Apparatus, and associated method, for operating a communication device at reduced level of current consumption
AssigneeNokia Corporation
InventorsJohn Groe, Tom Kenny
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus, and an associated method, for selectably reducing the current consumption of a communication device, such as a mobile station operable in a cellular communication system. Portions of the communication device operated at desired power levels but at reduced current consumption levels, thereby to reduce power consumption of the communication device. When the communication device powered by a portable power supply, the longevity of the portable power supply is increased, as lessened amounts of power are required to operate the communication device.
Claims20
In a radio device operable in a radio communication system to communicate radio-frequency communication signals, an improvement of apparatus for operating the radio device at selected radio characteristics, said apparatus comprising:
- a first amplifier element coupled to receive a first radio frequency signal, said first amplifier based by a first-bias current signal of a first selectable biasing level, said first amplifier element generating a first amplified radio frequency signal exhibiting a first level of linearity, the first level of linearity responsive to the first-bias current signal;
- and
- a second amplifier element coupled to receive indications of the first amplified radio frequency signal generated by said first amplifier element, said second amplifier element selectably operable in a large-signal mode and in a small signal mode, said second amplifier operated in the large-signal mode when the indications of the first amplified radio frequency signal applied thereto is at least as great as a threshold value such that, when operated in the large-signal mode, said second amplifier become self-biased at a fixed gain level.
In a method for communicating with a radio device operable in a radio communication system to communicate radio-frequency communication signals, an improvement of a method for operating the radio device at selected radio characteristics, said method comprising:
- providing a first radio frequency signal to a first amplifier element biased by a first-bias current signal of a first selectable biasing level;
- generating a first amplified radio frequency signal exhibiting a first level of linearity, the first level of linearity responsive to the first-bias current signal;
- and
- providing indications of the first amplified radio frequency signal to a second amplifier element selectably operable in a large-signal mode and in a small-signal mode, the second amplifier operated in the large-signal mode when the indications of the first amplified radio frequency signal applied thereto is at least as great as a threshold value such that, when operated in the large-signal mode, the second amplifier becomes self-biased at a fixed gain level.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.