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US 8,149,062 B2Granted
Power amplifier circuitry having inductive networks
AssigneeBlack Sand Technologies, Inc.
InventorsSusanne A. Paul, Alan L. Westwick, Timothy J. Dupuis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus is provided for use in power amplifiers for reducing the peak voltage that transistors are subjected to. A power amplifier is provided with first and second switching devices and an inductor connected between the switching devices. The switching devices are driven such that the switching devices are turned on and off during the same time intervals. Differential RF power amplifiers are also provided with inductive networks coupled at various nodes of the power amplifiers.
Claims27
A differential RF power amplifier comprising:
- a first power amplifier, the first power amplifier having a first switching device coupled between a first supply voltage and a first node, and a second switching device coupled between a second node and a second supply voltage;
- a second power amplifier, the second power amplifier having a third switching device coupled between a third supply voltage and a third node, and a fourth switching device coupled between a fourth node and a fourth supply voltage;
- and
- an inductive network coupled to the first, second, third, and fourth nodes, wherein the inductive network includes a first inductor coupled between the first and second nodes such that current can flow between the first and second nodes through the first inductor and a second inductor coupled between the third and fourth nodes such that current can flow between the third and fourth nodes through the second inductor, wherein the first and second inductors each include one or more coils, and wherein the inductive network provides at least one inductor having one or more coils between any two of the first, second, third, and fourth nodes.
1 more element
A method of amplifying RF signals comprising:
- providing a first RF power amplifier, the first power amplifier having a first switching device coupled between a first supply voltage and a first node, and a second switching device coupled between a second node and a second supply voltage;
- providing a second RF power amplifier, the second power amplifier having a third switching device coupled between a third supply voltage and a third node, and a fourth switching device coupled between a fourth node and a fourth supply voltage;
- coupling the first and second power amplifiers differentially;
- and
- coupling an inductive network to the first and second RF power amplifiers, wherein the inductive network includes a first inductor coupled between the first and second nodes such that current can flow between the first and second nodes through the first inductor and a second inductor coupled between the third and fourth nodes such that current can flow between the third and fourth nodes through the second inductor, wherein the first and second inductors each include one or more coils, and wherein the inductive network provides at least one inductor having one or more coils between any two of the first, second, third, and fourth nodes.
2 more elements
A differential RF power amplifier comprising:
- a first power amplifier, the first power amplifier having a first switching device coupled between a first supply voltage and a first node, and a second switching device coupled between a second node and a second supply voltage;
- a first inductor coupled between the first and second nodes, the first inductor having one or more coils;
- a second power amplifier, the second power amplifier having a third switching device coupled between a third supply voltage and a third node, and a fourth switching device coupled between a fourth node and a fourth supply voltage;
- a second inductor coupled between the third and fourth nodes, the first inductor having one or more coils;
- and
- an output network having a first input coupled to the first node, a second input coupled to the second node, a third input coupled to the third node, and a fourth input coupled to the fourth node, wherein the first and second inductors and the output network provide at least one inductor having one or more coils between any two of the first, second, third, and fourth nodes.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.