Methods and Devices for Impedance Matching in Power Amplifier Circuits
AssigneePeregrine Semiconductor Corporation
InventorMichael P. Gaynor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods of turning on and/or turning off amplifier segments in a scalable periphery amplifier architecture are described in the present disclosure. The turning on and/or turning off the amplifier segments according to the various embodiments of the present can reduce spectral splatter in adjacent channels. In some embodiments, amplifier performance and efficiency can be improved by dissipating heat more uniformly.
Claims18
A method of turning off a subset of amplifier segments in an amplifier circuit comprising a plurality of amplifier segments, the method comprising:
- providing a matching circuit coupled with the amplifier circuit, the matching circuit having a first impedance value substantially matching a first output impedance value of the amplifier circuit;
- determining a number of amplifier segments of the plurality of amplifier segments to be turned off;
- determining a second output impedance value of the amplifier circuit expected upon turning off the determined number of amplifier segments;
- changing the first impedance value of the matching circuit to a second impedance value of the matching circuit, the second impedance value of the matching circuit being substantially equal to the determined second output impedance value of the amplifier circuit;
- and
- turning off, upon the changing, the number of amplifier segments determined to be turned off, thus changing the first output impedance value of the amplifier circuit to an actual second output impedance value of the amplifier circuit, wherein the actual second output impedance value of the amplifier circuit substantially matches the second impedance value of the matching circuit.
A method for turning on a subset of amplifier segments in an amplifier circuit, the method comprising:
- providing a matching circuit coupled with the amplifier circuit, the matching circuit having a first impedance value substantially matching a first output impedance value of the amplifier circuit;
- determining a number of amplifier segments of a plurality of amplifier segments to be turned on;
- determining a second output impedance value of the amplifier circuit expected upon turning on the determined number of amplifier segments;
- turning on the number of amplifier segments determined to be turned on, wherein the turning on the number of amplifier segments establishes a second output impedance value of the amplifier circuit;
- and
- changing the first impedance value of the matching circuit to a second impedance value of the matching circuit, the second output impedance value of the matching circuit being substantially equal to the second output impedance value of the amplifier circuit.
A circuital arrangement comprising:
- an amplifier circuit comprising a plurality of amplifier segments;
- and
- a matching circuit coupled with the amplifier circuit, the matching circuit comprising one or more inductors and one or more digital tunable capacitors,
- wherein the amplifier circuit has a first output impedance value in a first configuration of the amplifier segments, the first output impedance value adapted to change to a second impedance value in a second configuration of the amplifier segments, and
- wherein an impedance value of the matching circuit is configured to be adjustable according to an output impedance value of the amplifier circuit before the output impedance value of the amplifier circuit is changed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.