RF amplification device with power protection during high supply voltage conditions

A method of increasing power to a radio frequency (RF) signal comprising:

• amplifying the RF signal in an RF amplification circuit comprising a plurality of RF amplifier stages coupled in cascade such that each of the plurality of RF amplifier stages provides amplification to the RF signal, the plurality of RF amplifier stages comprising at least a driver RF amplifier stage and a final RF amplifier stage;
• generating a regulated voltage from a supply voltage;
• providing the regulated voltage to the driver RF amplifier stage such that a maximum output power of the RF amplification circuit is set based on the regulated voltage;
• driving the regulated voltage approximately to a first voltage level while the supply voltage is below a threshold voltage level and so that the regulated voltage is maintained substantially at the first voltage level;
• driving the regulated voltage below the first voltage level such that the maximum output power of the RF amplification circuit is provided approximately at a first power level while the supply voltage is above the threshold voltage level.

A radio frequency (RF) amplification device comprising:

• an RF amplification circuit operable to provide amplification to an RF signal;
• a voltage regulation circuit coupled to provide a regulated voltage to the RF amplification circuit that is set based on the regulated voltage, wherein the voltage regulation circuit is configured to:
• generate a control reference endogenously from a supply voltage;
• set the control reference such that the control reference indicates that a target regulated voltage is set approximately at a first voltage level in response to the supply voltage being below a threshold voltage level;
• set the control reference such that the control reference indicates that the target regulated voltage is below the first voltage level and that maintains a maximum output power of the RF amplification circuit approximately at a first power level in response to the supply voltage being above the threshold voltage level;
• drive the regulated voltage to the target regulated voltage indicated by the control reference.