Digital power amplifier level control
AssigneeRockwell Collins, Inc.
InventorsMichael R. Vagher, Clayton Harmon, Andrew J. Wiebold
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A digital power amplifier with variable output power control is disclosed. An amplifying stage includes a first attenuator that applies one of n attenuation steps to an RF signal in response to a desired output power level of the digital power amplifier. A feedback loop provides a gain control signal to the amplifying stage based upon an output of the amplifying stage. The feedback loop includes a second attenuator that applies another of the n attenuation steps to a sample of the output of the amplifying stage. The second attenuator applies the kth highest of the n attenuation steps when the first attenuator applies the kth lowest of the n attenuation steps, where 1≦k≦n.
Claims20
A digital power amplifier, comprising:
- an amplifying stage including a first attenuator that applies one of n attenuation steps to an RF signal in response to a desired output power level of the digital power amplifier;
- and
- a feedback loop that provides a gain control signal to the amplifying stage based upon an output of the amplifying stage, wherein the feedback loop includes a second attenuator that applies another of the n attenuation steps to a sample of the output of the amplifying stage;
- wherein the second attenuator applies the kth highest of the n attenuation steps when the first attenuator applies the kth lowest of the n attenuation steps, where 1≦k≦n.
A digital power amplifier with variable output power control, comprising:
- means for amplifying an RF signal, the means for amplifying including a first means for attenuating the RF signal, wherein the first means for attenuating applies one of n attenuation steps to the RF signal in response to a desired output power level of the digital power amplifier;
- and
- means for providing gain control to the means for amplifying, the means for providing gain control based upon an output of the means for amplifying, wherein the means for providing gain control includes a second means for attenuating that applies another of the n attenuation steps to a sample of the output of the means for amplifying;
- wherein the second means for attenuating applies the kth highest of the n attenuation steps when the first means for attenuating applies the kth lowest of the n attenuation steps, where 1≦k≦n.
A method of controlling an output power level of a digital power amplifier, the method comprising:
- amplifying an RF signal using at least one gain controlling element;
- while amplifying the RF signal, applying a first attenuation to the RF signal with one of n attenuation steps in response to a desired output power level;
- and
- providing a gain control signal, based upon an output of the amplifying step, to one of the at least one gain controlling elements, wherein providing the gain control signal includes applying a second attenuation to a sample of the output of the amplifying step using another of the n attenuation steps;
- wherein the applying of the second attenuation operates to apply the kth highest of the n attenuation steps when the applying of the first attenuation operates to apply the kth lowest of the n attenuation steps, where 1≦k≦n.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.