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US 8,368,470 B2Granted
RF power amplifiers with linearization
AssigneeHollinworth Fund, L.L.C.
InventorsRaul Alidio, Alexandre Dupuy, Ajay Gummalla, Woo Yong Lee, Maha Achour
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Designs and techniques associated with power amplifiers for amplifying RF signals to provide variable power amplification and improved linearity in various RF amplification circuits, including power amplifiers operated under the power back-off conditions.
Claims55
A variable power amplifier, comprising:
- a plurality of cells, respective ones of the plurality of cells having at least one bank of transistors comprising one or more transistors, wherein at least one of the plurality of cells includes a bank of transistors having at least two transistors connected in parallel between a common input node and a common output node;
- and
- a control circuit configured to selectively turn on and off respective ones of the plurality of cells so as to adjust an output power level of the variable power amplifier to maintain linear operation of the variable power amplifier.
A variable power amplifier, comprising:
- a plurality of cells, respective ones of the plurality of cells having at least one bank of transistors comprising one or more transistors;
- and
- a control circuit configured to selectively turn on and off respective ones of the plurality of cells so as to adjust an output power level of the variable power amplifier to maintain linear operation of the variable power amplifier, wherein the control circuit is configured to increase an output current range of the variable power amplifier in response to an input voltage level so as to expand a linear operating region of the variable power amplifier at a peak power level.
A variable power amplifier, comprising:
- a plurality of cells, respective ones of the plurality of cells having at least one bank of transistors comprising one or more transistors;
- and
- a control circuit configured to selectively turn on and off respective ones of the plurality of cells so as to adjust an output power level of the variable power amplifier to maintain linear operation of the variable power amplifier, wherein the plurality of cells comprises a configuration of switchable transistor banks, and wherein each switchable transistor bank has an individual bias control configured to control a level of at least one bias voltage.
A variable power amplifier, comprising:
- a plurality of cells, respective ones of the plurality of cells having at least one bank of transistors comprising one or more transistors;
- and
- a control circuit configured to selectively turn on and off respective ones of the plurality of cells so as to adjust an output power level of the variable power amplifier to maintain linear operation of the variable power amplifier, wherein the variable power amplifier has a distributed power amplifier architecture comprising a plurality of transmission line structures.
A variable power amplifier, comprising:
- a plurality of cells, respective ones of the plurality of cells having at least one bank of transistors comprising one or more transistors;
- and
- a control circuit configured to selectively turn on and off respective ones of the plurality of cells so as to adjust an output power level of the variable power amplifier to maintain linear operation of the variable power amplifier, wherein the control circuit comprises a feedback mechanism and is configured to increase a power saturation level on detection of peak signals.
A method, comprising:
- detecting an input signal at an input of a variable power amplifier;
- generating a control signal in response to detection of the input signal;
- turning on at least one cell of the variable power amplifier in response to the control signal, the cell having switchable transistor banks;
- and
- generating a bias current to selectively turn on at least one transistor bank.
2 more elements
A system, comprising:
- an input port configured to receive an input signal;
- switchable transistor banks configured to amplify the input signal;
- and
- a control circuit coupled to the input port, wherein the control circuit is configured to generate at least one control signal for the switchable transistor banks in response to a received input signal;
- and
- a bias control circuit coupled to the control circuit and configured to selectively turn on the switchable transistor banks in response to the control signal.
3 more elements
A method, comprising:
- receiving an input signal in parallel at a plurality of cells, respective ones of the plurality of cells comprising at least one bank of transistors comprising one or more transistors, wherein at least one of the plurality of cells includes a bank of transistors having at least two transistors connected in parallel between a common input node and a common output node;
- and
- selectively turning on and off respective ones of the plurality of cells so as to adjust an output power level of a variable power amplifier that includes the plurality of cells to maintain linear operation of the variable power amplifier.
A method, comprising:
- receiving an input signal in parallel at a plurality of cells, respective ones of the plurality of cells comprising at least one bank of transistors comprising one or more transistors;
- selectively turning on and off respective ones of the plurality of cells so as to adjust an output power level of a variable power amplifier that includes the plurality of cells to maintain linear operation of the variable power amplifier;
- and
- increasing an output current of the variable power amplifier in response to an input voltage level so as to expand a linear operating region of the variable power amplifier at a peak power level.
1 more element
A method, comprising:
- receiving an input signal in parallel at a plurality of cells, respective ones of the plurality of cells comprising at least one bank of transistors comprising one or more transistors;
- selectively turning on and off respective ones of the plurality of cells so as to adjust an output power level of a variable power amplifier that includes the plurality of cells to maintain linear operation of the variable power amplifier, wherein the variable power amplifier has a distributed power amplifier structure in which the plurality of cells are coupled in parallel between an input port and an output port;
- and
- generating one or more control signals based on a detected voltage at the input port or the output port.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.