Protection of output stage transistor of an RF power amplifier
First Claim
1. A method of controlling output power of an RF power amplifier comprising an output stage, the method comprising:
- generating a signal proportional to an amplitude of an envelope of an output RF voltage sensed through an AC-coupled resistive voltage divider network;
comparing the generated signal with a reference threshold voltage and, when the reference threshold voltage is exceeded, controlling a gain of the RF power amplifier to protect the output stage; and
setting the reference threshold voltage by an external regulating threshold voltage and internally modifying the external regulating threshold voltage as a function of a supply voltage to generate the reference threshold voltage compensated for supply voltage changes.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A protection method may prevent a load-mismatch-induced failure in solid-state power amplifiers. In an RF power amplifier, the load voltage standing-wave ratio results in very high voltage peaks at the collector of the final stage and may eventually lead to permanent failure of the power transistor due to avalanche breakdown. The method avoids breakdown by attenuating the input power to the final stage during overvoltage conditions, thus limiting the output collector swing. This is accomplished by a feedback control system, which detects the peak voltage at the output collector node and clamps its value to a given threshold by varying the circuit gain. Indeed, the control loop is unlocked in the nominal condition and it acts when an output mismatching condition is detected. A control circuit also allows a supply-independent collector-clamping threshold to be accurately set.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of controlling output power of an RF power amplifier comprising an output stage, the method comprising:
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generating a signal proportional to an amplitude of an envelope of an output RF voltage sensed through an AC-coupled resistive voltage divider network; comparing the generated signal with a reference threshold voltage and, when the reference threshold voltage is exceeded, controlling a gain of the RF power amplifier to protect the output stage; and setting the reference threshold voltage by an external regulating threshold voltage and internally modifying the external regulating threshold voltage as a function of a supply voltage to generate the reference threshold voltage compensated for supply voltage changes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of controlling an RF power amplifier comprising an output stage, the method comprising:
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generating a signal based upon an envelope of a sensed output RF voltage; comparing the generated signal with a reference threshold and, when the reference threshold is exceeded, controlling a gain of the RF power amplifier to protect the output stage; and setting the reference threshold based upon an external regulating threshold and so that the reference threshold is compensated for supply changes. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A control circuit for an output voltage of an output stage driven by a driver stage of an RF power amplifier, the control circuit comprising:
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an AC-coupled output voltage sensing network having an output node; an envelope amplitude detector circuit input with a replica of an RF output signal present on the output node of said AC-coupled output voltage sensing network; an error amplifier for comparing an amplitude of an RF envelope signal output by said amplitude envelope detector with a reference threshold voltage, and outputting, when the reference threshold voltage is exceeded, a control current for an amplifier gain of the RF power amplifier to protect said output stage; and a reference threshold voltage generating circuit input with an external threshold regulating voltage and outputting the reference threshold voltage compensated for supply voltage changes. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. An RF power amplifier comprising:
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a driver stage; an output stage driven by said driver stage; and a control circuit comprising an output voltage sensor having an output node, an envelope amplitude detector circuit having an input coupled to the output node of said output voltage sensor, an error amplifier for comparing an amplitude of an RF envelope signal output by said amplitude envelope detector with a reference threshold voltage, and outputting, when the reference threshold voltage is exceeded, a control current for an amplifier gain to protect said output stage, and a reference threshold voltage generating circuit input with an external threshold regulating voltage and outputting the reference threshold voltage compensated for supply voltage changes. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification