Reconfigurable power amplifier for improved low-power efficiency
AssigneeBlack Sand Technologies, Inc.
InventorsSusanne A. Paul, Marius Goldenberg
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A radio frequency (RF) power amplifier (PA) is reconfigured to operate in a low power mode from a high power mode. The RF PA has a first RF amplifier is connected to the first and second inputs of a first transformation network. The RF PA has a second a second RF amplifier connected to a second transformation network. During high power mode, both RF amplifiers drive a load coupled to the transformation networks. In low power mode the first RF amplifier is disabled and the first and second inputs of the first transformation are coupled together so as to change the load impedance seen by the second RF amplifier. The second RF amplifier continues to supply power to the load during operation in the low power mode.
Claims23
A reconfigurable power amplifier comprising:
- a first transformation network including first and second inputs and an output;
- a second transformation network including third and fourth inputs and an output;
- wherein said first and second transformation networks are coupled together to drive a load;
- a first radio frequency (RF) amplifier coupled to the first and second inputs of the first transformation network;
- a second RF amplifier coupled to the third and fourth inputs of the second transformation network, wherein in a first mode of operation the first and second RF amplifiers contribute RF power to the load;
- a first circuit to disable the first RF amplifier so that it does not contribute RF power to the load in a reconfigured mode of operation;
- and
- a second circuit to couple said first and second inputs of the first transformation network together in the reconfigured mode of operation;
- wherein a load impedance at the third and fourth inputs of the second transformation network is different between the first mode of operation and the reconfigured mode of operation.
A method comprising:
- reconfiguring a radio frequency (RF) power amplifier to operate in a reconfigured mode, the reconfiguring including,
- disabling a first RF amplifier so that it does not contribute RF power to the load;
- coupling first and second output nodes of the first RF amplifier together through a first circuit to provide a reconfigured load impedance seen by a second RF amplifier;
- and
- receiving an RF signal at the second RF amplifier and contributing RF power to the load from the second RF amplifier in the reconfigured mode.
A method for operating a radio frequency (RF) power amplifier comprising:
- operating the RF power amplifier in a first mode including,
- contributing power to a load from a first RF amplifier coupled to the load through a first transformation network;
- contributing power to the load from a second RF amplifier coupled to the load through a second transformation network;
- reconfiguring the RF power amplifier to operate in a second mode, the reconfiguring including,
- disabling said first RF amplifier so that the first RF amplifier does not contribute RF power to the load in the second mode;
- and
- coupling the inputs of said first transformation network together to provide a reconfigured load impedance for use in the second mode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.