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US 7,161,423 B2Granted
Parallel power amplifier and associated methods
AssigneeSilicon Laboratories Inc.
InventorsSusanne A. Paul, Timothy J. Dupuis
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus is provided for use in power amplifiers where multiple parallel power amplifiers provide various output power levels. By selectively enabling and disabling the parallel power amplifiers and combining their outputs, a desired output power can be realized, while choosing a combination of power amplifiers that provide a high efficiency.
Claims32
An RF power amplifier comprising:
- a first power amplifier slice, the first amplifier slice further comprising an amplifier stage having a plurality of switching devices and an output network having reactive components;
- a second power amplifier slice, the second amplifier slice further comprising an amplifier stage having a plurality of switching devices and an output network having reactive components;
- wherein outputs of the first and second power amplifier slices are combined to provide an output of the RF power amplifier, and wherein the first and second power amplifier slices can be selectively disabled;
- and
- a third power amplifier slice having an output that is combined with the outputs of the first and second power amplifier slices.
2 more elements
An RF power amplifier for providing power to a load comprising:
- a first power amplifier that can be selectively enabled or disabled, wherein the first power amplifier has a first impedance as seen by the load when the first power amplifier is enabled and a second impedance as seen by the load when the first power amplifier is disabled;
- a second parallel power amplifier that can be selectively enabled or disabled, wherein the second power amplifier has a third impedance as seen by the load when the second power amplifier is enabled and a fourth impedance as seen by the load when the second power amplifier is disabled, and wherein outputs of the first and second power amplifiers are combined to provide power to the load;
- and
- a third power amplifier having an output that is combined with the outputs of the first and second power amplifiers.
1 more element
A method of providing an amplified signal to an output node in an RF power amplifier comprising:
- providing three or more power amplifiers, each power amplifier having an amplifier stage and a reactive output network;
- combining outputs of the three or more power amplifiers to provide an amplified signal to the output node of the RF power amplifier;
- and
- selectively disabling one or more of the three or more power amplifiers based on a desired output power level, wherein each disabled power amplifier is still connected to the output node.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.