US 12,218,397 B2
Device and method for variable signal attenuation in wireless communication system
Donggyu Minn, Gyeonggi-do (KR); Youngchang Yoon, Gyeonggi-do (KR); Daehyun Kang, Gyeonggi-do (KR); and Kyuhwan An, Gyeonggi-do (KR)
Assigned to Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, (KR)
Appl. No. 17/769,447
Filed by Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Gyeonggi-do (KR)
PCT Filed Oct. 16, 2020, PCT No. PCT/KR2020/014186
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Apr. 15, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/075918, PCT Pub. Date Apr. 22, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 10-2019-0128464 (KR), filed on Oct. 16, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2024/0128625 A1, Apr. 18, 2024
Int. Cl. H01P 1/22 (2006.01); H03H 11/28 (2006.01); H03H 11/40 (2006.01)
CPC H01P 1/227 (2013.01) [H03H 11/28 (2013.01); H03H 11/40 (2013.01)] 6 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A signal attenuation device built in a stack-up structure in a radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC), the signal attenuation device comprising:
a first transmission line positioned in a first layer in the RFIC;
a second transmission line positioned in a second layer in the RFIC vertically adjacent to the first layer and electromagnetically coupled to the first transmission line; and
a controller,
wherein the first transmission line comprises a first impedance controller on a first end of the first transmission line,
wherein the second transmission line comprises a second impedance controller on a first end of the second transmission line, and the first end of the second transmission line is opposite to the first end of the first transmission line,
wherein the controller is coupled with the first impedance controller and the second impedance controller, and configured to control the first impedance controller and the second impedance controller,
wherein the signal attenuation device further comprises:
a first signal port through which current is configured to flow in and out at a second end of the first transmission line which is opposite to the first end of the first transmission line; and
a second port through which current is configured to flow in and out at a second end of the second transmission line which is opposite to the first end of the second transmission line,
wherein one side of the first impedance controller is grounded and one side of the second impedance controller is grounded,
wherein each of the first impedance controller and the second impedance controller comprises at least two transistors connected to each other in parallel, respectively,
wherein the controller is further configured to control an on/off state of each of the at least two transistors of each of the first impedance controller and the second impedance controller, individually, and
wherein the signal attenuation device is selected by a switch included in the RFIC based on a frequency band.