Dual band cellular phone with two power amplifiers and power control circuit therefore

• US 6,154,664 A
• Filed: 06/24/1998
• Issued: 11/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alpha Industries Incorporated (Skyworks Solutions Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Conexant Systems Incorporated (Synaptics Incorporated)
• Inventors: Koullias, Iconomos A., Steigerwald, Luke T., Chorey, Christopher M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunter, Daniel S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, PABLO N
• Application Number:
  US09/103,897
• Time in Patent Office: 888 Days
• Field of Search: 455/78, 455/82, 455/83, 455/84, 455/103, 455/127, 455/129, 455/115, 455/552, 455/553, 455/571, 455/575, 330/51, 330/126, 330/129, 330/279
• US Class Current: 455/571
• 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 2203/7239 the gated amplifier being switched on or off by putting into parallel or not, by choosing between amplifiers and shunting lines by one or more switch(es)
• 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: H03G 3/3042 in modulators, frequency-changers, transmitters or power amplifiers transmission power control in bidirectional transmission systems H04W52/04
• 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 1/04 Circuits
• 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 transmitter for a cellular phone comprising an antenna and being operable at a first radio frequency band and a second radio frequency band is disclosed. The transmitter comprises a first power amplifier and a second power amplifier, one of which is active at a time. The first power amplifier has an input for a first signal at the first radio frequency band, an input for a first control signal and a first output for an amplified first signal. The first output is connectable to the antenna. The second power amplifier has an input for a second signal at the second radio frequency band, an input for a second control signal and a second output for an amplified second signal. The second output is connectable to the antenna. The transmitter further comprises a single control module associated with the first and second outputs of the power amplifiers. The control module generates a control signal for the active power amplifier. The control signal forms part of a feedback control loop, and is a function of the amplified signal output from the active power amplifier and a reference signal which defines a desired characteristic of the amplified signal.

Claims

1. A cellular phone for a mobile communications system, said phone being operable at a first radio frequency band and a second radio frequency band comprising a dual band transmitter and an antenna, said dual band transmitter comprising:

a first power amplifier, said first power amplifier having a first input for a first signal at said first radio frequency band, a second input for a first control signal and a first output for an amplified first signal, said first output being connectable to said antenna;

a second power amplifier, said second power amplifier having a third input for a second signal at said second radio frequency band, a fourth input for a second control signal and a second output for an amplified second signal, said second output being connectable to said antenna; and

a control module, said control module being associated with said first and second outputs to receive a portion of one of said amplified first and second signals, and generating one of said first and second control signals to control one of said first and second power amplifiers, said control signal being a function of one of said first and second amplified signals and a reference signal, said control module comprising;

a detector having an input for a portion of an amplified signal derived from one of said amplified first and second signals, and an output for a detection signal indicative of the power level of said amplified signal;

a comparator having an input which receives said reference signal and having an input which receives said detection signal, said comparator generating an error signal corresponding to a difference between said reference signal and said detection signal; and

a shaping circuit, said circuit weighing said error signal in accordance with a predetermined desired power characteristic to generate said control signal which accounts, at least in part, for nonlinear amplification characteristics of said power amplifiers.

2. The cellular phone of claim 1, wherein said first radio frequency band is about 900 MHz, and said second radio frequency band is about 1800 MHz.

3. The cellular phone of claim 1, wherein said first radio frequency band is about 800 MHz, and said second radio frequency band is about 1900 MHz.

4. The cellular phone of claim 1, wherein said comparator comprises a differential amplifier.

5. The cellular phone of claim 4, further comprising an integrator, said integrator integrating said error signal to output an integrated error signal, and wherein said shaping circuit weights said integrated error signal as said error signal.

6. The cellular phone of claim 1, wherein said control module further comprises a switch, said switch being controllable and feeding said control signal to one of said power amplifiers.

7. The cellular phone of claim 6, wherein said control module further comprises a first amplifier and a second amplifier, said first amplifier being connected to a first terminal of said switch and driving said first power amplifier, and said second amplifier being connected to a second terminal of said switch and driving said second power amplifier.

8. The cellular phone of claim 1, wherein said detector is a logarithmic detector.

9. The cellular phone of claim 8, wherein said logarithmic detector comprises a first signal path and a second signal path, said first and second signal paths being joined at an input of the logarithmic detector and at a summing stage associated with an output of the logarithmic detector, said first signal path comprising a serial arrangement of a first number of amplifiers and an equal number of detectors, each detector being interconnected between an output of an amplifier and an input of the summing stage, said second signal path comprising a serial arrangement of an attenuator, a second number of amplifiers and an equal number of detectors, each detector being interconnected between an output of an amplifier and an input of the summing stage, said attenuator being interconnected between the input of the logarithmic detector and a first amplifier of the second signal path.

10. The cellular phone of claim 9, wherein said first signal path comprises three amplifiers and said second signal path comprises two amplifiers.

11. A transmitter for a cellular phone comprising an antenna and being operable at a first radio frequency band and a second radio frequency band, said transmitter comprising:

a first power amplifier, said first power amplifier having a first input for a first signal at said first radio frequency band, a second input for a first control signal and a first output for an amplified first signal, said first output being connectable to said antenna;

a second power amplifier, said second power amplifier having a third input for a second signal at said second radio frequency band, a fourth input for a second control signal and a second output for an amplified second signal, said second output being connectable to said antenna; and

a control module, said control module being associated with said first and second outputs to receive a portion of one of said amplified first and second signals, and generating one of said first and second control signals to control one of said first and second power amplifiers, said control signal being a function of one of said first and second amplified signals and a reference signal, said control module comprising;

a detector, said detector having an input for a portion of an amplified signal derived from one of said amplified first and second signals, and an output which, responsive to said input, provides a detection signal corresponding to said portion;

a comparator having an input which receives said reference signal and having an input which receives said detection signal, said comparator generating an error signal corresponding to a difference between said reference signal and said detector signal; and

a shaping circuit, said circuit weighting said error signal in accordance with a predetermined desired power characteristic to generate said control signal which accounts at least in part, for nonlinear amplification characteristics of said power amplifiers.

12. The transmitter of claim 11, wherein said comparator comprises a differential amplifier.

13. The transmitter of claim 12, further comprising an integrator, said integrator integrating said error signal to output an integrated error signal, and wherein said shaping circuit weights said integrated error signal as said error signal.

14. The transmitter of claim 11, wherein said control module further comprises a switch, said switch being controllable and feeding said control signal to one of said power amplifiers.

15. The transmitter of claim 14, wherein said control module further comprises a first amplifier and a second amplifier, said first amplifier being connected to a first terminal of said switch and driving said first power amplifier, and said second amplifier being connected to a second terminal of said switch and driving said second power amplifier.

16. The transmitter of claim 15, wherein said detector is a logarithmic detector.

17. The transmitter of claim 16, wherein said logarithmic detector comprises a first signal path and a second signal path, said first and second signal paths being joined at an input of the logarithmic detector and at a summing stage associated with an output of the logarithmic detector, said first signal path comprising a serial arrangement of a first number of amplifiers and an equal number of detectors, each detector being interconnected between an output of an amplifier and an input of the summing stage, said second signal path comprising a serial arrangement of an attenuator, a second number of amplifiers and an equal number of detectors, each detector being interconnected between an output of an amplifier and an input of the summing stage, said attenuator being interconnected between the input of the logarithmic detector and a first amplifier of the second signal path.

18. The transmitter of claim 17, wherein said first signal path comprises three amplifiers and said second signal path comprises two amplifiers.

19. A control module for a dual band transmitter in a cellular phone, said dual band transmitter comprising first and second power amplifiers, said module comprising:

a logarithmic detector, said detector having an input which receives a portion of a signal derived from an amplified RF signal, and an output, which in response to said input, provides a detection signal corresponding to said signal portion;

a differential amplifier, said differential amplifier having a reference input which receives a reference signal and having a detection signal input which receives said detection signal, said amplifier generating an error signal corresponding to a difference between said reference signal and said detector signal;

an integrator, said integrator integrating said error signal and generating an integrated error signal; and

a shaping circuit, said circuit weighting said integrated error signal in accordance with a predetermined power level characteristic to generate said control signal which accounts, at least in part, nonlinear amplification characteristics of said power amplifiers.

20. The control module of claim 19, further comprising a switch, said switch being controllable and feeding said control signal to one of said power amplifiers.

21. The control module of claim 20, further comprising a first amplifier and a second amplifier, said first amplifier being connected to a first terminal of said switch and driving said first power amplifier, and said second amplifier being connected to a second terminal of said switch and driving said second power amplifier.

22. The control module of claim 19, wherein said logarithmic detector comprises a first signal path and a second signal path, said first and second signal paths being joined at an input of the logarithmic detector and at a summing stage associated with an output of the logarithmic detector, said first signal path comprising a serial arrangement of a first number of amplifiers and an equal number of detectors, each detector being interconnected between an output of an amplifier and an input of the summing stage, said second signal path comprising a serial arrangement of an attenuator, a second number of amplifiers and an equal number of detectors, each detector being interconnected between an output of an amplifier and an input of the summing stage, said attenuator being interconnected between the input of the logarithmic detector and a first amplifier of the second signal path.

23. A method for controlling an output power level of a dual band cellular phone, comprising the steps of:

providing a dual band transmitter comprising a single control module, and first and second power amplifiers which are coupled to an antenna;

activating one of said first and second power amplifiers;

feeding an RF signal to said activated power amplifier;

amplifying said RF signal with said activated power amplifier;

feeding said amplified RF signal to said antenna;

coupling a portion from said amplified RF signal;

feeding said portion to said single control module;

detecting said portion and generating a detector signal corresponding to said portion;

comparing said detector signal with a reference signal to generate an error signal corresponding to a difference between said reference signal and said detector signal;

weighing said error signal in accordance with a predetermined desired power characteristic to generate a control signal which accounts, at least in part, for nonlinear amplification characteristics of said power amplifiers; and

feeding said control signal to the activated power amplifier to control the activated power amplifier to provide an amplified RF signal which is in accordance with a desired signal characteristic defined by the reference signal.

24. A cellular phone for a mobile communications system, said phone being operable at a first radio frequency band and a second radio frequency band comprising a dual band transmitter and an antenna, said dual band transmitter comprising:

a first power amplifier, said first power amplifier having a first input for a first signal at said first radio frequency band, a second input for a first control signal and a first output for an amplified first signal, said first output being connectable to said antenna;

a second power amplifier, said second power amplifier having a third input for a second signal at said second radio frequency band, a fourth input for a second control signal and a second output for an amplified second signal, said second output being connectable to said antenna; and

a control module, said control module being associated with said first and second outputs to receive a portion of one of said amplified first and second signals, and generating one of said first and second control signals to control one of said first and second power amplifiers, said control signal being a function of one of said first and second amplified signals and a reference signal, said control module comprising;

a logarithmic detector having an input for a portion of an amplified signal derived from one of said amplified first and second signals, and an output for a detection signal indicative of the power level of said amplified signal, wherein said logarithmic detector comprises a first signal path and a second signal path, said first and second signal paths being joined at an input of the logarithmic detector and at a summing stage associated with an output of the logarithmic detector, said first signal path comprising a serial arrangement of a first number of amplifiers and an equal number of detectors, each detector being interconnected between an output of an amplifier and an input of the summing stage, said second signal path comprising a serial arrangement of an attenuator, a second number of amplifiers and an equal number of detectors, each detector being interconnected between an output of an amplifier and an input of the summing stage, said attenuator being interconnected between the input of the logarithmic detector and a first amplifier of the second signal path;

a comparator having an input which receives said reference signal and having an input which receives said detection signal, said comparator generating an error signal corresponding to a difference between said reference signal and said detection signal; and

a shaping circuit, said circuit weighting said error signal in accordance with a predetermined desired power characteristic to generate said control signal which accounts, at least in part, for nonlinear amplification characteristics of said power amplifiers.

25. A transmitter for a cellular phone comprising an antenna and being operable at a first radio frequency band and a second radio frequency band, said transmitter comprising:

a first power amplifier, said first power amplifier having a first input for a first signal at said first radio frequency band, a second input for a first control signal and a first output for an amplified first signal, said first output being connectable to said antenna;

a second power amplifier, said second power amplifier having a third input for a second signal at said second radio frequency band, a fourth input for a second control signal and a second output for an amplified second signal, said second output being connectable to said antenna; and

a control module, said control module being associated with said first and second outputs to receive a portion of one of said amplified first and second signals, and generating one of said first and second control signals to control one of said first and second power amplifiers, said control signal being a function of one of said first and second amplified signals and a reference signal, said control module comprising;

a logarithmic detector, said detector having an input for a portion of an amplified signal derived from one of said amplified first and second signals, and an output which, responsive to said input, provides a detection signal corresponding to said portion, wherein said logarithmic detector comprises a first signal path and a second signal path, said first and second signal paths being joined at an input of the logarithmic detector and at a summing stage associated with an output of the logarithmic detector, said first signal path comprising a serial arrangement of a first number of amplifiers and an equal number of detectors, each detector being interconnected between an output of an amplifier and an input of the summing stage, said second signal path comprising a serial arrangement of an attenuator, a second number of amplifiers and an equal number of detectors, each detector being interconnected between an output of an amplifier and an input of the summing stage, said attenuator being interconnected between the input of the logarithmic detector and a first amplifier of the second signal path;

a comparator having an input which receives said reference signal and having an input which receives said detection signal, said comparator generating an error signal corresponding to a difference between said reference signal and said detector signal; and

a shaping circuit, said circuit weighting said error signal in accordance with a predetermined desired power characteristic to generate said control signal which accounts at least in part, for nonlinear amplification characteristics of said power amplifiers.

26. The transmitter of claim 25, wherein said first signal path comprises three amplifiers and said second signal path comprises two amplifiers.

27. A control module for a dual band transmitter in a cellular phone, said dual band transmitter comprising first and second power amplifiers, said module comprising:

a logarithmic detector, said detector having an input which receives a portion of a signal derived from an amplified RF signal, and an output, which in response to said input, provides a detection signal corresponding to said signal portion, wherein said logarithmic detector comprises a first signal path and a second signal path, said first and second signal paths being joined at an input of the logarithmic detector and at a summing stage associated with an output of the logarithmic detector, said first signal path comprising a serial arrangement of a first number of amplifiers and an equal number of detectors, each detector being interconnected between an output of an amplifier and an input of the summing stage, said second signal path comprising a serial arrangement of an attenuator, a second number of amplifiers and an equal number of detectors, each detector being interconnected between an output of an amplifier and an input of the summing stage, said attenuator being interconnected between the input of the logarithmic detector and a first amplifier of the second signal path;

a differential amplifier, said differential amplifier having a reference input which receives a reference signal and having a detection signal input which receives said detection signal, said amplifier generating an error signal corresponding to a difference between said reference signal and said detector signal;

an integrator, said integrator integrating said error signal and generating an integrated error signal; and

a shaping circuit, said circuit weighting said integrated error signal in accordance with a predetermined power level characteristic to generate said control signal which accounts, at least in part, nonlinear amplification characteristics of said power amplifiers.