Efficient multimode power amplifier

• US 6,374,092 B1
• Filed: 12/04/1999
• Issued: 04/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Leizerovich, Gustavo D., Cygan, Lawrence F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunter, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Iqbal, Khawar
• Application Number:
  US09/455,813
• Time in Patent Office: 864 Days
• Field of Search: 455/116, 455/126, 455/127, 455/552, 455/553, 330/124.R, 330/295
• US Class Current: 455/127.4
• 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 1/0261 with control of the polarisation voltage or current, e.g. gliding Class A
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/0288 using a main and one or several auxiliary peaking amplifiers whereby the load is connected to the main amplifier using an impedance inverter, e.g. Doherty amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/24 of transmitter output stages
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0483 Transmitters with multiple parallel paths
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/406 with more than one transmission mode, e.g. analog and digital modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/045 with means for improving efficiency

Abstract

An amplifier apparatus for a multimode mobile communication device includes a carrier amplifier (114) and a peaking amplifier (116). The peaking amplifier has an adjustable bias level and is adjusted by a regulator to a predetermined level, depending on which mode of communication is selected. The bias level on the peaking amplifier is held constant so long as the mode of communication is the same. By adjusting the bias point of the peaking amplifier in conjunction with the selection of the mode of communication, the efficiency and the linearity of modulation can be optimized for the particular mode of communication.

Claims

1. An efficient multimode power amplifier for a mobile communication device capable of operating in a plurality of communication modes, comprising:

a carrier amplifier having a carrier input and carrier output;

a peaking amplifier having a threshold control input, a peaking input; and

a peaking output;

splitting means for receiving an input signal and providing a first output coupled to the carrier input and a second output coupled to the peaking input, wherein the first and second output have a phase differential;

phase delay means, having a phase delay and coupled between the peaking output and the carrier output, for correcting a phase difference between the peaking output and the carrier output; and

threshold control means operably coupled to the threshold control input for selectively providing a control voltage to the threshold control input of the peaking amplifier, the control voltage having a voltage level that is selectively adjusted in correspondence with a choice of communication mode of the mobile communication device.

2. An efficient multimode power amplifier, as defined in claim 1, wherein the phase delay is substantially 90 degrees.

3. An efficient multimode power amplifier, as defined in claim 1, wherein the carrier output forms a summing node, the multimode power amplifier further comprises an impedance transforming means coupled between the summing node and a load.

4. A power amplifier apparatus, comprising:

carrier amplifier means for amplifying a carrier input signal, and having a carrier input and a carrier output;

peaking amplifier means for amplifying a peaking input signal when the peaking input signal is above a threshold level, and having a peaking input, a peaking output, and a threshold control input for setting the threshold level;

splitting means for receiving an input signal and providing the carrier input signal and the peaking input signal, wherein the carrier input signal and the peaking input signal have a phase differential;

phase delay means for delaying the output of the peaking amplifier means coupled between the peaking output and the carrier output; and

threshold control means operably coupled to the threshold control input for selectively providing a control voltage to the threshold control input of the peaking amplifier, the control voltage having a voltage level that is selectively adjusted in correspondence with a choice of communication mode of the power amplifier apparatus.

5. A power amplifier apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein the carrier amplifier means is linear amplifier whose class is selected from the group of class A,AB, or B amplifiers.

6. A method of amplifying a modulated signal in a multimode mobile communication device, comprising the steps of:

selecting a communication mode of the mobile communication device;

splitting the modulated signal to provide an in-phase signal, having a magnitude, and a quadrature signal;

amplifying the quadrature signal to provide an amplified quadrature signal;

amplifying the in-phase signal when the in-phase signal magnitude is above a preselected threshold level to provide an amplified in-phase signal;

setting the preselected threshold level in correspondence with the communication mode; and

combining the amplified quadrature and amplified in-phase signals additively in phase.

7. A method of amplifying a modulated signal in a multimode mobile communication device, comprising the steps of:

selecting a communication mode of the mobile communication device;

splitting the modulated signal to provide a quadrature signal, having a magnitude, and an in-phase signal;

amplifying the in-phase signal to provide an amplified in-phase signal;

amplifying the quadrature signal when the quadrature signal magnitude is above a preselected threshold level to provide an amplified quadrature signal;

setting the preselected threshold level in correspondence with the communication mode; and

combining the amplified quadrature and amplified in phase signals additively in phase.

8. An efficient multimode power amplifier apparatus for a mobile communication device capable of operating in a plurality of communication modes, comprising:

a carrier amplifier having a fixed bias level and a carrier output;

a peaking amplifier having an adjustable bias level and a peaking output, wherein the bias level of the peaking amplifier is adjusted in correspondence with a choice of communication mode; and

combining means for combining additively in phase the carrier output and peaking output.