Apparatus and method for current sensing using a wire bond
AssigneeSkyworks Solutions, Inc.
InventorsPaul R. Andrys, David S. Ripley, Terry J. Shie
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for sensing power amplifier current includes a system voltage source that is used to develop a reference voltage, a wire bond structure connected between the system voltage source and a power amplifier, where a sense voltage developed across the wire bond structure is indicative of a current flowing through the power amplifier, and a current source configured to compensate the reference voltage for changes in resistance of the wire bond structure due to a temperature coefficient of the wire bond structure.
Claims17
An apparatus for sensing power amplifier current, comprising:
- a system voltage source that is used to develop a reference voltage;
- a wire bond structure connected between the system voltage source and a power amplifier, where a sense voltage developed across the wire bond structure is indicative of a current flowing through the power amplifier;
- a current source configured to compensate the reference voltage for changes in resistance of the wire bond structure due to a temperature coefficient of the wire bond structure;
- and
- a comparator configured to receive the reference voltage and the sense voltage so as to compare the current flowing through the power amplifier to a current limit threshold, the comparator configured to generate a saturation control signal for reducing a bias applied to the power amplifier when the sense voltage exceeds the reference voltage so as to clamp the current flowing through the power amplifier at the current limit threshold.
A portable transceiver having a wire bond structure for sensing power amplifier current, comprising:
- a transmitter operatively coupled to a receiver;
- a system voltage source that is used to develop a reference voltage;
- a wire bond structure connected between the system voltage source and a power amplifier, where a sense voltage developed across the wire bond structure is indicative of a current flowing through the power amplifier;
- a current source configured to compensate the reference voltage for changes in resistance of the wire bond structure due to a temperature coefficient of the wire bond structure;
- and
- a comparator configured to receive the reference voltage and the sense voltage so as to compare the current flowing through the power amplifier to a current limit threshold, the comparator configured to generate a saturation control signal for reducing a bias applied to the power amplifier when the sense voltage exceeds the reference voltage so as to clamp the current flowing through the power amplifier at the current limit threshold.
A method for sensing power amplifier current, comprising:
- providing a current to a power amplifier;
- sensing the current provided to the power amplifier using a wire bond structure;
- developing a sense voltage from the current sensed by the wire bond architecture;
- determining whether the sense voltage exceeds a reference voltage;
- compensating the reference voltage for changes in resistance of the wire bond structure due to a temperature coefficient of the wire bond structure;
- and
- when the sense voltage exceeds the reference voltage, reducing a bias to the power amplifier so as to clamp the current flowing through the power amplifier at a current limit threshold.
An apparatus for sensing current, comprising:
- a system voltage source that is used to develop a reference voltage;
- a wire bond structure connected between the system voltage source and a current consuming element, where a sense voltage developed across the wire bond structure is indicative of a current flowing through the current consuming element;
- a current source configured to compensate the reference voltage for changes in resistance of the wire bond structure due to a temperature coefficient of the wire bond structure;
- and
- a comparator configured to receive the reference voltage and the sense voltage so as to compare the current flowing through the power amplifier to a current limit threshold, the comparator configured to generate a saturation control signal for reducing a bias applied to the power amplifier when the sense voltage exceeds the reference voltage so as to clamp the current flowing through the power amplifier at the current limit threshold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.