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US 8,274,333 B2Granted
Method and apparatus for protecting devices in an RF power amplifier
AssigneeBlack Sand Technologies, Inc.
InventorTimothy J. Dupuis
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for use with a power amplifier for protecting active devices on the power amplifier. A peak detector is used by control circuitry to detect the presence of a peak voltage that exceeds a threshold voltage. In response to the detection of a peak voltage, the gain of the power amplifier is reduced.
Claims12
A method of controlling an RF power amplifier comprising:
- detecting the output power of the RF power amplifier;
- detecting a voltage at a first node of the RF power amplifier;
- comparing the detected voltage at the first node of the RF power amplifier with a reference voltage;
- increasing the gain of the power amplifier if the detected output power is less than a desired output power level and if the detected voltage does not exceed a threshold voltage;
- and
- decreasing the gain of the power amplifier if the detected output power is greater than the desired output power level or if the detected voltage exceeds a threshold voltage even when the detected output power is less than the desired output power level.
3 more elements
A method of protecting devices in an RF power amplifier comprising:
- detecting the output power of the RF power amplifier;
- detecting a voltage at a first node of the power amplifier;
- providing a reference voltage, the reference voltage having a value relating to a voltage level from which a device in the power amplifier is desired to be protected;
- detecting the reference voltage;
- comparing the detected voltage at a first node of the power amplifier with the detected reference voltage;
- determining whether the detected voltage at the first node is higher than a threshold voltage;
- and
- if it is determined that the detected voltage is higher than the threshold voltage, decreasing the gain of the power amplifier, even while the detected output power is less than a desired output power level.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.