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DE-102013109169-B4 - Tunable broadband distribution circuit

DE102013109169B4DE 102013109169 B4DE102013109169 B4DE 102013109169B4DE-102013109169-B4

Abstract

Tunable broadband distribution circuit (300, 460) for transmitting a signal in a selected frequency band chosen from a plurality of frequency bands over a transmission line (302, 304) of a physical length, wherein the tunable broadband distribution circuit (300, 460) comprises: a plurality of switches (406, 408) configured to select from among a plurality of local oscillators (402, 404) to select frequency band 10, wherein the plurality of local oscillators (402, 404) are configured to provide signals in the plurality of frequency bands; a gain buffer (104) configured to amplify the signal and output the amplified signal to the transmission line, wherein the gain of the gain buffer (104) can be specified at least based on the selected frequency band of the signal; and a tuning element (306) configured to modify an effective length of the transmission line (302, 304) by varying an amount of the impedance in series with the transmission line at least on the basis of the selected frequency band of the signal, wherein the tuning element (306) is electrically coupled to the transmission line (302, 304).

Inventors

  • Curtiss Roberts
  • Rizwan Ahmed
  • Lillian Lent

Assignees

  • APPLE INC.

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20130823
Priority Date
20120824

Claims (15)

  1. Tunable broadband distribution circuit (300, 460) for transmitting a signal in a selected frequency band chosen from a plurality of frequency bands via a transmission transmission line (302, 304) of a physical length, wherein the tunable broadband distribution circuit (300, 460) comprises: a plurality of switches (406, 408) configured to select from a plurality of local oscillators (402, 404) to select frequency band 10, wherein the plurality of local oscillators (402, 404) are configured to provide signals in the plurality of frequency bands; a gain buffer (104) configured to amplify the signal and output the amplified signal to the transmission line, wherein a gain of the gain buffer (104) can be specified at least based on the selected frequency band of the signal; and a tuning element (306) configured to modify an effective length of the transmission line (302, 304) by varying an amount of the impedance in series with the transmission line at least on the basis of the selected frequency band of the signal, wherein the tuning element (306) is electrically coupled to the transmission line (302, 304).
  2. Tunable broadband distribution circuit (300, 460) according to Claim 1 , with the majority of frequency bands being in the high-frequency range.
  3. Tunable broadband distribution circuit (300, 460) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the tuning element (306) comprises a controllable capacitor (308).
  4. Tunable broadband distribution circuit (300, 460) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the tuning element (306) comprises a controllable inductor (310).
  5. Tunable broadband distribution circuit (300, 460) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein an effective impedance of the transmission line (302, 304) comprises a non-zero reactance.
  6. Wireless communication system comprising: a baseband processor configured to operate in a plurality of frequency bands; an antenna; a tunable broadband distribution circuit (300, 460) for transmitting a signal in a selected frequency band chosen from the plurality of frequency bands over a transmission line (302, 304) of a physical length within the tunable broadband distribution circuit (300, 460), wherein the tunable broadband distribution circuit (300, 460) comprises: a plurality of switches (406, 408) configured to select from among a plurality of local oscillators (402, 404) to select the frequency band, wherein the plurality of local oscillators (402, 404) are configured to provide signals in the plurality of frequency bands; a gain buffer (104) configured to amplify the signal and output the amplified signal to the transmission line, wherein the gain of the gain buffer can be specified at least on the basis of the selected frequency band of the signal; and a tuning element (306) configured to modify an effective length of the transmission line (302, 304) by varying an amount of the impedance in series with the transmission line at least on the basis of the selected frequency band of the signal, wherein the tuning element (306) is electrically coupled to the transmission line (302, 304).
  7. Wireless communication system according to Claim 6 , with the majority of frequency bands being in the high-frequency range.
  8. Wireless communication system according to one of the Claims 6 until 7 , wherein the tuning element (306) comprises a variable capacitor (308).
  9. Wireless communication system according to one of the Claims 6 until 8 , wherein the tuning element (306) comprises a controllable inductor (310).
  10. Wireless communication system according to one of the Claims 6 until 9 , where an effective impedance of the transmission line (302, 304) includes a non-zero reactance.
  11. Method (500) for optimizing the power transmission of a signal in a selected frequency band chosen from a plurality of frequency bands over a transmission line (302, 304) of a physical length within a tunable broadband distribution circuit, (300, 460) wherein the method comprises: determining (502) a plurality of settings for a gain buffer (104), wherein the plurality of settings are at least partially based on a desired frequency band, the desired frequency band being selected from the plurality of frequency bands; determining (504) a plurality of settings for a tuning element electrically coupled to the transmission line (302, 304), wherein the plurality of settings are at least partially based on a desired frequency band, wherein the desired frequency band is selected from the plurality of frequency bands; receiving (508) a display of the desired frequency band; setting (512) the gain of the gain buffer according to the plurality of settings for the gain buffer and the display of the desired frequency band; and setting the tuning element according to the plurality of settings for the tuning element and the display of the desired frequency band, in order to enable the tuning element to change an amount of the impedance in series with the transmission line, thereby setting an effective length of the transmission line (302, 304).
  12. Procedure according to Claim 11 , furthermore, a comprehensive check to see if the desired frequency band has changed.
  13. Procedure according to Claim 11 or 12 , with the majority of frequency bands being in the high-frequency range.
  14. Procedure according to one of the Claims 11 until 13 , wherein the tuning element is configured to modify an effective impedance of a transmission line of the tunable wireless receiver at least on the basis of the frequency of the wireless signal, wherein the tuning element is electrically coupled to the transmission line.
  15. Procedure according to Claim 14 , where an effective impedance of the transmission line includes a non-zero reactance.

Description

TECHNICAL AREA The present disclosure relates generally to wireless communication and in particular to tunable broadband distribution circuits. BACKGROUND Wireless communication systems are used in a wide variety of telecommunications systems, television, radio and other media systems, data communication networks, and other systems for transmitting information between remote points using wireless transmitters and wireless receivers. A transmitter is an electronic device that propagates an electromagnetic signal, usually by means of an antenna, as in radio, television, or other telecommunications technologies. Transmitters often include signal amplifiers that receive a radio frequency or other signal, amplify the signal by a predetermined gain, and transmit the amplified signal. Conversely, a receiver is an electronic device that receives and processes an electromagnetic wireless signal, usually also by means of an antenna. In certain cases, a transmitter and receiver can be combined into a single device called a transceiver. A receiver in a wireless communication device that wishes to transmit and/or receive over a range of frequency bands may employ a broadband distribution circuit to send a wireless signal from one part of the wireless communication device to another. Due to the varying characteristics of different frequency bands, the performance of the wireless communication device can change depending on the selected frequency. In particular, due to the frequency-dependent nature of power losses in transmission lines, it can be difficult, if not impossible, to optimize the power transmission of a signal within the distribution circuit for a multitude of frequencies. Therefore, what might be an optimal power transmission configuration for a wireless communication device wishing to transmit and/or receive over a range of frequency bands at one frequency may not be optimal at another. Well-known circuit designs that can be used in transmitters and/or receivers include, for example, those in US 2010/0 271 122 A1 , DE 10 2007 016 590 A1 , DE 10 2009 019 440 A1 , US 2006 / 0 030 277 A1 or US 7 583 143 B2 described. SUMMARY It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved tunable broadband distribution circuit for transmitting a wireless signal over a transmission line. This task is achieved by a tunable broadband distribution circuit for transmitting a wireless signal over a transmission line according to claim 1, a wireless communication system according to claim 6 and a method according to claim 11. A tunable broadband distribution circuit for transmitting a wireless signal over a transmission line is disclosed. The tunable broadband distribution circuit can include a programmable gain buffer, wherein the gain of the programmable gain buffer is based at least partially on a frequency of the wireless signal. The tunable broadband distribution circuit can also include a tuning element configured to modify an effective impedance of the transmission line at least on the basis of the frequency of the wireless signal, wherein the tuning element is electrically coupled to the transmission line. The technical advantages of the present disclosure are readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the figures, the description, and the claims contained herein. The objectives and advantages of the embodiments are achieved and realized at least by the elements, features, and combinations that are set forth in particular in the claims. It goes without saying that both the preceding general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and do not limit the invention as claimed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a better understanding of the present disclosure and its features and advantages, reference is now made to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 1 a simplified block diagram of an exemplary wireless signal driver according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated; 2 a simplified circuit diagram of an exemplary wireless signal driver according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure is illustrated; 3 a detailed circuit diagram of an exemplary tunable broadband distribution circuit according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure is illustrated; 4 a detailed circuit diagram of an exemplary tunable broadband distribution circuit according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure is illustrated; and 5 A flowchart of an exemplary method for adjusting the appropriate components of a tunable broadband distribution circuit according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure is illustrated. DETAILED DESCRIPTION 1 Figure 1 illustrates a simplified block diagram of an exemplary wireless signal driver 100 according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. For simplicity, the wireless signal driver 100 is represented by a frequency source 102, a buffer driver 10