Amplifier having input power protection
AssigneeSkyworks Solutions, Inc.
InventorPaul Raymond Andrys
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Amplifier having input power protection. In some embodiments, an amplifier circuit can include an input node and an output node, and an amplifier implemented between the input node and the output node. The amplifier circuit can further include a bias circuit configured to provide a bias signal to the amplifier. The amplifier circuit can further include a protection circuit configured to generate a detected voltage representative of a peak of a radio-frequency signal present at the input node. The protection circuit can be further configured to enable a protection mode when the detected voltage is greater than a first threshold value and to disable the protection mode when the detected voltage is less than a second threshold value that is less than the first threshold value.
Claims18
An amplifier circuit comprising:
- an input node and an output node;
- an amplifier implemented between the input node and the output node, the amplifier including a cascade arrangement of a first transistor and a second transistor, the first transistor having an input coupled to the input node, the second transistor coupled to the first transistor and having an output coupled to the output node;
- a bias circuit configured to provide a bias signal to the amplifier;
- and
- a protection circuit configured to generate a detected voltage representative of a peak of a radio-frequency signal present at the input node, the protection circuit further configured to enable a protection mode when the detected voltage is greater than a first threshold value and to disable the protection mode when the detected voltage is less than a second threshold value that is less than the first threshold value, the protection circuit including an assembly of one or more switches configured to implement the enablement and disablement of the protection mode.
An amplifier circuit comprising:
- an input node and an output node;
- an amplifier implemented between the input node and the output node;
- a bias circuit configured to provide a bias signal to the amplifier;
- and
- a protection circuit configured to generate a detected voltage representative of a peak of a radio-frequency signal present at the input node, the protection circuit further configured to enable a protection mode when the detected voltage is greater than a first threshold value and to disable the protection mode when the detected voltage is less than a second threshold value that is less than the first threshold value, the protection circuit including a detector coupled to the input node to allow sampling of the radio-frequency signal, the detector configured to generate the detected voltage based on the peak of the sampled radio-frequency signal, the detector including a diode configured to limit a current associated with the sampled radio-frequency signal in one direction, and a resistance-capacitance circuit configured to generate the detected voltage, the resistance-capacitance circuit including a parallel arrangement of a resistance and a capacitance between an output of the diode and ground.
An amplifier circuit comprising:
- an input node and an output node;
- an amplifier implemented between the input node and the output node;
- a bias circuit configured to provide a bias signal to the amplifier;
- and
- a protection circuit configured to generate a detected voltage representative of a peak of a radio-frequency signal present at the input node, the protection circuit further configured to enable a protection mode when the detected voltage is greater than a first threshold value and to disable the protection mode when the detected voltage is less than a second threshold value that is less than the first threshold value, the protection circuit including a detector coupled to the input node to allow sampling of the radio-frequency signal, the detector configured to generate the detected voltage based on the peak of the sampled radio-frequency signal, the detector including a comparator configured to generate an enable output to enable the protection mode when the detected voltage is greater than the first threshold value, and to generate a disable output to disable the protection mode when the detected voltage is less than the second threshold value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.