Amplifier with dynamatically adaptable supply voltage
First Claim
1. A method of controlling an RF amplifier, comprising:
- providing power to said RF amplifier to produce a supply voltage across said RF amplifier;
producing a control tracking signal indicating the desired level of said supply voltage;
producing a supply voltage tracking signal indicating the present level of said supply voltage;
determining the difference between at least said control tracking signal and at least said supply voltage tracking signal to obtain a biasing signal; and
varying said supply voltage in proportion to said biasing signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An adaptable DC power consumption circuit is provided, wherein the voltage supplied to an RF amplifier is dynamically varied from a desired level. A feedback control loop is formed between the power terminal and a control terminal of a variable voltage supply. A controller influences the feedback control loop to properly set the supply voltage 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 voltage 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.
104 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method of controlling an RF amplifier, comprising:
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providing power to said RF amplifier to produce a supply voltage across said RF amplifier; producing a control tracking signal indicating the desired level of said supply voltage; producing a supply voltage tracking signal indicating the present level of said supply voltage; determining the difference between at least said control tracking signal and at least said supply voltage tracking signal to obtain a biasing signal; and varying said supply voltage in proportion to said biasing signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 4)
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3. A method of controlling an RF amplifier, comprising:
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providing power to said RF amplifier to produce a supply voltage across said RF amplifier; producing a signal; producing a supply voltage tracking signal indicating the present level of said supply voltage; integrating a difference between said at least said signal and said at least said supply voltage tracking signal to obtain a biasing signal, and varying said supply voltage in proportion to said biasing signal.
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5. A method of controlling an RF amplifier, comprising:
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providing power to said RF amplifier to produce a supply voltage across said RF amplifier; applying a phase-modulated RF signal on an input terminal of said RF amplifier; predistorting the phase of said phase-modulated RF signal; producing a signal; producing a supply voltage tracking signal indicating the present level of said supply voltage; determining the difference between at least said signal and at least said supply voltage tracking signal to obtain a biasing signal; and varying said supply voltage in proportion to said biasing signal.
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6. A method of controlling an RF amplifier, comprising:
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providing power to said RF amplifier to produce a supply voltage across said RF amplifier and a supply current in said RF amplifier; producing a signal; producing a supply voltage tracking signal indicating the present level of said supply voltage; determining the difference between at least said signal and at least said supply voltage tracking signal to obtain a biasing signal; varying said supply voltage in proportion to said biasing signal; producing another signal; producing a supply current tracking signal indicating the present level of said supply current; determining the difference between at least said another signal and at least said supply current tracking signal to obtain agate biasing signal; and varying said supply current in proportion to said gate biasing signal. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. An adaptable DC power consumption amplifier circuit, comprising:
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an RF amplifier; means for producing a supply voltage across said RF amplifier, said supply voltage means having an internal source voltage; means for producing a control tracking voltage indicating the desired level of said supply voltage; means for producing a supply voltage tracking voltage; means for determining the difference between said control tracking voltage and said supply voltage tracking voltage to obtain a biasing voltage; and means for varying said internal source voltage with said biasing voltage. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. An adaptable DC power consumption amplifier circuit, comprising:
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an RF amplifier; means for producing a supply voltage across said RF amplifier, said supply voltage means having an internal source voltage; means for producing a voltage; means for producing a supply voltage tracking voltage; means for determining the difference between said control tracking voltage and said supply voltage tracking voltage to obtain a biasing voltage; and means for varying said internal source voltage with said biasing voltage, means for producing a supply current in said RF amplifier; means for producing another voltage; means for producing a supply current tracking voltage; means for determining the difference between said another voltage and said supply current tracking voltage to obtain a gate biasing voltage; and means for varying said supply current in proportion to said gate biasing voltage. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. 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 variable power supply having a variable power supply control terminal, a variable power supply output terminal, and an internal source voltage, said variable power supply output terminal electrically coupled to said RF amplifier power terminal; a voltage detector having a voltage detector input terminal and a voltage detector output terminal, said voltage 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 controller output terminal electrically coupled to said signal processor first input terminal, said voltage detector output terminal electrically coupled to said signal processor second input terminal, and said signal processor output terminal electrically coupled to said variable power supply control terminal. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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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 variable power supply having a variable power supply control terminal, a variable power supply output terminal, and an internal source voltage, said variable power supply output terminal electrically coupled to said RF amplifier power terminal; a voltage detector having a voltage detector input terminal, a voltage detector output terminal, and a voltage detector coupling terminal, said voltage detector input terminal electrically coupled to said variable power supply output terminal, said voltage 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 controller output terminal electrically coupled to said signal processor first input terminal, said voltage detector coupling terminal electrically coupled to said signal processor second input terminal, and said signal processor output terminal electrically coupled to said variable power supply control terminal.
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16. 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 variable power supply having a variable power supply control terminal, a variable power supply output terminal, and an internal source voltage, said variable power supply output terminal electrically coupled to said RF amplifier power terminal; a voltage detector having a voltage detector input terminal and a voltage detector output terminal, said voltage detector input 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 envelope detector coupling terminal electrically coupled to said signal processor first input terminal, said voltage detector output terminal electrically coupled to said signal processor second input terminal, and said signal processor output terminal electrically coupled to said variable power supply control terminal.
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22. 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 variable power supply having a variable power supply control terminal, a variable power supply output terminal, and an internal source voltage, said variable power supply output terminal electrically coupled to said RF amplifier power terminal; and a first feedback control loop, said RF amplifier power terminal electrically coupled to said variable power supply control terminal through said first feedback control loop; and a second feedback control loop electrically coupling said RF amplifier power terminal to said RF amplifier control terminal. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. 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 variable power supply having a variable power supply control terminal, a variable power supply output terminal, and an internal source voltage, said variable power supply output terminal electrically coupled to said RF amplifier power terminal; a voltage detector; a controller; 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 voltage detector electrically coupled between said signal processor second input terminal and said RF amplifier power terminal, said controller electrically coupled to said signal processor first input terminal, said envelope detector electrically coupled between said RF amplifier output terminal and said signal processor first input terminal, said signal processor output terminal electrically coupled to said variable power supply control terminal.
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Specification