Apparatus and methods for capacitive load reduction
AssigneeSkyworks Solutions, Inc.
InventorSabah Khesbak
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus and methods for capacitive load reduction are disclosed. In one embodiment, a power amplifier system includes a plurality of power amplifiers and an envelope tracking module for generating a supply voltage for the power amplifiers. The power amplifier system further includes a switch and a decoupling capacitor operatively associated with a first power amplifier of the system. The switch is configured to electrically float an end of the decoupling capacitor when the first power amplifier is disabled so as to reduce capacitive loading of the envelope tracker and to operate as a dampening resistor when the power amplifier is enabled so as to improve the stability of the system.
Claims24
A mobile device comprising:
- a plurality of power amplifiers including a first power amplifier configured to amplify a first radio frequency (RF) signal, the first power amplifier having an enabled state and a disabled state;
- an envelope tracking module configured to generate a supply voltage for a first supply node used to electrically power the plurality of power amplifiers;
- a first switchable capacitor operatively associated with the first power amplifier and having a first end and a second end, the first end electrically connected to the first supply node;
- and
- a first switch operatively associated with the first power amplifier and configured to control a voltage of the second end of the first switchable capacitor, the first switch configured to electrically float the second end of the first switchable capacitor when the first power amplifier is disabled so as to reduce a capacitive loading of the envelope tracking module.
A power amplifier module comprising:
- a first amplification die including a first power amplifier configured to amplify a first radio frequency (RF) signal, the first amplifier having an enabled state and a disabled state;
- a first power supply pin electrically connected to a supply input of the first amplification die;
- a first switchable capacitor operatively associated with the first amplification die, the first switchable capacitor having a first end and a second end, the first end electrically connected to the first power supply pin;
- and
- a first switch disposed on the first amplification die and configured to control a voltage of the second end of the first switchable capacitor, the first switch configured to electrically float the second end of the first switchable capacitor when the first power amplifier is disabled so as to reduce a capacitance of the first power supply pin.
A method for reducing capacitive loading in a power amplifier system, the method comprising:
- generating a supply voltage for a plurality of power amplifiers using an envelope tracker, the plurality of power amplifiers including a first power amplifier and a second power amplifier;
- disabling the first power amplifier and enabling the second power amplifier using a bias control module;
- and
- electrically floating an end of a first decoupling capacitor associated with the first power amplifier using a first switch so as to reduce a capacitive loading of the envelope tracker when the first power amplifier is disabled.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.