Amplifier for radio transmission

• US 6,265,935 B1
• Filed: 10/18/1999
• Issued: 07/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NNT Mobile Communications Network, Inc.
• Original Assignee: NTT Mobile Communications Network Inc. (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Inventors: Takami, Tadao, Hagiwara, Seiji, Kaneda, Ryuusuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Pascal, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): Choe, Henry
• Application Number:
  US09/403,273
• Time in Patent Office: 645 Days
• Field of Search: 330/51, 330/133, 330/134, 330/150, 330/151, 330/296, 330/297
• US Class Current: 330/51
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/02 Modifications of amplifiers to raise the efficiency, e.g. gliding Class A stages, use of an auxiliary oscillation
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/0277 Selecting one or more amplifiers from a plurality of amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/516 Some amplifier stages of an amplifier use supply voltages of different value
• 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 1/0088 using discontinuously variable devices, e.g. switch-operated
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/3036 in high-frequency amplifiers or in frequency-changers H03G3/3052, H03G3/32, H03G3/34 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/045 with means for improving efficiency

Abstract

In a radio transmission amplifier unit which has between input and output terminals a gain-controlled amplifier 11, a pre-amplifier 12 connected to the output thereof and a main amplifier 13 supplied with the output therefrom, the range of the transmitting power level is divided into small, medium and large regions. In the small transmitting power level region, the power supply to the pre- and main amplifiers is cut off by power-supply switches 28 and 29 and the output of the gain-controlled amplifier 11 is connected to a terminal 14 via switches 15, 18 and 19; in the medium transmitting power level region, the power-supply switch 28 is turned ON and the switch 29 OFF to connect the switch 15 to the pre-amplifier and the output of the pre-amplifier is connected to the terminal 14 via switches 21 and 19; and in the large transmitting power level region, the power-supply switches 28 and 29 are turned ON to connect the switch 15 to the pre-amplifier, a switch 16 is connected to the main amplifier, and the output of the main amplifier is connected to the terminal 14 via the switch 19.

Claims

1. A radio transmission amplifier unit which amplifies a signal fed to an input terminal and provides the amplified signal to an output terminal, comprising:

a plurality of amplifiers provided between said input terminal and said output terminal and each having a power supply terminal;

power supply means for supplying power to said plurality of amplifiers;

power-supply switching means for selectively connecting said power supply means to the power supply terminals of said plurality of amplifiers to supply thereto power;

route switching means for switching the cascade connection of said plurality of amplifiers to connect the output of a selected one of said amplifiers to said output terminal; and

control signal generating means for generating switch control signals which specify the connection by said power-supply switching means and the state of connection by said route switching means in accordance with a transmitting power controlling degree corresponding to the transmitting power level and for applying said switch control signals to said power-supply switching means and said route switching means, respectively.

2. The unit of claim 1, wherein said control signal generating means comprises:

transmitting power controlling degree generating means for outputting a transmitting power controlling degree corresponding to a required transmitting power level; and

a control signal generator for generating said switch control signals in accordance with said transmitting power controlling degree.

3. The unit of claim 1 or 2, wherein:

the transmitting power level is divided into a predetermined number of regions; and

said control signal generating means generates switch control signal for specifying the connection of said power-supply switching means and the connection of said route switching means for each of said regions.

4. The unit of claim 2, wherein:

at least one of said plurality of amplifiers is a gain-controlled amplifier; and

said control signal generator generates a gain control signal for controlling the gain of said gain-controlled amplifier in accordance with said transmitting power controlling degree.

5. The unit of claim 2, wherein:

said control signal generator includes memory means in which there are prestored, in an address area corresponding to said transmitting power controlling degree, said switch control signals which specify the connection of said power-supply switching means and said route switching means in accordance with said transmitting power controlling degree; and

said transmitting power controlling degree provided to said memory means is used as an address to read out therefrom said switch control signals and said gain control signal in the corresponding address area, said switch control signals and said gain control signal being applied to the respectively corresponding parts.

6. The unit of claim 5, wherein:

at least one of said plurality of amplifiers is a gain-controlled amplifier;

said control signal generator generates a gain control signal for controlling the gain of said gain-controlled amplifier; and

said memory means has stored, in its address area corresponding to said transmitting power controlling degree, said gain control signal corresponding thereto.

7. The unit of claim 4 or 6, wherein:

said plurality of amplifiers includes first and second amplifiers cascade-connected to the output side of said gain-controlled amplifier;

said transmitting power level is divided in predetermined small, medium and large regions; and

said control signal generating means is means which;

in said small transmitting power level region, disconnects said power supply means by said power-supply switching means from said power-supply terminals of said first and second amplifiers, and selects and connects the output of said gain-controlled amplifier by said route switching means to said output terminal, thereby changing the gain of said gain-controlled amplifier in accordance with said transmitting power controlling degree;

in said medium transmitting power level region, connects said power supply means by said power-supply switching means to the power-supply terminal of said first amplifier and disconnects said power supply means from the power-supply terminal of said second amplifier, connects said gain-controlled amplifier and said first amplifier in cascade by said route switching means and, at the same time, selects and connects the output of said first amplifier to said output terminal, thereby changing the gain of said gain-controlled amplifier in accordance with said transmitting power controlling degree; and

in said large transmitting power level region, connects said power supply means by said power-supply switching means to said power-supply terminals of said first and second amplifiers, and selects and connects the output of said second amplifier by said route switching means to said output terminal, thereby changing the gain of said gain-controlled amplifier in accordance with said transmitting power controlling degree.

8. The unit of claim 2, wherein:

said power supply means outputs at least first and second different bias voltages;

bias select switching means is provided for selectively providing said first and second bias voltages to the input side of at least one of said plurality of amplifiers to set said at least one amplifier at a different operating point; and

said control signal generator generates a bias control signal for selecting either one of said first and second bias voltages and provides said bias control signal to said bias select switching means.

9. The unit of claim 2, wherein said control signal generator generates a bias control signal that specifies a variable bias voltage in accordance with said transmitting power controlling degree, and said unit includes:

voltage converting means for converting a voltage provided thereto from said power supply means to a specified bias voltage in response to said bias control signal; and

bias select switching means for selectively providing said bias voltage to the input side of at least one of said plurality of amplifiers to set its operating point corresponding to said bias voltage.

10. The unit of claim 2, wherein:

said plurality of amplifiers include first and second amplifiers;

said power supply means outputs first and second different bias voltages;

said unit includes voltage converting means supplied with said first and second bias voltages from said power supply means, for outputting a converted voltage of a value between said first and second bias voltages in accordance with said transmitting power controlling degree, and bias select switching means for selectively providing said first and second bias voltages and the converted output voltage of said voltage converting means as a bias voltage to the input side of each of said first and second amplifiers; and

said control signal generating means outputs a bias switch control signal for controlling the selection of said bias select switching means in correspondence to said transmitting power controlling degree, and a bias voltage control signal for specifying the conversion voltage of said voltage converting means in accordance with the said transmitting power controlling degree.

11. The unit of claim 10, wherein:

said plurality of amplifiers include a gain-controlled amplifier connected in cascade to said first and second amplifiers;

said transmitting power level is divided into predetermined at least small, medium and large regions;

said first and second bias voltages set different operating points for said first and second amplifiers; and

said control signal generating means is means which;

in said small transmitting power level region, disconnects said power supply means by said power-supply switching means from said power-supply terminals of said first and second amplifiers, selects and connects the output of said gain-controlled amplifier by said route switching means to said output terminal, and cuts off, by said bias select switching means, the bias voltages from said power supply means to said first and second amplifiers, thereby changing the gain of said gain-controlled amplifier in accordance with said transmitting power controlling degree;

in said medium transmitting power level region, connects said power supply means by said power-supply switching means to the power-supply terminal of said first amplifier and disconnects said power supply means from the power-supply terminal of said second amplifier, connects said gain-controlled amplifier and said first amplifier in cascade by said route switching means and, at the same time, selects and connects the output of said first amplifier to said output terminal, provides the output from said voltage converting means as a bias voltage to the input side of said first amplifier and said second bias voltage to the input side of said second amplifier, thereby changing the gain of said gain-controlled amplifier in accordance with said transmitting power controlling degree and, at the same time, changing the converted output voltage of said voltage converting means correspondingly; and

in said large transmitting power level region, connects said power supply means by said power-supply switching means to said power-supply terminals of said first and second amplifiers, connects said gain-controlled amplifier and said first and second amplifiers in cascade by said route switching means and selects and connects the output of said second amplifier to said output terminal, provides said first bias voltage to the input side of said first amplifier and the converted output voltage of said voltage converting means as a bias voltage to the input side of said second amplifier, thereby changing the gain of said gain-controlled amplifier in accordance with said transmitting power controlling degree and, at the same time, changing the converted output voltage of said voltage converting means correspondingly.

17. The unit of claim 4, 11, or 14, wherein said gain-controlled amplifier is provided as a first stage of said unit and which comprises:

a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of a last-stage one of said plurality of amplifiers;

an address generator supplied with a detected temperature signal from said temperature sensor and a modulated version of a signal to be amplified by said main amplifier, for generating an address;

a distortion compensating signal generator formed by a memory which is read out by said address, for generating a distortion compensating signal; and

a distortion compensating circuit connected to the preceding stage of said gain-controlled amplifier, for combining said modulated signal with said distortion compensating signal.

18. The unit of claim 17, wherein the switch control signal and the gain control signal from said control signal generating means are also input as an address into said distortion compensating signal generator.

12. A radio transmission amplifier unit which amplifies a signal fed to an input terminal and provides the amplified signal to an output terminal, comprising:

a plurality of amplifiers provided between said input terminal and said output terminal and each having a power supply terminal;

power supply means for outputting at least first and second different bias voltages;

bias select switching means for selectively providing either one of said first and second bias voltages to the input sides of said plurality of amplifiers to selectively set their operating points; and

control signal generating means for generating a bias selection control signal which controls the selection of said bias selection switching means;

wherein;

said control signal generating means generates a bias control means for specifying a variable bias voltage in accordance with said transmitting power level; and

amplifier unit further comprises voltage converting means for converting a voltage from said power supply means to a variable bias voltage specified by said bias control signal; and

said bias select switching means responds to said bias control signal to selectively apply any one of said first and second bias voltages and said variable bias voltage to the input sides of said plurality of amplifiers to set them at the corresponding operating points.

13. A radio transmission amplifier unit which amplifies a signal fed to an input terminal and provides the amplified signal to an output terminal, comprising:

a plurality of amplifiers provided between said input terminal and said output terminal and each having a power supply terminal;

power supply means for outputting at least first and second different bias voltages;

bias select switching means for selectively providing either one of said first and second bias voltages to the input sides of said plurality of amplifiers to selectively set their operating points; and

control signal generating means for generating a bias selection control means which controls the selection of said bias select switching means;

wherein said control signal generator comprises transmission power controlling degree generating means for outputting a transmitting power controlling degree corresponding to a requested transmitting power level, and a control signal generator for generating the switch control signal corresponding to said transmitting power controlling degree.

14. The unit of claim 13, wherein:

at least one of said plurality of amplifiers is a gain-controlled amplifier; and

said control signal generator generates a gain control signal for controlling the gain of said gain-controlled amplifier in accordance with said transmitting power controlling degree.

15. The unit of claim 14, wherein:

said control signal generator includes memory means in which there are prestored, in an address area corresponding to said transmitting power controlling degree, said switch control signal for specifying the connection of said bias select switching means in accordance with said transmitting power controlling degree, said gain control signal for controlling the gain of said gain-controlled amplifier in accordance with said transmitting power controlling degree, and said bias control signal for specifying the converted output voltage of said voltage converting means; and

said transmitting power controlling degree provided to said memory means is used as an address to read out therefrom said switch control signals and said gain control signal in the corresponding address area, said switch control signal and said gain control signal being applied to the respectively corresponding parts.

16. The unit of claim 15, wherein:

said plurality of amplifiers includes first and second amplifiers;

a predetermined range of said transmitting power level is divided into predetermined small, medium and large regions;

said two bias voltages are a first bias voltage for setting a first operating point of the amplifier, and a second bias voltage for setting a second operating point at which an output of a higher level than at said operating point can be provided;

in said small transmitting power level region, said first bias voltage is applied to the input sides of said first and second amplifiers, thereby changing the gain of said gain-controlled amplifier in accordance with said transmitting power controlling degree;

in said medium transmitting power level region, the output from said voltage converting means is provided as a bias voltage to the input side of said first amplifier, said second bias voltage is applied to the input side of said second amplifier, thereby changing the gain of said gain-controlled amplifier in accordance with said transmitting power controlling degree and, at the same time, changing the converted output voltage of said voltage converting means correspondingly; and

in said large transmitting power level region, said first bias voltage is provided to the input side of said first amplifier and the converted output voltage of said voltage converting means is provided as a bias voltage to the input side of said second amplifier, thereby changing the gain of said gain-controlled amplifier in accordance with said transmitting power controlling degree and, at the same time, changing the converted output voltage of said voltage converting means correspondingly.