Bypassable amplifier
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for dynamically improving the efficiency of an RF amplifier, the method comprising:
- amplifying an RF signal through a driver;
providing the flow of power to said RF amplifier and amplifying said RF signal through said RF amplifier in response to a high RF output power condition;
impeding the flow of power to said RF amplifier and bypassing further amplification of said RF signal through said RF amplifier in response to a low RF output power condition;
wherein said power provided to said RF amplifier produces a supply current in said RF amplifier during a high RF output power condition, the method further comprising the steps;
producing a signal;
producing a supply current tracking signal indicating the present level of said supply current;
determining the difference between at least said 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.
12 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An adaptable DC power consumption circuit is provided, wherein a controller alternately operates an RF amplifier during a high RF output power condition, and bypasses the RF amplifier during a low RF output power condition. In this manner, linear operation of the RF amplifier can be maintained while maximizing the power efficiency of the RF amplifier.
-
Citations
27 Claims
-
1. A method for dynamically improving the efficiency of an RF amplifier, the method comprising:
-
amplifying an RF signal through a driver; providing the flow of power to said RF amplifier and amplifying said RF signal through said RF amplifier in response to a high RF output power condition; impeding the flow of power to said RF amplifier and bypassing further amplification of said RF signal through said RF amplifier in response to a low RF output power condition; wherein said power provided to said RF amplifier produces a supply current in said RF amplifier during a high RF output power condition, the method further comprising the steps; producing a signal; producing a supply current tracking signal indicating the present level of said supply current; determining the difference between at least said 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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
4. A method for dynamically improving the efficiency of an RF amplifier, the method comprising:
-
amplifying an RF signal through a driver; providing the flow of power to said RF amplifier and amplifying said RF signal through said RF amplifier in response to a high RF output power condition; impeding the flow of power to said RF amplifier and bypassing further amplification of said RF signal through said RF amplifier in response to a low RF output power condition; wherein said power provided to said RF amplifier produces a supply voltage across said RF amplifier during a high RF output power condition, the method further comprising the steps; 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. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
-
-
10. An adaptable DC power consumption amplifier circuit, comprising:
-
an RF amplifier; pre-amplification means, the output of said pre-amplification means alternately electrically coupled to the input of said RF amplifier and the output of said RF amplifier; means for sensing a high RF output power condition and a low RF output power condition; means for providing a flow of power to said RF amplifier during a high RF output power condition and impeding said flow of power to said RF amplifier during a low RF output condition, wherein said power means produces a supply voltage across said RF amplifier, and said power means is variable and has an internal source voltage; means for electrically coupling the output of said pre-amplification means to the input of said RF amplifier during a high RF output power condition and electrically coupling the output of said pre-amplification means to the output of said RF amplifier during a low RF output power condition; means for producing a control tracking voltage; means for producing a supply voltage tracking voltage; means for determining the difference between said envelope 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 (14)
-
-
11. An adaptable DC power consumption amplifier circuit, comprising:
-
an RF amplifier; pre-amplification means, the output of said pre-amplification means alternately electrically coupled to the input of said RF amplifier and the output of said RF amplifier; means for sensing a high RF output power condition and a low RF output power condition; means for providing a flow of power to said RF amplifier during a high RF output power condition and impeding said flow of power to said RF amplifier during a low RF output condition, wherein said power means produces a supply voltage across said RF amplifier, said RF signal is a modulated RF signal having an RF modulated envelope, and said power means is variable and has an internal source voltage; means for electrically coupling the output of said pre-amplification means to the input of said RF amplifier during a high RF output power condition and electrically coupling the output of said pre-amplification means to the output of said RF amplifier during a low RF output power condition; means for producing a control and envelope tracking voltage; means for producing a supply voltage tracking voltage; means for determining the difference between said control and envelope tracking voltage and said supply voltage tracking voltage to obtain a dynamic biasing voltage; and means for varying said internal source voltage with said dynamic biasing voltage.
-
-
12. An adaptable DC power consumption amplifier circuit, comprising:
-
an RF amplifier; pre-amplification means, the output of said pre-amplification means alternately electrically coupled to the input of said RF amplifier and the output of said RF amplifier; means for sensing a high RF output power condition and a low RF output power condition; means for providing a flow of power to said RF amplifier during a high RF output power condition and impeding said flow of power to said RF amplifier during a low RF output condition, wherein said power means produces a supply current in said RF amplifier; means for electrically coupling the output of said pre-amplification means to the input of said RF amplifier during a high RF output power condition and electrically coupling the output of said pre-amplification means to the output of said RF amplifier during a low RF output power condition; means for producing a control tracking voltage; means for producing a supply current tracking voltage; means for determining the difference between said control tracking 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.
-
-
13. An adaptable DC power consumption amplifier circuit, comprising:
-
an RF amplifier; pre-amplification means, the output of said pre-amplification means alternately electrically coupled to the input of said RF amplifier and the output of said RF amplifier; means for sensing a high RF output power condition and a low RF output power condition; means for providing a flow of power to said RF amplifier during a high RF output power condition and impeding said flow of power to said RF amplifier during a low RF output condition, wherein said power means produces a supply current in said RF amplifier, and said RF signal is a modulated RF signal having an RF modulated envelope; means for electrically coupling the output of said pre-amplification means to the input of said RF amplifier during a high RF output power condition and electrically coupling the output of said pre-amplification means to the output of said RF amplifier during a low RF output power condition; means for producing a control and envelope tracking voltage; 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 in proportion to said dynamic gate biasing voltage. - View Dependent Claims (15)
-
-
16. An adaptable DC power consumption amplifier circuit, comprising:
-
an RF amplifier having an RF amplifier input terminal, an RF amplifier output terminal, and an RF amplifier power terminal; a power supply having a power supply output terminal; a switch having a switch input terminal, a switch output terminal, and a switch control terminal, said switch input terminal electrically coupled to said power supply output terminal;
said switch output terminal electrically coupled to said RF amplifier power terminal;a first driver having a first driver control terminal and a first driver output terminal, said first driver output terminal electrically coupled to said RF amplifier input terminal; a second driver having a second driver control terminal and a second driver output terminal, said second driver output terminal electrically coupled to said RF amplifier output terminal; and a controller having at least one of a controller first output terminal and a controller second output terminal, said controller having a controller third output terminal, said at least one of said controller first output terminal and said controller second output terminal electrically coupled to said first driver control terminal and said second driver control terminal, said controller third output terminal electrically coupled to said switch control terminal. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. An adaptable DC power consumption amplifier circuit, comprising:
-
an RF amplifier having an RF amplifier input terminal, an RF amplifier output terminal, and an RF amplifier power terminal; a power supply having a power supply output terminal; a driver having a driver control terminal and a driver output terminal; a first switch having a first switch input terminal, a first switch output terminal, and a first switch control terminal, said first switch input terminal electrically coupled to said driver output terminal;
said first switch output terminal electrically coupled to said RF amplifier input terminal;a second switch having a second switch input terminal, a second switch output terminal, and a second switch control terminal, said second switch input terminal electrically coupled to said driver output terminal; a third switch having a third switch input terminal, a third switch output terminal, and a third switch control terminal, said third switch input terminal electrically coupled to said power supply output terminal;
said third switch output terminal electrically coupled to said RF amplifier power terminal; anda controller having a controller first output terminal, a controller second output terminal, and a controller third output terminal, said controller first output terminal electrically coupled to said first switch control terminal, said controller second output terminal electrically coupled to said second switch control terminal, said controller third output terminal electrically coupled to said third switch control terminal. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
-
Specification