Power source circuit for high frequency power amplifying circuit and semiconductor integrated circuit for power source and electronics component for power source

• US 7,183,856 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2004
• Issued: 02/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Renesas Technology Corporation (Renesas Electronics Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Renesas Technology Corporation (Renesas Electronics Corporation)
• Inventors: Nunogawa, Yasuhiro, Tomono, Shuji, Moriyama, Fumito, Miki, Osamu
• Primary Examiner(s): Pascal; Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HIEU P
• Application Number:
  US10/994,438
• Publication Number:
  US 20050122171A1
• Time in Patent Office: 826 Days
• Field of Search: 330/285, 330296-297, 330/127, 330/129, 330/199
• US Class Current: 330/297
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 1/0088 using discontinuously variable devices, e.g. switch-operated
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 2201/103 being an amplifying element
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 2201/206 being in radio frequency
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 2201/40 Combined gain and bias control
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/004 Control by varying the supply voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/3042 in modulators, frequency-changers, transmitters or power amplifiers transmission power control in bidirectional transmission systems H04W52/04
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/3047 for intermittent signals, e.g. burst signals

Abstract

A power source circuit for a high frequency power amplifying circuit, that can be used for a portable telephone of the GSM or WCDMA and a portable telephone capable of performing communications in two or more communication systems such as the GSM and CDMA. The power source circuit is constructed by a first direct current power source circuit such as a series regulator whose power efficiency is not high but which reaches a high level quickly, and a second direct current power source circuit such as a switching regulator, which does not reach the high level quickly but whose power efficiency is high. When the power source voltage has to reach the high level at high speed, both of the series regulator and the switching regulator are simultaneously operated. When the output power source voltage reaches a predetermined level, the operation of the series regulator is stopped.

Claims

1. The power source circuit for a high frequency power amplifying circuit which supplies a power source voltage to the high frequency power amplifying circuit, comprising:

a first direct current power source circuit constructed by a series regulator or a shunt regulator; and

a second direct current power source circuit constructed by a switching regulator,

wherein the first and second direct current power source circuits being provided in parallel with a voltage output terminal, and a power source terminal being connected to the voltage output terminal,

wherein at the time of changing the power source voltage supplied to said high frequency power amplifying circuit in order to change output power of said high frequency power amplifying circuit, both of said first and second direct current power source circuits are started and, after lapse of predetermined time or after the output power source voltage reaches a predetermined level, an operation of said first direct current power source circuit is stopped or power supply capability is lowered,

wherein said first direct current power source circuit comprises a transistor in which a channel between a source and a drain is connected between a voltage input terminal and a voltage output terminal or between the voltage output terminal and a ground point, and a differential amplifier connected to a gate terminal of the transistor, and

wherein a voltage according to the output power source voltage is fed back to one of input terminals of said differential amplifier, a reference voltage can be applied to the other input terminal of said differential amplifier, and said transistor is operated according to an output of said differential amplifier.

2. The power source circuit for a high frequency power amplifying circuit which supplies a power source voltage to the high frequency power amplifying circuit, comprising:

a first direct current power source circuit constructed by a series regulator or a shunt regulator; and

a second direct current power source circuit constructed by a switching regulator,

wherein the first and second direct current power source circuits being provided in parallel with a voltage output terminal, and a power source terminal being connected to the voltage output terminal,

wherein at the time of changing the power source voltage supplied to said high frequency power amplifying circuit in order to change output power of said high frequency power amplifying circuit, both of said first and second direct current power source circuits are started and, after lapse of predetermined time or after the output power source voltage reaches a predetermined level, an operation of said first direct current power source circuit is stopped or power supply capability is lowered,

wherein said first direct current power source circuit comprises a transistor in which a channel between a source and a drain is connected between a voltage input terminal and the voltage output terminal or between the voltage output terminal and a ground point, and a differential amplifier connected to a gate terminal of the transistor, and

wherein a voltage according to the output power source voltage is fed back to one of input terminals of said differential amplifier, a reference voltage can be applied to the other input terminal of said differential amplifier, and said transistor is operated according to an output of said differential amplifier,

wherein a voltage which is the same as the voltage fed back to one of the input terminals of said differential amplifier is fed back to said second direct current power source circuit, and said second direct current power source circuit operates according to said feedback voltage.

3. The power source circuit for a high frequency power amplifying circuit which supplies a power source voltage to the high frequency power amplifying circuit, comprising:

a first direct current power source circuit constructed by a series regulator or a shunt regulator; and

a second direct current power source circuit constructed by a switching regulator,

wherein the first and second direct current power source circuits being provided in parallel with a voltage output terminal, and a power source terminal being connected to the voltage output terminal,

wherein at the time of changing the power source voltage supplied to said high frequency power amplifying circuit in order to change output power of said high frequency power amplifying circuit, both of said first and second direct current power source circuits are started and, after lapse of predetermined time or after the output power source voltage reaches a predetermined level, an operation of said first direct current power source circuit is stopped or power supply capability is lowered,

wherein said first direct current power source circuit comprises a transistor in which a channel between a source and a drain is connected between a voltage input terminal and the voltage output terminal or between the voltage output terminal and a ground point, and a differential amplifier connected to a gate terminal of the transistor, and

wherein a voltage according to the output power source voltage is fed back to one of input terminals of said differential amplifier, a reference voltage can be applied to the other input terminal of said differential amplifier, and said transistor is operated according to an output of said differential amplifier,

wherein a resistive divider capable of switching a voltage dividing ratio is provided in some midpoint of a feedback path between said voltage output terminal and one of the input terminals of said differential amplifier, and the level of the power source voltage to be output can be switched by switching the voltage to be fed back from the resistive divider.

4. The power source circuit for a high frequency power amplifying circuit which supplies a power source voltage to the high frequency power amplifying circuit, comprising:

a first direct current power source circuit constructed by a series regulator or a shunt regulator; and

a second direct current power source circuit constructed by a switching regulator,

wherein the first and second direct current power source circuits being provided in parallel with a voltage output terminal, and a power source terminal being connected to the voltage output terminal,

wherein at the time of changing the power source voltage supplied to said high frequency power amplifying circuit in order to change output power of said high frequency power amplifying circuit, both of said first and second direct current power source circuits are started and, after lapse of predetermined time or after the output power source voltage reaches a predetermined level, an operation of said first direct current power source circuit is stopped or power supply capability is lowered,

wherein said first direct current power source circuit comprises a transistor in which a channel between a source and a drain is connected between a voltage input terminal and the voltage output terminal or between the voltage output terminal and a ground point, and a differential amplifier connected to a gate terminal of the transistor, and

wherein a voltage according to the output power source voltage is fed back to one of input terminals of said differential amplifier, a reference voltage can be applied to the other input terminal of said differential amplifier, and said transistor is operated according to an output of said differential amplifier,

wherein when the operation of said second direct current power source circuit is stopped, said feedback path is disconnected from a ground potential to shift said voltage output terminal into a high-impedance state, and discharging of charges accumulated in a smoothing capacitor connected to said second direct current power source circuit is suppressed.

5. The power source circuit for a high frequency power amplifying circuit which supplies a power source voltage to the high frequency power amplifying circuit, comprising:

a first direct current power source circuit constructed by a series regulator or a shunt regulator; and

a second direct current power source circuit constructed by a switching regulator,

wherein the first and second direct current power source circuits being provided in parallel with a voltage output terminal, and a power source terminal being connected to the voltage output terminal,

wherein at the time of changing the power source voltage supplied to said high frequency power amplifying circuit in order to change output power of said high frequency power amplifying circuit, both of said first and second direct current power source circuits are started and, after lapse of predetermined time or after the output power source voltage reaches a predetermined level, an operation of said first direct current power source circuit is stopped or power supply capability is lowered,

wherein said first direct current power source circuit comprises a transistor in which a channel between a source and a drain is connected between a voltage input terminal and a voltage output terminal or between the voltage output terminal and a ground point, and a differential amplifier connected to a gate terminal of the transistor, and

wherein a voltage according to the output power source voltage is fed back to one of input terminals of said differential amplifier, a reference voltage can be applied to the other input terminal of said differential amplifier, and said transistor is operated according to an output of said differential amplifier,

wherein a voltage which is the same as the reference voltage applied to the other input terminal of said differential amplifier is applied to said second direct current power source circuit, and said first and second direct current power source circuits operate on the basis of the common reference voltage.

6. The semiconductor integrated circuit for a power source comprising:

a voltage control transistor as a component of a series regulator or a shunt regulator;

a differential amplifier for outputting a voltage which controls said voltage control transistor;

a switching regulator; and

a feedback path for feeding back a feedback voltage according to an output power source voltage to one of input terminals of said differential amplifier,

wherein said differential amplifier and said switching regulator are started simultaneously and, after lapse or predetermined time or after said output power source voltage reaches a predetermined level, an operation of said switching regulator is stopped or power source supply capability is lowered, and

wherein a voltage which is the same as the voltage fed back to one of the input terminals of said differential amplifier is fed back to said switching regulator, a common reference voltage is supplied to the other input terminal of said differential amplifier and said switching regulator, and said differential amplifier and said switching regulator operate according to said reference voltage and said feedback voltage, respectively.