TRANSMITTER ARRANGEMENT

• US 20090111401A1
• Filed: 10/29/2007
• Published: 04/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Mobile Communications Technology GmbH (Intel Corporation)
• Inventors: Itkin, Grigory, Grebennikov, Andrei
• Granted Patent: US 7,853,290 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/127.300
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0483 Transmitters with multiple parallel paths

Abstract

A transmitter arrangement includes a first amplifier arrangement and a second amplifier arrangement. The first amplifier arrangement includes a first amplification path and a second amplification path. The first amplification path is adapted to amplify signals comprising a data content according to a first communication standard. The second amplification path is adapted to amplify signals comprising a data content according to a second communication standard. The second amplifier arrangement further includes a first and second amplification path sharing at least one common amplifier stage that is adapted to amplify signals having a data content according at least to the second communication standard.

Claims

1. Transmitter device, comprising:

a first transmitter path for a transmission signal having a center frequency within a first frequency range, the first transmitter path comprising an amplifier arrangement, and the amplifier arrangement comprising a first amplification path with a first amplification gain and a second amplification path with a second amplification gain, respectively;

a second transmitter path for a transmission signal having a center frequency within a second frequency range, the second transmitter path comprising an amplifier arrangement, and the amplifier arrangement having a first and a second amplification path, wherein the first and second amplification paths comprising at least one common amplifier stage that is shared therebetween.

2. The transmitter device of claim 1, wherein the first amplification path and the second amplification path of the first transmitter path share a common amplifier stage that is shared therebetween.

3. The transmitter device of claim 1, wherein the amplifier arrangement of the first transmitter path further comprises a power detector, wherein the power detector is adapted to determine an output power of the first and second amplification path, respectively, of the first transmitter path.

4. The transmitter device of claim 3, wherein the power detector comprises a coupling device arranged in the first and in the second amplification path, wherein the coupling device is adapted to couple a portion of the signal'"'"'s power out of the respective amplification path.

5. The transmitter device of claim 1, wherein the first and second amplification paths of the second transmitter path comprise the same amplification gain.

6. The transmitter device of claim 1, wherein the amplifier arrangement of the second transmitter path comprises a power detector, wherein the power detector is adapted to determine an output power of the first and second amplification path, respectively, of the second transmitter path.

7. The transmitter device of claim 6, wherein the power detector comprises a coupling device arranged in the first and second amplification path of the second transmitter path, wherein the coupling device is adapted to couple a portion of the signal'"'"'s power out of the respective amplification path.

8. The transmitter device of claim 1, further comprising:

a signal output of the first amplification path of the second transmitter path and a signal output of the second amplification path of the second transmitter path; and

an adjustable power combiner with a signal output, wherein the power combiner is coupled to the outputs of the first and second amplification paths of the second transmitter path.

9. The transmitter device of claim 8, further comprising a first and second matching network, wherein the first and second matching networks are connected between the respective signal outputs of the first and second amplification paths and the power combiner.

10. The transmitter device of claim 8, wherein the signal output of the power combiner is coupled to a harmonic filter device.

11. The transmitter device of claim 1, further comprising:

a first and second duplexer unit;

a first switch arranged between a signal output of the first amplification path of the second transmitter path and the first duplexer unit; and

a second switch arranged between a signal output of the second amplification path of the second transmitter path and the second duplexer unit.

12. The transmitter device of claim 11, wherein the first and second switches each comprise a diode element configured to be adjusted by a DC-BIAS-signal, or comprise a field effect transistor.

13. Transmitter arrangement, comprising:

a first amplifier arrangement comprising a first amplification path and a second amplification path, wherein the first amplification path is adapted to amplify signals comprising a data content according to a first communication standard, and wherein the second amplification path is adapted to amplify signals comprising a data content according to a second communication standard; and

a second amplifier arrangement comprising a first and second amplification path sharing at least one common amplifier stage therebetween, and wherein the second amplifier arrangement is adapted to amplify signals comprising a data content according to at least the second communication standard.

14. The transmitter arrangement of claim 13, wherein the first amplification path and the second amplification path of the first amplifier arrangement share a common amplifier stage therebetween.

15. The transmitter arrangement of claim 13, wherein the first amplifier arrangement is adapted to amplify signals having a center frequency within a first frequency range and wherein the second amplifier arrangement is adapted to amplify signals having a center frequency within a second frequency range.

16. The transmitter arrangement of claim 13, wherein the first and second amplifier arrangement each comprise a power detector that is adapted to determine an output power of the respective first and second amplification paths.

17. The transmitter arrangement of claim 16, wherein the power detector comprises a power divider arranged in the respective first and second amplification path, wherein the power divider is adapted to couple a portion of the signal'"'"'s power out of the respective amplification path.

18. The transmitter arrangement of claim 13, wherein the first and second amplification paths of the second amplifier arrangement comprise the same amplification gain.

19. The transmitter arrangement of claim 13, further comprising:

a signal output of the first and of the second amplification path of the second amplifier arrangement; and

an adjustable power combiner with a signal output that is coupled to the outputs of the first and second amplification paths.

20. The transmitter arrangement of claim 19, comprising a first and second matching network, wherein the first and second matching networks are connected between the respective signal outputs of the first and second amplification paths and the power combiner.

21. The transmitter arrangement of claim 19, wherein the signal output of the power combiner is coupled to a harmonic filter device.

22. The transmitter arrangement of claim 13, further comprising:

a first and second duplexer unit;

a first switch arranged between a signal output of the first amplification path of the second amplifier arrangement and the first duplexer unit; and

a second switch arranged between a signal output of the second amplification path of the second amplifier arrangement and the second duplexer unit.

23. The transmitter arrangement of claim 22, wherein the first and second switches each comprise a diode element configured to be adjusted by a DC-BIAS-signal.

24. The transmitter arrangement of claim 13, wherein the at least one common amplifier stage comprises a balanced amplifier having a first input terminal and a second input terminal, wherein the first input terminal is adapted to receive signals comprising a data content according to the first communication standard, and the second input terminal is adapted to receive signals comprising a data content according to the second communication standard.

25. The transmitter device of claim 13, wherein common amplifier stage of the first amplifier arrangement comprises a balanced amplifier having a first input terminal and a second input terminal, wherein the first input terminal is adapted to receive signals comprising a data content according to the first communication standard, and the second input terminal is adapted to receive signals comprising a data content according to the second communication standard.