US 2018/0006619 A1Published application

Radio frequency system switching power amplifier systems and methods

AssigneeApple Inc.

InventorsEhsan Adabi, Albert C. Jerng

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Abstract

Systems and method for improving operation of a radio frequency system are provided. One embodiment includes a switching power amplifier that outputs an amplified analog electrical signal based on an input electrical signal and voltage of an envelope voltage supply rail. The switching power amplifier includes a first transistor with a gate that receives the input electrical signal, a source electrically coupled to the envelope voltage supply rail, and a drain electrically coupled to an output of the switching power amplifier; a second transistor with a gate that receives the input electrical signal, a source electrically coupled to ground, and a drain electrically coupled to the output; and a third transistor with a gate that receives the input electrical signal, a drain electrically coupled to the envelope voltage supply rail, and a source electrically coupled to an output of another switching power amplifier.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A radio frequency system configured to transmit radio waves, wherein the radio frequency system comprises:

a first switching power amplifier configured output a first amplified analog electrical signal used to transmit the radio waves from the radio frequency system at a desired output power based at least in part on a first input electrical signal and voltage of an envelope voltage supply rail, wherein the first switching power amplifier comprises:
a first transistor, wherein a first gate of the first transistor is configured to receive the first input electrical signal, a first source of the first transistor is configured to be electrically coupled to the envelope voltage supply rail, and a first drain of the first transistor is electrically coupled to a first output of the first switching power amplifier;
a second transistor coupled in parallel with the first transistor, wherein a second gate of the second transistor is configured to receive the first input electrical signal, a second source of the second transistor is configured to be electrically coupled to ground, and a second drain of the second transistor is electrically coupled to the first output of the first switching power amplifier;
and
a third transistor, wherein a third gate of the third transistor is configured to receive the first input electrical signal, a third drain of the third transistor is configured to be electrically coupled to the envelope voltage supply rail, and a third source of the third transistor is electrically coupled to a second output of a second switching power amplifier.

2 more elements

An electronic device configured to transmit radio waves, comprising:

a first switching power amplifier comprising:
a first output configured to output a positive amplified analog electrical signal based at least in part on a positive input electrical signal and an envelope voltage;
and
a first transistor configured to supply electrical power comprising a first leakage current to the first output based at least in part on the positive input electrical signal when the envelope voltage is below a threshold range;
and
a second switching power amplifier comprising a second transistor configured to supply electrical power comprising a second leakage current to the first output based at least in part on a negative input electrical signal when the envelope voltage is below the threshold range such that the first leakage current and the second leakage current substantially cancel out.

3 more elements

An electronic device configured to wirelessly transmit electromagnetic waves, comprising:

an amplifier component configured to generate an amplified analog electrical signal to be wirelessly transmitted from the electronic device at a desired output power based at least in part on a first input signal, wherein the amplifier component comprises:
a first transistor configured to connect an output of a switching power amplifier to an envelope voltage supply rail when the first input signal is low and the desired output power is above a threshold range;
a second transistor configured to connect the output of the switching power amplifier to the envelope voltage supply rail when the first input signal is low and the desired output power is below the threshold range;
and
a third transistor configured to connect the output of the switching power amplifier to ground when the first input signal is high.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/401,847Filed 9 Jan 2017
Priority: 6 Mar 2015
Published: 4 Jan 2018
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification22 codes

H03F 3/217
With semiconductor devices only: class D power amplifiers; Switching amplifiers
H03F 1/0222
Continuous control: by using a signal derived from the input signal
H03F 3/19
High-frequency amplifiers, e.g. radio frequency amplifiers: with semiconductor devices only
H03F 3/193
With semiconductor devices only: with field-effect devices

Family

Application14/640,978Continuation · filed 6 Mar 2015
Application15/401,847Continuation
US 10,110,180 B2Related patent
US 2016/0261243 A1Published application
US 9,543,910 B2Related patent
US 2018/0006619 A1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.