSAvoidoutput voltage level
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using the voltage dividing circuit to generate both control and power voltages (which would result in insufficient power voltage), the patent inverts the approach by using a voltage boosting circuit to generate the power supply voltage from the control signal. This inversion allows the voltage dividing circuit to focus on generating precise control voltages while the voltage boosting circuit provides the high-power output needed for the power supply, resolving the contradiction between control precision and power level.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentEP3809596B1Radio frequency device and voltage generating device thereof
Publication Date: 2023.06.07 RICHWAVE TECH CORP
  • EP3809596B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3809596B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3809596B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A radio frequency device (200) and a voltage generating device (210) thereof are provided. The voltage generating device (210) includes a first transistor (211), a second transistor (212), and a voltage dividing circuit (213). A first terminal of the first transistor (211) receives a first voltage. A first terminal of the second transistor (212) receives a second voltage. A first connection terminal and a second connection terminal of the voltage dividing circuit (213) are respectively coupled to second terminals of the first transistor (211) and the second transistor (212). The voltage dividing circuit (213) generates a first divided voltage (Vdl) and a second divided voltage (Vd2). The first divided voltage (Vdl) is used as an output voltage of the voltage generating device (210). The second divided voltage (Vd2) is output as a control voltage to a control terminal of the first transistor (211) and a control terminal of the second transistor (212).