Circuit and method of establishing DC bias levels in an RF power amplifier

• US 7,233,199 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2006
• Issued: 06/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Westwick, Alan L., Paul, Susanne A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mottola; Steven J.
• Application Number:
  US11/278,078
• Publication Number:
  US 20060244525A1
• Time in Patent Office: 446 Days
• Field of Search: 330/11, 330/85, 330/136, 330/285, 330/290
• US Class Current: 330/85
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/30 Modifications of amplifiers to reduce influence of variations of temperature or supply voltage or other physical parameters in differential amplifiers H03F3/45479
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/189 High-frequency amplifiers, e.g. radio frequency amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/45941 Controlling the input circuit of the differential amplifier

Abstract

A method and apparatus is used to provide DC stabilization and noise reduction in a multistage power amplifier. The invention uses various feedback techniques to stabilize DC levels, which helps to reduce noise. The invention also uses other techniques to reduce noise, and to reduce the noise transfer function in a power amplifier.

Claims

1. A multi-stage RF power amplifier comprising;

a first power amplifier stage configured to amplify an input signal to generate an amplified output signal;

a second power amplifier stage; and

a circuit coupled to the first and second power amplifier stages, wherein the circuit is configured to generate a feedback signal using the input and output signals of the first power amplifier stage, and wherein the circuit is configured to control the DC bias level of the second power amplifier stage.

2. The multi-stage RF power amplifier of claim 1, wherein the DC bias level is generated so as to cause the DC levels of the input and output signals of the first power amplifier stage to have a predetermined relationship.

3. The multi-stage RF power amplifier of claim 1, wherein the DC bias level is controlled to cause the DC levels of the input and output signals of the first power amplifier stage to be approximately equal.

4. The multi-stage RF power amplifier of claim 1, wherein the feedback signal is generated based on the DC levels of the input and output signals of the first power amplifier stage.

5. The multi-stage multi-stage RF power amplifier of claim 4, wherein the feedback signal is generated by comparing the DC levels of the input and output signals of the first power amplifier stage.

6. The multi-stage RF power amplifier of claim 1, wherein the feedback signal is used to set the DC levels at the input and output of the first power amplifier stage to approximately half of the supply voltage.

7. The multi-stage RF power amplifier of claim 1, wherein the second power amplifier stage is adapted to receive an RF input signal.

8. A method of operating an RF power amplifier having multiple power amplifier stages, comprising;

providing a first power amplifier stage configured to amplify an input signal to generate an amplified output signal;

providing a second power amplifier stage; and

controlling the DC bias level of a second power amplifier stage based on the input and output signals of the first power amplifier stage.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the DC bias level is generated to cause the DC levels at the input and output of the first power amplifier stage to have a predetermined relationship.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the DC bias level is generated to cause the DC levels at the input and output of the first power amplifier stage to be approximately equal.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising generating a feedback signal based on the input and output signals of the first power amplifier stage, wherein the DC bias level of a second power amplifier stage is controlled by the feedback signal.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the feedback signal is generated based on the DC level at the input and output of the first power amplifier stage.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the feedback signal is generated by comparing the DC levels at the input and output of the first power amplifier stage.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the feedback signal is used to set the DC levels at the input and output of the first power amplifier stage to approximately half of the supply voltage.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein the second power amplifier stage is adapted to receive an RF input signal.

16. A method of establishing DC bias levels in an RF power amplifier having multiple power amplifier stages, comprising:

providing a first power amplifier stage having an input and an output;

sensing the DC bias level of the input of the first power amplifier stage;

sensing the DC bias level of the output of the first power amplifier stage;

generating a signal based on the sensed DC bias levels of the input and output of the first power amplifier stage; and

using the generated signal to control the DC bias level of the second power amplifier stage.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the DC bias level of the second power amplifier stage is controlled to cause the DC levels at the input and output of the first power amplifier stage to have a predetermined relationship.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the DC bias level of the second power amplifier stage is controlled to cause the DC levels at the input and output of the first power amplifier stage to be approximately equal.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the generated signal is generated by comparing the sensed DC bias levels at the input and output of the first power amplifier stage.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the second power amplifier stage is adapted to receive an RF input signal.