CURRENT CONSUMPTION REDUCTION WITH LOW POWER AMPLIFIER

• US 20080130786A1
• Filed: 12/01/2006
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Johnson, Phillip Marc, Tudosoiu, Bogdan, Camp, William O.
• Granted Patent: US 7,738,539 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/297
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/0205 in transistor amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/0277 Selecting one or more amplifiers from a plurality of amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/417 A switch coupled in the output circuit of an amplifier being controlled by a circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/451 the amplifier being a radio frequency amplifier
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/465 Power sensing
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2203/21157 A filter circuit being added at the output of a power amplifier stage
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/189 High-frequency amplifiers, e.g. radio frequency amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/211 using a combination of several amplifiers H03F3/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/24 of transmitter output stages

Abstract

A transceiver circuit and a method in a wireless communication network are provided, where a signal power level for a signal received at the transceiver circuit is measured and compared to a predefined threshold power level. At least two groups of power amplifiers may be used, where one group is optimized for high efficiency above the predefined threshold power level, and one group is optimized for high efficiency below the predefined threshold power level. The amplifiers may be used to amplify the received signal depending on the signal power level in relation to the predefined power threshold level. The signal may then be filtered by duplex filters and forwarded to a diversity antenna or a main antenna where it is transmitted over an air interface.

Claims

1. A transceiver for a wireless communication network, comprising

a transceiver module for determining the signal power to be transmitted;

a unit for directing one or more signals whose power is above a certain power threshold to one or more first amplifiers with high efficiency above the power threshold and one or more signals below the power threshold to one or more second amplifiers with high efficiency at signal powers below the power threshold;

an isolation arrangement connected to the one or more first amplifiers for preventing signal reflections of the signals amplified by the one or more first amplifiers; and

at least one first diversity antenna and at least one first main antenna for transmitting the amplified signals.

2. The transceiver according to claim 1, wherein the one or more first diversity and first main antennas are arranged for receiving signals from other devices in the communication network.

3. The transceiver according to claim 2, wherein the transceiver further comprises filters for separating signals to be transmitted via the one first diversity antenna and one first main antenna from signals received via the one first diversity antenna and one first main antenna.

4. The transceiver according to claim 1, wherein the transceiver further comprises filters for separating signals to be transmitted via the one first diversity antenna and one first main antenna from signals received via the one first diversity antenna and one first main antenna.

5. The transceiver according to claim 1, wherein the transceiver further comprises at least one second diversity antenna and at least one second main antenna for receiving signals from other devices in the communication network,

6. The transceiver according to claim 1, wherein the transceiver further comprises a switch for selecting either the one first diversity antenna or the one first main antenna for transmitting the one or more signals amplified either by the one or more first amplifiers or by the one or more second amplifiers.

7. The transceiver according to claim 6, wherein the switch is arranged to select one of the first diversity antennas or one of the first main antennas and connect the other antenna to ground.

8. The transceiver according to claim 7, wherein the switch is one of a singe pole single throw switch, a double pole double throw switch, a single pole double throw switch, a single pole change over switch or other type of switch suitable for changing between the one first diversity antenna and the one first main antenna.

9. The transceiver according to claim 8, wherein the signals amplified by the at least one or more first amplifiers and the at least one or more second amplifiers are wideband carrier division multiple access (WCDMA) signals, or combined global system for mobile communications/enhanced data rates for Global Evolution (CSM/EDGE) and WCDMA signals.

10. The transceiver according to claim 6, wherein the switch is one of a singe pole single throw switch, a double pole double throw switch, a single pole double throw switch, a single pole change over switch or other type of switch suitable for changing between the one first diversity antenna and the one first main antenna.

11. The transceiver according to claim 1, wherein the signals amplified by the one or more first amplifiers and the at least one or more second amplifiers are WCDMA signals, or combined GSM/EDGE and WCDMA signals.

12. A method for amplifying signal in a wireless communication network, comprising:

receiving one or more signals;

determining the power at which the one or more received signals are to be sent;

comparing the power at which the which the one or more received signals are to be sent to a predefined power threshold;

directing one or more signals whose power is above a certain power threshold to one or more first amplifiers with high efficiency above the power threshold power, and one or more signals below the power threshold to one or more second amplifiers with high efficiency at signal powers below the power threshold;

amplifying the signal at the one or more first amplifiers;

sending the amplified signal to at least one first diversity antenna or to at least one main antenna; and

transmitting the one or more signals over the radio interface via the at least one first diversity antenna or at least one first main antenna.