Amplifier arrangement with voltage gain and reduced power consumption

• US 6,323,729 B1
• Filed: 11/24/1999
• Issued: 11/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: WSOU Investments, LLC (WSOU Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Sevenhans, Joannes Mathilda Josephus, Servaes, Jan
• Primary Examiner(s): Shingleton, Michael B
• Application Number:
  US09/448,763
• Time in Patent Office: 734 Days
• Field of Search: 330/51, 330/133, 330/134, 330/297, 330/310
• US Class Current: 330/51
• 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 3/211 using a combination of several amplifiers H03F3/60 takes precedence

Abstract

An amplifier arrangement includes a first amplifier powered by a pair of lower voltage power supplies, a second amplifier powered by a pair of higher voltage power supplies and a drive control device. This amplifier arrangement has both current and voltage gain larger than one. The drive control device includes a regulating device adapted to switch off the first amplifier based on the output signal of the amplifier arrangement, and at least one current link and at least one voltage controlled current source. The transition between the operation of the first and second amplifiers is thereby controlled by the values of the currents of these at least one current links and the at least one voltage controlled current sources.

Claims

1. Amplifier arrangement (AA) having a current gain larger than one and having a voltage gain larger than one comprising:

a first input terminal (IN1) coupled to a first input terminal (DCDIN1) of a drive control device (DCD) included in said amplifier arrangement (AA),

said drive control device (DCD) including a first output terminal (DCDOUT1) coupled to a first input terminal (IN1AB) of a first amplifier (AB) included in said amplifier arrangement (AA), said drive control device (DCD) further including a second output terminal (DCDOUT2) coupled to a second input terminal (IN2AB) of said first amplifier (AB), a third output terminal (DCDOUT3) coupled to a first input terminal (IN1C) of a second amplifier (C) included in said amplifier arrangement (AA), and a fourth output terminal (DCDOUT4) coupled to a second input terminal (IN2C) of said second amplifier (C), a first output terminal (OUT1) of said first amplifier (AB) being coupled to an output terminal (OUTC) of said second amplifier (C) and to an output terminal (OUT) of said amplifier arrangement (AA);

a first supply voltage terminal (V1+) coupled to a first supply voltage terminal (ABV1+) of said first amplifier (AB) and adapted to be coupled to a first power supply which delivers a first supply voltage;

a second supply voltage terminal (V1−

) coupled to a second supply voltage terminal (ABV1−

) of said first amplifier (AB) and adapted to be coupled to a second power supply which delivers a second supply voltage which is more negative with respect to said first supply voltage;

a third supply voltage terminal (V2+) coupled to a first supply voltage terminal (CV2+) of said second amplifier (C) and adapted to be coupled to a third power supply which delivers a third supply voltage;

a fourth supply voltage terminal (V2−

) coupled to a second supply voltage terminal (CV2−

) of said second amplifier (C) and adapted to be coupled to a fourth power supply which delivers a fourth supply voltage which is more negative with respect to said third supply voltage;

whereby the difference between said third supply voltage and said fourth supply voltage exceeds the difference between said first supply voltage and said second supply voltage,

whereby said second supply voltage is more positive with respect to than said fourth supply voltage or said first supply voltage is lower than said third supply voltage,

said drive control device (DCD) being adapted to control the operation of said first amplifier (AB) and of said second amplifier (C) based on the level of an input signal applied to said input terminal (IN1) and said drive control device (DCD) further includes a first current link (CL+), an input terminal of which is coupled to said first input terminal (DCDIN1) of said drive control device (DCD), an output terminal of which is coupled to said third output terminal (DCDOUT3) of said drive control device (DCD), said first current link (CL+) being adapted to generate at its output terminal a first current output signal which is dependent on the signal appearing at its input terminal, and which is further proportional to the current delivered at said first output terminal (OUT) of said first amplifier (AB) in case said first amplifier is active.

3. Amplifier arrangement (AA) according to claim 1 characterised in that

said first input terminal (DCDIN1) of said drive control device (DCD) is coupled to said first output terminal (DCDOUT1) of said drive control device (DCD),

said drive control device (DCD) further includes a third input terminal (DCDIN3) coupled to said output terminal (OUT) of said amplifier arrangement (AA), said drive control device further includes a regulating device (D), an input terminal of which is coupled to said third input terminal (DCDIN3) of said drive control device (DCD), an output terminal of which is coupled to a fifth output terminal (DCDOUT5) of said drive control device (DCD), which is further coupled to said first output terminal (OUT1) of said first amplifier (AB), said regulating device (D) thereby being adapted to cut off said first amplifier (AB), based on the value of the output signal at said output terminal (OUT) of said amplifier arrangement (AA).

4. Amplifier arrangement (AA) according to claim 3,

characterised in that

said drive control device (DCD) further includes a first voltage controlled current source (IREF1) which is coupled between said third voltage supply terminal (V2+) of said amplifier arrangement (AA) and a first junction point (J1) which is coupled between said output terminal of said first current link (CL+) and said third output terminal (DCDOUT3) of said drive control device (DCD), the current delivered by said first voltage controlled current source (IREF1) being dependent on the voltage at said first junction point (J1).

5. Amplifier arrangement (AA) according to claim 4

characterised in that

the onset of said second amplifier (C) is determined by the current delivered by said first voltage controlled current source (IREF1) and by said first current output signal generated by said first current link (CL+).

6. Amplifier arrangement (AA) according to claim 5

characterised in that

said first current link is further coupled to said second supply voltage terminal (V1−

) of said amplifier arrangement (AA).

7. Amplifier arrangement (AA) according to claim 1 characterised in that

said amplifier arrangement (AA) further includes a second input terminal (IN2), said input signal thereby being a differential input signal applied between said first input terminal (IN1) and said second input terminal (IN2) of said amplifier arrangement (AA),

said drive control device (DCD) thereby includes a second input terminal (DCDIN2) which is coupled to said second input terminal (IN2) of said amplifier arrangement (AA),

said second input terminal (DCDIN2) of said drive control device (DCD) is thereby coupled to said second output terminal (DCDOUT2) of said drive control device (DCD).

8. Amplifier arrangement according to claim 3 characterised in that

said amplifier arrangement (AA) further includes a second input terminal (IN2), said input signal thereby being a differential input signal applied between said first input terminal (IN1) and said second input terminal (IN2) of said amplifier arrangement (AA),

said drive control device (DCD) thereby includes a second input terminal (DCDIN2) which is coupled to said second input terminal (IN2) of said amplifier arrangement (AA),

said second input terminal (DCDIN2) of said drive control device (DCD) is thereby coupled to said second output terminal (DCDOUT2) of said drive control device (DCD),

said first amplifier (AB) further includes a second output terminal (OUT2),

said drive control device (DCD) further includes a sixth output terminal (DCDOUT6) which is coupled to said second output terminal (OUT2) of said first amplifier (AB), and

said regulating device (D) further includes a second output terminal coupled to said sixth output terminal (DCDOUT6) of said drive control device (DCD).

9. Amplifier arrangement (AA) according to claim 8 characterised in that

said drive control device (DCD) further includes a first current link (CL+), an input terminal of which is coupled to said first input terminal (DCDIN1) of said drive control device (DCD), an output terminal of which is coupled to said third output terminal (DCDOUT3) of said drive control device (DCD), said first current link (CL+) being adapted to generate at its output terminal at first current output signal which is dependent on the signal appearing at its input terminal, and which is further proportional to the current delivered at said first output terminal (OUT1) of said first amplifier (AB) in case said first amplifier is active, and

said drive control device (DCD) includes a second current link (CL−

), an input terminal of which is coupled to said second input terminal (DCDIN2) of said drive control device (DCD), an output terminal of which is coupled to said fourth output terminal (DCDOUT4) of said drive control device (DCD), said second current link (CL−

) being adapted to generate at its output terminal a second current output signal which is dependent on the signal appearing at its input terminal, and which is further proportional to the current delivered at said second output terminal (OUT1) of said first amplifier (AB) in case said first amplifier is active.

10. Amplifier arrangement (AA) according to claim 9 characterised in that

said drive control device (DCD) further includes a first voltage controlled current source (IREF1) which is coupled between said third voltage supply terminal (V2+) of said amplifier arrangement (AA) and a first junction point (J1) which is coupled between said output terminal of said first current link (CL+) and said third output terminal (DCDOUT3) of said drive control device (DCD), the current delivered by said first voltage controlled current source (IREF1) being dependent on the voltage at said first junction point (J1), and

said drive control device (DCD) further includes a second voltage controlled current source (IREF2) which is coupled between said fourth voltage supply terminal (V2−

) of said amplifier arrangement (AA) and a second junction point (J2) which is coupled between said output terminal of said second current link (CL), and said fourth output terminal (DCDOUT4) of said drive control device (DCD), the current delivered by said second voltage controlled current source (IREF2) being dependent on the voltage at said second junction point (J2).

11. Amplifier arrangement (AA) according to claim 10

characterised in that

the onset of said second amplifier (C) is further determined by said current delivered by said second voltage controlled current source (IREF2) and by said second current output signal generated by said second current link (CL−

).

12. Amplifier arrangement (AA) according to claim 11

characterised in that

said second current link (CL−

) is further coupled to said first voltage supply terminal (V1+) of said amplifier arrangement.

2. An amplifier arrangement (AA0) having a current gain larger than one and having a voltage gain larger than one, comprising:

a first input terminal coupled to a first input terminal of a drive control device included in said amplifier arrangement (AA0), said drive control device including a first output terminal coupled to a first input terminal of a first amplifier included in said amplifier arrangement, said drive control device further including a second output terminal coupled to a second input terminal of said first amplifier, a third output terminal coupled to a first input terminal of a second amplifier included in said amplifier arrangement (AA0), and a fourth output terminal coupled to a second input terminal of said second amplifier, said first amplifier further including a first output terminal, said second amplifier further comprising a first output terminal (OUTC0) which is coupled to a first output terminal (AAOUT01) of said amplifier arrangement (AA0), said amplifier arrangement (AA0) further includes a second output terminal (AAOUT02) which is coupled to said first output terminal of said first amplifier;

a first supply voltage terminal (V10+) coupled to a first supply voltage terminal of said first amplifier and adapted to be coupled to a first power supply which delivers a first supply voltage;

a second supply voltage terminal (V10−

) coupled to a second supply voltage terminal of said first amplifier and adapted to be coupled to a second power supply which delivers a second supply voltage which is more negative with respect to said first supply voltage;

a third supply voltage terminal (V20+) coupled to a first supply voltage terminal of said second amplifier and adapted to be coupled to a third power supply which delivers a third supply voltage;

a fourth supply voltage terminal (V20−

) coupled to a second supply voltage terminal of said second amplifier and adapted to be coupled to a fourth power supply which delivers a fourth supply voltage which is more negative with respect to said third supply voltage,

whereby the difference between said third supply voltage and said fourth supply voltage exceeds the difference between said first supply voltage and said second supply voltage,

whereby said second supply voltage is more positive with respect to than said fourth supply voltage or said first supply voltage is lower than said third supply voltage,

said drive control device being adapted to control the operation of said first amplifier and of said second amplifier based on the level of an input signal applied to said input terminal, and

said drive control device further includes a first current link, an input terminal of which is coupled to said first input terminal of said drive control device, an output terminal of which is coupled to said third output terminal of said drive control device, said first current link being adapted to generate at its output terminal a first current output signal which is dependent on the signal appearing at its input terminal, and which is further proportional to the current delivered at said first output terminal (OUT1) of said first amplifier in case said first amplifier is active.

13. Amplifier arrangement (AA) according to claim 2 characterised in that

said first input terminal of said drive control device is coupled to said first output terminal of said drive control device,

said drive control device further includes a third input terminal coupled to said second output terminal of said amplifier arrangement,

said drive control device further includes a regulating device, an input terminal of which is coupled to said third input terminal of said drive control device, an output terminal of which is coupled to a fifth output terminal of said drive control device, and which is further coupled to said first output terminal of said first amplifier, said regulating device thereby being adapted to cut off said first amplifier, based on the value of the output signal at said second output terminal (AAOUT02) of said amplifier arrangement (AA0).

14. Amplifier arrangement (AA0) according to claim 13, characterised in that

said drive control device further includes a first voltage controlled current source (IREF) which is coupled between said third voltage supply terminal (V20+) of said amplifier arrangement (AA0) and a first junction point (J10) which is coupled between said output terminal of said first current link and said third output terminal of said drive control device (DCD), the current delivered by said first voltage controlled current source being dependent on the voltage at said first junction point (J10).

15. Amplifier arrangement (AA0) according to claim 14 characterised in that the onset of said second amplifier is determined by the current delivered by said first voltage controlled current source and by said first current output signal generated by said first current link.

16. Amplifier arrangement (AA0) according to claim 15 characterised in that said first current link is further coupled to said second supply voltage terminal (V10−

) of said amplifier arrangement.

17. Amplifier arrangement (AA0) according to claim 16 characterised in that:

said amplifier arrangement further includes a second input terminal, said input signal thereby being a differential input signal applied between said first input terminal and said second input terminal of said amplifier arrangement,

said drive control device thereby includes a second input terminal which is coupled to said second input terminal of said amplifier arrangement,

said second input terminal of said drive control device is thereby coupled to said second output terminal of said drive control device.

18. Amplifier arrangement (AA0) according to claim 17 characterised in that said amplifier arrangement further includes a second input terminal, said input signal thereby being a differential input signal applied between said first input terminal and said second input terminal of said amplifier arrangement,

said drive control device thereby includes a second input terminal which is coupled to said second input terminal of said amplifier arrangement;

said second input terminal of said drive control device is thereby coupled to said second output terminal of said drive control device,

said first amplifier further includes a second output terminal,

said drive control device further includes a sixth output terminal which is coupled to said second output terminal of said first amplifier, and

said regulating device further includes a second output terminal coupled to said sixth output terminal of said drive control device.

19. Amplifier arrangement (AA0) according to claim 18 characterised in that

said drive control device further includes a first current link, an input terminal of which is coupled to said first input terminal of said drive control device, an output terminal of which is coupled to said third output terminal of said drive control device, said first current link being adapted to generate at its output terminal at first current output signal which is dependent on the signal appearing at its input terminal, and which is further proportional to the current delivered at said first output terminal of said first amplifier in case said first amplifier is active, and

said drive control device includes a second current link, an input terminal of which is coupled to said second input terminal of said drive control device, an output terminal of which is coupled to said fourth output terminal of said drive control device, said second current link being adapted to generate at its output terminal a second current output signal which is dependent on the signal appearing at its input terminal, and which is further proportional to the current delivered at said second output terminal of said first amplifier in case said first amplifier is active.

20. Amplifier arrangement (AA0) according to claim 19 characterised in that

said drive control device further includes a first voltage controlled current source which is coupled between said third voltage supply terminal (V20+) of said amplifier arrangement and a first junction point (J10) which is coupled between said output terminal of said first current link and said third output terminal of said drive control device, the current delivered by said first voltage controlled current source being dependent on the voltage at said first junction point, and

said drive control device further includes a second voltage controlled current source which is coupled between said fourth voltage supply terminal (V20−

) of said amplifier arrangement and a second junction point (J20) which is coupled between said output terminal of said second current link, and said fourth output terminal of said drive control device (DCD), the current delivered by said second voltage controlled current source being dependent on the voltage at said second junction point.

21. Amplifier arrangement (AA0) according to claim 20 characterised in that the onset of said second amplifier is further determined by said current delivered by said second voltage controlled current source and by said second current output signal generated by said second current link.

22. Amplifier arrangement (AA0) according to claim 21 characterised in that said second current link is further coupled to said first voltage supply terminal (V10+) of said amplifier arrangement.