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US 11,539,334 B2Granted
Compact architecture for multipath low noise amplifier
AssigneepSemi Corporation
InventorJonathan James Klaren
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and devices used in mobile receiver front end to support multiple paths and multiple frequency bands are described. The presented devices and methods provide benefits of scalability, frequency band agility, as well as size reduction by using one low noise amplifier per simultaneous outputs. Based on the disclosed teachings, variable gain amplification of multiband signals is also presented.
Claims24
A radio frequency (RF) amplifier comprising:
- a plurality of first stage amplifiers comprising at least one gain transistor of a first type and an input matching network;
- a plurality of second stage amplifiers comprising at least one transistor of a second type with an output matching network;
- the plurality of second stage amplifiers being connectable to a corresponding plurality of output loads;
- a common power supply node coupled to the plurality of first stage amplifier and the second stage amplifier, and
- a common ground node coupled to the first stage amplifier and the second stage amplifier,
- wherein the RF amplifier has a folded architecture and the RF amplifier is configured to:
- receive an input RF signal;
- amplify the input RF signal by a combination of a first stage amplifier of the plurality of first stage amplifiers and a second stage amplifier of the plurality of second stage amplifiers to generate an amplified signal;
- and
- feed the amplified signal to an output load at an output RF terminal,
- and wherein the RF amplifier is further configured so that two or more output loads are able to receive amplified signals from the first stage amplifier at the same time.
8 more elements
A folded architecture RF amplifier that receives an input RF signal, amplifies the input RF signal, generates an amplified signal, and feeds the amplified signal to an output load at an output RF terminal, the RF amplifier comprising:
- a first stage amplifier comprising at least one gain transistor of a first type and an input matching network;
- a second stage amplifier comprising at least one transistor of a second type with an output matching network;
- a common power supply node coupled to the first stage amplifier and the second stage amplifier;
- a common ground node coupled to the first stage amplifier and the second stage amplifier;
- and
- a switching module configured to selectively bypass the first stage amplifier and/or the second stage amplifier;
- wherein:
- in a first gain state, the switching module is configured to bypass the first stage amplifier, thereby creating a first signal path from the input RF terminal to the output RF terminal through the second stage amplifier;
- in a second gain state, the switching module is configured to bypass the second stage amplifier, thereby creating a second signal path from the input RF terminal to the output RF terminal through the first stage amplifier;
- in a third gain state, the switching module is configured to bypass the first stage amplifier and the second stage amplifier, thereby creating a third signal path from the input RF terminal to the output RF terminal without amplification, and
- in a fourth gain state, the switching module is configured such that neither the first stage amplifier nor the second stage amplifier is bypassed.
8 more elements
A method of amplifying a radio frequency signal comprising:
- providing a plurality of first stage amplifiers comprising at least one transistor of a first type;
- providing a plurality of second stage amplifiers comprising at least one transistor of a second type;
- connecting the plurality of second stage amplifier to a corresponding plurality of output loads:
- arranging a first stage amplifier of the plurality of first stage amplifiers and a second stage amplifier of the plurality of second stage amplifiers in a folded configuration;
- coupling the first stage amplifier and the second stage amplifier to a common power supply node;
- coupling the first stage amplifier and the second stage amplifier to a common ground node;
- applying an input RF signal to the first stage amplifier to generate an amplified signal at an output of the second stage RF amplifier, and
- feeding the amplified signal to two or more output loads to generate corresponding two or more output signals at the same time.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.