DUAL-MODE FILTERING ACTUATOR DRIVER APPARATUS, SYSTEMS AND METHODS

摘要

A dual-mode driver includes a transition stage and a static stage. The transition stage switches a bias voltage or an RF ground potential to an output pad to change the state of an RF actuator device connected at the output pad. After waiting a predetermined period of time for the RF actuator device to change state, the transition stage of the driver is disabled. A high-side or low-side static stage transistor maintains the driver output state through an isolation resistor. The isolation resistor and a capacitor formed at the driver output pad form an RC low-pass filter to block spurious noise generated at the driver. The RC filter also blocks RF energy that might otherwise enter the actuator driver from the actuator. Some embodiments also include a second RC filter located proximate to the output pad to prevent RF energy generated in the RF actuator from entering the driver.

主权项

1. A dual-mode filtering actuator driver apparatus, comprising:
a transition stage including at least two transition stage transistors, the two transition stage transistors having a first current path coupled in series between a power supply voltage rail and a radio frequency (“RF”) ground rail, the two transition stage transistors joined at an output node, at least one of the transition stage transistors to conduct during a state change at the output node and to be turned off at an end of a predetermined period of time after the state change; a static stage communicatively coupled to the transition stage, the static stage including at least two static stage transistors, the two static stage transistors having a second current path coupled in series between the supply voltage rail and the RF ground rail and joined at an isolation node, at least one of the static stage transistors to continue to conduct following the predetermined period of time after the state change in order to maintain the state change after the transition stage becomes inactive; an isolation resistor coupled between the isolation node and the output node; and a pad capacitor with a first terminal at a connector pad communicatively coupled to the output node and a second terminal coupled to the RF ground rail, the isolation resistor and the pad capacitor to form a low-pass filter to filter RF harmonics from the actuator driver to actuator circuitry and to filter RF energy generated outside of the actuator driver at the actuator driver output.