MULTI-MODE POWER AMPLIFIER

• US 20180234061A1
• Filed: 01/08/2018
• Published: 08/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Skyworks Solutions Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Skyworks Solutions Incorporated
• Inventors: Shi, Ying, Feng, Jinghang
• Granted Patent: US 10,587,231 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/0211 with control of the supply voltage or current
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/0216 Continuous control
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/0261 with control of the polarisation voltage or current, e.g. gliding Class A
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/56 Modifications of input or output impedances, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/12 A bias circuit for some stages being shown using transmission lines
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/129 there being a feedback over the complete amplifier
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/222 A circuit being added at the input of an amplifier to adapt the input impedance of the amplifier
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/267 A capacitor based passive circuit, e.g. filter, being used in an amplifying circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/387 A circuit being added at the output of an amplifier to adapt the output impedance of the amplifier
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/408 the output amplifying stage of an amplifier comprising three power stages
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/451 the amplifier being a radio frequency amplifier
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/456 A scaled replica of a transistor being present in an amplifier
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/474 A current mirror being used as sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/54 Two or more capacitor coupled amplifier stages in cascade
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/541 Transformer coupled at the output of an amplifier
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/555 A voltage generating circuit being realised for biasing different circuit elements
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2203/21103 An impedance adaptation circuit being added at the input of a power amplifier stage
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2203/21131 the input bias voltage of a power amplifier being controlled, e.g. by a potentiometer or an emitter follower
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/19 with semiconductor devices only
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/195 in integrated circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/211 : using a combination of several amplifiers H03F3/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/213 : in integrated circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/245 : with semiconductor devices only
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/40 : Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 : where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/028 : switching on or off only a part of the equipment circuit blocks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 : adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 : Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A power amplifier module that includes a power amplifier and a controller is presented herein. The power amplifier module may include a set of transistor stages and a plurality of bias circuits. At least one transistor stage from the set of transistor stages may be in electrical communication with a first bias circuit and a second bias circuit from the plurality of bias circuits. The first bias circuit can be configured to apply a first bias voltage to the at least one transistor stage and the second bias circuit can be configured to apply a second bias voltage to the at least one transistor stage. The controller may be configured to activate one of the first bias circuit and the second bias circuit.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. A method for controlling a power amplifier, the method comprising:

receiving a mode selection signal at a controller of a power amplifier;

determining, based at least in part on the mode selection signal, an operating state for the power amplifier, the operating state selected from a plurality of operating states including a saturation operation state and a linear operation state; and

in response to determining that the power amplifier is to operate in the saturation operation state, generating a first voltage and providing the first voltage to a first bias circuit of the power amplifier, and deactivating a second bias circuit of the power amplifier.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising, in response to determining that the power amplifier is to operate in the linear operation state, generating at least one current and providing the at least one current to the second bias circuit of the power amplifier.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the at least one current is generated based at least in part on a second voltage received at the controller.

5. The method of claim 2 further comprising, in response to determining that the power amplifier is to operate in the linear operation state, floating the first bias circuit.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein the power amplifier includes a plurality of transistors.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein each transistor of the plurality of transistors is configured to operate in the saturation operation state in response to determining that the power amplifier is to operate in the saturation operation state.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein each transistor of the plurality of transistors is configured to operate in the linear operation state in response to determining that the power amplifier is to operate in the linear operation state.

9. The method of claim 2 wherein the mode selection signal is received from a baseband system.

10. A system for controlling a power amplifier, the system comprising:

a power amplifier controller in communication with a power amplifier and configured to;

receive a mode selection signal;

determine, based at least in part on the mode selection signal, an operating state for the power amplifier, the operating state selected from a plurality of operating states including a saturation operation state or a linear operation state; and

in response to determining that the power amplifier is to operate in the saturation operation state, generate a first voltage and provide the first voltage to a first bias circuit of the power amplifier, and deactivate a second bias circuit of the power amplifier.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein, in response to determining that the power amplifier is to operate in the linear operation state, the power amplifier controller is further configured to generate at least one current and provide the at least one current to the second bias circuit of the power amplifier.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the at least one current is generated based at least in part on a second voltage received at the power amplifier controller.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein, in response to determining that the power amplifier is to operate in the linear operation state, the power amplifier controller is further configured to float the first bias circuit.

14. The system of claim 10 wherein the power amplifier includes a plurality of transistors.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the power amplifier controller is further configured to cause each transistor of the plurality of transistors to operate in the saturation operation state in response to determining that the power amplifier is to operate in the saturation operation state.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein the power amplifier controller is further configured to cause each transistor of the plurality of transistors to operate in the linear operation state in response to determining that the power amplifier is to operate in the linear operation state.

17. The system of claim 10 wherein the mode selection signal is received from a baseband system.

18. A power amplifier module comprising:

a power amplifier;

a first bias circuit configured to bias the power amplifier in a saturation mode;

a second bias circuit configured to bias the power amplifier in a linear mode; and

a power amplifier controller configured to;

receive a mode selection signal;

determine, based at least in part on the mode selection signal, an operating state for the power amplifier, the operating state selected from a plurality of operating states including a saturation operation state or a linear operation state; and

, in response to determining that the power amplifier is to operate in the saturation operation state, provide a first voltage to the first bias circuit and deactivate the second bias circuit.

19. The power amplifier module of claim 18 wherein, in response to determining that the power amplifier is to operate in the linear operation state, the power amplifier controller is further configured to provide at least one current to the second bias circuit.

20. The power amplifier module of claim 18 wherein, in response to determining that the power amplifier is to operate in the linear operation state, the power amplifier controller is further configured to float the first bias circuit.

21. The power amplifier module of claim 18 wherein the mode selection signal is received from a baseband system.