Triple class E Doherty amplifier topology for high efficiency signal transmitters
AssigneeEricsson Inc.
InventorDavid R. Pehlke
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Abstract
A Doherty amplifier circuit is provided comprising at least three class E amplifiers receiving separated amplitude and phase information from at least one signal source. At least one first impedance adjustment device is linked between the signal source and the inputs to at least two of the amplifiers, and a plurality of second impedance adjustment devices is linked to the outputs of the amplifiers to combine the outputs into an output of the circuit. In this way, a scheme for efficient amplification of amplitude modulated waveforms is achieved across a wide dynamic range and for a large peak-to-average ratio using only input modulated techniques.
Claims21
An amplifier circuit comprising:
- at least three class E amplifiers receiving separated amplitude and phase information from at least one signal source;
- at least one first impedance adjustment device linked between said at least one signal source and the inputs to at least two of said class E amplifiers;
- and
- a plurality of second impedance adjustment devices linked to the outputs of said class E amplifiers to combine said outputs into an output of said circuit.
An amplifier circuit comprising:
- at least one signal source producing a plurality of digital amplitude modulation signals and a digital phase modulated signal;
- a first class E carrier amplifier linked to receive one of said amplitude modulation signals and said phase modulation signal;
- a first class E peaking amplifier linked to receive another of said amplitude modulation signals, said first peaking amplifier further receiving said phase modulation signal via one or more impedance adjusting devices;
- a second class E peaking amplifier linked to receive another of said amplitude modulation signals, said second peaking amplifier further receiving said phase modulation signal via one or more impedance adjusting devices;
- and
- a combining circuit linking the outputs of said amplifiers via one or more impedance adjusting devices.
A method of providing high-efficiency signal amplification, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a first digital amplitude waveform to a class E carrier amplifier;
- providing a first digital phase waveform to a first class E peaking amplifier;
- providing a second digital phase waveform to a second class E peaking amplifier;
- providing a shared digital phase waveform to said carrier and peaking amplifiers;
- and
- combining the outputs of said carrier and peaking amplifiers via one or more impedance adjusting devices to produce an amplified signal output.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.