Monolithic supply-modulated RF power amplifier and DC-DC power converter IC

• US 7,372,333 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2004
• Issued: 05/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arizona Board of Regents (University of Arizona)
• Original Assignee: Arizona Board of Regents (University of Arizona)
• Inventors: Abedinpour, Siamak, Kiaei, Sayfe
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Patricia
• Application Number:
  US10/544,408
• Publication Number:
  US 20060226909A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,561 Days
• Field of Search: 330/297, 330/267, 330/251, 330/207.A
• US Class Current: 330/297
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/0227 using supply converters
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/0238 using supply converters
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/102 A non-specified detector of a signal envelope being used in an amplifying circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/504 the supply voltage or current being continuously controlled by a controlling signal, e.g. the controlling signal of a transistor implemented as variable resistor in a supply path for, an IC-block showed amplifier
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/211 using a combination of several amplifiers H03F3/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/217 Class D power amplifiers; Switching amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/2176 Class E amplifiers

Abstract

Embodiments of RF power amplifiers are disclosed that include switched-mode power amplifiers supplied by synchronous buck DC-DC converters. The switched-mode power amplifiers can be used to amplify a limited form of an RF input signal and the supply to the switched-mode power amplifier is varied in response to the envelope of the RF input signal. One embodiment includes a switched-mode power amplifier connected to a synchronous buck DC-DC converter.

Claims

1. A RF power amplifier configured to receive an RF input signal, comprising:

a switched-mode power amplifier supplied by a synchronous buck DC-DC power supply;

a controller configured to control the power supplied by the synchronous buck DC-DC power supply;

wherein the controller is connected to a feedback loop that is configured to provide the controller with a signal capable of being used by the controller to adjust the level of the voltage supplied by the synchronous buck DC-DC power supply in response to variations in the envelope of the RF input signal; and

wherein the RF input signal is provided to the input of the switched-mode power amplifier via a limiter, which limits the variation in the level of the RF input signal; and

the limiter provides the limited RF input signal to a resonant gate drive that is connected to the input of the switched-mode power amplifier.

2. The RF power amplifier of claim 1, wherein:

the feedback includes an envelope detector that receives the RF input signal as an input and provides an output to a comparator;

the second input of the comparator is connected to the output of the switched-mode power amplifier by an envelope detector and an attenuator; and

the output of the comparator is provided to the controller.

3. The RF power amplifier of claim 1, wherein the switched-mode power amplifier is a class E RF power amplifier.

4. A RF power amplifier, comprising a switched-mode power amplifier connected to a synchronous buck DC-DC converter, and

a resonant sate drive connected to an input of the switched-mode power amplifier.

5. The RF power amplifier of claim 4, further comprising a limiter connected to an input of the resonant gate drive.

6. The RF power amplifier of claim 4, further comprising a controller connected to an input of the synchronous buck DC-DC converter.

7. The RF power amplifier of claim 6, further comprising:

a comparator including an output connected to the controller;

a first envelope detector connected to a first input of the comparator; and

a second envelope connector connected to a second input of the comparator and to an output of the switched-mode power amplifier by an attenuator.

8. The RF power amplifier of claim 4, wherein the switched-mode power amplifier is a class E RF power amplifier.

9. A RF power amplifier, comprising:

a switched-mode power amplifier connected to a synchronous buck DC-DC converter;

a resonant gate drive connected to an input of the switched-mode power amplifier;

a limiter connected to an input of the resonant gate drive;

a controller connected to an input of the synchronous buck DC-DC converter;

a comparator including an output connected to the controller;

a first envelope detector connected to a first input of the comparator; and

a second envelope connector connected to a second input of the comparator and to an output of the switched-mode power amplifier by an attenuator.

10. The RF power amplifier of claim 9, wherein the switched-mode power amplifier is a class E RF power amplifier.