Patent attributes
Electronic circuits and methods encompassing an RF switch comprising a plurality of series-coupled (stacked) integrated circuit (IC) SOI MOSFETs having a distributed back-bias network structure comprising groups of substrate contacts coupled to a bias voltage source through a resistive ladder. The distributed back-bias network structure sets the common IC substrate voltage at a fixed DC bias but resistively decouples groups of MOSFETs with respect to RF voltages so that the voltage division characteristics of the MOSFET stack are maintained. The distributed back-bias network structure increases the voltage handling capability of each MOSFET and improves the maximum RF voltage at which a particular MOSFET is effective as a switch device, while mitigating loss, leakage, crosstalk, and distortion. RF switches in accordance with the present invention are particularly useful as antenna switches.
