RF power amplifier performance by clipping prevention of large PAPR signals

An apparatus for preventing RF signal distortion and signal error producing memory events in a Radio Frequency (RF) power amplifier (RFPA), comprising:

• the Radio Frequency (RF) power amplifier (RFPA), wherein the RFPA resides in a communication device operable within a Hybrid Fiber Coax (HFC) system;
• and
• an element, disposed prior to the RFPA in a signal path of a RF signal input to the RFPA, operable to enforce a maximum allowable amplitude in a high peak to average power ratio (PAPR) instantaneous high peak of the RF signal,
• wherein the maximum allowable amplitude is enforced against both positive amplitude peaks and negative amplitude peaks of the RF signal.

An apparatus for preventing RF signal distortion and signal error producing memory events in a Radio Frequency (RF) power amplifier (RFPA), comprising:

• the Radio Frequency (RF) power amplifier (RFPA), wherein the RFPA resides in a communication device operable within a Hybrid Fiber Coax (HFC) system;
• and
• an element operable to increase or supplement a bias of the RFPA when a high peak to average power ratio (PAPR) instantaneous high peak is detected in the RF signal prior to receipt by the RFPA,
• wherein the element increases or supplements the bias of the RFPA gradually using a low pass filter from a normal level to an elevated level while the high PAPR instantaneous high peak is being processed by the RFPA, and wherein the element decreases the bias of the RFPA gradually from the elevated level to the normal level when the high PAPR instantaneous high peak is no longer being processed by the RFPA.

An apparatus for preventing RF signal distortion and signal error producing memory events in a Radio Frequency (RF) power amplifier (RFPA), comprising:

• the Radio Frequency (RF) power amplifier (RFPA), wherein the RFPA resides in a communication device operable within a Hybrid Fiber Coax (HFC) system;
• a first element operable to detect when an instantaneous output voltage of the RFPA is below a predetermined voltage;
• and
• a second element operable to supply additional current to prevent the output voltage of the RFPA from falling below a predetermined threshold voltage.

A method for preventing RF signal distortion and signal error producing memory events in a Radio Frequency (RF) power amplifier (RFPA), comprising:

• a first element operable to detect when an instantaneous output voltage of the Radio Frequency (RF) power amplifier (RFPA) is below a predetermined voltage;
• and
• in response to the first element detecting that instantaneous output voltage of the RFPA is below a predetermined voltage, a second element operable to supply additional current to prevent the output voltage of the RFPA from falling below a predetermined threshold voltage,
• wherein the RFPA resides in a communication device operable within a Hybrid Fiber Coax (HFC) system.