Adaptive Impedance Matching Module (AIMM )for Mobile Handsets - Paratek

Posted in Device Interfacing, Mobile Devices, RF Transmitter, Receiver
On Thursday, March 22, 2007

Paratek introduce the Adaptive Impedance Matching Module (AIMM), a new product that will improve RF (Radio Frequency) performance of mobile handsets. The Adaptive Impedance Matching Module will enable mobile phones to adapt for changing real-world conditions by actively monitor and adjust the impedance of RF end section.

Adaptive Impedance Matching Module

The Adaptive Impedance Matching Module comes with compact 5×6mm package. The module is specifically targeted to overcome the most challenging problems facing handset makers. User handling of the mobile phone and the distance to the base station, and alos changing from flip open/close can all lead to RF de-tuned. The industry sees this in the form of dropped or missed calls, marginal coverage, and poor battery performance. Changes in temperature, voltage differences, unit-to-unit handset variation, and multiple-protocol operation can also lead to RF detuned.

Adaptive Impedance Matching Module in RF Section of Mobile Handset

The Adaptive Impedance Matching Module offers self-correcting feature, enable mobile handsets to work at an optimum level regardless of environmental conditions. AIMM monitors and corrects for impedance mismatches in RF section of mobile devices. Sensors within AIMM monitor impedance mismatches as they occur and correct for them instantly, creating a automatic error correction loop.

The Adaptive Impedance Matching Module is a closed-loop impedance matching circuit. Internal sensors look to see what kind of mismatch exists between forward and reverse power; AIMM instantly senses those mismatches and corrects for them.

When mismatches occur, negative consequences include a drop in the phone’s output power, higher current drain, which lessening battery life, and linearity degradation. AIMM is essentially an ‘additive’ component because it uniformly improves all of these unwanted characteristics.

A mismatch anywhere along series cascade RF circuit will negatively impact performance. For example, if the main transmit amplifier sees a non-50Ω impedance it will begin to consume more power to compensate for the mismatch. This causes the efficiency and linearity of the amplifier to worsen. The Adaptive Impedance Matching Module corrects for mismatches at this or any other point along the path, depending on where it’s used. In this example, AIMM would allow the amplifier to operate at an optimum performance level which results in less power consumption and longer battery life.

About ParaScan

The central technology behind Adaptive Impedance Matching Module is Paratek’s ParaScan technology. ParaScan is a tunable circuit applicable to a variety of components. It is based on a composition of barium-strontium-titanate with addition of dopants that modulate the dielectric constant.

Common implementing of ParaScan technology is as a tunable capacitor. ParaScan technology features high linearity and harmonic performance and lower power consumption. The Q quality factor of ParaScan capacitor is between 50 and 150 at up to 3 GHz. The high Q is critical because in a typical 50Ω environment it will not add any significant loss into the RF path. Higher Q values lead to lower insertion losses. ParaScan capacitors offer high tunability and high linearity (>65dBm IP3 in 50Ω systems), with fast switching speeds of less than 50 microseconds.

Greg Mendolia, Paratek, said about The Adaptive Impedance Matching Module adaptive feature:

With AIMM in their handsets, users will see a significant increase in call quality plus a major decrease in dropped and missed calls under all conditions. Carriers will be able to increase their call-start success rate and introduce newer revenue-generating, high-bandwidth services. Handset makers will be able to provide better performance from smaller antennas, including an increase in total radiated power (TRP), longer battery life and dramatically improved link margin

Paratek will be demonstrating AIMM at CTIA Wireless in Orlando, Florida, March 27-29, Room MR-127.

Concept prototypes of Adaptive Impedance Matching Module are available now.

Source: Adaptive Impedance Matching Module (AIMM) - Paratek

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