Radio-frequency amplification systems, devices and methods

• US 10,277,174 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2018
• Issued: 04/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Skyworks Solutions Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Skyworks Solutions Incorporated
• Inventors: Lehtola, Philip John
• Primary Examiner(s): Hanidu, Ganiyu A
• Application Number:
  US15/896,037
• Publication Number:
  US 20180241360A1
• Time in Patent Office: 441 Days
• Field of Search: 4551501, 4551272, 455 82, 455 78, 4555521, 4555531
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/0227 using supply converters
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/0266 by using a signal derived from the input signal
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/0288 using a main and one or several auxiliary peaking amplifiers whereby the load is connected to the main amplifier using an impedance inverter, e.g. Doherty amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/22 by use of cascode coupling, i.e. earthed cathode or emitter stage followed by earthed grid or base stage respectively
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/565 using inductive elements
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/111 the amplifier being a dual or triple band amplifier, e.g. 900 and 1800 MHz, e.g. switched or not switched, simultaneously or not
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/451 the amplifier being a radio frequency amplifier
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/19 with semiconductor devices only
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/24 of transmitter output stages
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/245 with semiconductor devices only
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/68 Combinations of amplifiers, e.g. multi-channel amplifiers for stereophonics power amplifiers using a combination of several semiconductor amplifiers H03F3/211; combinations of amplifiers using coupling networks with distributed constants H03F3/602
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/40 Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/0408 with power amplifiers

Abstract

Radio-frequency amplification systems, devices and methods. In some embodiments, an amplification system can include a supply circuit configured to provide a high supply voltage in an average power tracking mode. The amplification system can further include an amplifier configured to operate with the high supply voltage and provide an impedance that substantially matches an impedance of a component coupled to an output of the amplifier. The amplification system can further include a signal path configured to route an amplified signal from the output of the amplifier to the component, with the output path being substantially free of an output matching network.

Claims

1. An amplification system comprising:

a supply circuit configured to provide a high supply voltage in an average power tracking mode;

an amplifier configured to operate with the high supply voltage and provide an impedance that substantially matches an impedance of a component coupled to an output of the amplifier; and

a signal path configured to route an amplified signal from the output of the amplifier to the component, the output path substantially free of an output matching network that transforms the impedance of the amplifier to the impedance of the component for the amplified signal.

2. The amplification system of claim 1 further comprising the component.

3. The amplification system of claim 1 wherein the component includes a filter.

4. The amplification system of claim 3 wherein the impedance of the amplifier has a value that is greater than approximately 40 Ohms.

5. The amplification system of claim 1 wherein the supply circuit includes a boost DC/DC converter configured to generate the high supply voltage based on a battery voltage.

6. The amplification system of claim 1 wherein the amplifier is configured as a power amplifier.

7. The amplification system of claim 6 wherein the power amplifier includes a heterojunction bipolar transistor implemented as a gallium arsenide device.

8. The amplification system of claim 1 further comprising one or more additional amplifiers, each configured to operate with the high supply voltage and provide an impedance that substantially matches an impedance of a respective additional component coupled to an output of the additional amplifier.

9. The amplification system of claim 8 further comprising an additional signal path implemented for each of the one or more additional amplifiers and configured to route an amplified signal from the output of the respective additional amplifier to the respective additional component, the additional signal path substantially free of an output matching network that transforms the impedance of the respective amplifier to the impedance of the respective component for the corresponding amplified signal.

10. The amplification system of claim 9 wherein the amplification system is substantially free of a band selection switch between the amplifiers and the components.

11. A radio-frequency module comprising:

a packaging substrate; and

an amplification system implemented on the packaging substrate, and including a supply circuit configured to provide a high supply voltage in an average power tracking mode, the amplification system further including an amplifier configured to operate with the high supply voltage and provide an impedance that substantially matches an impedance of a component coupled to an output of the amplifier, the amplification system further including a signal path configured to route an amplified signal from the output of the amplifier to the component, the output path substantially free of an output matching network that transforms the impedance of the amplifier to the impedance of the component for the amplified signal.

12. The radio-frequency module of claim 11 further comprising one or more additional amplifiers and one or more corresponding additional signal paths, each additional amplifier configured to operate with the high supply voltage and provide an impedance that substantially matches an impedance of a respective additional component coupled to an output of the additional amplifier, the corresponding additional signal path configured to route an amplified signal from the output of the additional amplifier to the additional component, the additional signal path substantially free of an output matching network that transforms the impedance of the respective amplifier to the impedance of the respective component for the corresponding amplified signal.

13. The radio-frequency module of claim 12 wherein the radio-frequency module is substantially free of a band selection switch between the amplifiers and the components.

14. The radio-frequency module of claim 11 wherein the component includes a filter.

15. The radio-frequency module of claim 11 wherein the radio-frequency module is a front-end module or a power amplifier module.

16. A wireless device comprising:

a transceiver;

an amplification system in communication with the transceiver, and including a supply circuit configured to provide a high supply voltage in an average power tracking mode, the amplification system further including an amplifier configured to operate with the high supply voltage and provide an impedance that substantially matches an impedance of a component coupled to an output of the amplifier, the amplification system further including a signal path configured to route an amplified signal from the output of the amplifier to the component, the output path substantially free of an output matching network that transforms the impedance of the amplifier to the impedance of the component for the amplified signal; and

an antenna in communication with the amplification system, and configured to facilitate either or both of transmission and reception of respective signals.

17. The wireless device of claim 16 wherein the amplifier is a power amplifier, the component is a transmit filter, and the antenna is configured to facilitate at least the transmission of the amplified signal.

18. The wireless device of claim 16 wherein the amplification system further includes one or more additional amplifiers and one or more corresponding additional signal paths, each additional amplifier configured to operate with the high supply voltage and provide an impedance that substantially matches an impedance of a respective additional component coupled to an output of the additional amplifier, the corresponding additional signal path configured to route an amplified signal from the output of the additional amplifier to the additional component, the additional signal path substantially free of an output matching network that transforms the impedance of the respective amplifier to the impedance of the respective component for the corresponding amplified signal.

19. The wireless device of claim 18 wherein the wireless device is substantially free of a band selection switch between the amplifiers and the components.

20. The wireless device of claim 19 wherein the wireless device is a cellular phone having a multi-band capability.