Overstress management for power amplifiers
AssigneeQorvo US, Inc.
InventorsBaker Scott, George Maxim, Dirk Robert Walter Leipold
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A power amplifier includes an amplifier element and overstress management circuitry coupled to the amplifier element. The overstress management circuitry is configured to detect an overstress condition of the amplifier element and adjust one or more operating parameters of the amplifier element in response to the detection of an overstress condition of the amplifier element. Using the overstress management circuitry prevents damage to the amplifier element that may occur due to uncorrected overstress conditions which may degrade or destroy a gate oxide of the amplifier element. Accordingly, the longevity of the amplifier element is improved.
Claims20
A power amplifier comprising:
- an amplifier element configured to receive and amplify a radio frequency (RF) input signal to provide an RF output signal;
- and
- overstress management circuitry comprising:
- overstress sensor circuitry comprising a hot carrier injection (HCI) overstress sensor coupled to the amplifier element, the overstress sensor circuitry configured to:
- detect an overstress condition of the amplifier element;
- and
- produce an overstress indicator signal;
- and
- overstress control circuitry coupled to the overstress sensor circuitry and configured to adjust one or more operating parameters of the amplifier element in response to the overstress indicator signal.
A power amplifier comprising:
- a plurality of amplifier elements configured to receive a radio frequency (RF) input signal at an input, amplify the RF input signal, and provide an RF output signal at an output;
- and
- overstress management circuitry comprising:
- overstress sensor circuitry comprising a hot carrier injection (HCI) overstress sensor coupled to the amplifier element, the overstress sensor circuitry configured to:
- detect an overstress condition of the amplifier element;
- and
- produce an overstress indicator signal;
- and
- overstress control circuitry coupled to the overstress sensor circuitry and configured to:
- adjust one or more operating parameters of the plurality of amplifier elements in response to the overstress indicator signal;
- and
- adjust an impedance presented to the output of the plurality of amplifier elements in response to the overstress indicator signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.