(12) United States Patent
`Tasic et al.
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 9,154,356 B2
`Oct. 6, 2015
`
`US009 154356B2
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`(54)
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`(75)
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`(73)
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`Assignee:
`
`Notice:
`
`LOW NOISE AMPLIFERS FOR CARRIER
`AGGREGATION
`Inventors: Aleksandar Miodrag Tasic, San Diego,
`CA (US); Anosh Bomi Davierwalla,
`San Diego, CA (US)
`QUALCOMM Incorporated, San
`Diego, CA (US)
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`Appl. No.: 13/590,423
`Filed:
`Aug. 21, 2012
`Prior Publication Data
`US 2013/0315348A1
`Nov. 28, 2013
`Related U.S. Application Data
`Provisional application No. 61/652,064, filed on May
`25, 2012.
`Int. C.
`H04L27/06
`H04L 27/26
`HO3G 3/20
`HO3F L/22
`HO3F 3/93
`
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(Continued)
`
`U.S. C.
`CPC ............ H04L 27/2647(2013.01); H03F I/223
`(2013.01); H03F 3/193 (2013.01); H03F 3/68
`(2013.01); H03F 3/72 (2013.01); H03G3/20
`(2013.01)
`
`Field of Classification Search
`CPC. H04L 27/2647; H04L27/2649; H04L 27/38;
`H03H 7/40: H03G3/20
`USPC ................. 375/316, 317, 318, 345, 349,340;
`455/130, 132, 136, 234.1; 370/542
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
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`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
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`International Search Report and Written Opinion—PCT/US2013/
`042726 ISA/EPO Oct. 2, 2013.
`(Continued)
`
`Primary Examiner — Khanh C Tran
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm — Ramin Mobarhan
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`Low noise amplifiers (LNAS) Supporting carrier aggregation
`are disclosed. In an exemplary design, an apparatus includes
`first and second amplifier stages, e.g., for a carrier aggrega
`tion (CA) LNA or a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO)
`LNA. The first amplifier stage receives and amplifies an input
`radio frequency (RF) signal and provides a first output RF
`signal to a first load circuit when the first amplifier stage is
`enabled. The input RF signal includes transmissions sent on
`multiple carriers at different frequencies to a wireless device.
`The second amplifier stage receives and amplifies the input
`RF signal and provides a second output RF signal to a second
`load circuit when the second amplifier stage is enabled. Each
`amplifier stage may include a gain transistor coupled to a
`cascode transistor.
`
`20 Claims, 17 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`
`
`Amplifi
`Stage
`
`RXin
`
`Matching
`Circuit
`
`Amplifier
`Stage 2
`1.
`
`INTEL 1101
`
`

`

`US 9,154,356 B2
`Page 2
`
`(51) Int. Cl.
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`MSM6500 Chipset Solution, Qualcomm Incorporated, 2004.
`Pitschi M. et al., “High Performance Microwave Acoustic Compo
`nents for Mobile Radios'. Ultrasonics Symposium(IUS), 2009 IEEE
`International, EPCOS AG, Munich, Germany, vol. 1, Sep. 20-23,
`2009.
`Qualcomm Europe: “UE Implementation Impact due to 4C-HSDPA
`Operation”, 3GPP Draft; R1-094067 UE Impl Impact 4C
`HSDPA, 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), Mobile Com
`petence Centre: 650, Route des Lucioles; F-06921 Sophia-Antipolis
`Cedex ; France, No. Miyazaki; Oct. 12, 2009, XP050388547,
`retrieved on Oct. 6, 2009.
`Rahn D.G., et al., “A fully integrated multiband MIMO WLAN
`transceiver RFIC.” IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits, 2005, vol. 40 (8),
`1629-1641.
`Sever et al. "A Dual-Antenna Phase-Array Ultra-Wideband CMOS
`Transceiver'. IEEE Communications Magazine Online 2006, vol.
`44, Issue 8, pp. 102-110. See pp. 104-107.
`Tasic A. et al., “Design of Adaptive Multimode RF Front-End Cir
`cuits', IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, vol. 42, Issue 2, Feb.
`2007 pp. 313-322.
`Winternitz, et al., “A GPS Receiver for High-Altitude Satellite Navi
`gation.” IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Signal Processing, vol. 3,
`No. 4, pp. 541-556, Aug. 2009.
`Philips: “Capabilities of multi-transceiver UES, 3GPP Draft:
`R1-103913, 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), Mobile
`Competence Centre; 650, Route des Lucioles; F-06921 Sophia
`Antipolis Cedex; France, vol. RAN WG1, No. Dresden, Germany;
`Jun. 22, 2010, XP050449298, retrieved on Jun. 22, 2010 the whole
`document.
`Kevin Wet al., "3G/4G Multimode Cellular Front End Challenges”.
`Part 2: Architecture Discussion, RFMDR) White Paper, 2009, 9
`pageS.
`“UMTS Picocell Front End Module”, CTS Corp. 8 pages. 2011 via
`archive.org/web.
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`INTEL 1101
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`U.S. Patent
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`Oct. 6, 2015
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`Sheet 1 of 17
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`US 9,154,356 B2
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`U.S. Patent
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`Oct. 6, 2015
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`U.S. Patent
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`Oct. 6, 2015
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`Sheet 3 of 17
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`US 9,154,356 B2
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`U.S. Patent
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`Oct. 6, 2015
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`Sheet 4 of 17
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`US 9,154,356 B2
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`U.S. Patent
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`Oct. 6, 2015
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`Sheet 5 Of 17
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`US 9,154,356 B2
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`INTEL 1101
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`U.S. Patent
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`US 9,154,356 B2
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`U.S. Patent
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`Oct. 6, 2015
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`Sheet 7 Of 17
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`US 9,154,356 B2
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`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
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`Oct. 6, 2015
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`Sheet 8 of 17
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`US 9,154,356 B2
`US 9,154,356 B2
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`U.S. Patent
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`Oct. 6, 2015
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`Sheet 9 Of 17
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`US 9,154,356 B2
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`U.S. Patent
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`Oct. 6, 2015
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`Sheet 10 of 17
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`US 9,154,356 B2
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`U.S. Patent
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`Oct. 6, 2015
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`Sheet 11 of 17
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`US 9,154,356 B2
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`U.S. Patent
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`US 9,154,356 B2
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`Oct. 6, 2015
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`Sheet 14 of 17
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`US 9,154,356 B2
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`U.S. Patent
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`Oct. 6, 2015
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`Sheet 15 Of 17
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`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
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`Oct. 6, 2015
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`Sheet 16 of 17
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`US 9,154,356 B2
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`Oct. 6, 2015
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`Sheet 17 Of 17
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`US 9,154,356 B2
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`1300
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`Enable first and second amplifier
`stages in a first/CA mode
`
`Enable the first amplifier stage
`and disable the second amplifier
`stage in a second/non-CA mode
`
`
`
`
`
`1316
`Amplify a first input RF signal with the first
`amplifier stage to obtain a first output RF
`signal when the first amplifier stage is
`enabled, the first input RF signal comprising
`transmissions sent on multiple carriers at
`different frequencies to a wireless device
`1318
`Amplify the first input RF signal or a second
`input RF signal with the second amplifier
`stage to obtain a second output RF signal
`when the second amplifier stage is enabled
`
`End
`
`FIG. 13
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`INTEL 1101
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`

`1.
`LOW NOISE AMPLIFERS FOR CARRIER
`AGGREGATION
`
`2
`FIG. 13 shows a process for receiving signals in a wireless
`system.
`
`US 9,154,356 B2
`
`CLAIM OF PRIORITY UNDER 35 U.S.C. S 119
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`The present Application for Patent claims priority to Pro
`visional U.S. Application Ser. No. 61/652,064, entitled
`LOW NOISE AMPLIFIERS FOR CARRIERAGGREGA
`TION, filed May 25, 2012, assigned to the assignee hereof,
`and expressly incorporated herein by reference.
`
`10
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`I. Field
`The present disclosure relates generally to electronics, and
`more specifically to low noise amplifiers (LNAs).
`II. Background
`A wireless device (e.g., a cellular phone or a Smartphone)
`in a wireless communication system may transmit and receive
`data for two-way communication. The wireless device may
`include a transmitter for data transmission and a receiver for
`data reception. For data transmission, the transmitter may
`modulate a radio frequency (RF) carrier signal with data to
`obtain a modulated RF signal, amplify the modulated RF
`signal to obtain an amplified RF signal having the proper
`output power level, and transmit the amplified RF signal via
`an antenna to a base station. For data reception, the receiver
`may obtain a received RF signal via the antenna and may
`amplify and process the received RF signal to recover data
`sent by the base station.
`A wireless device may support carrier aggregation, which
`is simultaneous operation on multiple carriers. A carrier may
`refer to a range of frequencies used for communication and
`may be associated with certain characteristics. For example, a
`carrier may be associated with system information describing
`operation on the carrier. A carrier may also be referred to as a
`component carrier (CC), a frequency channel, a cell, etc. It is
`desirable to efficiently support carrier aggregation by the
`wireless device.
`
`15
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 shows a wireless device communicating with a
`wireless system.
`FIGS. 2A to 2D show four examples of carrier aggregation
`(CA).
`FIG.3 shows a block diagram of the wireless device in FIG.
`1.
`FIGS. 4A and 4B show a receiver supporting intra-band
`CA.
`FIGS. 5A and 5B show a receiver supporting intra-band
`CA and inter-band CA.
`FIGS. 6A to 6C show an LNA with inductive degeneration
`and cascode shutoff.
`FIG. 7 shows an LNA with inductive degeneration, cas
`code shutoff, and resistive feedback.
`FIG. 8A shows an LNA with a separate input attenuation
`circuit for each amplifier stage.
`FIG. 8B shows an LNA with a shared input attenuation
`circuit for two amplifier stages.
`FIG. 9 shows an LNA with a tunable input matching cir
`cuit.
`FIGS. 10 to 11C show several exemplary designs of a
`multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) LNA.
`FIGS. 12A to 12F show six exemplary designs of a tunable
`input matching circuit.
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`The detailed description set forth below is intended as a
`description of exemplary designs of the present disclosure
`and is not intended to represent the only designs in which the
`present disclosure can be practiced. The term “exemplary” is
`used herein to mean 'serving as an example, instance, or
`illustration.” Any design described herein as “exemplary' is
`not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous
`over other designs. The detailed description includes specific
`details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding
`of the exemplary designs of the present disclosure. It will be
`apparent to those skilled in the art that the exemplary designs
`described herein may be practiced without these specific
`details. In some instances, well-known structures and devices
`are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring
`the novelty of the exemplary designs presented herein.
`LNAS Supporting carrier aggregation are disclosed herein.
`These LNAs may have better performance and may be used
`for various types of electronic devices such as wireless com
`munication devices.
`FIG. 1 shows a wireless device 110 communicating with a
`wireless communication system 120. Wireless system 120
`may be a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, a Code Divi
`sion Multiple Access (CDMA) system, a Global System for
`Mobile Communications (GSM) system, a wireless local area
`network (WLAN) system, or some other wireless system. A
`CDMA system may implement Wideband CDMA
`(WCDMA), cdma2000, or some other version of CDMA. For
`simplicity, FIG. 1 shows wireless system 120 including two
`base stations 130 and 132 and one system controller 140. In
`general, a wireless system may include any number of base
`stations and any set of network entities.
`Wireless device 110 may also be referred to as a user
`equipment (UE), a mobile station, a terminal, an access ter
`minal, a subscriber unit, a station, etc. Wireless device 110
`may be a cellular phone, a Smartphone, a tablet, a wireless
`modem, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a handheld
`device, a laptop computer, a Smartbook, a netbook, a cordless
`phone, a wireless local loop (WLL) station, a Bluetooth
`device, etc. Wireless device 110 may be capable of commu
`nicating with wireless system 120. Wireless device 110 may
`also be capable of receiving signals from broadcast stations
`(e.g., a broadcast station 134), signals from satellites (e.g., a
`satellite 150) in one or more global navigation satellite sys
`tems (GNSS), etc. Wireless device 110 may support one or
`more radio technologies for wireless communication Such as
`LTE, cdma2000, WCDMA, GSM, 802.11, etc.
`Wireless device 110 may support carrier aggregation,
`which is operation on multiple carriers. Carrier aggregation
`may also be referred to as multi-carrier operation. Wireless
`device 110 may be able to operate in low-band from 698 to
`960 megahertz (MHz), mid-band from 1475 to 2170 MHz,
`and/or high-band from 2300 to 2690 and 3400 to 3800 MHz.
`Low-band, mid-band, and high-band refer to three groups of
`bands (or band groups), with each band group including a
`number of frequency bands (or simply, “bands'). Each band
`may cover up to 200 MHz and may include one or more
`carriers. Each carrier may cover up to 20 MHz in LTE. LTE
`Release 11 supports 35 bands, which are referred to as LTE/
`UMTS bands and are listed in 3GPP TS 36.101. Wireless
`device 110 may be configured with up to 5 carriers in one or
`two bands in LTE Release 11.
`
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`US 9,154,356 B2
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`10
`
`15
`
`3
`In general, carrier aggregation (CA) may be categorized
`into two types intra-band CA and inter-band CA. Intra
`band CA refers to operation on multiple carriers within the
`same band. Inter-band CA refers to operation on multiple
`carriers in different bands.
`FIG. 2A shows an example of contiguous intra-band CA.
`In the example shown in FIG. 2A, wireless device 110 is
`configured with four contiguous carriers in the same band,
`which is a band in low-band. Wireless device 110 may receive
`transmissions on multiple contiguous carriers within the
`same band.
`FIG. 2B shows an example of non-contiguous intra-band
`CA. In the example shown in FIG. 2B, wireless device 110 is
`configured with four non-contiguous carriers in the same
`band, which is a band in low-band. The carriers may be
`separated by 5 MHz, 10 MHz, or some other amount. Wire
`less device 110 may receive transmissions on multiple non
`contiguous carriers within the same band.
`FIG. 2C shows an example of inter-band CA in the same
`band group. In the example shown in FIG.2C, wireless device
`110 is configured with four carriers in two bands in the same
`band group, which is low-band. Wireless device 110 may
`receive transmissions on multiple carriers in different bands
`in the same band group (e.g., low-band in FIG. 2C).
`FIG. 2D shows an example of inter-band CA in different
`band groups. In the example shown in FIG. 2D, wireless
`device 110 is configured with four carriers in two bands in
`different band groups, which include two carriers in one band
`in low-band and two additional carriers in another band in
`mid-band. Wireless device 110 may receive transmissions on
`multiple carriers in different bands in different band groups
`(e.g., low-band and mid-band in FIG. 2D).
`FIGS. 2A to 2D show four examples of carrier aggregation.
`Carrier aggregation may also be supported for other combi
`nations of bands and band groups. For example, carrier aggre
`gation may be supported for low-band and high-band, mid
`band and high-band, high-band and high-band, etc.
`FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of an exemplary design of
`wireless device 110 in FIG. 1. In this exemplary design,
`40
`wireless device 110 includes a transceiver 320 coupled to a
`primary antenna 310, receivers 322 coupled to a secondary
`antenna 312, and a data processor/controller 380. Transceiver
`320 includes multiple (K) receivers 330aa to 330ak and mul
`tiple (K) transmitters 360a to 360k to support multiple bands,
`45
`carrier aggregation, multiple radio technologies, etc. Receiv
`ers 322 include multiple (M) receivers 330ba to 330bm to
`Support multiple bands, carrier aggregation, multiple radio
`technologies, receive diversity, MIMO transmission, etc.
`In the exemplary design shown in FIG.3, each receiver 330
`includes input circuits 332, an LNA340, and receive circuits
`342. For data reception, antenna 310 receives signals from
`base stations and/or other transmitter stations and provides a
`received RF signal, which is routed through switches/duplex
`ers 324 and provided to a selected receiver. The description
`below assumes that receiver 330aa is the selected receiver.
`Within receiver 330aa, the received RF signal is passed
`through input circuits 332aa, which provides an input RF
`signal to an LNA340aa. Input circuits 332aa may include a
`matching circuit, a receive filter, etc. LNA340aa amplifies
`the input RF signal and provides an output RF signal. Receive
`circuits 342aa amplify, filter, and downconvert the output RF
`signal from RF to baseband and provide an analog input
`signal to data processor 380. Receive circuits 332aa may
`include mixers, a filter, an amplifier, a matching circuit, an
`oscillator, a local oscillator (LO) generator, a phase locked
`loop (PLL), etc. Each remaining receiver 330 in transceiver
`
`50
`
`4
`320 and each receiver 330 in receivers 322 may operate in
`similar manner as receiver 330aa in transceiver 320.
`In the exemplary design shown in FIG. 3, each transmitter
`360 includes transmit circuits 362, a power amplifier (PA)
`364, and output circuits 366. For data transmission, data
`processor 380 processes (e.g., encodes and modulates) data to
`be transmitted and provides an analog output signal to a
`selected transmitter. The description below assumes that
`transmitter 360a is the selected transmitter. Within transmit
`ter 360a, transmit circuits 362a amplify, filter, and upconvert
`the analog output signal from baseband to RF and provide a
`mo