Impedance matching apparatus

Disclosed is an impedance matching apparatus performing impedance matching between a front-end module and an antenna. The impedance matching apparatus includes an RF front end providing a multi-band RF signal, a reflected power measuring module measuring a reflection coefficient for the RF input signal, a matching unit adjusting impedance so that the reflection coefficient is minimized, a first switch module provided in the RF front end to selectively switch the RF signal onto a bypass path, and a controller allowing the RF signal to be switched onto the bypass path if a specific frequency range is detected from the reflection coefficient.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is the U.S. national stage application of International Patent Application No. PCT/KR2012/006202, filed Aug. 3, 2012, which claims priority to Korean Application No. 10-2011-0078626, filed Aug. 8, 2011, the disclosures of each of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure relates to an impedance matching apparatus. In more particular, the disclosure relates to an impedance matching apparatus capable of improving wireless performance.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, a mobile communication terminal has been broadbanded to employ a global system for mobile communication (GSM) scheme/a wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) scheme which are different communication schemes.

To this end, an antenna apparatus of the mobile communication terminal includes an antenna, and a front-end module connected with the antenna, and further includes a variable impedance matching apparatus for impedance matching between the antenna and the front-end module.

Although a conventional variable impedance matching apparatus can easily adjust a frequency to obtain a desirable antenna resonance point, the insertion loss of predetermined dB may be caused due to the characteristic of the variable impedance matching apparatus including active variable devices.

Accordingly, the insertion loss of the variable impedance matching apparatus becomes greater than the insertion loss of a fixed impedance matching apparatus at a specific frequency range, so that the wireless performance may be deteriorated.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

An object of the disclosure is made by taking the above problem into consideration, and to provide an impedance matching apparatus capable of improving wireless performance of a mobile communication terminal.

Another object of the disclosure is to provide an impedance matching apparatus capable of switching an RF signal on a bypass path by using a switch.

Still another object of the disclosure is to provide an impedance matching apparatus capable of minimizing a parasitic component generated from a switch by using an RF MEMS switch.

Still another object of the disclosure is to provide an impedance matching apparatus capable of facilitating switch installation by using a double pole-type switch provided in an RF front end.

Solution to Problem

According to the embodiment of the disclosure, there is provided an impedance matching apparatus performing impedance matching between a front end module and an antenna. The impedance matching apparatus includes an RF front end providing a multi-band RF signal, a reflected power measuring module measuring a reflection coefficient for the RF input signal, a matching module adjusting impedance so that the reflection coefficient is minimized, a first switch module provided in the RF front end to selectively switch the RF signal onto a bypass path, and a controller allowing the RF signal to be switched onto the bypass path if a specific frequency range is detected from the reflection coefficient.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, there is provided an impedance matching apparatus performing impedance matching between a front end module and an antenna. The impedance matching apparatus includes an RF front end providing a multi-band RF signal, a directional-coupler separating a transmit signal, which is input from the RF front end, from a reflected signal which is reflected from the antenna, a detector detecting a transmit voltage from the transmit signal and detecting a reflected voltage from the reflected signal, a matching module adjusting an impedance based on a difference between the transmit voltage and the reflected voltage, a first switch module provided in the RF front end to selectively switch the RF signal onto a bypass path, and a controller allowing the RF signal to be switched onto the bypass path if a specific frequency range is detected.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

As described above, according to the disclosure, the impedance matching is not performed at a specific frequency range, thereby preventing the impedance matching efficiency from being degraded due to the insertion loss of the matching module.

In addition, according to the disclosure, the RF signal is easily switched to the bypass path by using a switch.

In addition, according to the disclosure, the RF MEMS switch is used, so that the parasitic component generated from a switch can be minimized.

Further, according to the disclosure, the double pole-type switch is provided in the RF front end as the switch instead of the single pole-type switch, thereby facilitating switch installation.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the disclosure will be described in detail with reference to drawings.

FIG. 1is a block diagram showing an impedance matching apparatus including a switch module according to the disclosure,FIG. 2is a graph showing mismatch loss according to insertion loss of the impedance matching apparatus according to the disclosure, andFIGS. 3 and 4are block diagrams showing the operation of the switch module according to the disclosure.

Referring toFIG. 1, the impedance matching apparatus according to the disclosure includes an RF front end200to provide a multi-band RF signal, a reflected power measuring module300to measure the reflection coefficient for the RF input signal, a matching module700to adjust a variable capacitor720so that the reflection coefficient is minimized, switching modules800and900to selectively switch the RF signal onto a bypass path P, and a controller500to apply a control signal so that the RF signal is switched onto the bypass path P if a specific frequency is detected from the reflection coefficient.

The RF front end200provides multi-band transceive RF signals. For example, the RF front end may provide transceive signals having at least penta-bands. Accordingly, the RF front end can make communication through a wide code division multiple access (W-CDMA) scheme or a global system for mobile communication (GSM) scheme.

The RF front end200may include a plurality of terminals220to provide multi-frequency bands. The terminals220may provide WCSMA 850TRx, WCDMA 1900TRx, WCDMA 2100TRx, GSM 850/900Tx, GSM 1800/1900Tx, GSM 850Rx, GSM 900Rx, GSM 1800Rx, and GSM 1900Rx signals. The multi-band RF input signal may be changed.

The terminal220may be connected to a low pass filter240, and a terminal to process a GSM signal may be connected to a band pass filter.

The RF input signal generated from the RF front end200is provided to an antenna100, and the antenna100may output the RF input signal received therein to the outside.

The reflected power measuring module300is connected to the antenna100to measure the reflected power according to the RF input signal from the antenna100, for example, the reflection coefficient.

The reflected power measuring module300may include a directional coupler and a detector.

The directional coupler may separate an input signal input from the RF front end200and a reflection signal reflected from the antenna100from each other.

The detector may detect transmit power from the separated transmit signal, and the reflected power from the separated reflection signal.

The controller500may adjust the impedance of the matching module700based on the transmit power and the reflected power that have been detected. According to one embodiment, the controller500may control the matching module700so that the difference between the transmit power and the reflected power is maximized.

The reflected power measuring module300may be additionally connected to an AD converter. The AD converter400converts an analog signal measured by the reflected power measuring module300into a digital signal. Simultaneously, the AD converter400can covert the RF input signal into a digital signal.

The matching module700controls capacitors so that the reflection coefficient is minimized. Therefore, the matching module700can easily perform impedance matching between an RF input signal and an RF output signal by performing a control operation to minimize the reflection coefficient.

To this end, the matching module700may include a plurality of variable capacitors720and a plurality of fixed inductors740. The variable capacitors720may include a first variable capacitor722and a second variable capacitor724. The first variable capacitor722is parallel-connected to an RF rear end, and the second variable capacitor724is series-connected to the RF rear end.

The fixed inductors740may include a first inductor742, a second inductor744, and a third inductor746. The first inductor742is series-connected to the RF rear end, and the second inductor744is parallel-connected to the third inductor746.

The connections between the variable capacitors720and the fixed inductors740and the number of devices may be varied according to the embodiments.

The matching module700may receive a signal according to the control signal of the controller500. In more detail, the controller500may provide signals to the variable capacitors to adjust the capacitances of the variable capacitors720so that the optimal tuned values can be found.

Meanwhile, if the impedance matching is performed by the matching module700at a specific frequency in which the mismatch loss (ML) caused by the impedance mismatching becomes less than the insertion loss of the matching module700, wireless performance may be degraded.

As shown inFIG. 2, regarding a low frequency band characteristic of a multi-band antenna, antenna performance is degraded at the boundary frequency in the whole frequency ranges (that is, frequency range of 824 MHz to 960 MHz) of mobile communication GSM 850 and GSM 900 schemes, and the mismatch loss of about 3.5 dB may be caused.

In other words, the total radiated power (TRP) of about 3.5 dB or the degradation of the total isotropic sensitivity (TIS) may be caused due to the impedance mismatching.

The mismatch loss may be determined by Equation 1.

In this case, the VSWR may be found by measuring the reflection coefficient of the antenna100. The VSWR may be determined by Equation 2.

On the assumption that the insertion loss of the matching module700is 1 dB, the mismatch loss is 1 dB or more at a specific frequency range, for example, the frequency range of 870 MHz to 920 MHz. Accordingly, the insertion loss of the matching module700is greater than the mismatch loss.

Therefore, since the variable impedance matching apparatus is used at the frequency range of 870 MHz to 920 MHz, wireless performance may be more degraded.

The specific frequency range is a frequency band in which the mismatch loss becomes less than the insertion loss of the matching module700, and may vary according to the frequency bands.

In order to solve the above problem, the impedance matching apparatus may further include the switch modules800and900to switch the RF signal onto the bypass path.

Referring toFIG. 1again, the switch module may further include the first and second switch modules800and900.

The first switch module800may be provided in the RF front end200, and may include a double pole-type switch. Accordingly, if the RF signal has a specific frequency range, the RF input signal may be switched onto the bypass path P. If the RF signal does not have the specific frequency range, the RF input signal may be switched to the RF path instead of the bypass path P.

Since the structure is obtained by replacing a single pole-type switch used in a conventional RF front end200with the double pole type switch, the installation of the double pole switch may be significantly simplified.

The double pole-type switch may include an RF switch. In particular, an RF MEMS switch representing significantly-less insertion loss can be employed. The RF MEMS switch minimizes the parasitic component generating from the RF MEMS switch, thereby preventing the loss caused in the switch from being greater than the insertion loss of the matching module700.

The second switch module900may be provided on the bypass path P. In more detail, the second switch module900is provided between the antenna100and the matching module700, so that the second switch module900can be selectively switched to the bypass path P and the RF path.

Similarly to the first switch module800, the second switch module900may include an RF switch. More effectively, the second switch module900may include an RF MEMS switch.

As shown inFIG. 3, if the RF signal does not have a specific frequency based on the reflection coefficient, the controller500operates the first and second switch modules800and900, so that the RF signal can be transferred to the matching module700.

In contrast, as shown inFIG. 4, if the RF signal has a specific frequency based on the reflection coefficient, the controller500may operate the first and second switch modules800and900so that the RF signal passes through the bypass path P. Thereafter, the RF signal is not subject to the impedance matching.

Hereinafter, the impedance matching method according to the disclosure will be described in more detail with reference toFIG. 5.

As shown inFIG. 5, the impedance matching method according to the disclosure includes a step of detecting the reflection coefficient of an RF signal, a step of performing impedance matching to minimize the reflection coefficient, and a step of bypassing the RF signal without the impedance matching if the reflection coefficient represents a specific frequency.

First, a step of detecting the reflection coefficient from the antenna100is performed (step S100). The reflection coefficient of the antenna100may be detected by the reflected power measuring module300.

Thereafter, a step of determining if the frequency of the RF signal is in the specific frequency range based on the reflection coefficient may be performed (step S200).

The specific frequency range may be determined as a range in which the mismatch loss becomes less than the insertion loss of the matching module700, and determined by the mismatch loss.

The mismatch loss may be determined by Equations 1 and 2, and may be measured based on the VSWR and the reflection coefficient of the antenna100.

Thereafter, if the frequency of the RF signal is not in the specific frequency range, the step of performing the impedance matching may be performed (step S400).

The impedance matching may be performed by adjusting the variable capacitors720of the matching module700, and the variable capacitors720may be adjusted in various sequences according to the embodiments.

In contrast, if the frequency of the RF signal is in the specific frequency, the impedance matching may not be performed (step S300).

To this end, the controller400may switch the first and second switch modules800and900so that the RF signal is switched to the bypass path P. In this case, the first and second switch modules800and900may include an RF MEMS switch.

As described above, according to the disclosure, the impedance matching is not performed at a specific frequency range, thereby preventing the impedance matching efficiency from being degraded due to the insertion loss of the matching module, so that the wireless performance can be improved.

Although the exemplary embodiments of the disclosure have been described, it is understood that the disclosure should not be limited to these exemplary embodiments but various changes and modifications can be made by one ordinary skilled in the art within the spirit and scope of the disclosure as hereinafter claimed.