Amplification systems and methods using fixed and modulated power supply voltages and buck-boost control

A system for amplifying a signal of varying amplitude, comprising:

• a fixed voltage power supply;
• a modulated voltage power supply;
• a first saturated power amplifier that is responsive to the signal of varying amplitude and that is powered by the fixed voltage power supply to produce a first output signal of constant amplitude;
• a second saturated power amplifier that is responsive to the signal of varying amplitude and to an invert/noninvert control signal and that is powered by the modulated voltage power supply to produce a second output signal of amplitude that depends on the signal of varying amplitude, the modulated power supply voltage and on the invert/noninvert control signal;
• a coupler that couples the first and second output signals to a load;
• and
• a controller that modulates the modulated voltage power supply while generating the invert/noninvert control signal.

A system for amplifying a signal of varying amplitude, comprising:

• first means for amplifying the signal of varying amplitude from a fixed voltage power supply to produce a first output signal of constant amplitude;
• second means for amplifying the signal of varying amplitude from a modulated voltage power supply to produce a second output signal of amplitude that depends on the signal of varying amplitude, the modulated power supply voltage and on an invert/noninvert control signal;
• means for combining the first and second output signals into a load;
• and
• means for modulating the modulated voltage power supply while generating the invert/noninvert control signal such that the combined first and second output signals into the load amplify the signal of varying amplitude.

A method of amplifying a signal, comprising:

• generating a first input signal, a second input signal, an invert/noninvert control signal and a variable power supply voltage from the signal;
• amplifying the first input signal using a fixed power supply voltage, to produce a first output signal;
• selectively invertingly and noninvertingly amplifying the second input signal using the variable power supply voltage in response to the invert/noninvert control signal, to produce a second output signal;
• and
• coupling the first and second output signals into a load to thereby amplify the signal.

A system for amplifying a signal, comprising:

• means for generating a first input signal, a second input signal, an invert/noninvert control signal and a variable power supply voltage from the signal;
• means for amplifying the first input signal using a fixed power supply voltage, to produce a first output signal;
• means for selectively invertingly and noninvertingly amplifying the second input signal using the variable power supply voltage in response to the invert/noninvert control signal, to produce a second output signal;
• and
• means for coupling the first and second output signals into a load to thereby amplify the signal.

A system for amplifying a signal, comprising:

• a signal generator that generates a first input signal, a second input signal, an invert/noninvert control signal and a variable power supply voltage from the signal;
• a first power amplifier that amplifies the first input signal using a fixed power supply voltage, to produce a first output signal;
• a second power amplifier that selectively invertingly and noninvertingly amplifies the second input signal using the variable power supply voltage in response to the invert/noninvert control signal, to produce a second output signal;
• and
• a coupler that couples the first and second output signals into a load to thereby amplify the signal.

A method of amplifying a signal, comprising:

• generating first and second input signals and first and second variable power supply voltages from the signal;
• amplifing the first input signal using the first variable power supply voltage, to produce a first output signal;
• amplifying the second input signal using the second variable power supply voltage, to produce a second output signal;
• and
• coupling the first and second output signals into a load to thereby amplify the signal.

A system for amplifying a signal, comprising:

• means for generating first and second input signals and first and second variable power supply voltages from the signal;
• first means for amplifying the first input signal using the first variable power supply voltage, to produce a first output signal;
• second means for amplifying the second input signal using the second variable power supply voltage, to produce a second output signal;
• and
• means for coupling the first and second output signals into a load to thereby amplify the signal.

A system for amplifying a signal, comprising:

• a signal generator that generates first and second input signals and first and second variable power supply voltages from the signal;
• a first power amplifier that amplifies the first input signal using the first variable power supply voltage, to produce a first output signal;
• a second power amplifier that selectively amplifies the second input signal using the second variable power supply voltage, to produce a second output signal;
• and
• a coupler that couples the first and second output signals into a load to thereby amplify the signal.