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`
`U8009154356B2
`
`(12) United States Patent
`Tasic et 31.
`
`[10) Patent N0.:
`(45} Date of Patent:
`
`US 9,154,356 32
`Oct. 6, 2015
`
`(54)
`
`(75)
`
`(73)
`
`LOW NOISE AMPLIFIERS FOR CARRIER
`AGGREGATION
`
`Inventors: Aleksandar Mjodrag Tasic. San Diego.
`C A (US); Anosh Bomi Davierwalla.
`San Diego. CA (US)
`
`Assignec: QUAIL'OMM Incorporated. San
`Diego, CA (US)
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`US. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`3.91 1.364 A
`4.035.728 A
`
`1031915 Langscth ct al.
`7:19???
`Ishikawa ct al.
`
`(Continued)
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`(‘3)
`
`Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer. the term ofthis
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154th) by 0 days.
`
`CN
`C.
`
`(21)
`
`(22}
`
`(65}
`
`(60)
`
`(51)
`
`(52)
`
`(53)
`
`Appl. No; 131590.423
`
`Filed:
`
`Aug. 2]. 2012
`Prior Publication Data
`
`Nov. 28. 2013
`US 201310315348Al
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`Provisional application No. 611652064. tiled on May
`25. 2012.
`Int. Cl.
`H041. 27/06
`HIML 27/26
`[1036' 3/20
`[1031" 1722
`HtBF 3/193
`
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`[2006.01 )
`(2006.01)
`(Continued)
`
`U.S. (fl.
`CPC
`
`H0411. 270647001301); ”03!" 1&2}
`(2013.01); H03!" 3/193 (2013.01): [103!" 3/68
`(2013.01): H03F 3/72 (2013.01); H030 300
`(2013.01)
`
`Field of Classification Search
`CPC . 11041- 2732647: H041. 2712649; H041. 2788;
`I-IO3l-I 7140: HOSG 3t20
`3751316. 317. 318. 345. 349. 340:
`4551130. 132. 136. 234.1; 3703542
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`USPC
`
`1523912 A
`[922795 A
`
`8-2004
`23200?
`
`(Continued)
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`International Search Report and Written Opinion—PCT-IJ'SBO13.!
`0423’26
`IS.-\-"EPO Oct. 2. 2013.
`
`(Continued)
`
`Primary Examiner — Kiianh C Tran
`(74) Attorney. Agent. or Firm — Ramin Mobariian
`
`(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)
`INA. The first amp] itier 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 zmd 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
`cascade transistor.
`
`20 Claims, 17 Drawing Sheets
`
`Circuit
`
`Input
`Matching
`
`RXin
`
`Amplifier
`Stage 2
`
`(cid:44)(cid:49)(cid:55)(cid:40)(cid:47)(cid:3)(cid:20)4(cid:19)(cid:20)
`INTEL 1401
`
`

`

`US 9,154,356 B2
`
`Page 2
`
`(51}
`
`(56)
`
`Int.Ci.
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`[200601]
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`US 9,154,356 B2
`Page 4
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`(56}
`
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`
`* cited by examiner
`
`

`

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`US. Patent
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`US. Patent
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`Oct. 6, 2015
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`US. Patent
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`Oct. 6, 2015
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`Sheet 7 of 17
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`US. Patent
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`Oct. 6, 2015
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`US. Patent
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`US. Patent
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`Oct. 6, 2015
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`US 9,154,356 32
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`US. Patent
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`Oct. 6, 2015
`
`Sheet 17 of]?
`
`US 9,154,356 32
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`Enable first and second amplifier
`stages in a first/CA mode
`
`1312 V
`
`1314
`
`Enable the first amplifier stage
`and disable the second amplifier
`
`stage in a secondinon-CA mode
`different frequencies to a wireless device
`when the second amplifier stage is enabled
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`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
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`End
`
`FIG. 13
`
`

`

`1
`LOW NOISE AMPLIFIERS FOR CARRIER
`AGGREGA'I‘ION
`
`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. §119
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`'lhe present Application for Patent claims priority to Pro-
`visional U .8. Application Ser. No. 612652.064. entitled
`“LOW NOISE AMPLIFIERS FOR CARRIER AGGREGA-
`
`TION,“ filed May 25. 2012. assigned to the assignee hereof.
`and expressly incorporated herein by reference.
`
`10
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`[. Field
`
`The present disclosure relates generally to electronics, and
`more specifically to low noise amplifiers (LNAs).
`[1. Background
`A wireless device (eg. a cellular phone or a smartphone)
`in a wireless communication system may transmit and receive
`data for two—way conununication. 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.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. I 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 ofthe wireless device in F1G.
`
`1.
`
`FIGS. 4A and 4B show a receiver supporting ultra—band
`CA.
`FIGS. 5A and 5B show a receiver supporting intra-band
`CA and inter-band CA.
`
`FIGS. 6A to 6C show an [IVA 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. SB shows an LNA with a shared input attenuation
`circuit for two amplifier stages.
`FIG. 9 shows an INA with a tunable input matching cir-
`cuit.
`
`FIGS. 18 to 11C show several exemplary designs of a
`multiple—input multiple—output (MIMO) LNA.
`FIGS. 12A to l 2F show six exemplary designs of a tunable
`input matching circuit.
`
`3o
`
`40
`
`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.
`’l'hese LNAs may have better performance and may be used
`for various types of electronic devices such as wireless com-
`munication devices.
`
`FIG. I shows a wireless device l 10 commtmicatiug with a
`wireless communication system 120. Wireless system 120
`may be a Long Term Evolution (LIE) system. a Code Divi—
`sion Multiple Access (CDMA) system. a Global System for
`Mobile Conuntmications [GSM} system, a wireless local area
`network (WIAN) system. or some other wireless system. A
`CDMA system may
`implement Wideband C DMA
`(WCDMA). cdrna2000. 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 smartphoue. a tablet. a wireless
`modem.
`:1 personal digital assistant
`(FDA). a handheld
`device. a laptop computer, a smartbook, a netboolc. a cordless
`phone. a wireless local loop (WLL) station. a Bluetooth
`device. etc. Wireless device 1 19 may be capable of commu-
`nicating with wireless system 120. Wireless device 1 10 may
`also be capable of receiving signals from broadcast stations
`(cg. 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
`I.,'l"l_~2. cdma2000, WCDMA. GSM. 802.1 1, etc.
`Wireless device 110 may support carrier aggregation.
`which is operation on multiple carriers. Cartier 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.
`auditor 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 ll supports 35 bands. which are referred to as LTEi’
`UMTS bands and are listed in BGPP TS 36.101. Wireless
`device 110 may be configured with up to 5 carriers in one or
`two bands in [TE Release 1 l.
`
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`US 9,154,356 B2
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`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.
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`FIG. 2B shows an example of nonvcontiguous 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 hand in low-band. 'l‘he carriers may be
`separated by 5 MI—Iz, 10 MHz. or some other amount. Wire-
`less device 110 may receive transmissions on multiple non-
`contigucus carriers within the same band.
`FIG. 2C shows an example of inter-baud 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. 2]) shows an example o f inter-band CA in different
`band groups.
`In the example shown in FIG. 21). 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
`(cg, low-baud and mid-band in FIG. 21)).
`FIGS. 2A to 2D show four examples ol‘carrier aggregation.
`Carrier aggregation may also be supported for other combi—
`nations ofbands and band groups. For example, carrier aggre—
`gation may be supported for IowAband and highband. 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. anda data processon’controller 380. Transceiver
`320 includes multiple (K) receivers 330cc to 330a): and lint]-
`tiple (K) transmitters 360:: to 360k to support multiple bands.
`carrier aggregation. multiple radio technologies. etc. Receiv-
`ers 322 include multiple (M) receivers 3.301%: to .330er: to
`support multiple hands. 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 andr’or other transmitter stations and provides a
`received RF signal. which is routed through switchesfduplex-
`ers 324 and provided to a selected receiver. The description
`below assumes that receiver 330cc is the selected receiver.
`
`the received RF signal is passed
`Within receiver 3300a.
`through input circuits 332cm. which prov