System and method for tuning an antenna in a wireless communication device

Abstract

In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, a control path for a wireless communication device may include a radio frequency coupler having a coupled port and a terminated port, the radio frequency coupler configured to couple at least a portion of a transmission power of a transmission line coupled to the antenna tuner such that the coupled port carries a first signal indicative of an incident power transmitted to an antenna coupled to the antenna tuner and the terminated port carries a second signal indicative of a reflected power reflected by the antenna. the control path may also include a control module configured to communicate the one or more control signals to the antenna tuner for controlling the impedance of the antenna tuner based at least on the first signal and the second signal.

1 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A wireless communication apparatus, comprising:
 a transmit path configured to convert a first signal into a wireless communication signal;   an antenna tuner coupled to the transmit path; and   a control path coupled to the antenna tuner, the control path configured to:
 sense a power transmitted from the transmit path; 
 sense a phase of the power transmitted from the transmit path; and 
 based on the sensed power and the sensed phase, communicate a control signal to the antenna tuner to control an impedance of the antenna tuner. 
   
     
     
         23 . The wireless communication apparatus of  claim 22 , further comprising an antenna coupled to the antenna tuner. 
     
     
         24 . The wireless communication apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the transmit path is further configured to transmit the wireless communication signal via the antenna. 
     
     
         25 . The wireless communication apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the antenna tuner is configured to match an impedance of the transmit path to the antenna. 
     
     
         26 . The wireless communication apparatus of  claim 22 , further comprising an oscillator configured to generate an oscillator signal. 
     
     
         27 . The wireless communication apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the transmit path is configured to convert the first signal into the wireless communication signal based on the oscillator signal. 
     
     
         28 . The wireless communication apparatus of  claim 22 , further comprising at least one switch coupled to the transmit path. 
     
     
         29 . The wireless communication apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the at least one switch is configured to multiplex a plurality of outputs from a plurality of power amplifiers, each of the plurality of power amplifiers corresponding to a different band. 
     
     
         30 . The wireless communication apparatus of  claim 22 , the antenna tuner comprising a variable capacitance configured to be varied based on the control signal. 
     
     
         31 . A wireless communication apparatus, comprising:
 a transmit path configured to convert a first signal into a first wireless communication signal;   a receive path configured to receive a second wireless communication signal and convert the second wireless communication signal into a second signal;   an antenna tuner coupled to the receive path and the transmit path; and   a control path coupled to the antenna tuner, the control path configured to:
 sense a power transmitted from the transmit path; 
 sense a phase of the power transmitted from the transmit path; and 
 based on the sensed power and the sensed phase, communicate a control signal to the antenna tuner to control an impedance of the antenna tuner. 
   
     
     
         32 . The wireless communication apparatus of  claim 31 , further comprising an antenna coupled to the antenna tuner. 
     
     
         33 . The wireless communication apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the transmit path is further configured to transmit the first wireless communication signal via the antenna. 
     
     
         34 . The wireless communication apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the antenna tuner is configured to match an impedance of the transmit path to the antenna. 
     
     
         35 . The wireless communication apparatus of  claim 31 , further comprising an oscillator configured to generate an oscillator signal. 
     
     
         36 . The wireless communication apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein:
 the transmit path is configured to convert the first signal into the first wireless communication signal based on the oscillator signal; and   the receive path is configured to convert the second wireless communication signal into the second signal based on the oscillator signal.   
     
     
         37 . The wireless communication apparatus of  claim 31 , further comprising at least one switch coupled to the transmit path. 
     
     
         38 . The wireless communication apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein the at least one switch is configured to multiplex a plurality of outputs from a plurality of power amplifiers, each of the plurality of power amplifiers corresponding to a different band. 
     
     
         39 . The wireless communication apparatus of  claim 31 , the antenna tuner comprising a variable capacitance configured to be varied based on the control signal. 
     
     
         40 . A method, comprising:
 converting a first signal into a wireless communication signal;   sensing a power transmitted from a transmit path;   sensing a phase of the power transmitted from the transmit path; and   controlling an impedance of an antenna tuner based on the sensed power and the sensed phase.   
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising transmitting the wireless communication signal from the transmit path via an antenna. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising:
 receiving an oscillator signal from an oscillator; and   converting the first signal into the wireless communication signal based on the oscillator signal.   
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising matching an impedance of the transmit path to an antenna. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising multiplexing a plurality of outputs from a plurality of power amplifiers wherein each of the plurality of power amplifiers corresponds to a different band. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein controlling the impedance of the antenna tuner comprises setting a capacitance of a variable capacitance in the antenna tuner.