CMOS based Tunable Matching Networks for cellular handset applications

The explosion in the number of connected cellular devices and ever-increasing data bandwidth requirements has increased the number of bands a modern cellular device must support. This places stringent requirements on cellular handset antennas, as they need to cover more bands than ever before, while meeting increasing Total Radiated Power (TRP) requirements. A potential solution to this problem is achieved by the use of Tunable Matching Networks, which can maximize the transmitted radiated performance and receive sensitivity by optimizing the impedance match between the RF Front End and the Antenna. This paper outlines the challenging requirements placed on tunable components, presents a Tunable Matching Network utilizing Digitally Tunable Capacitors (DTCs), and proposes a method for evaluating the improvement this network brings to the cellular handset.