Segmented switching power amplifier

• US 20050260956A1
• Filed: 05/18/2004
• Published: 11/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SIGE Semiconductor Limited (Skyworks Solutions Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: SIGE Semiconductor Limited (Skyworks Solutions Incorporated)
• Inventors: Loraine, Jeremy, Wojtiuk, Jeffery, Macphall, Philip
• Granted Patent: US 7,369,822 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/127.300
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/0294 using vector summing of two or more constant amplitude phase-modulated signals
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/217 Class D power amplifiers; Switching amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/2178 using more than one switch or switching amplifier in parallel or in series H03F3/2173, H03F3/2175 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0483 Transmitters with multiple parallel paths

Abstract

A novel transmitter circuit is disclosed for receiving of an input signal and for providing of an amplitude increased RF output signal. Pluralities of switching power amplifiers are disposed along two signal propagating circuit branches and utilized for increasing a magnitude of the input signal, to form an output signal, which is a magnitude increased version of the input signal. Each of the switching power amplifiers utilizes switching elements having various magnitude increasing capacity and coupled to a control circuit for each being switchably selectable for providing of the magnitude increase to the input signal.

Claims

1. A transmitter circuit comprising:

a first input port for receiving of a first phase modulated signal at a carrier frequency;

a second input port for receiving of a second phase modulated signal at the carrier frequency;

a first circuit branch having a first end coupled with the first input port for receiving of the first phase modulated signal;

a second circuit branch having a first end coupled with the second input port for receiving of the second phase modulated signal;

a first plurality of switching power amplifiers disposed between the first end and second end of the first branch, each for receiving of the first phase modulated signal and each for in a first mode of operation increasing a magnitude of the first phase modulated signal to form, in combination, a first plurality of magnitude increased signals and in a second mode of operation each for other than increasing the magnitude of the first phase modulated signal, wherein the first mode and the second mode for each are switchably selected therebetween;

a second plurality of switching power amplifiers disposed between the first end and second end of the second branch, each for receiving of the second phase modulated signal and each for in a first mode of operation increasing a magnitude of the second phase modulated signal to form, in combination, a second plurality of magnitude increased signals, and in a second mode of operation each for other than increasing the magnitude of the second phase modulated signal, wherein the first mode and the second mode for each are switchably selected therebetween; and

,

a combining circuit comprising an output port and coupled with the second end of the first branch and the second end of the second branch for receiving of the first and second magnitude increased signal and for combining the first and second magnitude increased signal to form a RF output signal.

2. A transmitter circuit according to claim 1 comprising:

a signal processing circuit, wherein the signal processing circuit comprises;

a first output port coupled with the first input port;

a second output port coupled with the second input port;

at least an input port for receiving one of an input signal containing the carrier frequency and modulation information and a plurality of input signals containing the carrier frequency and modulation information and for providing the first phase modulated signal at the carrier frequency to the first output port and for providing the second phase modulated signal at the carrier frequency to the second output port.

3. A transmitter circuit according to claim 1 comprising:

a first attenuator circuit coupled between one of the first plurality of switching power amplifiers and the combining circuit; and

,

a second attenuator circuit coupled between one of the second plurality of switching power amplifiers and the combining circuit.

4. A transmitter circuit according to claim 1 wherein the first plurality of switching power amplifiers comprises a first plurality of switching elements that have a first plurality of different switch magnitudes, wherein each of the switching elements from the first plurality are disposed in parallel and are independently switchably selectable for contributing signal magnitude to the first magnitude increased signal.

5. A transmitter circuit according to claim 4 comprising a first attenuator circuit coupled with an output port of a switching elements from the first plurality of switching elements that has other than a highest switch magnitude.

6. A transmitter circuit according to claim 4 wherein the first plurality of switching elements comprise transistors, wherein the switching elements having a higher switch magnitude comprise at least one of an increased number of transistors and a larger transistor area than those switching elements having a lower switch magnitude.

7. A transmitter circuit according to claim 1 wherein the second plurality of switching power amplifiers comprises a second plurality of switching elements that have a second plurality of different switch magnitudes, wherein each of the switching elements from the second plurality are disposed in parallel and independently switchably selectable for contributing signal magnitude to the first magnitude increased signal.

8. A transmitter circuit according to claim 7 comprising a second attenuator circuit coupled with a switching elements from the second plurality of switching elements that has other than a highest switch magnitude.

9. A transmitter circuit according to claim 8 wherein the amplifying devices within the second plurality of switching elements comprise transistors, wherein the switching elements having a higher switching magnitude comprise at least one of an increased number of transistors and a larger transistor area than those switching elements having a lower gain.

10. A transmitter circuit according to claim 1 comprising a CMOS semiconductor substrate, wherein the transmitter circuit is integrated within the CMOS semiconductor substrate.

11. A transmitter circuit according to claim 1 wherein each of the first and second pluralities of switching power amplifiers comprise switching elements, wherein the transmitter circuit comprising a control circuit coupled to each of the switching elements for switchably selecting operation thereof between the first and second modes of operation.

12. A circuit comprising:

a first input port for receiving of a first phase modulated signal at a carrier frequency;

a first circuit branch having first circuit branch portion and a second circuit branch portion, each having a first end coupled with the first input port and a second end;

a first plurality of switching power amplifiers comprising;

a first switching element having a first switch magnitude disposed along the first branch portion between the first end and second end of the first branch portion for receiving of the first phase modulated signal and for in a first mode of operation increasing a magnitude of the first phase modulated signal to form a first magnitude increased signal for provision from the second end of the first branch portion and in a second mode of operation for other than increasing the magnitude of the first phase modulated signal for provision from the second end of the first branch portion, wherein the first mode and the second mode are switchably selected therebetween;

a second switching element having a second switch magnitude that is lower than the first switch magnitude and disposed along the second branch portion between the first end and second end of the second branch portion for receiving of the first phase modulated signal and for in a first mode of operation increasing a magnitude of the first phase modulated signal to form a second magnitude increased signal and in a second mode of operation for other than increasing the magnitude of the first phase modulated signal, wherein the first mode and the second mode are switchably selected therebetween; and

,

a first attenuator circuit disposed along the second branch portion and coupled between the second switching element and the second end of the second branch portion for in a third mode of operation for receiving of the second magnitude increased signal and for controllably attenuating the second magnitude increased signal to form a second magnitude altered signal for provision from the second end of the second branch portion and in a fourth mode of operation for attenuating the second magnitude increased signal to form a second magnitude altered signal for provision from the second end of the second branch portion.

13. A circuit according to claim 12 comprising:

a second input port for receiving of a second phase modulated signal at a carrier frequency;

a second circuit branch having a third circuit branch portion and a fourth circuit branch portion, each having a first end coupled with the second input port and a second end;

a second plurality of switching power amplifiers comprising;

a third switching element having a third switch magnitude disposed along the third branch portion between the first end and second end of the third branch portion for receiving of the second phase modulated signal and for in a first mode of operation increasing a magnitude of the second phase modulated signal to form a third magnitude increased signal for provision from the second end of the third branch portion and in a second mode of operation for other than increasing the magnitude of the first phase modulated signal for provision from the second end of the third branch portion, wherein the first mode and the second mode are switchably selected therebetween;

a fourth switching element having a fourth switch magnitude that is lower than the third switch magnitude and disposed along the fourth branch portion between the first end and second end of the fourth branch portion for receiving of the second phase modulated signal and for in a first mode of operation increasing a magnitude of the second phase modulated signal to form a fourth magnitude increased signal and in a second mode of operation for other than increasing the magnitude of the second phase modulated signal, wherein the first mode and the second mode are switchably selected therebetween; and

,

a second attenuator circuit disposed along the fourth branch portion and coupled between the fourth switching element and the second end of the fourth branch portion for in a third mode of operation for receiving of the fourth magnitude increased signal and for controllably attenuating the fourth magnitude increased signal to provide a fourth magnitude altered signal for provision from the second end of the fourth branch portion and in a fourth mode of operation for attenuating the fourth magnitude increased signal to form the fourth magnitude altered signal for provision from the second end of the fourth branch portion.

14. A circuit according to claim 13 comprising:

a combining circuit comprising an output port and coupled with the second end of the first branch portion, second branch portion, third branch portion and fourth branch portion for receiving of the first through fourth magnitude increased signals and for combining these signals to form a RF output signal.

15. A circuit according to claim 14 comprising:

a signal processing circuit, wherein the signal processing circuit comprises;

a first output port coupled with the first input port;

a second output port coupled with the second input port;

at least an input port for receiving one of an input signal containing the carrier frequency and modulation information and a plurality of input signals containing the carrier frequency and modulation information and for providing the first phase modulated signal at the carrier frequency to the first output port and for providing the second phase modulated signal at the carrier frequency to the second output port.

16. A circuit according to claim 12 wherein the switching elements comprise transistors.

17. A method comprising:

receiving of a first phase modulated signal at a carrier frequency;

receiving of a second phase modulated signal at the carrier frequency;

providing a first circuit branch and a second circuit branch;

propagating the first phase modulated signal at the carrier frequency along the first branch;

propagating the second phase modulated signal at the carrier frequency along the second branch;

switchably increasing a magnitude of the first phase modulated signal to form a first magnitude increased signal;

switchably increasing a magnitude of the second phase modulated signal to form a second magnitude increased signal; and

,

combining the first and second magnitude increased signals to form a RF output signal.

18. A method according to claim 17 comprising providing a first plurality of switching power amplifier circuits, wherein at least one of the plurality of switching power amplifier circuits that has other than a highest signal increasing magnitude is operated in conjunction with a first attenuating operation to form the first magnitude increased signal.

19. A method according to claim 18 comprising providing a second plurality of switching power amplifier circuits, wherein at least one of the plurality of switching power amplifier circuits that has other than a highest signal increasing magnitude is operated in conjunction with a second attenuating operation to form the second magnitude increased signal.

20. A method according to claim 19 wherein the switchable increasing comprises switchably controlling the magnitude of the first and second signals to form the first and second magnitude increased signals in dependence upon a power of the input signal.

21. A method according to claim 17 wherein combining comprises summing the first and second magnitude increased signals using constructive and destructive interference to form the RF output signal.

22. A method according to claim 17 comprising:

receiving one of an input signal containing the carrier frequency and modulation information and a plurality of input signals containing the carrier frequency and modulation information; and

,

processing the received one of an input signal containing the carrier frequency and modulation information and a plurality of input signals containing the carrier frequency and modulation information to provide the first phase modulated signal at the carrier frequency and the second phase modulated signal at the carrier frequency.

23. A method of achieving dynamic range comprising:

receiving of a first phase modulated signal at a carrier frequency;

providing a first circuit branch;

propagating the first phase modulated signal at the carrier frequency along the first branch; and

,

at least one of switchably increasing a magnitude of the first phase modulated signal to form a first magnitude increased signal and switchably increasing a magnitude of the first phase modulated signal to form a first magnitude increased signal and controllably attenuating the first magnitude increased signal.

24. A method according to claim 23 comprising:

receiving of a second phase modulated signal at the carrier frequency;

providing a second circuit branch;

propagating the second phase modulated signal at the carrier frequency along the second circuit branch;

switchably increasing a magnitude of the second phase modulated signal to form a second magnitude increased signal; and

,

combining the first and second magnitude increased signals to form a RF output signal.

25. A method according to claim 24 comprising:

combining the first and second magnitude increased signals to form a RF output signal.

26. A method according to claim 25 wherein the switchable increase in the magnitude of the second phase modulated signal is higher than the switchable increase in the magnitude of the first phase modulated signal.

27. A method according to claim 24 comprising:

receiving one of an input signal containing the carrier frequency and modulation information and a plurality of input signals containing the carrier frequency and modulation information; and

,

processing the received one of an input signal containing the carrier frequency and modulation information and a plurality of input signals containing the carrier frequency and modulation information to provide the first phase modulated signal at the carrier frequency and the second phase modulated signal at the carrier frequency.