Multiple-band amplifier

• US 5,774,017 A
• Filed: 06/03/1996
• Issued: 06/30/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Skyworks Solutions Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Anadigics Incorporated (Coherent Corp.)
• Inventors: Adar, Aharon
• Primary Examiner(s): Mottola, Steven J.
• Application Number:
  US08/664,972
• Time in Patent Office: 757 Days
• Field of Search: 330/51, 330/126, 330/133, 330/134, 330/302, 330/305, 330/310
• US Class Current: 330/51
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/0261 with control of the polarisation voltage or current, e.g. gliding Class A
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/111 the amplifier being a dual or triple band amplifier, e.g. 900 and 1800 MHz, e.g. switched or not switched, simultaneously or not
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/39 Different band amplifiers are coupled in parallel to broadband the whole amplifying circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/429 Two or more amplifiers or one amplifier with filters for different frequency bands are coupled in parallel at the input or output
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/432 Two or more amplifiers of different type are coupled in parallel at the input or output, e.g. a class D and a linear amplifier, a class B and a class A amplifier
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2203/7206 the gated amplifier being switched on or off by a switch in the bias circuit of the amplifier controlling a bias voltage in the amplifier
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2203/7215 the gated amplifier being switched on or off by a switch at the input of the amplifier
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2203/7221 the gated amplifier being switched on or off by a switch at the output of the amplifier
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2203/7227 the gated amplifier being switched on or off by a switch in the supply circuit of the amplifier
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2203/7236 the gated amplifier being switched on or off by putting into parallel or not, by choosing between amplifiers by (a ) switch(es)
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/1935 with junction-FET devices
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/24 of transmitter output stages
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/72 Gated amplifiers, i.e. amplifiers which are rendered operative or inoperative by means of a control signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/005 adapting radio receivers, transmitters andtransceivers for operation on two or more bands, i.e. frequency ranges
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0483 Transmitters with multiple parallel paths
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/406 with more than one transmission mode, e.g. analog and digital modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/0408 with power amplifiers

Abstract

A GaAs MMIC dual-band amplifier for wireless communications is disclosed for operation at either the 800 MHz or the 1900 MHz band and it provides desired gain and input and output impedance. Switching impedance networks are used at the input and output of the amplifier to provide matching input impedance and desired output impedance for operation in the two bands. Switching impedance networks are also used between any successive stages of the amplifier to provide proper interstage impedance. The dual band amplifier includes a bias control circuit which biases the amplifier to operate in A, B, AB or C mode. The amplifier can be used for the AMPS 800 or the GSM 900 operation or any other cellular operation such as the PCS 1900 and the it can be switched between the two operations by simply applying a proper control signal to the amplifier.

Claims

1. Amplifying apparatus for amplifying a signal having a frequency of one of a plurality of predetermined frequencies comprising:

at least one amplifying stage for amplifying such signal;

input impedance means for providing, in accordance with the frequency of such signal, predetermined input impedance at the frequency of such signal; and

output impedance means for providing, in accordance with the frequency of such signal, predetermined output impedance at the frequency of such signal, the output impedance means comprising means for selectively coupling, in accordance with the frequency of such signal, a selected one of a plurality of output impedance networks to the output of the amplifying stage.

2. Amplifying apparatus for amplifying a signal having a frequency of one of a plurality of predetermined frequencies comprising:

at least one amplifying stage for amplifying such signal;

input impedance means for providing, in accordance with the frequency of such signal, predetermined input impedance at the frequency of such signal; and

output impedance means for providing, in accordance with the frequency of such signal, predetermined output impedance at the frequency of such signal, the output impedance means comprising means for controlling, in accordance with the frequency of such signal, the impedance of an impedance network coupled to the output of the at least one amplifying stage.

3. Amplifying apparatus for amplifying a signal having a frequency of one of a plurality of predetermined frequencies comprising:

a plurality of amplifying stages arranged as a cascade for amplifying such signal;

input impedance means for providing, in accordance with the frequency of such signal, predetermined input impedance at the frequency of such signal; and

interstage impedance means for providing predetermined impedance between two successive amplifying stages at the frequency of the selected signal.

4. The amplifying apparatus of claim 3 wherein the interstage impedance means for providing predetermined impedance between two successive amplifying stages comprise means for selectively coupling, in accordance with the frequency of such signal, one of a plurality of impedance networks connected a proceeding amplifying stage to a dc power supply.

5. The amplifying apparatus of claim 3 wherein the interstage impedance means for providing predetermined impedance between two successive amplifying stages comprise means for controlling, in accordance with the frequency of such signal, the impedance of an impedance network connected between a proceeding amplifying stage of the two successive amplifying stages and a dc power supply.

6. The amplifying apparatus of claim 5 wherein the impedance network connected between a proceeding amplifying stage and a dc power supply comprises and an inductor and a transistor connected in parallel, and the means controls the impedance of the impedance network by controlling the conductivity of the transistor.

7. Amplifying apparatus for amplifying a signal having a frequency that is one of a plurality of predetermined frequencies comprising:

at least one amplifying stage;

a plurality of input impedance networks for coupling to input of the at least one amplifying stage, each of the input impedance networks, when coupled to the input of the at least one amplifying stage, operating with the at least one amplifying stage to provide predetermined impedance at one of such predetermined frequencies;

input impedance switching means for switchably coupling one of the input impedance means that operates with the at least one amplifying stage to provide predetermined impedance at the frequency of such signal to the input of the at least one amplifying stage.

8. The amplifying apparatus of claim 7 further comprising

a plurality of output impedance networks for coupling to output of the at least one amplifying stage, each of the output impedance networks, when coupled to the output of the at least one amplifying stage, operating with the at least one amplifying stage to provide predetermined impedance at one of such predetermined frequencies;

output impedance switching means for switchably coupling one of the output impedance means that, when coupled to the output of the at least one amplifying stage, operates with the at least one amplifying stage to provide predetermined output impedance at the frequency of such signal, to the input of the at least one amplifying stage.

9. The amplifying apparatus of claim 7, comprising a plurality of amplifying stages arranged as a cascade, the amplifying apparatus further comprising interstage impedance means for providing predetermined impedance between two successive amplifying stages at the frequency of the selected signal.

10. A method for forming an amplifying apparatus for amplifying input signal having a frequency that is one of a plurality of predetermined frequencies or frequency bands, comprising the step of:

coupling input of an amplifying stage to a selected one of a plurality of input impedance networks each, when coupled to the input of the amplifier, operating with the amplifying stage to provide predetermined input impedance at one of the plurality of predetermined frequencies or frequency bands, the selected one input impedance network operating with the amplifying stage to provide predetermined input impedance at the frequency of such input signal.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of coupling output of an amplifying stage to a selected one of a plurality of output impedance networks, each of the output impedance networks, when coupled to the output of the amplifier, operating with the amplifying stage to provide predetermined output impedance at one of the plurality of predetermined frequencies or frequency bands, the selected one output impedance network operating with the amplifying stage to provide predetermined output impedance at the frequency of such input signal.