Co-Designed T/R Switch and PA Matching for Wideband 5G mmWave
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional designs of power amplifiers and transmit/receive switches in 5G communication systems result in sacrificed transmitter bandwidth, output power, and efficiency due to separate implementation, lacking optimal impedance matching and design freedom.
Innovation Solution
A co-designed circuit integrating a transmit/receive switch and power amplifier matching network with separate inductors for transmit and receive paths, utilizing a broadband on-chip transformer and capacitors to optimize impedance matching and reduce chip area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If power amplifier and transmit/receive switch are designed separately with single standard 50Ω interface, then manufacturing is simpler, but transmitter bandwidth and output power are sacrificed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the power amplifier output matching network and the transmit/receive switch into a single integrated circuit. This merging eliminates the need for separate 50Ω interfaces and enables co-optimized impedance matching across multiple frequency bands, thereby achieving wideband operation (24GHz to 43GHz) while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through monolithic integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated design creates a universal interface that handles multiple frequency bands (sub-6GHz and millimeter-wave bands) and multiple functions (power amplification, impedance matching, and transmit/receive switching) within a single circuit block, replacing multiple separate components with different impedance requirements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate inductors are used for transmit and receive branches, then impedance matching and design freedom are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the matching network into separate inductors for the transmit branch and receive branch. This segmentation allows independent optimization of impedance matching for each path, enabling the transmit inductor to be tuned for power amplifier output matching while the receive inductor is optimized for low-noise amplifier input matching, thereby achieving superior impedance matching flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
Different inductors are assigned to different functional branches (transmit and receive) with potentially different values and characteristics optimized for their specific purposes. The transmit inductor is optimized for PA output matching while the receive inductor is optimized for LNA input matching, allowing each component to have local quality tailored to its specific function.
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
Achieves improved transmitter performance with constant power gain across a broad bandwidth, reduced insertion loss, and enhanced efficiency by considering parasitic effects of the T/R switch in the design.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing a broadband on-chip transformer and capacitors to optimize impedance matching
Implementation Method 2
utilizing a broadband on-chip transformer and capacitors to optimize impedance matching
Data Source
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AI summary
According to one embodiment, a transmit/receive (T/R) switch includes a transmit switch, between a transmit port and an antenna port, a receive switch, between a receive port and the antenna port, a transmit inductor, coupled in parallel between the transmit switch the transmit port, and a receive inductor, coupled in parallel between the transmit switch the transmit port. The T/R switch can be co-designed with a power amplifier (PA) output matching circuit.