Adaptive power amplifier

• US 20030114182A1
• Filed: 01/16/2002
• Published: 06/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Persico, Charles J., Walter, Scott, Chan, Paul L., Klaren, Jonathan
• Application Number:
  US10/051,792
• Publication Number:
  US 20030114182A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/525
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/0261 with control of the polarisation voltage or current, e.g. gliding Class A
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/32 Modifications of amplifiers to reduce non-linear distortion by negative feedback H03F1/34
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/294 the amplifier being a low noise amplifier [LNA]
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/372 Noise reduction and elimination in amplifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0466 Fault detection or indication H04B1/0483 takes precedence

Abstract

Power detectors sense load mismatch conditions and cause the power output of a power amplifier to be reduced in response to a load mismatch. Transmitted and reflected power measurements are used to calculate a load mismatch criterion. A power amplifier is configured based on the calculated load mismatch criterion. A dual-directional coupler may be used to separate a power signal into transmitted and reflected components. With output power reduced under load mismatch conditions, signal distortion levels may be reduced to acceptable levels.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

evaluating a load mismatch criterion relative to a wireless transmitter; and

configuring a power amplifier associated with the wireless transmitter as a function of the load mismatch criterion.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a transmitted power signal and a reflected power signal; and

calculating the load mismatch criterion as a function of the transmitted and reflected power signals.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising separating a power signal into the transmitted power signal and the reflected power signal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein configuring the power amplifier comprises configuring a gain of the power amplifier.

5. A method comprising:

receiving at least one of a transmitted power signal level and a reflected power signal level from a power amplifier associated with a wireless transmitter; and

configuring a gain of the power amplifier as a function of the transmitted and reflected power signal levels.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising detecting at least one of a transmitted power signal and a reflected power signal.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising separating a power signal into the transmitted power signal and the reflected power signal.

8. A processor readable medium containing processor executable instructions for:

evaluating a load mismatch criterion relative to a wireless transmitter; and

configuring a power amplifier associated with the wireless transmitter as a function of the load mismatch criterion.

9. The processor readable medium of claim 8, containing further processor executable instructions for:

receiving a transmitted power signal level and a reflected power signal level; and

calculating the load mismatch criterion as a function of the transmitted and reflected power signals.

10. The processor readable medium of claim 8, containing further processor executable instructions for configuring a gain of the power amplifier.

11. A processor readable medium containing processor executable instructions for:

receiving at least one of a transmitted power signal level and a reflected power signal level from a power amplifier associated with a wireless transmitter; and

configuring a gain of the power amplifier as a function of the transmitted and reflected power signal levels.

12. A wireless communication device comprising:

a wireless transmitter;

a power amplifier to output a signal from the wireless transmitter; and

a controller to configure the power amplifier as a function of a load mismatch criterion determined from the signal.

13. The wireless communication device of claim 12, wherein the controller configures a gain of the power amplifier as a function of the load mismatch criterion.

14. The wireless communication device of claim 12, wherein the controller is configured to calculate the load mismatch criterion as a function of a transmitted power signal level and a reflected power signal level determined from the signal.

15. The wireless communication device of claim 12, further comprising a dual-directional coupler to separate the signal into a transmitted power signal component and a reflected power signal component.

16. The wireless communication device of claim 15, further comprising:

a first power detector coupled to receive the transmitted power signal component and configured to generate a transmitted power signal level; and

a second power detector coupled to receive the reflected power signal component and configured to generate a reflected power signal level.

17. The wireless communication device of claim 16, wherein at least one of the first and second power detectors comprises a broadband power detector.

18. The wireless communication device of claim 16, wherein the controller is configured to receive the transmitted and reflected power signal levels.

19. An integrated circuit comprising:

a power amplifier to output a signal from a wireless transmitter; and

a controller to configure the power amplifier as a function of a load mismatch criterion determined from the signal.

20. The integrated circuit of claim 19, wherein the controller configures a gain of the power amplifier as a function of the load mismatch criterion.

21. The integrated circuit of claim 19, wherein the controller is configured to calculate the load mismatch criterion as a function of a transmitted power signal level and a reflected power signal level determined from the signal.

22. The integrated circuit of claim 19, further comprising a dual-directional coupler to separate the signal into a transmitted power signal component and a reflected power signal component.

23. The integrated circuit of claim 22, further comprising:

a first power detector coupled to receive the transmitted power signal component and configured to generate a transmitted power signal level; and

a second power detector coupled to receive the reflected power signal component and configured to generate a reflected power signal level.

24. The integrated circuit of claim 23, wherein at least one of the first and second power detectors comprises a broadband power detector.

25. The integrated circuit of claim 23, wherein the controller is configured to receive the transmitted and reflected power signal levels.

26. An apparatus comprising:

a power amplifier;

a dual-directional coupler to separate a power signal into a transmitted power signal component and a reflected power signal component;

a first power detector to generate a transmitted power signal level;

a second power detector to generate a reflected power signal level; and

a control arrangement to configure the power amplifier as a function of the transmitted and reflected power signal levels.

27. An apparatus comprising:

a power amplifier;

a directional coupler to extract a reflected power signal component from a power signal;

a reverse power detector to generate a reflected power signal level; and

a control arrangement to configure the power amplifier as a function of the reflected power signal level.

28. An apparatus comprising:

a wireless transmitter;

a power amplifier to output a signal from the wireless transmitter; and

a controller configured to

evaluate a load mismatch criterion relative to the wireless transmitter, and

configure the power amplifier as a function of the load mismatch criterion.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the controller is further configured to:

detect a transmitted power signal and a reflected power signal; and

calculate the load mismatch criterion as a function of the transmitted and reflected power signals.

30. An apparatus comprising:

means for evaluating a load mismatch criterion relative to a wireless transmitter; and

means for configuring a power amplifier associated with the wireless transmitter as a function of the load mismatch criterion.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, further comprising:

means for detecting a transmitted power signal emitted by an antenna associated with the wireless transmitter and a reflected power signal reflected by the antenna toward the power amplifier; and

means for calculating the load mismatch criterion as a function of the transmitted and reflected power signals.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, further comprising means for separating a power signal into the transmitted power signal and the reflected power signal.

33. The apparatus of claim 30, further comprising means for configuring a gain of the power amplifier.

34. An apparatus comprising:

means for receiving at least one of a transmitted power signal level and a reflected power signal level from a power amplifier associated with a wireless transmitter; and

means for configuring a gain of the power amplifier as a function of the transmitted and reflected power signal levels.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising means for detecting at least one of a transmitted power signal and a reflected power signal.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, further comprising means for separating a power signal into the transmitted power signal and the reflected power signal.