CMOS RF switch for high-performance radio systems

[0001] Technological developments permit digitization and compression of large amounts of voice, video, imaging, and data information. Evolving applications have greatly increased the transfer of large amounts of data from one wireless device to another across a network. Currently, the Radio Frequency (RF) platforms used in transferring data across these networks utilize discrete devices to interface the antennas with the transceiver. The discrete devices pose limitations on the size and cost of implementing wireless devices, limitations that are becoming a more serious impediment. Therefore, improved circuits and methods for implementing wireless designs are needed.

[0009] It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements illustrated in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity. Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements.

[0010] In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components and circuits have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the present invention.

[0011] The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 shows a wireless communications device 10 that includes one or more radios to allow communication with other over-the-air communication devices. Communications device 10 may operate in wireless networks such as, for example, Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) that provides the underlying technology of Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) based on the IEEE 802.11 specifications, WiMax and Mobile WiMax based on IEEE 802.16-2005, Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), and Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) networks, although the present invention is not limited to operate in only these networks. The radio subsystems collocated in the same platform of communications device 10 provide the capability of communicating in an RF/location space with the other devices in the network.

[0012] The simplistic embodiment illustrates the coupling of antenna(s) to the transceiver 12 to accommodate modulation/demodulation. Analog transceiver 12 may be embedded with a processor 24 as a mixed-mode integrated circuit where the processor processes functions that fetch instructions, generate decodes, find operands, and perform appropriate actions, then stores results. The processor may include baseband and applications processing functions and utilize one or more processor cores 16 and 18 to handle application functions and allow processing workloads to be shared across the cores. The processor may transfer data through an interface 26 to memory storage in a system memory 28.

[0013] The figure further illustrates high-performance RF switches 14 employed with the diversity antenna(s) for a variety of purposes such as, for example, multiplexing the antenna to a Low Noise Amplifier (LNA) or multiplexing the antenna to a Power Amplifier (PA), among other uses. Whereas traditional RF switches have been fabricated with Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) Metal-Semiconductor Field Effect Transistors (MESFETs) or High-Electron-Mobility-Transistors (PHEMTs), the RF switches 14 in the present invention are fabricated in a Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) technology with the transmitter and receiver to provide a completely integrated radio. Therefore, in contrast to the prior art discrete switches processed with a technology that is different from the transceiver, the present invention uses a common processing technology that provides a lower cost solution and a smaller form factor.

[0014] FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of a CMOS RF switch 200 that may be integrated on a single chip as part of transceiver 12. The simplified schematic diagram includes CMOS pass transistors (switches) 202 and 204 with resistors 206, 208 and 210 commonly connected to a DC voltage V_diff to provide a proper bias potential to the source and drain terminals of the pass transistors. Resistors 212 and 214 are gate isolating resistors commonly connected to a control voltage V_ctrl and further connected to the gate terminals of transistors 202 and 204. DC blocking capacitors 216 and 218 respectively isolate an input terminal and an output terminal from the remaining portions of the switch. An inductor 220 is connected in parallel with the serially connected transistors 202 and 204.

[0015] In operation, RF switch 14 is “on” or closed when the potential V_ctrl supplied to the gates of transistors 202 and 204 is greater than the potential V_diff supplied to the source and drain terminals of transistors 202 and 204. In one embodiment, a potential V_ctrl that is higher than the potential V_diff by approximately one volt or more is sufficient to operate RF switch 14 in the “on” condition. On the other hand, switch 14 is “off” or open when the potential V_ctrl is less than the potential V_diff, also typically by one volt or more. RF switch 14 is designed with a floating body 222 that may be bootstrapped using remote body contacts.

[0016] Note that transistors 202 and 204 may be designed having physical geometries that provide a compromise between on the resistance (insertion loss, power handling) and an isolation (capacitance). Further note that the resistance values for R_diff, i.e., the resistance value of resistors 206, 208 and 210, and the resistance values for R_g, i.e., the resistance value of resistors 212 and 214, are generally non-critical and of sufficient value for low loss and bootstrapping (isolation—the capacitance of transistors 202 and 204 holds V_gs and V_bs approximately constant over the frequency range of the RF signals). The capacitance values of capacitors 216 and 218 are selected to pass the lowest frequency in the range of frequency spectrum received by the wireless device. The inductance of inductor 220 resonates out the capacitance of the transistors 202 and 204 to improve isolation, which may also be improved with the proper layout. The use of remote body contacts for transistors 202 and 204 may allow the body to be bootstrapped to improve power handling capabilities of RF switch 14.

[0017] FIG. 3 is a circuit schematic of a Single Pole, Double Throw (SPDT) Transmit/Receive (T/R) switch, which consists of two switch units. The two switch units include an Rx switch 302 and a Tx switch 322 capable of being processed in a CMOS technology with the transceiver. Note the addition of a shunt transistor 304 with Rx switch 302 that is controlled by a signal V_CTL to shunt the output signal of the switch for improved isolation (attenuation) when Rx switch 302 is “off” and Tx switch 322 is “on”.

[0018] FIGS. 4-6 are simulation results for the Rx switch 302 and the Tx switch 322 as shown in FIG. 3; including insertion loss, noise figure, isolation and compression (power handling). In particular, FIG. 4 shows the insertion loss and noise figure of the CMOS SPDT T/R switch with the switch in the “ON” state. The insertion loss for Rx switch 302 is indicated using curve 402, while the insertion loss for Tx switch 322 is indicated using curve 404. The noise figure is indicated using cure 406. FIG. 5 shows the isolation of the CMOS SPDT T/R switch in the “OFF” state. Curve 502 indicates the isolation for Rx switch 302 and curve 504 indicates the isolation for Tx switch 322. FIG. 6 is the 1 dB compression point of the CMOS RF SPDT T/R switch in the “ON” state. Note that the insertion loss is reduced by approximately 0.5 dB and the power handling capability is improved by approximately 3-6 dB compared to other known CMOS RF switches.

[0019] By now it should be apparent that embodiments of the present invention describe high-performance CMOS RF switches having lower insertion loss and greater power handling capability. The embodiments include a floating/bootstrapped body with remote body contacts. A shunt resonance with a parallel inductor from the input to the output resonates out the capacitance of the transistors to improve isolation. The layout of the RF switches places the switch transistors inside the inductor to provide a small form factor that provides high levels of integration with a lower cost.

[0020] While certain features of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes, and equivalents will now occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the invention.