Switching power supply

• US 8,116,704 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2007
• Issued: 02/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
• Inventors: Silver, Gregory S., Sorrells, David F., Rawlins, Gregory S.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THANH C
• Application Number:
  US11/979,852
• Publication Number:
  US 20080122543A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,559 Days
• Field of Search: 455/91, 455/115.1, 455/126, 455/127.1, 455/127.2, 455/127.4, 330/129, 330/279, 330/282, 375/295, 375/296, 323/282
• 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 1/0255 by using a signal derived from the output signal
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/24 of transmitter output stages
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/045 with means for improving efficiency

Abstract

Methods and systems for enhancing system efficiency in a power amplification, modulation, and transmission system are provided. Embodiments include determining output power characteristics of a selected modulation scheme to be employed in data transmission, determining a most probable output power point of operation for the selected modulation scheme based on the output power characteristics, and controlling the output stage power supply of the system to operate at substantially optimal efficiency at the most probable output power point of operation.

Claims

1. A power supply, comprising:

a transistor to receive, through an input switch, an input voltage, and comprising an output node;

an aperture generator and control module to receive an output voltage control signal, and to control said input switch; and

a bypass switch control module to receive said output voltage control signal and a threshold voltage, and to control a bypass switch;

wherein said bypass switch control module causes said bypass switch to couple said input voltage to said output node, and causes said input switch to de-couple said input voltage from said transistor, when said output voltage control signal exceeds said threshold voltage.

2. The power supply of claim 1, wherein said output voltage control signal is received from an amplification stage being powered by the power supply.

3. The power supply of claim 1, wherein said bypass switch control module controls said aperture generator and control module, in order to control said input switch.

4. The power supply of claim 1, wherein said aperture generator and control module controls an input node of said transistor, thereby controlling the point of operation and gain of said transistor.

5. The power supply of claim 1, wherein said aperture generator and control module controls said transistor according to said output voltage control signal.

6. The power supply of claim 1, wherein said aperture generator and control module receives a power supply output feedback signal and controls said transistor according to said feedback signal.

7. The power supply of claim 1, wherein said transistor comprises one or more of NMOS transistors, PMOS transistors, NPN transistors, and PNP transistors.

8. The power supply of claim 1, wherein said bypass switch control module compares said output voltage control signal and said threshold voltage.

9. The power supply of claim 1, wherein said bypass switch control module causes said bypass switch to couple said input voltage to said output voltage node, and causes said input switch to de-couple said input voltage from said transistor, when noise power on or substantially near an output frequency exceeds a threshold.

10. The power supply of claim 1, wherein said bypass switch control module causes said bypass switch to couple said input voltage to said output voltage node, and causes said input switch to de-couple said input voltage from said transistor, when said output voltage control signal exceeds said threshold voltage by the value of a hysteresis control signal.

11. The power supply of claim 1, further comprising:

a load current sensing circuit, coupled to said output node of the power supply, to measure load current variations and to provide a feedback signal to said bypass switch control module.