Method of adjusting gain and current consumption of a power amplifier circuit while maintaining linearity
AssigneeSiGe Semiconductor Inc.
InventorsMarquis Christian Julien, Walter Wayne
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The gain and current consumption of a power amplifier are adjusted while maintaining amplified output signal linearity. Where linearity and low power consumption are maintained for the amplifier by controllable shunting of an input signal amplitude and by providing a predetermined bias signal to the amplifier circuit in a precalibrated manner. A mapping circuit is disposed for receiving a control signal and for providing the predetermined bias signal to the amplifier circuit in the precalibrated manner. The mapping circuit is either internally provided within the same circuit as the power amplifier, or externally.
Claims27
An amplifier comprising:
- a first input port for receiving an input signal;
- a second input port for receiving a control signal;
- a signal power varying circuit for varying a power level of the input signal in dependence upon the control signal to provide a signal for amplification;
- an amplifying stage, having a gain and a small signal gain, coupled to the first input port for receiving the signal for amplification and for generating an amplified signal at an output port, the amplified signal being an amplified version of the signal for amplification;
- a biasing circuit for receiving the control signal and for biasing the amplifying stage through a bias port using a bias signal, in dependence thereon,
- wherein, in use, the signal power varying circuit and the biasing circuit act in cooperation to provide a predetermined power profile for amplified signals and small signal gains.
An amplifier comprising:
- a first input port for receiving an input signal;
- a second input port for receiving a bias control signal;
- a second input port for receiving a shunting control signal;
- a signal power varying circuit for varying a power level of the input signal in dependence upon the shunting control signal to provide a signal for amplification;
- an amplifying stage, having a gain and a small signal gain, coupled to the first input port for receiving the signal for amplification and for generating an amplified signal at an output port, the amplified signal being an amplified version of the signal for amplification;
- a biasing circuit for receiving the bias control signal and for biasing the amplifying stage through a bias port, in dependence thereon.
A method of controlling a power amplifier circuit for providing an amplified signal having an output power comprising the steps of:
- providing a control signal;
- providing an input signal having an input power to an input port of the power amplifier circuit;
- adjusting in dependence upon the control signal a bias signal provided to the power amplifier circuit to vary the actual gain thereof;
- attenuating the input power of the input signal in dependence upon the control signal to vary the input power of the input signal to the power amplifier to provide a predetermined power profile for amplified signals and small signal gains;
- and,
- amplifying the input signal to form the amplified signal.
A method of calibrating a power amplifier circuit, for providing an amplified signal having an output power, comprising the steps of:
- providing an input signal having a predetermined input power to an input port of the power amplifier circuit;
- providing a mapping circuit;
- providing an amplifier circuit, having a small signal gain and an actual gain, disposed within the power amplifier circuit;
- measuring the output power of the amplified signal;
- adjusting a control signal provided to the amplifier circuit to vary the actual gain thereof until a difference between the actual gain of the amplified signal and the small signal gain of the amplifier of is 1 dB or less;
- and,
- storing a relationship between control signal data, derived from the adjusted control signal, and bias signal data, derived from the bias signal, within the mapping circuit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.