RECONFIGURABLE DIRECTIONAL COUPLER WITH A VARIABLE COUPLING FACTOR

摘要

The present disclosure relates to a reconfigurable directional coupler with a variable coupling factor that can be changed in value as a function of a desired transmit band of operation. The reconfigurable directional coupler includes a primary inductive segment, secondary inductive segments, and switch circuitry configured to change the total coupling capacitance formed between the primary and secondary inductive segments by selectively switching the secondary inductive segments into the secondary signal path. Simultaneously, the mutual inductance and coupling factor between the primary and the secondary inductive segments are reconfigured.

主权项

1. A coupler comprising:
a primary inductive segment; a first secondary inductive segment wherein a portion of the first secondary inductive segment resides over a first portion of the primary inductive segment, wherein a first coupling capacitance is formed between the portion of the first secondary inductive segment and the first portion of the primary inductive segment; a second secondary inductive segment wherein a portion of the second secondary inductive segment resides over a second portion of the primary inductive segment, wherein a second coupling capacitance is formed between the portion of the second secondary inductive segment and the second portion of the primary inductive segment; a main signal path that extends between a first RF input port and an RF output port and includes the primary inductive segment; a secondary signal path that extends between a coupled port and ground; and switch circuitry configured to selectively switch the first and the second secondary inductive segments into the secondary signal path, wherein the first and the second coupling capacitance are included in a total coupling capacitance when the first and the second secondary inductive segments are included in the secondary signal path and the second coupling capacitance is substantially removed from the total coupling capacitance when the first secondary inductive segment is included in the secondary signal path and the second secondary inductive segment is excluded from the secondary signal path.