Self-controlled high efficiency power amplifier
AssigneeQUALCOMM Incorporated
InventorGordon Kent Walker
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A novel and improved circuit and method for amplifying an input signal. The circuit includes an amplifier circuit having an input for receiving the input signal, and an amplifier control circuit, coupled to the amplifier circuit, for varying a supply power and a device periphery of the amplifier circuit in response to an amplitude envelope of the input signal. In this manner, the amplifier control circuit can control the linearity and the efficiency of the amplifier circuit using the characteristics of the input signal itself, without relying on any external processing.
Claims15
A circuit comprising:
- an amplifier circuit having an input for receiving an input signal;
- and
- an amplifier control circuit for varying a supply power and a device periphery of the amplifier circuit in response to an amplitude envelope of the input signal, the amplifier control circuit having:
- an envelope detector for detecting the input signal amplitude envelope, and for generating an envelope detection signal in response thereto;
- at least one threshold detector, coupled to the envelope detector, for comparing the envelope detection signal to a threshold, and for generating a threshold comparison signal in response thereto;
- an amplitude-modulation (AM) detector, coupled to the envelope detector, for detecting amplitude modulation of the input signal, and for generating a mode detection signal in response thereto;
- and
- at least one power regulator, coupled to the at least one threshold detector and the AM detector, for varying the supply power in response to the threshold comparison signal and the mode detection signal.
A method of amplifying an input signal in a circuit having an amplifier circuit controlled by an amplifier control circuit, the method comprising:
- detecting an amplitude envelope of the input signal;
- comparing the input signal amplitude envelope to a threshold;
- varying a device periphery of the amplifier circuit in response to the comparing;
- identifying a presence of amplitude-modulation (AM) in the input signal amplitude envelope;
- and
- varying a power supply to the amplifier circuit in response to the presence of AM.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.