Multilevel power amplifier architecture using multi-tap transformer
First Claim
1. A power amplifier system, comprising:
- a plurality of power amplifiers comprising a first power amplifier and a second power amplifier, where each power amplifier receives an input signal and generates an output signal;
a multi-tap transformer comprising a secondary winding and a primary winding formed in an integrated circuit, where the primary winding is operably coupled to a shared load impedance, and where the secondary winding comprises a plurality of input taps, where each tap is operably coupled to receive an output signal from one of the plurality of power amplifiers.
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Abstract
A multi-level power amplifier architecture using a multi-tap transformer implemented on a single CMOS integrated circuit wireless communications device is described. By providing a multi-tap transformer for coupling a plurality of power amplifiers to a shared output impedance, such as an antenna, power transmission may be made at different levels while maintaining efficiency. With a multi-tap transformer having “N” taps featuring “N” different impedance levels, each tap may be connected to an amplifier cell which delivers power into the transformer at the tap for coupling to the output load. Any one of the “N” amplifier cells can be turned on at once along with any combination of the “N” amplifier cells.
81 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A power amplifier system, comprising:
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a plurality of power amplifiers comprising a first power amplifier and a second power amplifier, where each power amplifier receives an input signal and generates an output signal;
a multi-tap transformer comprising a secondary winding and a primary winding formed in an integrated circuit, where the primary winding is operably coupled to a shared load impedance, and where the secondary winding comprises a plurality of input taps, where each tap is operably coupled to receive an output signal from one of the plurality of power amplifiers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An on-chip multi-tap transformer for coupling a plurality of power amplifiers to a shared output impedance, comprising:
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a primary winding formed on a first layer of an integrated circuit and operably coupled to a shared output impedance;
a secondary winding formed on a second layer of the integrated circuit, said secondary winding comprising a plurality of input taps, where each input tap is operably coupled to receive an output signal from one of a plurality of power amplifiers such that each input tap provides a different impedance level for connecting the power amplifier coupled to the input tap through to the shared impedance. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for efficiently delivering power to an output impedance through an on-chip multiple tap transformer, comprising:
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connecting a multiple tap transformer output to an output impedance;
selectively coupling a plurality of power amplifiers to a corresponding plurality of multiple tap transformer inputs, where each multiple tap transformer input provides a predetermined load impedance for the power amplifier that is coupled to said multiple tap transformer input, thereby providing a multiple tap transformer having a variable load impedance, depending on which power amplifiers are turned on. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification