E-GUIDE

How to Implement
Aperture Tuning:
Best Practices for
Hello, my
4G/5G Smartphones name is Qorvina,
your guide for
advanced RF tech.

What’s Inside
• What is aperture tuning?

• What are its key properties?

• What makes aperture tuning unique?

• What are the implementation challenges?

Written By:
Abhinay Kuchikulla
Senior Marketing Manager, Mobile Products
 Did you
know? Antenna
tuning is essential for
smartphones to operate.

ANTENNA
TUNING
is required in
smartphones
to compensate
for performance
degradations due to
shrinking antennas
and increased
screen size.
QUICK SUMMARY
Antenna aperture tuning is essential to enable smartphones to operate efficiently over the ever-increasing
range of RF frequency bands and support the transition to 5G. Smartphones need more antennas to
support growing RF requirements such as new 5G bands, MIMO and carrier aggregation, but there is
less space for these antennas due to changes in smartphone industrial design. As a result, antennas are
becoming smaller, potentially reducing antenna efficiency and bandwidth.

Aperture tuning compensates for this problem by allowing antennas to be tuned to operate efficiently on
multiple bands and increasing Tx and Rx performance by 3 dB or more. Aperture tuning is implemented
with tunable capacitors or tuner switches combined with tuning components; switches with low RON
and low COFF are critical to maximizing efficiency. Aperture tuning also lets antennas communicate on
multiple bands simultaneously to support carrier aggregation. Implementing aperture tuning requires
in-depth knowledge of how to apply the technology for each application.

INTRODUCTION
Antenna efficiency plays a critical role in overall smartphone RF performance. However, current broad
trends in RF requirements – especially the forthcoming transition to 5G – and in smartphone industrial
design, mean that smartphones must fit more antennas into less space. As a result, antennas are shrinking
in size, which reduces antenna efficiency. Without compensating for this problem, the reduced efficiency
can impact transmit (Tx) and receive (Rx) performance, causing shorter battery life, lower data rates and
connectivity problems.

Faster Data Rates Mean More Antennas

The transition to 5G, which continues the quest to deliver higher data rates, will drive a significant increase
in the typical number of antennas in each handset.

Two primary techniques for delivering higher data rates, carrier aggregation (CA) and multiple input/multiple
output (MIMO), both require multiple antennas that operate simultaneously. 5G will further drive this trend
because it mandates support for four independent downlink channels receiving signals simultaneously
for most bands. It will also require handsets to include at least four antennas for cellular communications.

E-GUIDE 1
 At the same time, handset antennas will need to support a wider range of frequency bands, largely
due to the introduction of new 5G bands. 5G handsets may need to support frequencies ranging from
600 MHz at the low end to as high as 6 GHz.

To support these requirements as well as Wi-Fi, GPS, and Bluetooth, the typical number of antennas
will increase from 4-6 in today’s LTE handsets to 6-10 in 5G smartphones (Figure 1). It is becoming
increasingly difficult to fit all these antennas into the limited space available.

More Antennas, Less Antenna Area = Tougher Challenge

CURRENT HANDSETS 2019-20 HANDSETS

4 to 6 Antennas 6 to 10 Antennas

MIMO

600
MHz

Challenge of More Antennas is Worse with Less Antenna Area

Figure 1. The number of antennas is increasing, particularly with the transition to 5G, to support new frequency bands as well as
MIMO and CA requirements.

Qorvo
can help solve
these issues

Antenna efficiency plays a critical role

in overall smartphone RF performance.
Watch out! Smartphone design trends
are shortening battery life, lowering data
rates and causing connectivity problems.

2
 Reduced Antenna Area
Exacerbating the problem, the space available for antennas is shrinking
as manufacturers make industrial design changes and add new features.
One key change is the shift to full-screen handsets, in which the display
occupies nearly the entire face of the phone; as a result, there is less
space available outside the screen for cellular antennas. Manufacturers
are also adding more cameras, further reducing the space available
within the handset.

The need to fit more antennas into less space means antennas are
becoming smaller, and the reduced antenna size results in lower
antenna efficiency. Figure 2 shows how antenna efficiency decreases in
full-screen designs as the space between the radiating element at the
top of the phone and the ground (located at the screen edge) shrinks.

The higher number of antennas, combined with their reduced size, also
means the handset is more sensitive to transient effects caused by
changes in its environment, such as handling the phone. These transient
effects may include reduced efficiency and shifts in frequency response.

Simulated Performance of an Ideal Antenna

Simulated Performance of an Ideal Antenna
Changing Industrial Design
100%
Simulation 12 mm Radiating Element
90% Model 11 mm Space between radiating
80% 9 mm element and ground
7 mm
Antenna Efficiency (%)

70% 5 mm

60%
Ground/screen
50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

Shrinking Antenna Area 0%

600 650 700 750 800 850 900 950 1000 1050 1100 1150 1200
Frequency (MHz)

Figure 2. Full-screen smartphone designs shrink the available antenna area, reducing antenna efficiency.

E-GUIDE 3
 The Antenna Performance Tradeoff Triangle
The antenna “tradeoff triangle,” shown in Figure 3, illustrates the impact of reduced antenna size on
efficiency and bandwidth. If the antenna size remains constant, efficiency can be traded in exchange for
greater bandwidth. In older-generation phones with larger antennas, this tradeoff may be acceptable
because the antenna may still be able to meet performance requirements while supporting a wider
range of bands. But as the antenna size decreases, this tradeoff is no longer possible; with new full-
screen designs, the antenna can only achieve the required level of efficiency over a narrow frequency
range. Therefore, to support the wide range of frequencies supported in current handset designs, the
antenna must be tuned to operate efficiently on each frequency.

le Size Constant
Size Constant Reducing Size
Tradeoff Triangle
0 0

iangle -5
Size Constant -5
Reducing
A Size
0 0
-10 -10 B
-5 -5 C A
-15 -15
ncy

-20
-10
-20
-10 B
0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0 1.1 C
1.2 1.3
-15 -15
Efficiency Frequency (GHz) Frequency (GHz)

-20 -20
0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3

Reducing
Reducing Size
Frequency (GHz)
Size Frequency (GHz)

-5
A A B C
-10 B
C
-15
Figure 3. The antenna performance tradeoff triangle.

-20
1.2 1.3 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3
Frequency (GHz)

4 E-GUIDE
APERTURE TUNING: TUNING WITH A SWITCH
Today, aperture tuning is the primary method used
in handsets to overcome the problems caused by
reduced antenna area and efficiency. It is essential
to enable smartphones to support the ever-
broadening range of frequency bands, especially
with the transition to 5G.
Aperture tuning can make a large impact on antenna
efficiency for both Tx and Rx communications,
improving total radiated power (TRP) and total
isotropic sensitivity (TIS) by 3 dB or even more
depending on the application.
The antenna tuning concept is shown in Figure 4.
A switch is connected between the antenna
and the ground and used to adjust the resonant
frequency of the antenna to match the frequency
that the phone is currently using to communicate.
Adding different tuning components (a capacitor
or inductor) between the switch and the radiating
element can be used to further adjust the resonant
frequency, to support different bands. Figure 4
shows the resonant frequency of an antenna
when the switch is off, when it is on, and when an
inductor or capacitor is inserted into the circuit.
In Figure 4, each component is connected to a
simple switch, to illustrate the aperture tuning
concept. However, in some applications, such as
primary cellular antennas, more complex multi-
throw switches may be used to connect multiple
tuning components and support a broader range
of frequency bands.

Open Inductor Short Capacitor

Inductor Capacitor
Switch ON
Switch OFF Switch ON Switch ON

Open Inductor Short Capacitor

Switch Enables Diverse

Tuning Capability

Figure 4. Aperture tuning.

Select the Right Tuning Components

It’s important to choose the proper tuning components. For example, it’s best to avoid using inductors with
a value greater than 36 nH, because of the lower self-resonant frequency. Additionally, the parasitics due
to PC board layout can cause the self-resonant frequency of the inductor to reduce further such that the
resonances fall in the cellular frequency range.

Using capacitor values of less than 0.5 pF most likely means selecting a component with high tolerance.
However, capacitors with high tolerances can cause the capacitance value to vary more than desired, creating
both tuning and efficiency issues.

E-GUIDE 5
 Layout and Design Guidelines
When designing an RF system and adding antenna aperture circuitry, it’s necessary to take parasitic
effects into consideration. It’s important to understand where parasitics are generated when laying out
the circuitry, as they lead to loss and changes in resonance frequency. When laying out the phone’s PC
board, consider the landing pad sizes and pad shapes, because improper pad or trace layouts can increase
parasitic capacitances and inductances.

Work to:
• Reduce stub junctions because they can cause signal integrity problems.
• Reduce abrupt trace width changes such as 90-degree bends. Smooth transitions are best. (See Figure 5.)
• Optimize pad sizes and location as they can increase parasitic capacitances.
• Minimize the distance between the aperture tuner and RF antenna feed point to minimize the impact
of parasitics on antenna response.
• Create a good RF return current path. Care should be taken in placing ground closer to the antenna as
it can cause antenna efficiency to reduce.
• Minimize inductance to ground by using one or more dedicated vias for each ground connection.
– Place vias in the ground pads and fill vias with epoxy.
– Use one or more vias to reduce inductance and resistance.
• Ensure your ground paths connect to the board ground through a low resistance path. This minimizes
noise coupling and improves the linearity of the tuner.
• Provide adequate ground clearance around all RF components. Minimize placing ground close to RF
ports as this can increase parasitic capacitance. (See Figure 6.)
• Avoid running supply and control lines under the tuner, because the noise from the supply and control
lines can couple onto the antenna. Use ground layers between the aperture tuner and any supply and
control lines that may have noise.
• Use ferrite beads or chokes for supply line traces longer than 5 mm.

Be sure
to consider parasitic
effects when adding
antenna aperture circuitry.

Yes No Yes No

Figure 5. PC board traces and landing pads.

6 E-GUIDE
 Parasitic
Capacitance

Parasitic
Capacitance Ground Layer
GND GND
Between RF Port

RF
GND
and Part

Por
GND

t
GND

Figure 6. Inductance versus ground and components.

Avoid:
• Using thermal relief for RF connections.
• Routing RF traces through multiple layers. This can distort the trace impedances and increase the
reflected power and insertion loss through the trace.
• Placing floating ground planes under or around the tuner and RF traces connecting the switch
and antenna.

Tuning an Antenna for Multiple Frequency Ranges

An antenna has multiple natural resonant frequencies. These are harmonically related: for example, an
antenna may have resonant frequencies at 900 MHz, at 1800 MHz (2nd order harmonic), at 2700 MHz (3rd
order harmonic) and so on. By using aperture tuning switches to tune each of these frequencies, a single
antenna can support many bands distributed across a very wide spectrum range.

Figure 7 shows how this works. Each resonant frequency has a different voltage distribution along the
antenna. The voltage pattern varies depending on the type of antenna; Figure 7 shows one example.

First Resonance Each of these resonant frequencies can be

Second Resonance tuned independently by placing an aperture
Third Resonance tuning switch at the point where it has the
Fourth Resonance greatest effect, which is generally close to
the apex of the voltage distribution for that
RF Voltage

frequency.

By positioning multiple switches in different

locations along the antenna, and using
multiple tuning components with each switch,
a single cellular antenna can support a very
wide range of low-, mid- and high-frequency
bands (Figure 8).
Antenna Feed

Figure 7. Voltage distributions for an antenna’s different resonant frequencies.

E-GUIDE 7
 Low Band Tune Mid Band Tune High Band Tune

Frequency vs LB Efficiency Using Different Switch Components Frequency vs MB Efficiency Using Different Switch Components Frequency vs HB Efficiency Using Different Switch Components
Efficiency (dB)

Efficiency (dB)

Efficiency (dB)
0.8 0.85 0.9 0.95 1.8 1.9 2 2.1 2.2 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8
Frequency (GHz) Frequency (GHz) Frequency (GHz)

Figure 8. By placing tuning switches at multiple locations, a single antenna can support a wide range of low-, mid- and high-frequency bands.

Return Loss Versus Antenna Efficiency

In many circumstances, return loss is a good measure of antenna efficiency. But these two measurements
don’t always align.
• Total antenna efficiency is the ratio of the power radiated by the antenna to the power from
the transceiver.
• Antenna radiation efficiency is the ratio of the power radiated by the antenna to the power
delivered to the antenna. Some of the power from the transceiver isn’t delivered to the antenna due
to impedance mismatch and other losses in the path.
• Mismatch loss is the power lost due to impedance mismatch between the antenna and transceiver.
Maximum power transfer between the antenna and transceiver occurs when the antenna impedance
is equal to the complex conjugate of the transceiver impedance.
• Return loss is the ratio of transmitted power to reflected power. If the impedance of the transceiver
is very well matched to the antenna impedance, then very little power is reflected back. High return
loss indicates an efficient power transfer between the antenna and transceiver. Return loss of >10 dB
is desired, as it provides >90% of the power transfer.

Antenna radiation efficiency doesn’t cover reflected power due to return loss. Thus, the best way to judge
the antenna performance is to look at the total antenna efficiency [i.e., total antenna efficiency (dB) =
radiation efficiency (dB) + mismatch loss (dB)], as shown in Figure 9.

The total antenna efficiency comprises antenna radiation efficiency and the mismatch loss between the
antenna and the RF front end. Return loss provides a good metric of the amount of signal power that is
delivered to the antenna, whereas radiation efficiency of an antenna is the antenna’s ability to radiate
this signal power. The antenna could be very well matched to the RF front end (thus providing very good
return loss) but may not have the capability to radiate that signal effectively.

8 E-GUIDE
 Typically return loss is good when efficiency is good but this isn’t true all the time. Why?
Total Antenna Efficiency (dB) = Radiation Efficiency (dB) + Mismatch Loss (dB)

Return Loss Return Loss

0 0

-3 -3

-6 -6
Good Bad
-9 -9

-12 -12

-15 -15
0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3
Frequency (GHz) Frequency (GHz)

Total Antenna Efficiency Total Antenna Efficiency

0 0

-5 -5

-10 -10
Good -15 Good -15

-20 -20

-25 -25

-30 -30
0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3
Frequency (GHz) Frequency (GHz)

Figure 9. Comparison of return loss versus total antenna efficiency.

The Importance of RON and COFF

Aperture tuning primarily uses tuner switches and tunable capacitors. The
main figures of merit for these switches are ON state resistance (RON)
and OFF state capacitance (COFF), as shown in Figure 10. For tunable
capacitors, it is critical to have a wide range for tuning capacitance and a
good Q factor. Selecting components with low RON is critical to keep the
resistive loss in the system to a minimum.

RON and COFF significantly affect antenna efficiency. Decreasing RON

can improve efficiency in both inductive and capacitive tuning by several
dB (see Figure 11), with a correspondingly large impact on a handset’s
overall RF performance. Low COFF is similarly important.

Switch Off COFF = Capacitance

Switch On RON = Resistance

Figure 10. COFF and RON.
Figure 10. COFF and RON.

E-GUIDE 9
 Inductive Tuning
Inductive Tuning Capacitive Tuning
Capacitive Tuning
0 0
RON = 0.6 RON = 1.2 RON = 2.4 RON = 0.6 RON = 1.2 RON = 2.4

RON = 3 RON = 4 RON = 3 RON = 4

-3 Improving efficiency with -3
Improving efficiency with
decreasing RON decreasing RON
Efficiency (dB)

Efficiency (dB)
-6 -6

-9 -9

-12 -12

-15 -15
0.51 0.57 0.63 0.69 0.75 0.81 0.87 0.93 0.99 1.05 1.11 0.51 0.66 0.80 0.96 1.11 1.26 1.41 1.56 1.71 1.86 2.01 2.16 2.31 2.46
Frequency (GHz) Frequency (GHz)

Figure 11. Effect of decreasing RON on inductive and capacitive tuning efficiency.

However, RON and COFF have differing impacts along the length of the antenna, depending on the
voltage distribution. The impact of low RON is greatest where the voltage is low; the impact of COFF is
greatest where the voltage is high. Strategic placement of switches with low RON or low COFF can be
used to optimize tuning for different frequencies.

The parasitic capacitance from the OFF switch, COFF, can impact the resonant frequency and efficiency
depending on the location on the antenna and the value of COFF. This is illustrated in Figure 12 using
the COFF from an SPST switch and a planar inverted-F antenna (PIFA). The placement of the switch
on the antenna is moved from left (lower impedance) to right (higher impedance) and the COFF of the
switch varies from 0.1 pF to 0.4 pF. At the lower impedance region (left) of the antenna, the value of
COFF has very little impact on loss and RF response. But as the switch location is moved toward the
higher impedance region (right) of the antenna, the COFF of the SPST switch starts shifting the resonant
frequency and causing higher loss. So, it is critical to select tuners with very low COFF when they are
being placed in the high impedance regions of the antenna.

Apart from COFF of the tuner, performance can be degraded by parasitic capacitance due to traces
and pads. For PIFA applications, the impact of COFF increases with distance from the feed/ground.
As COFF is moved away from the tuner location, the RF response and switch loss efficiency change.
Figure 12 shows how the location and COFF capacitance affect the RF response, creating more loss as
both distance and capacitance increase.

Location A Location B Location C

COFF COFF COFF

0 0 0

-4 -4 -4
Efficiency (dB)

Efficiency (dB)

Efficiency (dB)

-8 -8 -8
Switch Loss
-12 -12 -12
Efficiency
COFF=0.1 pF COFF=0.2 pF COFF=0.1 pF COFF=0.2 pF COFF=0.1 pF COFF=0.2 pF
-16 -16 -16
COFF=0.3 pF COFF=0.4 pF COFF=0.3 pF COFF=0.4 pF COFF=0.3 pF COFF=0.4 pF
-20 -20 -20
0.51 0.57 0.63 0.69 0.75 0.81 0.87 0.93 0.99 0.51 0.57 0.63 0.69 0.75 0.81 0.87 0.93 0.99 0.51 0.57 0.63 0.69 0.75 0.81 0.87 0.93 0.99
Frequency (GHz) Frequency (GHz) Frequency (GHz)

Figure 12. COFF versus tuner location.

6
10 E-GUIDE
Removing Unwanted Resonances
It’s also important to address unwanted resonances, which can be caused by the COFF of the tuner switch
in situations where a tuning inductor is connected to that RF port.

Figure 13 shows a typical aperture tuner application and what it looks like with and without internally
grounded ports. An SP4T tuner switch is connected between an antenna and tuning elements to tune the
antenna to different frequency bands. The antenna is connected to a capacitor via the RF3 port whereas
the other three ports are switched OFF. Common aperture switches are capacitive in their OFF state and
resistive in their ON state. Thus, in their OFF state like in RF1, RF2 and RF4, unwanted resonance can occur
due to tuning inductor and OFF state capacitance (COFF). However, to suppress unwanted resonance, the
RF2 and RF4 inductor OFF ports can be internally grounded using the switch, thus disconnecting tuning
inductors from the resonance-causing circuit.

Typical aperture tuner application OFF Ports Open OFF Ports GND

Internal
Antenna Antenna Antenna
Feed Off ports Feed Off ports Feed
ground
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 path
capability

Switch path Switch path Switch path

Grounding "Off" Ports Removes Resonance
0
These unwanted resonances can distort the -2
Orange line =
RF response and also reduce the isolation no resonance -4

between antennas. As shown in the far Black line =

resonance
-6
-8
right of Figure 13, tuner switches have the
Return Loss (dB)

-10

capability to connect RF ports to ground -12

-14
internally such that the external tuning -16

inductors are disconnected from the circuit, -18

-20
thus eliminating the unwanted resonance. 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0
Frequency (GHz)

Figure 13. Removing resonance using ground switch capability.

Aperture Tuning for Carrier Aggregation
LTE operators worldwide are using carrier aggregation (CA) to provide higher data rates. CA combines two
or more LTE carriers, often in different frequency bands, to deliver increased bandwidth. Due to the limited
total number of antennas in handsets, this often means that a single antenna must communicate on two
bands simultaneously.

Carefully placed aperture tuning switches can meet this requirement. As previously described, placing a
tuning switch near the peak voltage of a resonant frequency has the greatest tuning effect on that frequency.
Conversely, placing a tuner at the null voltage of a resonant frequency has little tuning effect. By positioning
a switch so that it is close to the peak voltage for one resonant frequency but near the null of a second
frequency, the first frequency can be tuned without impacting the second.

Figure 14 shows aperture tuning used to support the combination of Band 39

and Band 41, which is commonly used in China. Placing a switch near each
frequency’s peak voltage allows high-efficiency tuning of each band with
minimal impact on the other band.

E-GUIDE 11
 Point A: Band 39 Tuning
Antenna Switch Placement
Antenna Switch Placement
Combination Point A: Band 39 Tuning
CombinationTuning:
Antenna Tuning:B39
Switch ++B41
Placement
B39 B41 Point A: Band 39 Tuning
AntennaCombination
Switch Placement

Efficiency (dB)
Tuning:
A
A B39 + B41
Combination Tuning: B39 + B41

Efficiency (dB)
BA A
A

Efficiency (dB)
A
B
B
1.7 2.11.92.3 2.5 2.7
Frequency (GHz)
1.7 1.9 2.1 2.3 2.5 2.7
1.7 1.9 2.1 2.3 2.5 2.7 (GHz)
Frequency
Point
Frequency B: Band 41 Tuning
(GHz)
Point B: Band 41 Tuning
Point B: Band 41 Tuning

Efficiency (dB)
Efficiency (dB)
Efficiency (dB)
Figure 14. Aperture tuning for carrier aggregation; placing a switch
near the voltage peak for each resonant frequency allows high-
efficiency tuning of each band with minimal impact on the other.
1.7 2.11.92.3 2.5 2.7
Frequency (GHz)
1.7 1.9 1.7 2.31.9 2.52.1 2.72.3
2.1 2.5 2.7
Frequency (GHz)Frequency (GHz)

ESD Protection
Mobile designers continue to face challenges when addressing electrostatic discharge (ESD) in
mobile devices. A good design practice for ESD is to use a multifaceted, system-level approach – at
the component level, during design and at final testing. Part of this approach encompasses designing
and testing according to the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) ESD standard 61000-4-2.
Recognized as the industry standard for end-product ESD testing and rating, IEC 61000-4-2 helps to
determine the vulnerability of the system to external ESD events in the field.

We recommend using system-efficient ESD design (SEED) methodology when designing mobile ESD
solutions. SEED is a co-design methodology that realizes both on-board and on-chip ESD protection.
Using SEED in combination with modeling and simulation can help a designer analyze and achieve
system-level ESD robustness.

We also recommend placing all ESD protection ahead of the aperture tuner, because this provides the
best assurance the ESD event will be mitigated. Also, be sure to minimize trace lengths between ESD
protective devices as these provide unwanted inductance.

When using inductors for ESD protection, choose low inductor values as they provide more protection.
(See Figure 15.) But be aware that these inductors can affect insertion loss.

12 E-GUIDE
 Antenna
Ant Feed

Tuner

Rx Inductor used to
provide necessary
Tx Blocking Capacitor
ESD Protection IEC ESD protection
Antenna (inductor)
Switch
Tx
Secondary Antenna
ESD
Feed point
Clamp
0.00
-0.05
-0.10

Insertion Loss (dB)

-0.15
-0.20
-0.25 No _Protection
-0.30 Ind_56 nH
-0.35 Ind_27 nH
High loss due
Figure 15. IEC 61000-4-2 ESD protection with an inductor. -0.40 Ind_18 nH
to inductor at
-0.45 low band
-0.50
0.7 0.9 1.1 1.3 1.5 1.7 1.9 2.1 2.3 2.5 2.7 2.9 3.0
Frequency (GHz)

Sometimes it works best to use transient voltage suppressor (TVS) diodes as the primary ESD clamps, as
illustrated in Figure 16. Using TVS diodes that have small capacitances avoids de-tuning of the antenna
input and creates less harmonic distortion. Under normal operation, the TVS diode is an open circuit. It
provides a low impedance path to ground if an ESD event occurs. After the ESD event, the TVS returns to
an open circuit.

V1
peak
V1
Antenna
Tuner

Rx

Tx
Blocking Capacitor
ESD Protection
Antenna (TVS Diode)
Switch
Tx
Secondary Antenna
ESD
Clamp
Feed point Main ESD
current
TVS

Figure 16. IEC 61000-4-2 ESD protection with TVS diode.

Go in Depth: SEED Methodology and ESD

Watch a step-by-step tutorial video and read our 3-part blog series about using SEED to overcome
ESD challenges in mobile devices.

https://www.qorvo.com/design-hub/videos/system-efficient-esd-design-seed-methodology

E-GUIDE 13
 Conclusion
Aperture tuning is essential in enabling today’s smartphones to
support the ever-growing range of frequency bands. It significantly
increases Tx and Rx performance, overcoming the challenges
caused by handset industrial design changes and making it
possible to meet increasingly complex RF requirements. The
effective implementation of aperture tuning requires considerable
knowledge of how to apply the technology to optimize each
application. The increasing number of antennas also means that
aperture tuning solutions must be small to fit into the shrinking
available space.

Qorvo is the recognized market leader in aperture tuning products,

with deep experience in helping leading manufacturers use
aperture tuning to meet their goals. Qorvo’s extensive portfolio of
highly compact solutions offers the combination of ultra-low COFF
and low RON necessary to maximize performance.

14 E-GUIDE
About Qorvo
Qorvo (NASDAQ:QRVO) makes a better world possible by providing innovative RF solutions at the
center of connectivity. We combine product and technology leadership, systems-level expertise and
global manufacturing scale to quickly solve our customers’ most complex technical challenges. Qorvo
serves diverse high-growth segments of large global markets, including advanced wireless devices,
wired and wireless networks and defense radar and communications. We also leverage our unique
competitive strengths to advance 5G networks, cloud computing, the Internet of Things, and other
emerging applications that expand the global framework interconnecting people, places and things.

For more information, please visit www.qorvo.com.

About the Author

Abhinay Kuchikulla is a senior marketing manager at Qorvo,
leading the product strategy and direction for antenna
tuners. Abhinay supports Qorvo with a strong technical
background in RF design engineering, enabling him to
understand customer problems and solve them effectively.
He works to define new products and manage their
development, bringing optimum solutions to the market
on time and meeting customer’s future RF requirements.
Abhinay was awarded the Marketing Person of the Year
Award in 2016 for outstanding achievement in growing
Qorvo’s tuner business. He received his Master’s degrees
from the University of Kansas in Electrical Engineering,
2004, and Engineering Management, 2013.

E-GUIDE 15
 QORVO’S ANTENNA CONTROL SOLUTIONS PORTFOLIO
Improve System Efficiency and Reduce Complexity of the RF System

Multiple Portfolios Address Antenna Performance

Multiple Portfolios Address Antenna Performance
Reflected Power Due to Total Radiated
Impedance Mismatch Power

Platform
PA + Filter
Provider RFPMIC
+ Switch
Chipset

Power Absorbed
by Antenna

Antenna Control Antenna Selection

Aperture Tuner Impedance Tuner Antenna Selection

Improve Total Reduce Mismatch Switch to Optimum Antenna
Antenna Efficiency Loss

Why Qorvo ACS

Best-in-class Broad portfolio providing High quality

performance with tuner for every application and reliable
low RON & COFF maximizing TRP/TIS supply chain

16 E-GUIDE
 GLOSSARY OF TERMS
5G: fifth generation
ACS: antenna control solutions
ANT: antenna
B39: Band 39
B41: Band 41
CA: carrier aggregation
COFF: off capacitance
dB: decibel
DPDT: double pole, double throw
ESD: electrostatic discharge
GHz: gigahertz
GND: ground
GPS: global positioning system
HB: high band
IEC: International Electrotechnical Commission
LB: low band
LTE: long term evolution
MB: midband
MHz: megahertz
MIMO: multiple input/multiple output
mm: millimeter
Learn nH: nanohenry
more at PA: power amplifier
www.qorvo.com/acs PC: printed circuit
pF: picofarad
PIFA: planar inverted-F antenna
Q factor: quality factor
RF: radio frequency
RFFE: RF front end
RFPMIC: RF power management integrated circuit
RON: on resistance
Rx: receive
SEED: system-efficient ESD design
SP4T: single pole, four throw
SPST: single pole, single throw
TIS: total isotropic sensitivity
TRP: total radiated power
TVS: transient voltage suppressor
Tx: transmit
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