Power amplifier circuitry and method using an inductance coupled to power amplifier switching devices
First Claim
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1. A power amplifier comprising:
- a first switching device connected between a first supply voltage and a first output node;
a second switching device connected between a second supply voltage and a second output node;
an inductance coupled between the first and second output nodes; and
a preamplifier connected to the power amplifier, the preamplifier further comprising;
a third switching device connected between said first supply voltage and a third node and coupled to the input to the first switching device;
a fourth switching device connected between said second supply voltage and a fourth node and coupled to the input to the second switching device; and
a second inductor coupled between the third and fourth nodes.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus is provided for use in power amplifiers for reducing the peak voltage that transistors are subjected to. A power amplifier is provided with first and second switching devices and an inductor connected between the switching devices. The switching devices are driven such that the switching devices are turned on and off during the same time intervals.
116 Citations
58 Claims
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1. A power amplifier comprising:
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a first switching device connected between a first supply voltage and a first output node;
a second switching device connected between a second supply voltage and a second output node;
an inductance coupled between the first and second output nodes; and
a preamplifier connected to the power amplifier, the preamplifier further comprising;
a third switching device connected between said first supply voltage and a third node and coupled to the input to the first switching device;
a fourth switching device connected between said second supply voltage and a fourth node and coupled to the input to the second switching device; and
a second inductor coupled between the third and fourth nodes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 45)
a capacitor coupled to the first output node and a third node;
an inductor coupled to the second output node and the third node; and
a load coupled to the third node.
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15. The power amplifier of claim 1, further comprising one or more inductors coupled between the first output node and a third supply voltage.
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16. The power amplifier of claim 1, further comprising one or more inductors coupled between the first output node and a third supply voltage, and one or more inductors coupled between the second output node and a fourth supply voltage.
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45. The power amplifier of claim 1, wherein the first switching device is an n-channel device and the second switching device is a p-channel device.
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17. A method of reducing the peak output voltage of an amplifier comprising the steps of:
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providing a first inductor having first and second terminals;
providing a first switching device connected between the first terminal of the first inductor and a first supply voltage;
providing a second switching device connected between the second terminal of the first inductor and a second supply voltage;
providing a third switching device connected between the gate of the first switching device and a third supply voltage;
providing a fourth switching device connected between the gate of the second switching device and a fourth supply voltage;
providing a second inductor connected between the gates of the first and second switching devices;
applying a voltage between the first and second terminals of the first inductor during a first portion of a clock cycle by turning on the first and second switching devices; and
turning off the first and second switching devices during a second portion of the clock cycle. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 46)
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26. A differential power amplifier comprising:
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a first amplifier having a first switching device connected between a first supply voltage and a first output node, a second switching device connected between a second supply voltage and a second output node, and an inductance coupled between the first and second output nodes;
a second amplifier having a third switching device connected between a third supply voltage and a third output node, a fourth switching device connected between a fourth supply voltage and a fourth output node, and an inductance coupled between the third and fourth output nodes; and
wherein the first and second amplifiers are coupled together to drive a load. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 47, 48)
a first transformation network connected between the first and second output nodes of the first amplifier and the load, and a second transformation network connected between the third and fourth output nodes of the second amplifier and the load.
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30. The differential power amplifier of claim 26, further comprising:
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a first transformation network connected between the second output node of the first amplifier and the load, and a second transformation network connected between the third output node of the second amplifier and the load.
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31. The differential power amplifier of claim 26 further comprising:
an inductor coupled between the first output node and the third output node.
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32. The differential power amplifier of claim 26 further comprising:
an inductor coupled between the second output node and the fourth output node.
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33. The differential power amplifier of claim 29, wherein the first transformation network further comprises:
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a first capacitor coupled to the second output node of the first amplifier and coupled to the load; and
a first inductor coupled to the first output node of the first amplifier and coupled to the load.
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34. The differential power amplifier of claim 29, wherein the second transformation network further comprises:
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a second capacitor coupled to the third output node of the second amplifier and coupled to the load; and
a second inductor coupled to the fourth output node of the second amplifier and coupled to the load.
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35. The differential power amplifier of claim 26, wherein the first amplifier receives first and second inputs.
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36. The differential power amplifier of claim 35, wherein the first and second switching devices of the first amplifier are enabled and disabled simultaneously;
- and wherein the third and fourth switching devices of the second amplifier are enabled and disabled simultaneously.
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37. The differential power amplifier of claim 36, wherein the first and second switching devices of the first amplifier are enabled during the time that the third and fourth switching devices of the second amplifier are disabled, and wherein the third and fourth switching devices of the second amplifier are enabled during the time that the first and second switching devices of the first amplifier are disabled.
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38. The differential power amplifier of claim 26, wherein the first amplifier further comprises:
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a first capacitance coupled between the first output node and the first supply voltage;
a second capacitance coupled between the second output node and the first supply voltage; and
wherein the second amplifier further comprises;
a third capacitance coupled between the third output node and a third supply voltage;
a fourth capacitance coupled between the fourth output node and a fourth supply voltage.
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39. The differential power amplifier of claim 38, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth capacitances are provided by capacitors.
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40. The differential power amplifier of claim 38 wherein the first, second, third, and fourth capacitances are provided by the input capacitance of fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth switching devices, respectively.
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41. The differential power amplifier of claim 40, wherein the fifth switching device is coupled to the third output node, and the sixth switching device is coupled to the fourth output node, and the seventh switching device is coupled to the first output node, and the eighth switching device is coupled to the second output node.
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42. The differential power amplifier of claim 26, further comprising a preamplifier for each of the first and second power amplifiers.
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43. The differential power amplifier of claim 42, wherein each of the preamplifiers further comprise:
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fifth and sixth switching devices connected between the first and second supply voltages; and
a third inductor connected between the fifth and sixth switching devices.
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44. The differential power amplifier of claim 26, wherein the first and second amplifiers are cross-coupled.
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47. The power amplifier of claim 26, wherein the first switching device is an n-channel device and the second switching device is a p-channel device.
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48. The power amplifier of claim 47, wherein the third switching device is an n-channel device and the fourth switching device is a p-channel device.
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49. A method of providing a differential power amplifier comprising:
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providing a first amplifier;
providing a second amplifier; and
connecting the first and second amplifiers differentially to drive a load, wherein the first and second amplifiers are each provided by a first switching device connected between a first supply voltage and a first output node, a second switching device connected between a second supply voltage and a second output node, and an inductance coupled between the first and second output nodes. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
connecting a first transformation network between the first and second output nodes of the first amplifier and the load, and connecting a second transformation network between the first and second output nodes of the second amplifier and the load.
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52. The method of claim 49, further comprising the steps of:
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connecting a first transformation network between the second output node of the first amplifier and the load, and connecting a second transformation network between the first output node of the second amplifier and the load.
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53. The method of claim 49, wherein the first amplifier receives first and second inputs.
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54. The method of claim 53, wherein the first and second switching devices of the first amplifier are enabled and disabled simultaneously;
- and wherein the first and second switching devices of the second amplifier are enabled and disabled simultaneously.
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55. The method of claim 49, further comprising the step of providing a preamplifier for each of the first and second power amplifiers.
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56. The method of claim 55, wherein the step of providing a preamplifier for each of the first and second power amplifiers further comprising the steps of:
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providing third and fourth switching devices connected between the first and second supply voltages; and
a second inductor connected between the third and fourth switching devices.
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57. The method of claim 49, further comprising the step of cross-coupling the first and second amplifiers.
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58. The method of claim 49, wherein the first switching devices are n-channel devices and the second switching devices are a p-channel devices.
Specification