Methods and apparatus providing high efficiency power amplifiers for both high and low output power levels
AssigneeTexas Instruments Incorporated
InventorOddgeir Fikstvedt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for providing high efficiency power amplifiers for both high and low output power levels are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a first amplifier to amplify a signal from a host device; and transmit the amplified signal to an antenna; a second amplifier to amplify the signal from the host device; and transmit the amplified signal to the antenna; and first, second, and third switches to: when the first and second switches are closed and the third switch is open, couple the first amplifier to the second amplifier in a parallel structure; and when the first and second switches are open and the third switch is closed, couple the first amplifier to the second amplifier in a stacked structure.
Claims26
An apparatus comprising:
- a first amplifier to:
- amplify a signal from a host device, to produce an amplified signal;
- and
- transmit the amplified signal to an antenna;
- a second amplifier to:
- amplify the signal from the host device;
- and
- transmit the amplified signal to the antenna;
- and
- a switching network to connect the first amplifier and the second amplifier in parallel in a parallel structure or in series in a stacked structure.
A method comprising:
- receiving instructions by a switch controller from a host device;
- in response to determining that the instructions correspond to a high output power application, controlling a switching network to couple a first amplifier to a second amplifier in parallel in a parallel structure;
- and
- in response to determining that the instructions correspond to a low output power application, controlling the switching network to couple the first amplifier to the second amplifier in series in a stacked structure.
18-25. (canceled)
A power amplifier, comprising:
- a first amplifying inverter having a first node and a second node;
- a second amplifying inverter having a third node and a fourth node;
- a first switch coupled between the first node of the first amplifying inverter and the third node of the second amplifying inverter;
- a second switch coupled between the second node of the first amplifying inverter and the fourth node of the second amplifying inverter;
- and
- a third switch coupled between the second node of the first amplifying inverter and the third node of the second amplifying inverter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.