Variable load power amplifier supporting dual-mode envelope tracking and average power tracking performance

A variable load power amplifier module comprising:

• a packaging substrate configured to receive a plurality of components;
• a variable load power amplifier arranged on the packing substrate, the variable load power amplifier including a plurality of amplifiers that are each selectively connectable into one of a plurality of parallel combinations, each of the plurality of parallel combinations characterized by a corresponding load line, including at least a first load line corresponding to an envelope tracking performance mode and a second load line corresponding to an average power tracking performance mode;
• and
• a performance mode controller coupled to the variable load power amplifier, the performance mode controller configured to provide one or more control signals to the variable load power amplifier and an envelope tracking module coupled to a voltage supply of the plurality of amplifiers and an average power tracking module coupled to a DC-DC converter in order to produce a particular load line for a corresponding performance mode.

A radio-frequency (RF) device comprising:

• a transceiver configured to process RF signals;
• an antenna in communication with the transceiver configured to facilitate transmission of an amplified RF signal;
• and
• a variable load power amplifier module connected to the transceiver and configured to generate the amplified RF signal, the variable load power amplifier module including a plurality of amplifiers that are each selectively connectable into one of a plurality of parallel combinations, each of the plurality of parallel combinations characterized by a corresponding load line, including at least a first load line corresponding to an envelope tracking performance mode and a second load line corresponding to an average power tracking performance mode;
• and
• a plurality of control elements arranged to selectively connect one or more of the plurality of amplifiers into one of the plurality of parallel combinations, each of the plurality of control elements having a respective input terminal provided to receive a respective control signal, each of the plurality of control elements responsive to the respective control signal, the control elements including an envelope tracking module coupled to a voltage supply of the plurality of amplifiers and an average power tracking module coupled to a DC-DC converter.