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US-12627384-B2 - Calibration method to find impedance of radio frequency front-end (RFFE)

US12627384B2US 12627384 B2US12627384 B2US 12627384B2US-12627384-B2

Abstract

A calibration method to find the impedance of a radio frequency front-end (RFFE) is provided. The RFFE includes a feedback end and a tuner. The tuner is set to a first predetermined setting to have a first impedance. An output end of the tuner is set to different calibration settings. The first reflection coefficient sets at the feedback end is obtained. The second impedance from the feedback end of the RFFE to an input end of the tuner is calculated based on the first reflection coefficient. The tuner is set to a second predetermined setting. The second reflection coefficient sets at the feedback end is obtained. The third impedance of the tuner in the second predetermined setting is calculated based on the second impedance from the feedback end of the RFFE to the input end of the tuner and the second reflection coefficient sets.

Inventors

  • Chun-Hsiang Chen
  • Chin-Wei HSU
  • Po-Chung Hsiao
  • Sin-Sheng WONG
  • Yen-Liang Chen

Assignees

  • MEDIATEK INC.

Dates

Publication Date
20260512
Application Date
20231207

Claims (20)

  1. 1 . A calibration method to find an impedance of a radio frequency front-end (RFFE), wherein the RFFE comprises a feedback end and a tuner, the tuner comprises an input end coupled to the feedback end and an output end coupled to an antenna, the method comprising: setting the tuner to a first predetermined setting; wherein the tuner has a first impedance in the first predetermined setting; setting the output end of the tuner to different calibration settings; wherein the calibration settings comprise open, short, and load; obtaining first reflection coefficient sets at the feedback end; calculating a second impedance from the feedback end of the RFFE to the input end of the tuner based on the first reflection coefficient sets; setting the tuner to a second predetermined setting; obtaining second reflection coefficient sets at the feedback end; and calculating a third impedance of the tuner in the second predetermined setting based on the second impedance from the feedback end of the RFFE to the input end of the tuner and the second reflection coefficient sets.
  2. 2 . The calibration method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising: finishing the method after calculating the first reflection coefficient sets at the feedback end, the second impedance from feedback end of the RFFE to the tuner input, the second reflection coefficient sets at the feedback end, and the third impedance of the tuner for all the calibration settings.
  3. 3 . The calibration method as claimed in claim 2 , further comprising: determining that there is enough available time before finishing calculations of the first reflection coefficient sets at the feedback end and the second impedance from the feedback end to the input end of the tuner for all the calibration settings; and returning to the step of setting the tuner to the first predetermined setting.
  4. 4 . The calibration method as claimed in claim 2 , further comprising: determining that there is not enough time available before finishing calculations of the first reflection coefficient sets at the feedback end and the second impedance from the feedback end to the input end of the tuner for all the calibration settings; and switching back to an original tuner setting.
  5. 5 . The calibration method as claimed in claim 2 , further comprising: determining that there is enough time available before finishing calculations of the second reflection coefficient sets at the feedback end, and the third impedance of the tuner for all the calibration settings; and returning to the step of setting the tuner to the second predetermined setting.
  6. 6 . The calibration method as claimed in claim 2 , further comprising: determining that there is not enough time available before finishing calculations of the second reflection coefficient sets at the feedback end, and the third impedance of the tuner for all the calibration settings; and switching back to the original tuner setting.
  7. 7 . The calibration method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the third impedance of the tuner in the second predetermined setting is an S parameter of the tuner in the second predetermined setting.
  8. 8 . The calibration method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first impedance, the first reflection coefficient sets at the feedback end, the second impedance at the feedback end, the second reflection coefficient sets at the feedback end, and the third impedance of the tuner are matrices.
  9. 9 . The calibration method as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the step of calculating the second impedance from the feedback end of the RFFE to the input end of the tuner based on the first reflection coefficient sets comprises: calculating an inverse matrix of the first impedance of the tuner in the first predetermined setting; and obtaining the second impedance from the feedback end of the RFFE to the input end of the tuner by having a matrix calculation with the first reflection coefficient sets at the feedback end and the inverse matrix of the first impedance of the tuner in the first predetermined setting.
  10. 10 . The calibration method as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the step of calculating the third impedance of the tuner in the second predetermined setting based on the second impedance from the feedback end of the RFFE to the input end of the tuner and the second reflection coefficient sets comprises: calculating an inverse matrix of the second impedance from the feedback end of the RFFE to the input end of the tuner in the second predetermined setting; and obtaining the third impedance of the tuner in the second predetermined setting by having a matrix calculation with the second reflection coefficient sets and the inverse matrix of the second impedance from the feedback end of the RFFE to the input end of the tuner.
  11. 11 . The calibration method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising: setting the input end of the tuner to the different calibration settings; and obtaining the second impedance from the feedback end of the RFFE to the input end of the tuner based on the different calibration settings at the input end of the tuner.
  12. 12 . The calibration method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising: repeating the step of setting the tuner to the first predetermined setting after performing the step of calculating the third impedance of the tuner in the second predetermined setting based on the second impedance from the feedback end of the RFFE to the input end of the tuner and the second reflection coefficient sets.
  13. 13 . The calibration method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the step of obtaining the first reflection coefficient sets at the feedback end comprises: inputting a modulation signal or a tone-signal into the feedback end of the RFFE to obtain the first reflection coefficient sets at the feedback end; and obtaining the first reflection coefficient sets by calculation.
  14. 14 . The calibration method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the step of obtaining the second reflection coefficient sets at the feedback end comprises: inputting a modulation signal or a tone-signal into the feedback end of the RFFE to obtain the second reflection coefficient sets at the feedback end; and obtaining the second reflection coefficient sets by calculation.
  15. 15 . The calibration method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the calibration method is performed in any period without transmission or reception in an over-the-air (OTA) environment.
  16. 16 . The calibration method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the RFFE further comprises a coupler and an antenna network; the coupler is electrically connected to the feedback end of the RFFE; and the antenna network is electrically connected between the coupler and the tuner.
  17. 17 . The calibration method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the step of setting the output end of the tuner to the different calibration settings comprises: installing external calibration kits relative to the different calibration settings at the output end of the tuner; or connecting the output end of the tuner to a port of a spectrum analyzer, and setting an impedance of the port to the different calibration settings.
  18. 18 . The calibration method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising: associating the third impedance of the tuner with the second predetermined setting to generate mapping data; and storing the mapping data in a memory.
  19. 19 . The calibration method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the step of setting the input end of the tuner to the different calibration settings comprises setting the input end of the tuner to the different calibration settings by simulation, calculation, or measurement.
  20. 20 . The calibration method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the step of setting the output end of the tuner to the different calibration settings comprises: setting the output end of the tuner to the different calibration settings by simulation or calculation.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a radio frequency front-end (RFFE), and, in particular, to a calibration method to find the impedance of an RFFE. Description of the Related Art The capability to make an accurate environmental detection will profoundly impact the performance of an antenna. Impedance measurement is one of the most efficient methods for the antenna related technology, and RFFE calibration is a critical part of this technology. In the prior art of the RFFE, there is a radio frequency printed circuit board (RFPCB) disposed between a tuner and an input end of the RFFE. However, it is hard to separate the RFPCB calibration and tuner calibration individually, which often require large amount of training data and calibration timing. When there is no built-in calibration kit at tuner input, e.g., OSL kit, it is hard to calibrate the impedance of the feedback path and the S parameter individually, so the calibrating timing and effort become large. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention provides a calibration method to find the impedance of a radio frequency front-end (RFFE). The RFFE includes a feedback end and a tuner. The tuner includes an input end coupled to the feedback end and an output end coupled to an antenna. The calibration method includes the following stages. The tuner is set to a first predetermined setting. The tuner has a first impedance in the first predetermined setting. The output end of the tuner is set to different calibration settings. The calibration settings include open, short, and load. The first reflection coefficient sets at the feedback end is obtained. The second impedance from the feedback end of the RFFE to the input end of the tuner is calculated based on the first reflection coefficient sets. The tuner is set to a second predetermined setting. The second reflection coefficient sets at the feedback end is obtained. The third impedance of the tuner in the second predetermined setting is calculated based on the second impedance from the feedback end of the RFFE to the input end of the tuner and the second reflection coefficient sets. The calibration method further includes the following stage. The method is finished after calculating the first reflection coefficient sets at the feedback end, the second impedance from the feedback end of the RFFE to the input end of the tuner, the second reflection coefficient sets at the feedback end, and the third impedance of the tuner for all the calibration settings. According to the calibration method described above, the third impedance of the tuner in the second predetermined setting is an S parameter of the tuner in the second predetermined setting. According to the calibration method described above, the first reflection coefficient sets at the feedback end, the second impedance from the feedback end of the RFFE to the input end of the tuner, the second reflection coefficient sets at the feedback end, and the third impedance of the tuner are matrices. According to the calibration method described above, the step of calculating the second impedance from the feedback end of the RFFE to the input end of the tuner based on the first reflection coefficient sets includes the following stages. The inverse matrix of the first impedance of the tuner in the first predetermined setting is calculated. The second impedance from the feedback end of the RFFE to the input end of the tuner is obtained by having a matrix calculation with the first reflection coefficients at the feedback end and the inverse matrix of the first impedance of the tuner in the first predetermined setting. According to the calibration method described above, the step of calculating the third impedance of the tuner in the second predetermined setting based on the second impedance from the feedback end of the RFFE to the input end of the tuner and the second reflection coefficient sets includes the following stages. The inverse matrix of the second impedance from the feedback end of the RFFE to the input end of the tuner in the second predetermined setting is calculated. The third impedance of the tuner in the second predetermined setting is obtained by having the matrix calculation with the second reflection coefficient sets and the inverse matrix of the second impedance from the feedback end of the RFFE to the input end of the tuner. The calibration method further includes the following stages. It is determined that there is enough time available before finishing the calculations of the first reflection coefficient sets of the tuner and the second impedance from the feedback end to the input end of the tuner for all the calibration settings. The step of setting the tuner to the first predetermined setting is returned back. The calibration method further includes the following stages. It is determined that there is not enough time available before finishing the calculations of the first r