Control of a power amplifier for reducing power consumption in a transceiver

• US 20070184790A1
• Filed: 02/09/2005
• Published: 08/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InterDigital Madison Patent Holdings (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Knutson, Paul, Gilberton, Philippe
• Granted Patent: US 7,580,722 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/127.100
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/0205 in transistor amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/3205 in field-effect transistor amplifiers
• 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: H03F 2200/543 A transmission line being used as coupling element between two amplifying stages
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/189 High-frequency amplifiers, e.g. radio frequency amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/1935 with junction-FET devices
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/24 of transmitter output stages
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/602 Combinations of several amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0475 with means for limiting noise, interference or distortion H04B1/0483 takes precedence

Abstract

A technique for controlling a transceiver apparatus is useful for reducing power consumption, and may be particularly applicable to mobile transceivers which employ a battery power supply. According to an exemplary embodiment, the transceiver apparatus includes a power amplifier for amplifying a transmission signal. A controller controls the power amplifier based on a power level of third order intermodulation products associated with the power amplifier.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising a receive chain and a transmitting chain, which receives signal and transmits signal during separate time intervals wherein it further comprises:

power amplifying means for amplifying a transmission signal; and

control means for controlling said power amplifying means based on a power level estimation of third order intermodulation products associated with said power amplifying means, said intermodulation products being represented by leakage signals going through switch to signal receiving elements during the transmitting mode.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said control means controls a bias current associated with said power amplifying means.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising signal transmitting means for wirelessly transmitting said transmission signal.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising:

switching means for providing passage of said transmission signal from said power amplifying means to said signal transmitting means; and

wherein a leakage signal associated with said switching means includes said third order intermodulation products.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said transceiver apparatus includes a transmitting mode and a receiving mode; and

said control means comprises digital filtering means for performing digital filtering operations during both said transmitting mode and said receiving mode.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said digital filtering means performs a high pass digital filtering operation during said transmitting mode, and performs a low pass digital filtering operation during said receiving mode.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said control means controls said power amplifying means only if a transmitting power level of said transceiver apparatus exceeds a predetermined threshold level.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the bias current is maintained at its current level only said transmitting power level of said transceiver apparatus does not exceed said predetermined threshold level.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein control means are set up using a single component such as a controller.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein switching means are set up using a single component such as a switch.

9. A method for controlling a transceiver apparatus, comprising:

detecting a power level of third order intermodulation products associated with a power amplifier of said transceiver apparatus; and

controlling said power amplifier responsive to said detection.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said controlling step includes controlling a bias current associated with said power amplifier.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the bias current is reduced if an accumulator level is lower than a reference level and in that the bias current is increased if said accumulator level is higher than said reference level, said accumulator level being an estimate of power level of third order intermodulation products.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein that the bias current is maintained at its current level only if said transmitting power level of said transceiver apparatus does not exceed said predetermined threshold level.

14. The method claim 9, further comprised of:

using said power amplifier to amplify a transmission signal; and

using a switch to provide passage of said transmission signal from said power amplifier to a signal transmitting element.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprised of using said signal transmitting element to wirelessly transmit said transmission signal.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein a leakage signal associated with said switch includes said third order intermodulation products.

17. The method of claim 9, wherein said detecting and controlling steps are performed if a transmitting power level of said transceiver apparatus exceeds a predetermined threshold level.

12. The method of the bias current is modified only if a transmitting power level of said transceiver apparatus exceeds a predetermined threshold level.