Transmission device, transmission output control method, and radio communications device

• US 7,366,482 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2004
• Issued: 04/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Hara, Yoshihiro, Arayashiki, Mamoru
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban; Edward F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHOW, CHARLES CHIANG
• Application Number:
  US10/529,538
• Publication Number:
  US 20060046666A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,358 Days
• Field of Search: 455/127.1, 455/424, 455/425, 455/561, 455/456.5, 455/456.6, 455/550.1, 455/575.1, 455/23, 455/42, 455/522, 455/91, 455/102, 455/108, 455/110, 455/127.3, 455/127.2, 455/127.4, 455/205, 455/126, 455/333, 455/116, 330/133, 330/149, 330/10, 330/140, 330/297, 330/277, 330/285, 330/278, 330/129, 375/295, 375/298, 375/297, 375/300, 375/302, 375/296, 375/312
• US Class Current: 455/127.1
• 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 1/0222 by using a signal derived from the input signal
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/189 High-frequency amplifiers, e.g. radio frequency amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/24 of transmitter output stages
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 2201/103 being an amplifying element
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 2201/307 being radio frequency signal
• 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: H04B 2001/045 with means for improving efficiency

Abstract

Either linear operating mode or saturation operating mode is set as the operating mode of a high-frequency power amplifier on the basis of an operating mode set signal. The gain of a variable gain amplifier provided in front of the high-frequency power amplifier and values of output voltage and bias current supplied from a supply voltage/bias current control circuit to the high-frequency power amplifier are switched. The gain of the variable gain amplifier in the saturation operating mode is formed so as to be higher by a predetermined value than that in the linear operating mode. Accordingly, the high-frequency power amplifier operates in the designated operating mode, so that the output transmission power range can be widened.

Claims

1. A transmitter for outputting a transmitting signal while amplifying power of the transmitting signal, comprising:

a variable gain amplification means for amplifying an input modulated signal based on the transmitting signal and controlling the gain based on a control signal;

a power amplification means connected to the rear of the variable gain amplification means;

a multiplier for multiplying the amplitude signal of the transmitting signal and the phase-modulated signal obtained by modulation of the phase signal of the transmitting signal to thereby apply amplitude modulation, wherein the power amplification means performs power amplification on the basis of the amplitude-modulated signal; and

a power amplification control means for controlling a supply voltage of the power amplification means on the basis of the control signal, wherein;

the power amplification means has a linear operating mode for amplifying power by using a linear operating region in input-output power characteristic of the power amplification means, and a saturation operating mode for amplifying power by using a saturation operating region in input-output power characteristic of the power amplification means;

the control signal includes an operating mode set signal for setting the operating mode of the power amplification means; and

the power amplification means operates in either operating mode on the basis of the operating mode set signal.

2. The transmitter according to claim 1, wherein the multiplier is provided in front of the variable gain amplification means.