System And Method For Power Detection In A Power Amplifier

• US 20080284520A1
• Filed: 05/08/2008
• Published: 11/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Skyworks Solutions Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Skyworks Solutions Incorporated
• Inventors: Prikhodko, Dima, Sprinkle, Steven C., Tkachenko, Gene A., Baree, Atiqul, Dicarlo, Paul T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,385,853 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 330/291
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/10 by using square-law characteristics of circuit elements, e.g. diodes, to measure power absorbed by loads of known impedance G01R21/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/207 A hybrid coupler being used as power measuring circuit at the output of an amplifier circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/393 A measuring circuit being coupled to the output of an amplifier
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/456 A scaled replica of a transistor being present in an amplifier
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/465 Power sensing
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/191 Tuned amplifiers H03F3/193, H03F3/195 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/245 with semiconductor devices only
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/3042 in modulators, frequency-changers, transmitters or power amplifiers transmission power control in bidirectional transmission systems H04W52/04

Abstract

A system for detecting power output of a power amplifier includes a first power detector configured to detect a forward power output of a power amplifier, the first power detector configured to provide a first power detector output, and a second power detector configured to receive a collector parameter signal and detect a collector parameter therefrom, the second power detector also configured to provide a second power detector output.

Claims

1. A system for detecting power output of a power amplifier, comprising:

a first power detector configured to detect a forward power output of a power amplifier, the first power detector configured to provide a first power detector output; and

a second power detector configured to receive a collector parameter signal and detect a collector parameter therefrom, the second power detector also configured to provide a second power detector output.

2. The system of claim 1, in which the collector parameter signal is a collector voltage signal.

3. The system of claim 1, in which the collector parameter signal is a collector current signal.

4. The system of claim 1, in which the first power detector output and the second power detector output are combined to form a combined power detector output.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising a resistance value configured to determine a ratio of the first power detector output and the second power detector output.

6. The system of claim 1, in which the first and second power detectors are chosen from a peak power detector and an average power detector.

7. The system of claim 1, in which the first and second power detectors are diode detectors.

8. The system of claim 1, in which the first and second power detectors control the output linearity of the power amplifier and the collector voltage of the power amplifier.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising an additional collector parameter configured to provide an additional voltage signal to the first power detector output and the second power detector output.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a harmonic trap and filter configured to receive the collector parameter signal and configured to remove harmonics present on the collector parameter signal, the harmonic trap and filter configured to provide an input signal to the second power detector.

11. A portable transceiver having a system for detecting power output of a power amplifier, comprising:

a transmitter operatively coupled to a power amplifier and to a receiver;

a first power detector configured to detect a forward power output of the power amplifier, the first power detector configured to provide a first power detector output; and

a second power detector configured to receive a collector parameter signal and detect a collector parameter therefrom, the second power detector also configured to provide a second power detector output.

12. The transceiver of claim 11, in which the collector parameter signal is a collector voltage signal.

13. The transceiver of claim 11, in which the collector parameter signal is a collector current signal.

14. The transceiver of claim 11, in which the first power detector output and the second power detector output are combined to form a combined power detector output.

15. The transceiver of claim 14, further comprising a resistance value configured to determine a ratio of the first power detector output and the second power detector output.

16. The transceiver of claim 11, in which the first and second power detectors control the output linearity of the power amplifier and the collector voltage of the power amplifier.

17. The transceiver of claim 11, further comprising:

a harmonic trap and filter configured to receive the collector parameter signal and configured to remove harmonics present on the collector parameter signal, the harmonic trap and filter configured to provide an input signal to the second power detector.

18. A method for detecting power output of a power amplifier, comprising:

providing a first power detector output comprising the forward power output of a power amplifier;

providing a second power detector output developed from a collector parameter of the power amplifier; and

combining the first power detector output and the second power detector output to form a combined power detector output.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising choosing a resistance value to determine a ratio of the first power detector output and the second power detector output.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising controlling the output linearity of the power amplifier and the collector voltage of the power amplifier.

21. The method transceiver of claim 19, further comprising filtering the collector parameter signal to remove harmonics present on the collector parameter signal.