High power radio-frequency switching topology and method

Abstract

Aspects and examples described herein provide a radio-frequency switching circuit, switching device, and related methods. In one example, a radio-frequency switching device includes an input path configured to receive a radio-frequency signal, a plurality of output paths each configured to provide the radio-frequency signal, and a plurality of radio-frequency sub-networks each coupled to the input path and configured to direct the radio-frequency signal, each of the plurality of sub-networks including at least a first radio-frequency circuit having a first series of directly biased transistors, a second radio-frequency circuit having a second series of directly biased transistors, and a direct current blocking network interposed between the first radio-frequency circuit and the second radio-frequency circuit, each output path of the plurality corresponding to at least one of the plurality of radio-frequency sub-networks.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A radio-frequency switching device comprising:
 an input path configured to receive a radio-frequency signal;   a plurality of radio-frequency sub-networks each coupled to the input path and including at least a first radio-frequency circuit having a first series of directly biased transistors, a second radio-frequency circuit having a second series of directly biased transistors, and a direct current blocking network interposed between the first radio-frequency circuit and the second radio-frequency circuit;   a plurality of output paths each configured to provide the radio-frequency signal, each output path of the plurality of output paths corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of radio-frequency sub-networks; and   a controller coupled to the plurality of radio-frequency sub-networks and configured to control each of the plurality of radio-frequency sub-networks to selectively route the radio-frequency signal from the input path to at least one output path of the plurality of output paths.   
     
     
         2 . The radio-frequency switching device of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of transmission lines, at least one of the plurality of transmission lines being interposed between the input path and a corresponding one of the plurality of radio-frequency sub-networks. 
     
     
         3 . The radio-frequency switching device of  claim 2  wherein each of the plurality of transmission lines is a ¼ wavelength transformer. 
     
     
         4 . The radio-frequency switching device of  claim 3  wherein the controller is configured to control each of the plurality of radio-frequency sub-networks to operate in one of a first mode of operation to present a load impedance to the input path and a second mode of operation to present a high impedance to the input path. 
     
     
         5 . The radio-frequency switching device of  claim 4  wherein the controller is configured to selectively route the radio-frequency signal from the input path to the at least one output path by controlling the at least one radio-frequency sub-network corresponding to the at least one output path to operate in the first mode of operation. 
     
     
         6 . The radio-frequency switching device of  claim 5  wherein the controller is further configured to control each respective radio-frequency sub-network of the plurality of radio-frequency sub-networks that is other than the at least one radio-frequency sub-network to operate in the second mode of operation. 
     
     
         7 . The radio-frequency switching device of  claim 4  wherein the first series of transistors of each respective radio-frequency sub-network includes a first transistor and a second transistor, and the second series of transistors of each respective sub-network includes a third transistor and a fourth transistor. 
     
     
         8 . The radio-frequency switching device of  claim 7  wherein the controller is configured to control each respective radio-frequency sub-network to operate in the first mode of operation by controlling each transistor of the first and second series of transistors to operate in a non-conductive state. 
     
     
         9 . The radio-frequency switching device of  claim 7  wherein the controller is configured to control each respective radio-frequency sub-network to operate in the second mode of operation by controlling each transistor of the first and second series of transistors to operate in a conductive state. 
     
     
         10 . A radio-frequency switching device comprising:
 a plurality of radio-frequency sub-networks each including at least a first radio-frequency circuit having a first series of directly biased transistors, a second radio-frequency circuit having a second series of directly biased transistors, and a direct current blocking network interposed between the first radio-frequency circuit and the second radio-frequency circuit;   a plurality of input paths each configured to receive a radio-frequency signal, each input path of the plurality of input paths corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of radio-frequency sub-networks;   an output path coupled to the plurality of radio-frequency sub-networks and configured to provide the radio-frequency signal; and   a controller coupled to the plurality of radio-frequency sub-networks and configured to control each of the plurality of radio-frequency sub-networks to selectively route the radio-frequency signal from at least one input path of the plurality of input paths to the output path.   
     
     
         11 . The radio-frequency switching device of  claim 10  further comprising a plurality of transmission lines, at least one of the plurality of transmission lines being interposed between the output path and a corresponding one of the plurality of radio-frequency sub-networks. 
     
     
         12 . The radio-frequency switching device of  claim 11  wherein each of the plurality of transmission lines is a ¼ wavelength transformer. 
     
     
         13 . The radio-frequency switching device of  claim 11  wherein the first series of transistors of each respective radio-frequency sub-network includes a first transistor and a second transistor, and the second series of transistors of each respective sub-network includes a third transistor and a fourth transistor. 
     
     
         14 . The radio-frequency switching device of  claim 13  wherein the controller is configured to operate each respective radio-frequency sub-network in a first mode of operation by controlling each transistor of the first and second series of transistors to operate in a non-conductive state. 
     
     
         15 . The radio-frequency switching device of  claim 14  wherein the controller is configured to operate each respective radio-frequency sub-network in a second mode of operation by controlling each transistor of the first and second series of transistors to operate in a conductive state. 
     
     
         16 . The radio-frequency switching device of  claim 15  wherein the controller is configured to selectively route the radio-frequency signal from the at least one input path to the output path by controlling the at least one radio-frequency sub-network corresponding to the at least one input path to operate in the first mode of operation. 
     
     
         17 . The radio-frequency switching device of  claim 16  wherein the controller is further configured to control each respective radio-frequency sub-network of the plurality of radio-frequency sub-networks that is other than the at least one radio-frequency sub-network to operate in the second mode of operation. 
     
     
         18 . A method for operating a radio-frequency switching device to provide a radio-frequency signal, the radio-frequency switching device including a plurality of radio-frequency sub-networks, the method comprising:
 receiving a radio-frequency signal at an input path;   controlling at least one radio-frequency sub-network of the plurality of radio-frequency sub-networks to operate in a first mode of operation to present a load impedance to the input path;   controlling each respective radio-frequency sub-network of the plurality of radio-frequency sub-networks that is other than the at least one radio-frequency sub-network to operate in a second mode of operation to present a high impedance to the input path;   directing the radio-frequency signal from the input path through the at least one radio-frequency sub-network; and   providing the radio-frequency signal at an output path corresponding to the at least one radio-frequency sub-network.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein controlling each radio-frequency sub-network to operate in the first mode of operation further comprises controlling a series of transistors within the at least one radio-frequency sub-network to operate in a non-conductive state 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein controlling each radio-frequency sub-network to operate in the second mode of operation further comprises controlling a series of transistors within the radio-frequency sub-network to operate in a conductive state.