Switchable Tunable Inductor for Wideband RF Resonators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing radio transceivers face challenges in efficiently supporting multiple frequency bands spanning a wide range, such as 600 MHz to 3800 MHz, due to the difficulty in tuning LC resonators more than one octave, which leads to increased chip space consumption and costs, especially when carrier aggregation is involved.
Innovation Solution
A tunable inductor arrangement with a switch arrangement that allows for selective routing of winding parts in parallel or series configurations, enabling the resonator to operate at various frequencies, thereby reducing insertion loss and maintaining a high Q-value for efficient gain and low current consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple fixed-frequency resonators are used to support wide frequency bands, then frequency coverage is improved, but chip space consumption and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a tunable resonator with variable inductance that can dynamically adjust its resonant frequency across wide bands (600 MHz to 3800 MHz). The inductor uses a switch arrangement to reconfigure winding parts between series and parallel connections, enabling a single resonator to replace multiple fixed-frequency resonators, thereby reducing chip space while maintaining broad frequency coverage
Solution Approach 2:
The tunable resonator is designed to perform multiple functions across different frequency bands using a single device. The switch arrangement enables the same inductor structure to operate at various frequencies by changing its effective inductance value, making one resonator universal for multiple bands including carrier aggregation scenarios
2Adaptability or versatility
If inductor windings are connected in series to increase inductance ratio, then low band coverage is improved, but self-resonant frequency decreases and insertion loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically reconfigures the inductor windings between series and parallel connections based on the desired operating band. For low band operation, series connection provides high inductance ratio; for high band operation, parallel connection maintains high self-resonant frequency. This dynamic switching minimizes insertion loss across all bands while achieving the required inductance ratio of at least 4:1
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the effective inductance parameter by reconfiguring the winding connections. The switch arrangement allows the inductor to present different inductance values to the circuit depending on the operating frequency, thereby optimizing performance across wide bands without suffering from the drawbacks of fixed series connections
3Adaptability or versatility
If switch arrangement reconfigures windings for different frequency modes, then frequency flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the inductor into multiple separable winding parts (first, second, third, fourth windings) that can be independently connected through switches. This segmentation allows flexible reconfiguration into series or parallel combinations while keeping each switch simple, managing complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple winding parts into a unified tunable inductor structure where the switches merge or separate the windings based on operating mode. The switch arrangement integrates control logic to manage the complexity of reconfiguration, providing frequency flexibility while maintaining manageable device complexity
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 tunable inductor arrangement provides flexible frequency operation, reducing chip space and cost while maintaining high performance across multiple frequency bands, enabling efficient carrier aggregation and multiband radio frequency receivers.
Implementation Method 1
a switch arrangement arranged to tune the tunable inductor arrangement by selectively provide any of a circuit comprising the first and fourth winding parts in parallel and the second and third winding parts in parallel, with the parallel couplings connected in series between the first and second inputs; and a circuit comprising the first, second, fourth and third winding parts in series between the first and second inputs
Implementation Method 2
The first, second, third and fourth winding parts may be interleaved on the chip or substrate such that magnetic fields of the windings are essentially common
Implementation Method 3
A tunable inductor arrangement arrangeable on a chip or substrate. The tunable inductor comprises a first winding part connected at a first end to a first input of the tunable inductor arrangement
Data Source
AI summary
A tunable inductor arrangeable on a chip or substrate comprises a first winding part connected at one end to a first input of the tunable inductor arrangement, a second winding part connected at one end to the other end of the first winding part, a third winding part connected at one end to a second input of the tunable inductor arrangement, a fourth winding part connected at one end to the other end of the third winding part, and a switch arrangement arranged. The switch arrangement tunes the tunable inductor by selectively connecting the first and fourth winding parts in parallel and the second and third winding parts in parallel, with the parallel couplings in series between the first and second inputs, or connecting the first, second, fourth and third winding parts in series between the first and second inputs. Corresponding transceivers, communication devices, methods and computer programs are disclosed.