Power amplifier using upstream signal information

• US 6,359,504 B1
• Filed: 01/28/2000
• Issued: 03/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent USA, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Cozzarelli, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benny
• Assistant Examiner(s): Choe, Henry
• Application Number:
  US09/494,082
• Time in Patent Office: 781 Days
• Field of Search: 330/51, 330/124.R, 330/129, 330/136
• 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 1/3229 using a loop for error extraction and another loop for error subtraction
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2203/7215 the gated amplifier being switched on or off by a switch at the input of the amplifier
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2203/7227 the gated amplifier being switched on or off by a switch in the supply circuit of the amplifier
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2203/7236 the gated amplifier being switched on or off by putting into parallel or not, by choosing between amplifiers by (a ) switch(es)
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/602 Combinations of several amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/72 Gated amplifiers, i.e. amplifiers which are rendered operative or inoperative by means of a control signal

Abstract

A power amplifier system uses upstream signal information of a signal to be amplified by an amplifier to control the operation of the amplifier, thereby enabling the amplifier to operate more efficiently overall. The power amplifier system can reconfigure the amplifier based on upstream signal information, such as the measured peak power, the measured average power, the number of users, the type of carriers (CDMA, TDMA, FDMA), the number of carriers and/or the average power per carrier. For example, based on upstream signal information for the signal to be amplified, processing circuitry can reconfigure the power amplifier architecture to adjust the peak power handling capability of the amplifier. By reducing the peak power handling capability of the amplifier, the long-term efficiency of the amplifier can be improved. The power amplifier system can adjust at least one operating characteristic of the amplifier while maintaining the configuration of the amplifier, for example by adjusting the bias voltage(s) to the amplifier based on upstream signal configuration information.

Claims

1. A power amplification circuit, said circuit comprising:

a first amplifier having a plurality of amplifier stages; and

a first plurality of switches wherein each of said switches is configured to direct signals inputted to said switch to one of a first plurality of impedances or to an input of one of said plurality of amplifier stages of said first amplifier.

2. The circuit of claim 1, further comprising:

a second amplifier electrically coupled to said first amplifier and having a plurality of amplifier stages; and

a second plurality of switches wherein each of said switches is configured to direct signals inputted to said switch to one of a second plurality of impedances or to an input of one of said plurality of amplifier stages of said second amplifier.

3. The circuit of claim 2, further comprising a sensing circuitry electrically coupled to said first amplifier and said second amplifier and configured to provide upstream signal information comprising at least one of the number of carriers comprising the signal to be amplified by said amplifier, the type of carriers comprising the signal to be amplified by said amplifier, the number of users for which the signal to be amplified by said amplifier is amplified, the average power of the signal to be amplified by said amplifier, and the peak power of the signal to be amplified by said amplifier.

4. The circuit of claim 3, further comprising a processing circuitry configured to be responsive to said upstream signal information to provide control signals to said first plurality of switches and said second plurality of switches.

5. The circuit of claim 4 wherein said processing circuitry is further configured to be responsive to said upstream signal information to provide control signals to said plurality of amplifier stages of said first amplifier and said second amplifier to adjust one or more operating characteristics of said amplifier stages.

6. A power amplification system, said system comprising:

an amplifier having a plurality of amplifier stages wherein said amplifier is responsive to control signals to turn off one or more of said amplifier stages and to divert the signal to be amplified from said amplifier stages that are turned off to a termination or load, and said amplifier is responsive to control signals to turn on one or more of said amplifier stages and to divert the signal to be amplified from a termination or load to said amplifier stages that are turned on.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said amplifier is additionally responsive to control signals to adjust one or more operating characteristics of said amplifier stages.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said operating characteristics comprise at least one of the bias and source voltages of said amplifier stages.

9. A method of amplifying a signal, comprising:

providing an amplifier having a plurality of amplifier stages operating in a present circuit configuration;

obtaining upstream signal information of said signal to be amplified by said amplifier;

turning off one or more of said amplifier stages responsive to said upstream signal information indicating that said present circuit configuration of said amplifier provides more power handling capability than needed for the signal to be amplified;

diverting the signal to be amplified from said amplifier stages which have been turned off to a termination or load;

turning on one or more of said amplifier stages responsive to said upstream signal information indicating that said present circuit configuration of said amplifier provides less power handling capability than needed for the signal to be amplified; and

diverting the signal to be amplified from a termination or load to said amplifier stages which have been turned on.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said step of obtaining comprises obtaining at least one of the number of carriers comprising the signal to be amplified by said amplifier, the type of carriers comprising the signal to be amplified by said amplifier, and the number of users for which the signal to be amplified by said amplifier is amplified.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein said step of obtaining comprises measuring at least one of the average power and peak power of the signal to be amplified by said amplifier.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of adjusting one or more operating characteristics of said amplifier stages responsive to said upstream signal information.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said operating characteristics comprise at least one of the bias and source voltages of said amplifier stages.

14. A power amplification system, said system comprising:

an amplifier having a plurality of amplifier stages operating in a present circuit configuration; and

a processing circuitry configured to provide one or more control signals to cause said amplifier to turn off one or more of said amplifier stages and to divert the signal to be amplified from said amplifier stages which have been turned off to a termination or load responsive to said upstream signal information indicating that said present circuit configuration of said amplifier provides more power handling capability than needed for the signal to be amplified,

said processing circuitry being further configured to provide one or more control signals to cause said amplifier to turn on one or more of said amplifier stages and to divert the signal to be amplified from a termination or load to said amplifier stages which have been turned on responsive to said upstream signal information indicating that said present circuit configuration of said amplifier provides less power handling capability than needed for the signal to be amplified.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein said upstream signal information comprises at least one of the number of carriers comprising the signal to be amplified by said amplifier, the type of carriers comprising the signal to be amplified by said amplifier, and the number of users for which the signal to be amplified by said amplifier is amplified.

16.The system of claim 14 wherein said upstream signal information comprises at least one of the average power and peak power of the signal to be amplified by said amplifier.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein said processing circuitry is further configured to provide control signals to said amplifier to adjust one or more operating characteristics of said amplifier stages responsive to said upstream signal information.

17. The system of claim 17 wherein said operating characteristics comprise at least one of the bias and source voltages of said amplifier stages.