Low power consumption adaptive power amplifier

A power amplifier circuit operative to receive an RF input signal and to produce an RF output signal comprising:

• a device configuration circuit operatively responsive to power output level data to provide a device configuration signal and a variable load impedance signal;
• a scalable power amplifier including an output, and a plurality of selectively activated amplifier elements, each operative to receive the RF input signal, and each operative to produce the RF output signal at the output wherein at least one of the selectively activate amplifier elements is operatively responsive to the corresponding device configuration signal to operate in at least one of the first power output level and the second power output level, to vary a power output level of the scalable power amplifier;
• a variable impedance circuit also coupled to the output of the scalable power amplifier and operatively responsive to the variable load impedance signal received from the device configuration circuit to provide a first impedance load at the output of the scalable power amplifier corresponding to the first power output level, and a second impedance load at the output of the scalable power amplifier corresponding to the second power output level;
• and
• wherein each of the at least one of the plurality of selectively activated amplifier elements is operatively coupled to a first reference potential via a corresponding voltage supply switch wherein:
• the corresponding voltage supply switch couples the first reference potential to the corresponding amplifier in response to a device configuration signal associated with the first power output level, and
• the corresponding voltage supply switch reduces the first reference potential to the corresponding amplifier in response to a device configuration signal associated with the second power output level.

A power amplifier circuit operative to receive RF input signal and to produce an RF output signal comprising:

• a device configuration circuit operatively responsive to power output level data to provide a device configuration signal and a variable load impedance signal associated with a first and second power output level;
• a scalable power amplifier having an output, and a plurality of selectively activated amplifier elements, each operative to receive the RF input signal via a corresponding RF input switch, and each selectively activated amplifier element is operative to produce the RF output signal at the output of the scalable power amplifier, wherein at least one of the plurality of selectively activated amplifier elements is operatively responsive to the device configuration signal associated with the first power output level to receive the RF input signal from the corresponding RF input switch, wherein at least one of the plurality of selectively activated amplifier elements is operatively responsive to the device configuration signal associated with the second power output level to receive the RF input signal having a reduced amplitude from the corresponding RF input switch;
• a variable impedance circuit coupled to the output of the scalable power aplifier and operatively responsive to the variable load impedance signal to provide a first impedance load at the output of the scalable power amplifier associated with the first power output level, and a second impedance load at the output of the scalable power amplifier associated with the second power output level;
• and
• a variable bias circuit operatively coupled to the device configuration circuit to receive bias control data and to responsively produce a bias control signal in response to bias control data to control a bias of at least one of the selectively activated amplifier elements.

A wireless device comprising:

• a processing circuit operative to produce power output level data;
• a scalable power amplifier including an output, and a plurality of selectively activated amplifier elements each operative to produce an RF output signal at the output, and operative to dynamically vary a power output level in response to the power output level data;
• a variable impedance circuit coupled to the output of the scalable power amplifier, and operatively responsive to the power output level data to vary an impedance of the variable impedance circuit to dynamically load the output of the scalable power amplifier;
• an antenna operatively coupled to the output of the scalable power amplifier and operative to transmit the RF output signal;
• and
• wherein the scalable power amplifier further includes an amplifier configuration circuit operatively responsive to the power output level data to selectively activate the selectively activated amplifier elements by at least one of reducing power to at least one of the selectively activated amplifier elements and controlling a bias of at least one of the selectively activated amplifier elements, and wherein the variable impedance circuit further includes an impedance configuration circuit operatively responsive to the power output level data to dynamically vary the impedance of the variable impedance circuit.

An amplification method comprising:

• selectively activating at least one selectively activated amplifier element within a scalable power amplifier including an output to vary a power output level of the scalable power amplifier;
• varying an impedance of a variable impedance circuit coupled to the output to dynamically load the scalable power amplifier by varying the impedance of the variable impedance circuit;
• and
• wherein the selectively activated amplifier elements are selectively activated by at least one of reducing power to at least one of the selectively activated amplifier elements, increasing power to at least one of the selectively activated amplifier elements and controlling a bias of at least one of the selectively activated amplifier elements.