Power amplifier

Abstract

A power amplifier (1) for receiving and amplifying an input signal (10) and outputting an output signal (11) is disclosed. The power amplifier comprises: N power amplifying units (12) (N is an integer larger than 1) connected in parallel so as to output amplified signals in response to the input signal (10); an output combining unit (14) for combining the output signals from the N power amplifying units (12) and outputting a combined signal as the output signal (11) of the power amplifier; and an amplitude controlling unit (15) for selectively turning ON each of the N power amplifying units (12) based on an amplitude of the input signal (10). In the power amplifier, the amplitude controlling unit (15) may comprise N amplitude adjusters (113) connected in parallel for adjusting the amplitude of the input signal (110) of the power amplifier; and a controller (115) for selectively turning ON each of the N power amplifying units (112) and controlling the amplitude adjusters (113) so that an amplitude of the output signal (111) becomes a substantially continuous function with respect to the amplitude of the input signal (110). The power amplifier may further comprise a local oscillator (222) outputting an constant envelope signal, receiving a modulation signal (210) as the input signal of the power amplifier and outputting an amplified modulated signal (211) as the output signal of the power amplifier; wherein the N power amplifying units comprise N saturation amplifying units connected in parallel so as to amplify the constant envelope signal from the local oscillator; and the amplitude controlling unit comprises an amplifying controller (215) for selectively turning ON each of the N saturation amplifying units (212) based on an amplitude of the modulation signal (210).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.