U8009154356B2
`
`(12) United States Patent
`(10) Patent No.:
`US 9,154,356 B2
`
`Tasic et a1.
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Oct. 6, 2015
`
`(54) LOW NOISE AMPLIFIERS FOR CARRIER
`AGGREGATION
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Aleksandar Miodrag Tasic, San Diego,
`CA (US); Anosh Bomi Davierwalla,
`San Diego, CA (US)
`
`(73) Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated, San
`Diego, CA (US)
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
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`(Continued)
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`C_\'
`CN
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 13/590,423
`
`(22)
`
`(65)
`
`Filed:
`
`Aug. 21, 2012
`
`Prior Publication Data
`US 2013/0315348 A1
`Nov. 28. 2013
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(60) Provisional application No. 61/652,064, filed on May
`25, 2012.
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`[104]. 27/06
`[[04]. 27/26
`H03G 3/20
`H03F 1/22
`H03F 3/193
`
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(Continued)
`
`(52) U.S. Cl.
`CPC
`
`H04L 27/2647 (2013.01); H03F 1/223
`(2013.01): H03F 3/193 (2013.01); H03F 3/68
`(2013.01); [1031’ 3/72 (2013.01); 1103G 3/20
`(2013.01)
`
`(58) Field of Classification Search
`CPC . H04L 27/2647; H04L 27/2649; H04L 27/38;
`H03H 7/40: H03G 3/20
`375/316. 317, 318, 345, 349. 340;
`455/130. 132. 136, 2341; 370/542
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`USPC
`
`1523912 A
`1922795 A
`
`8/2004
`2/2007
`
`(Continued)
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`International Search Report and Written Opinion—PCT/USZOIJ/
`042726—ISA/HPO—Uct. 2, 2013.
`
`(Continued)
`
`Primary Examiner 7 Khanh C Tran
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm 7 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 R1" 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
`
`640a
`‘1
`
`6503
`r —————————————— 1
`r _______x. _ _ _ _
`
`I Vcasc
`
`Amplifier :
`5555
`Stage 1
`.
`
`"x'
`656a
`632
`
`
`6543
`
` Input
`
`Matching
`Circuit
`
`
`
`—-—1
`
`|NTEL1201
`
`I :
`
`Amplifier
`I Stage2
`L/
`
`
`
`

`

`US 9,154,356 BZ
` Page2
`
`(51)
`
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`2008085793 A
`2008519535 A
`2009130867 A
`2011015112 A
`2011082669 A
`2011091747 A
`2011119807 A
`
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`

`

`US 9,154,356 132
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`Page 4
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`References Cited
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`Harmonic Reduction Technique for Cellular CDMA«'PCS:’GPS
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`1629-1641.
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`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.
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`No. 4, pp. 541-556, Aug. 2009.
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`document.
`Kevin W et al., “BO/4G Multimode Cellular Front End Challenges".
`Part 2: Architecture Discussion, RFMDCR‘I' White Paper, 2009, 9
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`“UM'l S Picocell Front 13nd Module”, C‘l'S Corp. 8 pages. 2011 via
`archiveorg/Web.
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 6, 2015
`
`Sheet 1 0f 17
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`US 9,154,356 B2
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`

`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 6, 2015
`
`Sheet 3 0f 17
`
`US 9,154,356 B2
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`Data
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`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 6, 2015
`
`Sheet 4 0f 17
`
`US 9,154,356 B2
`
`440
`
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`
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`
`Switches/
`
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`
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`
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`(CA)
`
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`
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`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 6, 2015
`
`Sheet 5 0f 17
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`US 9,154,356 B2
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`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 6, 2015
`
`Sheet60f17
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`US 9,154,356 B2
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`US. Patent
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`Oct. 6, 2015
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`Sheet 7 0f 17
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`US 9,154,356 B2
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`

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`US. Patent
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`US 9,154,356 B2
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`US. Patent
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`Oct. 6, 2015
`
`Sheet 9 0f 17
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`US 9,154,356 B2
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`US. 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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`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 6, 2015
`
`Sheet 11 of 17
`
`US 9,154,356 B2
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`Circuit
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`Tunable
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`

`

`US. Patent
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`US 9,154,356 B2
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`Oct. 6, 2015
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`US. Patent
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`Oct. 6, 2015
`
`Sheet 17 of 17
`
`US 9,154,356 B2
`
`Enable first and second amplifier
`stages in a first/CA mode
`
`1300
`1312 V
`
`1314
`
`Enable the first amplifier stage
`and disable the second amplifier
`
`stage in a second/non-CA mode
`different frequencies to a wireless device
`when the second amplifier stage is enabled
`
`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
`
`Amplify the first input RF signal or a second
`input RF signal with the second amplifier
`stage to obtain a second output RF signal
`
`1318
`
`End
`
`FIG. 13
`
`

`

`1
`LOW NOISE AMPLIFIERS FOR CARRIER
`AGGREGATION
`
`2
`
`FIG. 13 shows a process for receiving signals in a Wireless
`system.
`
`US 9,154,356 BZ
`
`CLAIM OF PRIORITY UNDER 35 U.S.C. §119
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`The present Application for Patent claims priority to Pro-
`visional US. Application Ser. No. 61/652,064, entitled
`“LOW NOISE AMPLIFIERS FOR CARRIER AGGREGA-
`
`TION,” filed May 25, 2012, assigned to the assignee hereof,
`and expressly incorporated herein by reference.
`
`10
`
`BACKG ROUND
`
`1. Field
`
`The present disclosure relates generally to electronics, and
`more specifically to low noise amplifiers (LNAs).
`II. Background
`A wireless device (cg, a cellular phone or a smarlphonc)
`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
`maybe associated with certain characteristics. For example, a
`carrier may be associated with system infonnation describing
`operation on the canier. 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.
`
`BRIIII1 DESCRIPTION ()11 'I'[ III', 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 ablock diagram ofthe Wireless devicein FIG.
`
`1.
`
`FIGS. 4A and 4B show a receiver supporting intra—band
`CA.
`FIGS. 5A and SB 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.
`
`I’IGS. It) to '1 IC show several exemplary designs of a
`multiple-input multiple-output (M IMO) I ,NA.
`FIGS. 12A to 12F show six exemplary designs of a tunable
`input matching circuit.
`
`15
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`Ln Ln
`
`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 ofproviding 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-
`mlmication devices.
`
`l’IG. '1 shows a Wireless device 'I '10 communicating with a
`Wireless communication system I 20. Wireless system I20
`may be a Long Temi 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 temn'nal, an access ter-
`minal, a subscriber unit, a station. etc. Wireless device 110
`may be a cellular phone, a smartphonc. 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 commluiication 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 lVfl-Iz,
`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. llach carrier may cover up to 20 MI IZ in Ifl'll. IfI‘l",
`Release I 1 supports 35 bands, which are referred to as I If] 5/
`UM'I‘S bands and are listed in 3GPP 'I‘S 36.101. Wireless
`
`device 110 may be configured with up to 5 carriers in one or
`two bands in LTE Release 11.
`
`

`

`US 9,154,356 BZ
`
`3
`In general, carrier aggregation (CA) may be categorized
`into two typesiintra-band CA and inter-band CA. Intra-
`band CA refers to operation 011 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
`(IA. In the example shown in FIG. 2]), wireless device I III 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. 2(? shows an example ofinter-band (IA 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. 2]) shows an example ofinter-band CA in different
`band groups.
`In the example shown in FIG. 2]), 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 ofcarrier aggregation.
`Carrier aggregation may also be supported for other combi-
`nations ofbands andband 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,
`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 330cm to 330ak and mul-
`tiple (K) transmitters 360a to 360kto support multiple bands,
`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 LNA 340, 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 3300a is the selected receiver.
`
`is passed
`the received RF signal
`'Within receiver 33 Dan,
`through input circuits 332aa, which provide