Back to results
US 7,876,160 B2Granted
Multi-mode high efficiency linear power amplifier
AssigneeSkyworks Solutions, Inc.
InventorsGuohao Zhang, Shiaw W. Chang, Xuejun Chen, Jing Sun
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A power amplifier includes a plurality of amplification paths in which at least one amplification path is selectively enabled and disabled, wherein each amplification path includes an output impedance modification element and an output phase shift element that is operable independently from the output impedance modification element, and wherein the output impedance modification element in each amplification path provides selective impedance for each amplification path.
Claims21
A power amplifier, comprising:
- a plurality of amplification paths in which at least one amplification path is selectively enabled and disabled;
- wherein each amplification path includes an output impedance modification element and an output phase shift element coupled to an intermediate node and serially coupled between an output of an amplifier and an output node common to both amplification paths;
- and
- wherein each of the output impedance modification elements provides a nominal impedance at corresponding intermediate nodes.
1 more element
A power amplifier, comprising:
- a first amplification path comprising:
- an input phase shift element configured to apply a positive (+) phase shift to a radio frequency (RF) input signal;
- a power amplification element configured to receive and amplify the phase shifted RF input signal;
- an output impedance modification element configured to alter an impedance at an output of the power amplification element;
- an output phase shift element configured to apply a negative (−) phase shift to the radio frequency (RF) input signal, the output impedance modification element and the output phase shift element coupled to a corresponding intermediate node and serially coupled between an output of an amplifier and an output node;
- and
- a second amplification path comprising:
- an input phase shift element configured to apply a negative (−) phase shift to a radio frequency (RF) input signal;
- a power amplification element configured to receive and amplify the phase shifted RF input signal;
- an output impedance modification element configured to alter an impedance at an output of the power amplification element;
- an output phase shift element configured to apply a positive (+) phase shift to the radio frequency (RF) input signal, the output impedance modification element and the output phase shift element coupled to a corresponding intermediate node and serially coupled between an output of an amplifier and the output node;
- wherein the output phase shift element in each amplification path is operable independently from the output impedance modification element in each amplification path, and wherein the output impedance modification element in each amplification path provides a nominal impedance at the corresponding intermediate node.
9 more elements
A method for amplifying a radio frequency (RF) signal, comprising:
- providing an input RF signal to a phase shift element;
- altering a phase of the input RF signal such that a positive (+) phase shifted input signal is provided to a first amplification path and such that a negative (−) phase shifted signal is provided to a second amplification path;
- amplifying the positive (+) phase shifted signal and the negative (−) phase shifted signal;
- independently adjusting an impedance presented to the amplified positive (+) phase shifted signal and the amplified negative (−) phase shifted signal to present a nominal impedance to the amplified positive (+) phase shifted signal and the amplified negative (−) phase shifted signal;
- and
- separate from the impedance adjusting, phase shifting the amplified positive (+) phase shifted signal and the amplified negative (−) phase shifted signal to develop an amplified RF output signal.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.