Amplifier with dynamically adaptable supply current
First Claim
1. A method of controlling an RF amplifier, comprising the steps of:
- providing power to said RF amplifier to create a supply current in said RF amplifier;
producing a control signal;
producing a supply current tracking signal indicating the present level of said supply current;
scaling and integrating a difference between at least said control signal and at least said supply current tracking signal to obtain said gate biasing signal; and
varying said supply current in proportion to said gate biasing signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An adaptable DC power consumption circuit is provided, wherein the current supplied to an RF amplifier is dynamically varied from a desired level. A feedback control loop is formed between the power terminal and the control terminal of the RF amplifier. A controller influences the feedback control loop to properly set the supply current at the desired minimum level necessary to maintain linear operation of the RF amplifier. The output of the RF amplifier influences the feedback control loop to dynamically vary the supply current from the desired level. In this manner, linear operation of the RF amplifier can be maintained while maximizing the power efficiency of the RF amplifier.
96 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method of controlling an RF amplifier, comprising the steps of:
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providing power to said RF amplifier to create a supply current in said RF amplifier; producing a control signal; producing a supply current tracking signal indicating the present level of said supply current; scaling and integrating a difference between at least said control signal and at least said supply current tracking signal to obtain said gate biasing signal; and varying said supply current in proportion to said gate biasing signal.
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2. A method of controlling an RF amplifier, comprising the steps of:
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providing power to said RF amplifier to create a supply current in said RF amplifier; applying a modulated RF signal on an input terminal of said RF amplifier, said modulated RF signal having a modulated RF envelope; producing a control and envelope tracking signal that both indicates the desired level of said supply current and the present level of said modulated RF envelope; producing a supply current tracking signal indicating the present level of said supply current; determining the difference between at least said control and envelope tracking signal and at least said supply current tracking signal to obtain a dynamic gate biasing signal; and varying said supply current in proportion to said dynamic gate biasing signal.
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3. A method of controlling an RF amplifier, comprising the steps of:
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providing power to said RF amplifier to create a supply current in said RF amplifier; applying a modulated RF signal on an input terminal of said RF amplifier, said modulated RF signal having a modulated RF envelope; producing an envelope tracking signal that indicates the present level of said modulated RF envelope; producing a supply current tracking signal indicating the present level of said supply current; determining the difference between at least said control and envelope tracking signal and at least said supply current tracking signal to obtain a dynamic gate biasing signal; and varying said supply current in proportion to said dynamic gate biasing signal.
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4. A method of controlling an RF amplifier, comprising the steps of:
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providing power to said RF amplifier to create a supply current in said RF amplifier; applying a phase-modulated RF signal on an input terminal of said RF amplifier; predistorting the phase of the said phase-modulated RF signal; producing a control signal; producing a supply current tracking signal indicating the present level of said supply current; determining the difference between at least said control signal and at least said supply current tracking signal to obtain a gate biasing signal; and
varying said supply current in proportion to said gate biasing signal.
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5. An adaptable DC power consumption amplifier circuit, comprising:
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an RF amplifier; means for producing a supply current in said RF amplifier; means for producing a control and envelope tracking voltages means for producing a supply current tracking voltage; means for determining the difference between said control and envelope tracking voltage and said supply current tracking voltage to obtain a dynamic gate biasing voltage; and means for varying said supply current with said dynamic gate biasing voltage.
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6. An adaptable DC power consumption amplifier circuit, comprising:
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an RF amplifier; means for producing a supply current in said RF amplifier; means for producing an envelope tracking voltage; means for producing a supply current tracking voltage; means for determining the difference between said envelope tracking voltage and said supply current tracking voltage to obtain a dynamic gate biasing voltage; and means for varying said supply current with said dynamic gate biasing voltage.
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7. An adaptable DC power consumption amplifier circuit, comprising:
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an RF amplifier having an RF amplifier power terminal, an RF amplifier output terminal, and an RF amplifier control terminal; a power supply having a power supply output terminal, said power supply output terminal electrically coupled to said RF amplifier power terminal; a current detector having a current detector input terminal, a current detector output terminal, and a current detector coupling terminal, said power supply output terminal electrically coupled to said RF amplifier power terminal through said current detector, said current detector input terminal electrically coupled to said power supply output terminal, said current detector output terminal electrically coupled to said RF amplifier power terminal; a controller having a controller output terminal; and a signal processor having a signal processor first input terminal, a signal processor second input terminal, and a signal processor output terminal, said current detector coupling terminal electrically coupled to said signal processor first input terminal, said controller output terminal electrically coupled to said signal processor second input terminal, said signal processor output terminal electrically coupled to said RF amplifier control terminal. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 17, 18, 19)
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8. An adaptable DC power consumption amplifier circuit, comprising:
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an RF amplifier having an RF amplifier power terminal, an RF amplifier output terminal, and an RF amplifier control terminal; a power supply having a power supply output terminal, said power supply output terminal electrically coupled to said RF amplifier power terminal; a current detector having a current detector input terminal and a current detector output terminal, said current detector input terminal electrically coupled to said RF amplifier power terminal; a controller having a controller output terminal; and a signal processor having a signal processor first input terminal, a signal processor second input terminal, and a signal processor output terminal, said current detector output terminal electrically coupled to said signal processor first input terminal, said controller output terminal electrically coupled to said signal processor second input terminal, said signal processor output terminal electrically coupled to said RF amplifier control terminal. - View Dependent Claims (13, 16)
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15. An adaptable DC power consumption amplifier circuit, comprising:
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an RF amplifier having an RF amplifier power terminal, an RF amplifier output terminal, and an RF amplifier control terminal; a power supply having a power supply output terminal, said power supply output terminal electrically coupled to said RF amplifier power terminal; a current detector having a current detector input terminal, a current detector output terminal, and a current detector coupling terminal, said power supply output terminal electrically coupled to said RF amplifier power terminal through said current detector, said current detector input terminal electrically coupled to said power supply output terminal, said current detector output terminal electrically coupled to said RF amplifier power terminal; an envelope detector having an envelope detector input terminal, an envelope detector output terminal, and an envelope detector coupling terminal, said envelope detector input terminal electrically coupled to said RF amplifier output terminal; and a signal processor having a signal processor first input terminal, a signal processor second input terminal, and a signal processor output terminal, said current detector coupling terminal electrically coupled to said signal processor first input terminal, said envelope coupling terminal electrically coupled to said signal processor second input terminal, said signal processor output terminal electrically coupled to said RF amplifier control terminal.
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20. An adaptable DC power consumption amplifier circuit, comprising:
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an RF amplifier having an RF amplifier power terminal, an RF amplifier output terminal, and an RF amplifier control terminal; a power supply having a power supply output terminal, said power supply output terminal electrically coupled to said RF amplifier power terminal; a current detector; an envelope detector; and a signal processor having a signal processor first input terminal, a signal processor second input terminal and a signal processor output terminal, said current detector coupled between said RF amplifier power terminal and said signal processor first input terminal said envelope detector coupled between said RF amplifier output terminal and said signal processor second input terminal, said signal processor output terminal coupled to said RF amplifier control terminal. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification