Patent ID: 9197194
Filing Date: 2015-11-24
Classification: H01F,H01G,H01L,H03H,H03J,H03K,H03M

Abstract:
1. A tunable inductor, comprising: a first RF terminal; a second RF terminal; a plurality of inductive elements connected therebetween, wherein each inductive element is an inductor or a portion thereof; a plurality of switches connected with the plurality of inductive elements, wherein each switch in the plurality of switches is configured, during operation, to receive a control signal, the control signal controlling inductance applied between the first RF terminal and the second RF terminal by turning on or off switches in the plurality of switches; and at least one bypass switch comprising a plurality of series connected switches, wherein the at least one bypass switch is connected to a bypass node within the tunable inductor via a first terminal of the bypass switch and to the second RF terminal via a second terminal of the bypass switch, the bypass switch being configured to selectively exclude, via a first mode of operation of the bypass switch, and to include, via a second mode of operation of the bypass switch, at least two inductive elements of the plurality of inductive elements and corresponding connected switches in a conduction path between the first RF terminal and the second RF terminal, wherein: at least one inductive element in the plurality of inductive elements is connected with at least two switches from among the plurality of switches, the at least two switches being serially connected therebetween, each switch of the plurality of switches has a resistance and each inductive element of the plurality of inductive elements has an inductance, each resistance and each inductance being selected based on a desired quality factor for the tunable inductor, and for a same inductance applied between the first RF terminal and the second RF terminal, the at least one bypass switch provides a first quality factor for the tunable inductor in the first mode of operation and a second quality factor for the tunable inductor in the second mode of operation, the first quality factor being higher than the second quality factor.