Integrated radio frequency front-end circuit

摘要

An integrated RF front-end circuit comprising a balun, a receiver amplifier, a power amplifier, and a selector circuit is provided. The balun comprises a center-tapped inductor having a first node, a center-tap switchlessly coupled to a fixed voltage, and a second node. The balun receives a single-ended signal through the first node to produce a differential signal at the first and second nodes. The differential signal is provided to balanced input lines of the receiver amplifier. Balanced output lines of the power amplifier provide a differential signal to the first and second nodes. The balun converts the differential signal to a single-ended signal. The single-ended signal is available at the first node of the center-tapped inductor. The selector circuit activates the receiver amplifier and deactivates the power amplifier, and vice versa. The power amplifier may comprise only a single-ended output line connected to either the first or the second node.

主权项

1. A radio frequency front-end circuit, comprising:
a balun, comprising:
a single coil center-tapped inductor having a center-tap drawn from center of the single coil, said single coil center-tapped inductor comprising a first node and a second node, said center-tap switchlessly coupled to a fixed voltage, wherein said balun is configured to receive a single-ended signal through said first node of said single coil center-tapped inductor and convert said single-ended signal to a differential signal, wherein said balun is configured to receive said differential signal through said first node and said second node and convert said differential signal to said single-ended signal, and wherein said differential signal is available at said first node and said second node, and said single-ended signal is available at said first node; a receiver radio frequency amplifier having balanced input lines connected to said first node and said second node, said receiver radio frequency amplifier configured for receiving and amplifying said differential signal, wherein said receiver radio frequency amplifier comprises one or more active components; a radio frequency power amplifier having balanced output lines connected to said first node and said second node, said radio frequency power amplifier configured for providing an amplified differential signal to said balun, wherein said radio frequency power amplifier comprises one or more active components; and a selector circuit in communication with said receiver radio frequency amplifier and said radio frequency power amplifier, said selector circuit configured for activating said active components of said receiver radio frequency amplifier and deactivating said active components of said radio frequency power amplifier during said conversion of said single-ended signal to said differential signal, and vice versa during said conversion of said differential signal to said single-ended signal; whereby said balun is switchlessly and selectively coupled to said receiver radio frequency amplifier during said conversion of said single-ended signal to said differential signal and said radio frequency power amplifier during said conversion of said differential signal to said single-ended signal.