Rf reception system with programmable impedance matching networks and methods for use therewith

Abstract

An RF communication device provides impedance matching by generating a frequency selection signal. A plurality of programmable impedance matching networks, coupled to an antenna, and formed by a plurality of off-chip impedance matching components, a first on-chip adjustable impedance and a second on-chip adjustable impedance are programmed. The programming includes adjusting a first impedance of the first on-chip adjustable impedance to a first value based on the frequency selection signal, and adjusting a second impedance of the second on-chip adjustable impedance to a second value based on the frequency selection signal.

1 . A (radio frequency) RF reception system comprising:
 an off-chip antenna interface, for coupling to an antenna, that includes a plurality of impedance matching components;   an integrated circuit that includes:
 an on-chip antenna interface, coupled to the off-chip antenna interface, that forms a plurality of programmable impedance matching networks with the plurality of impedance matching components, wherein the plurality of programmable impedance matching networks are each programmable based on a frequency selection signal; and 
 an RF receiver, coupled to at least one of the plurality of programmable impedance matching networks, that generates inbound data in response to a received signal from the at least one of the plurality of programmable impedance matching networks. 
   
   
   
       2 . The RF reception system of  claim 1  wherein the on-chip antenna interface includes:
 a first adjustable impedance and a second adjustable impedance coupled to the plurality of impedance matching components; and   
   
   
       3 . The RF reception system of  claim 2  wherein the on-chip antenna interface includes:
 a control module, coupled to the first adjustable impedance and the second adjustable impedance, that generates a first control signal in response to the frequency selection signal to control the first adjustable impedance to a first value and that generates a second control signal in response to the frequency selection signal to control the second adjustable impedance to a second value.   
   
   
       4 . The RF reception system of  claim 1  wherein the RF receiver demodulates the received signal at a selected one of a plurality of carrier frequencies in response to the frequency selection signal. 
   
   
       5 . The RF reception system of  claim 2  wherein the first adjustable impedance includes at least one adjustable reactive network element. 
   
   
       6 . The RF reception system of  claim 5  wherein the second adjustable impedance includes at least one adjustable reactive network element. 
   
   
       7 . The RF reception system of  claim 5  wherein the at least one adjustable reactive network element includes a plurality of fixed reactive network elements and a switching network for selectively coupling the plurality of fixed reactive network elements in response to the first control signal. 
   
   
       8 . The RF reception system of  claim 7  wherein the switching network selects at least one of the plurality of fixed reactive network elements and that deselects the remaining ones of the plurality of fixed reactive network elements in response to the first control signals. 
   
   
       9 . The RF reception system of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of programmable impedance matching networks each include a plurality of reactive network elements arranged in one of: and L-network configuration, a T-network configuration and a pi-network configuration. 
   
   
       10 . A method for providing impedance matching in an RF communication device comprising:
 generating a frequency selection signal;   programming a plurality of programmable impedance matching networks, coupled to an antenna, formed by a plurality of off-chip impedance matching components, a first on-chip adjustable impedance and a second on-chip adjustable impedance by:
 adjusting a first impedance of the first on-chip adjustable impedance to a first value based on the frequency selection signal; and 
 adjusting a second impedance of the second on-chip adjustable impedance to a second value based on the frequency selection signal. 
   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising:
 processing an inbound RF signal received by the antenna through at least one of the plurality of programmable impedance matching networks, to form a received signal; and   generating inbound data in response to the received signal.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the step of generating inbound data includes demodulating the received signal at a selected one of a plurality of carrier frequencies in response to the frequency selection signal. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the step of programming the plurality of programmable impedance matching networks includes:
 generating a first control signal in response to the frequency selection signal to control the first value.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the step of programming the plurality of programmable impedance matching networks includes:
 generating a second control signal in response to the frequency selection signal to control the second value.