Multi-mode multi-amplifier architecture
AssigneeNorthrop Grumman Corporation
InventorsIan Robinson, Frank Winter
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An amplification architecture or system is provided having a multiple amplifier system that switches modes of operation between operation in a component mode and a composite mode based on a characteristic of an input signal relative to a threshold level. In the component mode, the components of the input signal are employed to different terminals of the multiple amplifier system that provide a reconstructed amplified representation of the input signal. In the composite mode, the input signal is amplified to provide an amplified representation of the input signal.
Claims27
An amplification system comprising:
- a mode selector that controls operation of the amplification system between a component mode and a composite mode based on a characteristic of an input signal relative to a threshold level;
- and
- an amplifier system having a plurality of amplifiers that cooperate to amplify components of the input signal in the component mode to provide a reconstructed amplified representation of the input signal and a single amplifier that amplifies the input signal in the composite mode to provide an amplified representation of the input signal.
An amplification system comprising:
- a multiple amplifier system having a first amplifier, a second amplifier and a third amplifier;
- and
- a mode selector that switches between a composite mode and a component mode based on characteristic of the input signal relative to a threshold level, the mode selector provides a first component of an input signal along a first path to the first amplifier and a second component of an input signal along a second path the second amplifier in th component mode, and provides an input signal along a third path to the third amplifier in the composite mode.
An amplification system comprising:
- means for separating an input signal into components;
- means for switching operation of the amplifier system between a component mode and a composite mode based on a characteristic of the input signal relative to a threshold level;
- means for providing a reconstructed amplified representation of the input signal from the components in the component mode;
- and
- means for amplifying the input signal in the composite mode.
A method of operating an amplification system, the method comprising:
- switching the mode of the amplifier system between component mode operation and composite mode operation based on a characteristic of an input signal relative to a threshold level;
- providing components of the input signal to at least one amplifier during component mode operation to provide an amplified reconstructed representation of the input signal;
- providing the input signal to a linear amplifier during composite mode operation to provide an amplifier representation of the input signal;
- and
- selecting one of the amplified representation of the input signal and the reconstructed amplified representation of the input signal based on a present mode operation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.