Patent ID: 7646257
Filing Date: 2010-01-12
Classification: H03B,H03J

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: providing a plurality of reverse-biased varactors wherein each of the varactors has a first electrode and a second electrode; coupling the first electrode for each of the plurality of varactors at a shared terminal; providing the shared terminal with a source of control voltage; providing a plurality of switches; coupling the second electrode for each of the plurality of varactors to a corresponding one of the plurality of switches, such that all of the plurality of varactors have a parallel coupling, such that each varactor of the plurality of varactors contributes to an overall aggregate capacitance and such that the second electrode for each of at least two of the plurality of varactors is separately switchable between at least two different voltage levels; and selecting a setting for each of the plurality of switches to select one particular aggregate-capacitive reactance range from multiple aggregate-capacitive reactance ranges provided by the plurality of varactors.