Dynamic range improvements of load modulated amplifiers

• US 8,022,759 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2006
• Issued: 09/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Lejon, Thomas, Rexberg, Leonard
• Primary Examiner(s): Choe; Henry
• Application Number:
  US12/447,865
• Publication Number:
  US 20110148518A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,784 Days
• Field of Search: 330/124.R, 330/295, 330/129, 330/136
• US Class Current: 330/124.00R
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/0205 in transistor amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/0266 by using a signal derived from the input signal
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/0294 using vector summing of two or more constant amplitude phase-modulated signals
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/3294 Acting on the real and imaginary components of the input signal
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/102 A non-specified detector of a signal envelope being used in an amplifying circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/252 Multiple switches coupled in the input circuit of an amplifier are controlled by a circuit, e.g. feedback circuitry being controlling the switch
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/336 A I/Q, i.e. phase quadrature, modulator or demodulator being used in an amplifying circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/19 with semiconductor devices only
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/24 of transmitter output stages
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/3042 in modulators, frequency-changers, transmitters or power amplifiers transmission power control in bidirectional transmission systems H04W52/04

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods and devices to control and operate the functionality of a power amplifier system (100) capable of operating in at least three differential amplification modes. The drive signal'"'"'s amplitude envelope controls an integrated switch network (104; 105, 106) that routes both the signal envelope and signal phase to different modulation blocks (111, 112: 109, 110: 115). Depending on the envelope strength, the operational mode of the amplifier system is possible to alter to best serve the signal statistics to provide the highest overall power efficiency.

Claims

1. A method for power amplifying an input drive signal to a power amplification system comprising at least three different power amplification modes, where each power amplification mode is dedicated to operate within a pre-determined amplification interval, the method comprising:

determining a momentary envelope value (E) of the input drive signal (S_in); and

switching amplification mode to one of the at least three different amplification modes depending on the determined momentary envelope value (E), where the switching comprises;

operating the power amplification system in a first amplification mode if the momentary envelope value (E) is determined to be within a first amplification interval, and when the power amplification system is operated in the first amplification mode, an outphasing technique is used for power amplifying the input drive signal;

operating the power amplification system in a second amplification mode if the momentary envelope value (E) is determined to be within a second amplification interval; and

operating the power amplification system in a third amplification mode if the momentary envelope value (E) is determined to be within a third amplification interval.

2. The method according to claim 1, where when the power amplification system is operated in the second amplification mode, a Dynamic Load modulation technique is used for power amplifying the input drive signal.

3. The method according to claim 1, where when the power amplification system is operated in the second amplification mode, an Envelope Elimination and Restoration (EER) technique is used for power amplifying the input drive signal.

4. The method according to claim 1, where when the power amplification system is operated in the third amplification mode, an Envelope Elimination and Restoration (EER) technique is used for power amplifying the input drive signal.

5. The method according to claim 1, where when the power amplification system is operated in the third amplification mode, a Dynamic Load technique is used for power amplifying the input drive signal.

6. A power amplifying system for power amplifying an input drive signal to the power amplifying system, where the power amplifying system operates in at least three different power amplification modes, where each amplification mode is dedicated to operate within a pre-determined amplification interval, the power amplifying comprising:

a determining device for determining a momentary envelope value (E) of the input drive signal; and

a switching amplification mode device for switching to one of the at least three different amplification modes depending on the determined momentary envelope value (E) received from the determining device, where the switching amplification mode device comprises;

a switching device for switching the power amplifying system to;

a first amplification mode if the momentary envelope value (E) is determined to be within a first amplification interval,

a second amplification mode if the momentary envelope value (E) is determined to be within a second amplification interval, and

a third amplification mode if the momentary envelope value (E) is determined to be within a third amplification interval,

where if the power amplifying system is operated in the first amplification mode, an outphasing technique is used for power amplifying the input drive signal.

7. The power amplifying system according to claim 6, where if the power amplifying system is operated in the second amplification mode, a Dynamic Load modulation technique is used for power amplifying the input drive signal.

8. The power amplifying system according to claim 6, where if the power amplifying system is operated in the third amplification mode, an Envelope Elimination and Restoration (EER) technique is used for power amplifying the input drive signal.

9. The power amplifying system according to claim 6, where if the power amplifying system is operated in the second amplification mode, an Envelope Elimination and Restoration (EER) technique is used for power amplifying the input drive signal.

10. The power amplifying system according to claim 6, where if the power amplifying system is operated in the third amplification mode, a Dynamic Load technique is used for power amplifying the input drive signal.

11. The power amplifying system according to claim 6, where a radio base station in a mobile radio telecommunication network, includes the power amplifying system.

12. A switching amplification mode device in a power amplifying system for power amplifying an input drive signal to the power amplifying system, where the switching amplification mode device operates in at least three different power amplification modes, where each amplification mode is dedicated to operate within a pre-determined amplification interval, the switching amplification mode device comprising:

a determining device for determining a momentary envelope value (E) of the input drive signal, and

a switching mode device for switching the power amplifying system to operate in one of the at least three amplification modes depending on the momentary envelope value (E) received from the determining device, where the switching mode device switches the power amplification amplifying system to;

a first amplification mode if the momentary envelope value (E) is determined to be within a first amplification interval,

a second amplification mode if the momentary envelope value (E) is determined to be within a second amplification interval, and

a third amplification mode if the momentary envelope value (E) is determined to be within a third amplification interval,

where if the power amplifying system is operated in the first amplification mode, an outphasing technique is used for power amplifying the input drive signal.

13. The switching amplification mode device according to claim 12, where if the power amplifying system is operated in the second amplification mode, a Dynamic Load modulation technique is used for power amplifying the input drive signal.

14. The switching amplification mode device according to claim 12, where if the power amplifying system is operated in the third amplification mode, an Envelope Elimination and Restoration (EER) technique is used for power amplifying the input drive signal.

15. The switching amplification mode device according to claim 12, where if the power amplifying system is operated in the second amplification mode, an Envelope Elimination and Restoration (EER) technique is used for power amplifying the input drive signal.

16. The switching amplification mode device according to claim 12, where if the power amplifying system is operated in the third amplification mode, a Dynamic Load technique is used for power amplifying the input drive signal.

17. The switching amplification mode device according to claim 12, where the power amplifying system comprises amplifiers.

18. The switching amplification mode device according to claim 17, where the amplifiers are one or more of amplifier classes B, C, D, E, E/F, or F.