Back to results
US 10,256,782 B2Granted
Multi-path power amplifier
OwnerJohn Howard La Grouinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A multi-path power amplifier that includes two or more amplifier paths where the amplifier path having the most favorable dynamic resolution of the momentary signal is utilized. The amplifier paths are adaptively controlled by a processor, DSP, or other suitable digital processing. This results in significantly improved power amplifier dynamic range and broadband noise-floor performance, for example, as compared with traditional audio-frequency power amplifiers.
Claims19
A power amplifier, comprising:
- a first signal path, noise and level optimized for a first signal level range, and including a first amplifier;
- a second signal path, noise and level optimized for a second signal level range different from the first signal level range, and including a second amplifier;
- and
- a receiver receives a look-ahead control signal associated with a multi-path digital-to-analog converter and selectively controls a first output of the first amplifier based on the look-ahead control signal.
1 more element
A method for power amplification, comprising:
- selectively amplifying a first analog signal path that is noise and level optimized for a first signal level range and a second analog signal path that is noise and level optimized for a second signal level range different from the first signal level range based on information within a look-ahead control signal associated with a multi-path digital-to-analog converter;
- and
- summing a resultant selectively amplified first analog signal and a selectively amplified second analog signal.
A power amplifier comprising:
- a first digital-to-analog converter and a second digital-to-analog converter;
- a processor configured to receive a digital signal and map the digital signal into a first grouping of bits representing a first signal level range and a second grouping of bits representing a second signal level range different from the first signal level range, the first grouping of bits feeds the first digital-to-analog converter and the second grouping of bits feeds the second digital-to-analog converter;
- a first amplifier receives a first output signal path of the first digital-to-analog converter and a second amplifier receives a second output signal path of the second digital-to-analog converter;
- and
- the processor generates one or more control signals that selectively control a first output of the first amplifier and a second output the second amplifier based on a pre-determined signal level of the digital signal.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.