Multi-stage high efficiency linear power amplifier and method therefor
First Claim
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1. A power amplifier, comprising:
- a first carrier amplifier network including;
(a) a first carrier amplifier for amplifying input signals and producing first carrier signals;
(b) a first impedance transforming network coupled to an output of said first carrier amplifier;
(c) a first phase shifter coupled to said first impedance transforming network for phase shifting said first carrier signals one quarter wavelength; and
(d) a second phase shifter coupled to an input of said first carrier amplifier for phase shifting said input signals a quarter wavelength;
a second carrier amplifier network including;
(e) a second carrier amplifier for amplifying input signals and producing second carrier signals;
(f) a second impedance transforming network coupled to an output of said second carrier amplifier;
(g) a third phase shifter coupled to said second impedance transforming network for phase shifting said second carrier signals one quarter wavelength; and
(h) a fourth phase shifter coupled to an input of said second carrier amplifier for phase shifting said input signals a quarter wavelength;
a peak amplifier network including;
(i) a first peak amplifier for amplifying said input signals and producing peak signals;
and(j) a fifth phase shifter coupled to an input of said first peak amplifier for phase shifting said input signals a half wavelength; and
a combiner for in-phase combining said first carrier signals, said second carrier signals, and said peak signals to produce an output signal.
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Abstract
A power amplifier (10) provides linear amplification of noise-like multi-carrier signals over a wide range of power levels. A power divider (40) divides an input signal for distribution in three amplifier networks (70, 72, 74) for selective amplification based upon input signal levels. Each amplifier network (70, 72, 74) is biased to respond when the efficiency of the previous stage diminishes. Successive staging of amplifier networks (70, 72, 74) broadens the efficiency bandwidth of power amplifier (10). A combiner (28) merges output signals from each successive amplifier networks to provide an improved efficiency output to a power amplifier (10) load.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A power amplifier, comprising:
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a first carrier amplifier network including; (a) a first carrier amplifier for amplifying input signals and producing first carrier signals; (b) a first impedance transforming network coupled to an output of said first carrier amplifier; (c) a first phase shifter coupled to said first impedance transforming network for phase shifting said first carrier signals one quarter wavelength; and (d) a second phase shifter coupled to an input of said first carrier amplifier for phase shifting said input signals a quarter wavelength; a second carrier amplifier network including; (e) a second carrier amplifier for amplifying input signals and producing second carrier signals; (f) a second impedance transforming network coupled to an output of said second carrier amplifier; (g) a third phase shifter coupled to said second impedance transforming network for phase shifting said second carrier signals one quarter wavelength; and (h) a fourth phase shifter coupled to an input of said second carrier amplifier for phase shifting said input signals a quarter wavelength; a peak amplifier network including; (i) a first peak amplifier for amplifying said input signals and producing peak signals; and (j) a fifth phase shifter coupled to an input of said first peak amplifier for phase shifting said input signals a half wavelength; and a combiner for in-phase combining said first carrier signals, said second carrier signals, and said peak signals to produce an output signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A power amplifier, comprising:
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a first carrier amplifier configured to amplify low signal levels of a quarter-wavelength phase shifted input signal; a first quarter-wavelength transmission line coupled to the output of said first carrier amplifier; a second carrier amplifier configured to amplify medium signal levels of said quarter-wavelength phase shifted input signal; a second quarter-wavelength transmission line coupled to the output of said second carrier amplifier; a peak amplifier configured to amplify high signal levels of a half-wavelength phase shifted input signal; and a combiner for in-phase combining output signals of said first and second quarter-wavelength transmission lines and said peak amplifier. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of amplifying a signal of low, medium, and high power level, comprising the steps of:
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phase shifting said signal having said low power level a quarter-wavelength to produce a first carrier amplifier input signal; amplifying said first carrier amplifier input signal in a first carrier amplifier to produce a first carrier amplifier output signal; phase shifting said signal having said medium power level a quarter-wavelength to produce a second carrier amplifier input signal; amplifying said second carrier amplifier input signal in a second carrier amplifier to produce a second carrier amplifier output signal; phase shifting said signal having said high power level a half-wavelength to produce a peak amplifier input signal; amplifying said peak amplifier input signal in a peak amplifier to produce a peak amplifier output signal; phase shifting said first carrier amplifier output signal and said second carrier amplifier output signal a quarter-wavelength to produce a shifted first carrier amplifier output signal and a shifted second carrier amplifier output signal; and combining said shifted first and second carrier amplifier output signals, and said peak amplifier output signal to produce an output signal. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification