Switched mode power amplifier using lumped element impedance inverter for parallel combining

• US 20050195031A1
• Filed: 04/06/2005
• Published: 09/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zarbana Digital Fund LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Seven Generations Energy Ltd.
• Inventors: Grundlingh, Johan M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,151,407 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 330/251
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/0294 using vector summing of two or more constant amplitude phase-modulated signals
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/565 using inductive elements
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/391 the output circuit of an amplifying stage comprising an LC-network
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/402 A series resonance being added in shunt in the output circuit, e.g. base, gate, of an amplifier stage
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/211 using a combination of several amplifiers H03F3/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/217 Class D power amplifiers; Switching amplifiers
• 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

Abstract

A switched-mode Class F power amplifier is provided for parallel connection with at least one other like amplifier, within a Chireix architecture, for combining the signals output therefrom. An input component includes at least one active device configured to be alternately switched by a signal input thereto to present an amplified signal corresponding to the input signal and constituting a low output impedance voltage source. A lumped element impedance inverter is provided between the input component and an output resonator component, the impedance inverter being configured for transforming the low output impedance voltage source to instead constitute a high output impedance current source configured for said parallel connection. In accordance with the invention, the negative reactive component values required by the impedance inverter are eliminated and effectively provided by incorporating those values into pre-selected reactive components of the input and output components. Further, a source-drain parasitic capacitance across the active device is eliminated by one or more pre-selected reactive components of the input component, the value(s) of which effectively compensate for the parasitic capacitance.

Claims

1-7. -7. (canceled)

8. A power amplifier configured for parallel connection with at least one other amplifier for combining signals output from such parallel connected amplifiers, said amplifier comprising:

(a) an active input component configured to be switched by a signal input thereto to present an amplified signal constituting a low output impedance voltage source;

(b) an output resonator component; and

,

(c) a lumped element impedance inverter connected between said input component and said output component, said impedance inverter configured for transforming said low output impedance voltage source so as to constitute a high output impedance current source, and said high output impedance current source configured for said parallel connection;

wherein negative reactive component values theoretically required by said impedance inverter are actually incorporated into pre-selected reactive components of said input and output components.