Digitally controlled RF amplifier with wide dynamic range output

• US 8,103,353 B1
• Filed: 05/18/2010
• Issued: 01/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Bionics LLC (Sonova Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Bionics LLC (Sonova Holding AG)
• Inventors: Karunasiri, Rankiri T.
• Primary Examiner(s): EVANISKO, GEORGE ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US12/782,007
• Time in Patent Office: 616 Days
• Field of Search: 607/136, 607/137, 607 55- 57, 607/33, 607/61, 607/32, 607/60
• US Class Current: 607/55
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36038 Cochlear stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37223 Circuits for electromagnetic coupling
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37276 characterised by means for reducing power consumption during telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source

Abstract

A push-pull amplifier efficiency provides a 4:1 (12 dB) course adjustment of power output by using a single digital control input. The amplifier is provided with an input voltage (VDD) having sixteen steps ranging from 1.25 volts to 3.00 volts. Based on the digital control, an integrated circuit switches between a high power mode and a low power mode. In the low power mode, the output voltage is equivalent to the input voltage. In the high power mode, the amplifier provides an output of twice the input voltage (or four times the power).

Claims

1. A wide dynamic range power amplifier comprising:

a first output driver configured to receive a first input signal comprising a periodic signal and generate a first output signal comprising an amplified replica of said periodic signal;

a second output driver configured to receive a second input signal comprising a substantially 180-degree-phase shifted version of said first input signal and generate a second output signal comprising an amplified replica of said second input signal;

a matching circuit configured to generate a power signal to be transmitted to an implantable device based on said first and second output signals, said matching circuit comprising

a first matching network and a primary coil together residing in-series between said first and second output drivers, wherein said first matching network receives said first output signal and said primary coil receives said second output signal, and

a second matching network in-series with a secondary coil that is inductively coupled to said primary coil, said second matching network and said secondary coil together being configured to cooperate with said first matching network and said primary coil to generate said power signal; and

a processor configured to receive a control signal input indicating one of a low power mode and a high power mode;

wherein said processor is further configured to set said second output signal to zero when said control signal input indicates said low power mode.

2. The amplifier of claim 1, further comprising a transmitting coil connected to the matching circuit and configured to transmit said power signal to said implantable device.

3. The amplifier of claim 2, wherein said transmitting coil is configured to transmit said power signal to said implantable device by transmitting said power signal to a cochlear stimulator.

4. The amplifier of claim 1, wherein said power signal comprises a first power level when said control signal indicates said low power mode and a second power level substantially equal to four times said first power level when said control signal indicates said high power mode.

5. The amplifier of claim 1, wherein said processor is configured to generate said substantially 180-degree-phase-shifted version of said first input signal.

6. The amplifier of claim 1, wherein each of said output drivers comprises a plurality of in-series inverter stages.

7. The amplifier of claim 6, wherein each of said plurality of in-series inverter stages comprises a bank of PMOS transistors and a bank of NMOS transistors.

8. The amplifier of claim 1, wherein said processor comprises a NAND gate.

9. The amplifier of claim 1, wherein said periodic signal comprises a data signal modulated with a carrier signal.