High-frequency power amplifier, wireless communication apparatus and wireless communication system

A wireless communication apparatus, comprising:

• a high-frequency power amplifier for transmission;
• detection means for measuring the output power of said power amplifier;
• and
• a power control circuit which controls the output power of said power amplifier based on information provided by said detection means,
• said power amplifier including:
• an input terminal;
• an output terminal;
• a control terminal which receives a power control signal;
• an amplifying system which has multiple amplifying stages and is connected between said input terminal and said output terminal;
• and
• a bias circuit which is connected to said control terminal and adapted to supply a bias voltage, which has a nonlinear response to the power control signal received on said control terminal, to a first amplifying stage, which is connected to said output terminal, among said multiple amplifying stages,
• wherein said bias circuit of said high-frequency power amplifier includes:
• a voltage division circuit which divides with multiple resistors the voltage of the power control signal and delivers a divided voltage to the control terminal of said first amplifying stage;
• a control transistor having its control electrode connected to the voltage division node of said voltage division circuit, its first electrode connected to the resistor on the lower voltage side relative to the voltage division node of said voltage division circuit, and its second electrode grounded;
• and
• a current sensing transistor having its control electrode connected to the control electrode of the transistor of said first amplifying stage and its first electrode releasing a sensed current.

A wireless communication system for performing wireless communication among wireless communication apparatus by way of a base station, said base station having no facility of transmitting a power control signal to said wireless communication apparatus, said wireless communication apparatus each having power mode control means for controlling the power mode without using the power control signal,

• wherein said wireless communication apparatus each include:
• a high-frequency power amplifier for transmission;
• detection means for measuring the output power of said power amplifier;
• and
• a power control circuit which controls the output power of said power amplifier based on information -provided by said detection means,
• said power amplifier including:
• an input terminal;
• an output terminal;
• a control terminal which receives a power control signal;
• an amplifying system which has multiple amplifying stages and is connected between said input terminal and said output terminal;
• and
• a bias circuit which is connected to said control terminal and adapted to supply a bias voltage, which has a nonlinear response to the power control signal received on said control terminal, to a first amplifying stage, which is connected to said output terminal, among said multiple amplifying stages,
• said bias circuit constituting said power mode control means.

A high-frequency power amplifier comprising:

• an input terminal;
• an output terminal;
• a control terminal which receives a power control signal;
• an amplifying system which has a plurality of amplifiers and which is coupled between said input terminal and said output terminal;
• and
• a bias circuit which is coupled to said control terminal and to said amplifying system and which includes a first resistance element having a first node and a second node, a second resistance element having a first node coupled to the second node of the first resistance element and a second node, and a first transistor having a gate coupled to the second node of the first resistance element, a first electrode coupled to the control terminal via the first resistance element and the second resistance element, and a second electrode for receiving a predetermined voltage, wherein a voltage according to the power control signal is generated from the second node of the first resistance element, and wherein the bias circuit provides a voltage according to the generated voltage to the amplifying system as a bias voltage without receiving a mode signal for indicating one of a lower power mode in which the high-frequency power amplifier is capable of outputting a lower level than a predetermined value and a high power mode in which the high-frequency power amplifier is capable of outputting a higher level than the predetermined value.

A high-frequency power amplifier comprising:

• an input terminal;
• an output terminal;
• a control terminal which receives a power control signal;
• an amplifying system which has a plurality of amplifiers and which is coupled between said input terminal and said output terminal;
• and
• a bias circuit which is coupled to said control terminal and to said amplifying system and which includes a transistor having a gate, a first electrode and a second electrode for receiving a predetermined voltage, and a resistance element having a first node coupled to the gate of the transistor and a second node coupled to the first electrode of the transistor, wherein a voltage according to the power control signal is generated from the first node of the resistance element in response to applying the power control signal to the gate of the transistor, and wherein the bias circuit provides a voltage according to the generated voltage to the amplifying system as a bias voltage without receiving a mode signal for indicating one of a low power mode in which the high-frequency power amplifier is capable of outputting a lower level than a predetermined value and a high power mode in which the high-frequency power amplifier is capable of outputting a higher level than the predetermined value.

A wireless communication apparatus comprising:

• a high-frequency power amplifier;
• detection means for measuring an output power of the high-frequency power amplifier;
• and
• a power control circuit which controls the output power of the high-frequency power amplifier based on an output of the detection means,
• wherein the high-frequency power amplifier comprises:
• an input terminal;
• an output terminal;
• a control terminal which receives a power control signal from the power control circuit;
• an amplifying system which has a plurality of amplifiers and which is coupled between said input terminal and said output terminal;
• and
• a bias circuit which is coupled to said control terminal and to said amplifying system and which includes a first resistance element having a first node and a second node, a second resistance element having a first node coupled to the second node of the first resistance element and a second node, and a first transistor having a gate coupled to the second node of the first resistance element, a first electrode coupled to the control terminal via the first resistance element and the second resistance element, and a second electrode for receiving a predetermined voltage, wherein a voltage according to the power control signal is generated from the second node of the first resistance element, and wherein the bias circuit provides a voltage according to the generated voltage to the amplifying system as a bias voltage without receiving a mode signal for indicating one of a low power mode in which the high-frequency power amplifier is capable of outputting a lower level than a predetermined value and a high power mode in which the high-frequency power amplifier is capable of outputting a higher level than the predetermined value.

A wireless communication apparatus comprising:

• a high-frequency power amplifier;
• detection means for measuring an output power of the high-frequency power amplifier;
• and
• a power control circuit which controls the output power of the high-frequency power amplifier based on an output of the detection means,
• wherein the high-frequency power amplifier comprises:
• an input terminal;
• an output terminal;
• a control terminal which receives a power control signal from the power control circuit;
• an amplifying system which has a plurality of amplifiers and which is coupled between said input terminal and said output terminal;
• and
• a bias circuit which is coupled to said control terminal and to said amplifying system and which includes a transistor having a gate, a first electrode and a second electrode for receiving a predetermined voltage, and a resistance element having a first node coupled to the gate of the transistor and a second node coupled to the first electrode of the transistor, wherein a voltage according to the power control signal is generated from the first node of the resistance element in response to applying the power control signal to the gate of the transistor, and wherein the bias circuit provides a voltage according to the generated voltage to the amplifying system as a bias voltage without receiving a mode signal for indicating one of a low power mode in which the high-frequency power amplifier is capable of outputting a lower level than a predetermined value and a high power mode in which the high-frequency power amplifier is capable of outputting a higher level than the predetermined value.

A wireless communication system comprising:

• a base station and a wireless communication apparatus which performs wireless communication with the base station,
• wherein the base station has no function for outputting a mode signal which indicates one of a low power mode in which the wireless communication apparatus is capable of outputting a lower level than a predetermined value and a high power mode in which the wireless communication apparatus is capable of outputting a higher level than the predetermined value, and
• wherein the wireless communication apparatus comprises:
• a power control circuit which provides a power control signal;
• an input terminal;
• an output terminal;
• a control terminal which receives the power control signal;
• an amplifying system which has a plurality of amplifiers and which is coupled between said input terminal and said output terminal;
• and
• a bias circuit which is coupled to said control terminal and to said amplifying system and which includes a first resistance element having a first node and a second node, a second resistance element having a first node coupled to the second node of the first resistance element and a second node, and a first transistor having a gate coupled to the second node of the first resistance element, a first electrode coupled to the control terminal via the first resistance element and the second resistance element, and a second electrode for receiving a predetermined voltage, wherein a voltage according to the power control signal is generated from the second node of the first resistance element, and wherein the bias circuit provides a voltage according to the generated voltage to the amplifying system as a bias voltage.

A wireless communication system comprising:

• a base station and a wireless communication apparatus which performs wireless communication with the base station,
• wherein the base station has no function for outputting a mode signal which indicates one of a low power mode in which the wireless communication apparatus is capable of outputting a lower level than a predetermined value and a high power mode in which the wireless communication apparatus is capable of outputting a higher level than the predetermined value, and
• wherein the wireless communication apparatus comprises:
• a power control circuit which provides a power control signal;
• an input terminal;
• an output terminal;
• a control terminal which receives a power control signal from the power control circuit;
• an amplifying system which has a plurality of amplifiers and which is coupled between said input terminal and said output terminal;
• and
• a bias circuit which is coupled to said control terminal and to said amplifying system and which includes a transistor having a gate, a first electrode and a second electrode for receiving a predetermined voltage, and a resistance element having a first node coupled to the gate of the transistor and a second node coupled to the first electrode of the transistor, wherein a voltage according to the power control signal is generated from the first node of the resistance element in response to applying the power control signal to the gate of the transistor, and wherein the bias circuit provides a voltage according to the generated voltage to the amplifying system as a bias voltage.