Method of adjusting gain and current consumption of a power amplifier circuit while maintaining linearity
AssigneeSiGe Semiconductor Inc.
InventorsMarquis Christian Julien, Walter Wayne
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The gain and current consumption of a power amplifier are adjusted while maintaining amplified output signal linearity. Where linearity and low power consumption are maintained for the amplifier by controllable shunting of an input signal amplitude and by providing a predetermined bias signal to the amplifier circuit in a precalibrated manner. A mapping circuit is disposed for receiving a control signal and for providing the predetermined bias signal to the amplifier circuit in the precalibrated manner. The mapping circuit is either internally provided within the same circuit as the power amplifier, or externally.
Claims27
An amplifier comprising:
- a first input port for receiving a signal for amplification;
- a second input port for receiving a control signal;
- a first amplifying stage, having a first gain and a first small signal gain, coupled to the first input port for receiving the signal for amplification and for generating a first amplified signal at an output port, the first amplified signal being an amplified version of the signal for amplification;
- at least a shunting circuit for varying a signal power level of at least one of the input signal and the first amplified signal in dependence upon the control signal;
- and,
- a biasing circuit for receiving the control signal and for variably biasing the first amplifying stage in dependence upon a bias signal received through a bias port,
- wherein, in use, the shunting circuit and the biasing circuit act in cooperation to provide any of a plurality of predetermined power profiles for the first amplified signal and the first small signal gain.
A method of controlling a power amplifier circuit for providing an amplified signal having an output power comprising the steps of:
- providing a control signal;
- providing an input signal having an input power to an input port of the power amplifier circuit;
- adjusting in dependence upon the control signal a bias signal provided to the power amplifier circuit to vary the actual gain thereof;
- amplifying the input signal to form the amplified signal:
- shunting signal power from at least one of the input signal and the amplified signal in dependence upon the control signal to vary at least one of the input power of the input signal provided to the power amplifier and amplified signal power of the amplified signal provided from the power amplifier, the steps of shunting and adjusting resulting in one of a plurality of predetermined power profiles each supported by the power amplifier circuit for an amplified signal and small signal gain.
A method of calibrating a power amplifier circuit, for providing an amplified signal having an output power, comprising the steps of:
- providing an input signal having a predetermined input power to an input port of the power amplifier circuit;
- providing a mapping circuit;
- providing an amplifier circuit, having a small signal gain and an actual gain, disposed within the power amplifier circuit;
- measuring the output power of the amplified signal;
- adjusting a control signal provided to the amplifier circuit to vary the actual gain thereof until a difference between the actual gain of the amplified signal and the small signal gain or the amplifier of is 1 dB or less;
- and,
- storing a relationship between control signal data, derived from the adjusted control signal, and bias signal data, derived from the bias signal, within the mapping circuit.
An amplifier comprising:
- a first input port for receiving a signal for amplification;
- a second input port for receiving a control signal;
- a first amplifying stage, having a first gain and a first small signal gain, coupled to the first input port for receiving the signal for amplification and for generating a first amplified signal at an output port, the first amplified signal being an amplified version of the signal for amplification;
- at least a signal power varying circuit for varying a signal power level of at least one of the input signal and the first amplified signal in dependence upon the control signal;
- and,
- a biasing circuit for receiving the control signal and for variably biasing the first amplifying stage in dependence upon a bias signal received through a bias port;
- wherein, in use, the signal power varying circuit and the biasing circuit act in cooperation to provide any of a plurality of predetermined power profiles for the first amplified signal and the first small signal gain.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.