Ultra-broad bandwidth matching technique

Abstract

A multicomponent network may be added to a transmission line in a high-frequency circuit to transform a first impedance of a downstream circuit element to second impedance that better matches the impedance of an upstream circuit element. The multicomponent network may be added at a distance more than one-quarter wavelength from the downstream circuit element, and can tighten a frequency response of the impedance-transforming circuit to maintain low Q values and low VSWR values over a broad range of frequencies.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An impedance-transforming circuit that is configured to operate at frequencies between 500 MHz and 6 GHz, the impedance-transforming circuit comprising:
 a multicomponent network comprising passive circuit elements integrated on a substrate; and   at least one transmission line configured to connect between the multicomponent network and a circuit element such that the multicomponent network is at least one-quarter wavelength from the circuit element, wherein the multicomponent network and the at least one transmission line transform an input impedance of the circuit element to provide a reduced voltage-to-standing-wave-ratio (VSWR) over a bandwidth that lies at least partly within the frequencies.   
     
     
         2 . The impedance-transforming circuit of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a printed circuit board or pallet. 
     
     
         3 . The impedance-transforming circuit of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises one or more semiconductor chips. 
     
     
         4 . The impedance-transforming circuit of  claim 1 , wherein the reduced VSWR is less than or approximately equal to 2. 
     
     
         5 . The impedance-transforming circuit of  claim 1 , wherein the multicomponent network comprises at least two passive circuit elements. 
     
     
         6 . The impedance-transforming circuit of  claim 1 , further comprising a source having a second impedance at an output that is connected to the impedance-transforming circuit, wherein the reduced VSWR is less than or approximately equal to 2 and the bandwidth is greater than 800 MHz. 
     
     
         7 . The impedance-transforming circuit of  claim 1 , wherein the reduced VSWR is less than or approximately equal to 2 and the bandwidth is between 1 GHz and 2 GHz. 
     
     
         8 . The impedance-transforming circuit of  claim 1 , wherein the multicomponent network comprises a three-element π network. 
     
     
         9 . The impedance-transforming circuit of  claim 1 , wherein the multicomponent network comprises a T network. 
     
     
         10 . The impedance-transforming circuit of  claim 1 , wherein the multicomponent network comprises an LCC network. 
     
     
         11 . The impedance-transforming circuit of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one transmission line comprises two transmission line sections having different impedances. 
     
     
         12 . The impedance-transforming circuit of  claim 1 , further comprising a source connected to the multicomponent network, wherein the source comprises a gallium-nitride amplifier. 
     
     
         13 . The impedance-transforming circuit of  claim 1 , further comprising a source connected to the multicomponent network, wherein the source is included in a wireless communication device. 
     
     
         14 . The impedance-transforming circuit of  claim 1 , wherein the reduced VSWR is less than or approximately equal to 2 and the bandwidth is centered at approximately 750 MHz and has a width between approximately 325 MHz and approximately 750 MHz. 
     
     
         15 . The impedance-transforming circuit of  claim 1 , wherein the reduced VSWR is less than or approximately equal to 2 and the bandwidth is centered at approximately 2.2 GHz and has a width between approximately 1.1 GHz and approximately 2.2 GHz. 
     
     
         16 . The impedance-transforming circuit of  claim 1 , wherein the reduced VSWR is less than or approximately equal to 2 and the bandwidth is centered at approximately 2.7 GHz and has a width between approximately 1.3 GHz and approximately 2.7 GHz. 
     
     
         17 . The impedance-transforming circuit of  claim 1 , wherein the reduced VSWR is less than or approximately equal to 2 and the bandwidth is centered at approximately 3.8 GHz and has a width between approximately 1.9 GHz and approximately 3.8 GHz. 
     
     
         18 . A method for transforming an impedance of a circuit element in a high-frequency circuit, the method comprising:
 receiving a signal having a frequency component between 500 MHz and 6 GHz at a multicomponent network comprising passive circuit elements;   providing the signal from the multicomponent network to at least one transmission line;   providing the signal from the at least one transmission line to the circuit element, wherein the multicomponent network is at least one-quarter wavelength from the circuit element; and   transforming, by the multicomponent network and the at least one transmission line, the input impedance of the circuit element to provide a reduced VSWR over a bandwidth.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the reduced VSWR is less than or approximately equal to 2. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the multicomponent network comprises at least two passive circuit elements. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the multicomponent network comprises a π network. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising reflecting a voltage amount from the multicomponent network less than or equal to one-half of an incident voltage over a bandwidth greater than 800 MHz. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the reduced VSWR is less than or approximately equal to  2  and the and the bandwidth is centered at approximately 750 MHz and has a width between approximately 325 MHz and approximately 750 MHz. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the reduced VSWR is less than or approximately equal to 2 and the bandwidth is centered at approximately 2.2 GHz and has a width between approximately 1.1 GHz and approximately 2.2 GHz. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the reduced VSWR is less than or approximately equal to 2 and the bandwidth is centered at approximately 2.7 GHz and has a width between approximately 1.3 GHz and approximately 2.7 GHz. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the reduced VSWR is less than or approximately equal to 2 and the bandwidth is centered at approximately 3.8 GHz and has a width between approximately 1.9 GHz and approximately 3.8 GHz. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the multicomponent network comprises a T network. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the multicomponent network comprises an LCC network. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising generating the signal that is received at the multicomponent network with a gallium-nitride amplifier. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising transmitting the signal wirelessly.