US 2013/0154735 A1 · RF POWER AMPLIFIER AND OPERATING METHOD THEREOF

Abstract

The present invention reduces the size of a power detection circuit. An RF power amplifier includes an RF amplifier circuit and a power detection circuit. The RF amplifier circuit subjects an RF input signal having a predetermined frequency band to power amplification and generates an RF amplifier output signal. The input terminal of the power detection circuit is coupled to the output of the RF amplifier circuit. The power detection circuit detects a harmonic component having a harmonic frequency that is a whole number multiple of the frequency of a fundamental wave component of the RF amplifier output signal, and generates at an output terminal a detected signal indicative of the signal level of the fundamental wave component of the RF amplifier output signal. The power detection circuit includes an input circuit, which detects the harmonic component, and an output circuit, which generates the detected signal at the output.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An RF power amplifier comprising:

an RF amplifier circuit;
and
a power detection circuit,
wherein, when an RF input signal having a predetermined frequency band is supplied to an input terminal of the RF amplifier circuit, the RF amplifier circuit subjects the RF input signal to power amplification and generates an RF amplifier output signal having the predetermined frequency band from an output terminal of the RF amplifier circuit,
wherein an input terminal of the power detection circuit is coupled to the output terminal of the RF amplifier circuit, and
wherein the power detection circuit detects a harmonic component having a harmonic frequency that is a whole number multiple of the frequency of a fundamental wave component of the RF amplifier output signal, and in accordance with the detected harmonic component, generates at an output terminal a detected signal indicative of the signal level of the fundamental wave component of the RF amplifier output signal.

3 more elements

A method of operating an RF power amplifier that includes an RF amplifier circuit and a power detection circuit, the method comprising the steps of:

when an RF input signal having a predetermined frequency band is supplied to an input terminal of the RF amplifier circuit, causing the RF amplifier circuit to subject the RF input signal to power amplification and generate an RF amplifier output signal having the predetermined frequency band from an output terminal of the RF amplifier circuit;
allowing an input terminal of the power detection circuit to be coupled to the output terminal of the RF amplifier circuit;
permitting the power detection circuit to detect a harmonic component having a harmonic frequency that is a whole number multiple of the frequency of a fundamental wave component of the RF amplifier output signal;
and
in accordance with the detected harmonic component, causing the power detection circuit to generate at an output terminal a detected signal indicative of the signal level of the fundamental wave component of the RF amplifier output signal.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Rf power amplifier and operating method thereof

Life of this patent

Rf power amplifier and operating method thereof

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20