Apparatus and methods for power amplifier signal limiting
AssigneeSkyworks Solutions, Inc.
InventorPhilip John Lehtola
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for power amplifier signal limiting are disclosed. In certain embodiments, a power amplifier system includes a power amplifier that amplifies a radio frequency input signal, and a signal limiter operable to limit a signal power of the power amplifier when the radio frequency input signal exceeds a threshold. The signal limiter includes a radio frequency detector configured to generate a detection signal based on detecting a power level of the radio frequency input signal, and a latch configured to lock the signal limiter into an attenuating mode in response to the detection signal indicating that the threshold is exceeded.
Claims20
A mobile device comprising:
- a transceiver configured to generate a radio frequency input signal;
- and
- a front-end system including a power amplifier configured to amplify the radio frequency input signal, and a signal limiter operable to limit a signal power of the power amplifier when the radio frequency input signal exceeds a threshold, the signal limiter including a radio frequency detector configured to generate a detection signal based on detecting a power level of the radio frequency input signal, and a latch configured to lock the signal limiter into an attenuating mode in response to the detection signal indicating that the threshold is exceeded, the signal limiter including an input connected to an input of the power amplifier and an output connected to an output of the power amplifier, the signal limiter further including an attenuator including a plurality of diodes connected in series between the output of the power amplifier and ground, the plurality of diodes including one or more selectable diodes that are bypassed in the attenuation mode.
A method of signal limiting in a mobile device, the method comprising:
- generating a radio frequency input signal using a transceiver;
- amplifying the radio frequency input signal using a power amplifier;
- and
- limiting a signal power of the power amplifier when the radio frequency input signal exceeds a threshold using a signal limiter, including generating a detection signal based on detecting a power level of the radio frequency input signal using a radio frequency detector of the signal limiter, and locking the signal limiter into an attenuating mode in response to the detection signal indicating that the threshold is exceeded using a latch of the signal limiter;
- biasing the power amplifier with a bias signal that is activated during a transmit frame and deactivated during a receive frame;
- and
- selectively resetting the latch with the bias signal.
A power amplifier system comprising:
- a power amplifier configured to amplify a radio frequency input signal, the power amplifier biased by a bias signal;
- and
- a signal limiter operable to limit a signal power of the power amplifier when the radio frequency input signal exceeds a threshold, the signal limiter including a radio frequency detector configured to generate a detection signal based on detecting a power level of the radio frequency input signal, and a latch configured to lock the signal limiter into an attenuating mode in response to the detection signal indicating that the threshold is exceeded, the latch selectively reset by the bias signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.