Variable class characteristic amplifier
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A power amplifier, comprising:
- a switch module, the switch module receiving an input signal and generating a switch module signal in accordance with the input signal;
a transformer module, the transformer module receiving the switch module signal and generating a transformer signal; and
an output module, the output module receiving the transformer signal and generating an output signal based on the transformer signal,wherein the power amplifier operates in a plurality of modes, each of the plurality of modes characteristic of a respective one of a plurality of power amplifier classes, and wherein a value of a circuit component located within the output module is varied, based on the input signal, to switch between the plurality of modes of the power amplifier.
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Abstract
A power amplifier (PA) adjustably operable between two classes of operation. The range of operation lies in a range of operation between a conventional, linear, conjugately matched Class AB characteristic amplifier and a higher efficiency switching Class E characteristic amplifier. A circuit topology having a push-pull configuration that allows a Class E characteristic of operation.
139 Citations
46 Claims
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1. A power amplifier, comprising:
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a switch module, the switch module receiving an input signal and generating a switch module signal in accordance with the input signal; a transformer module, the transformer module receiving the switch module signal and generating a transformer signal; and an output module, the output module receiving the transformer signal and generating an output signal based on the transformer signal, wherein the power amplifier operates in a plurality of modes, each of the plurality of modes characteristic of a respective one of a plurality of power amplifier classes, and wherein a value of a circuit component located within the output module is varied, based on the input signal, to switch between the plurality of modes of the power amplifier. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A power amplifier comprising:
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a switch module, the switch module receiving an input signal and generating a switch module signal in accordance with the input signal; a transformer module, the transformer module receiving the switch module signal and generating a transformer signal; and an output module, the output module receiving the transformer signal and generating an output signal, the output module including at least a capacitor and an inductor, wherein the power amplifier operates in a plurality of modes, each of the plurality of modes characteristic of a respective one of a plurality of power amplifier classes, and wherein the value of the capacitor is varied, based on the input signal, to switch between the plurality of modes of the power amplifier. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A power amplifier comprising:
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a first switch module, the first switch module responsive to an input signal and generating a first switch module signal in accordance with the input signal; a second switch module arranged in a push-pull configuration with the first switch module, the second switch module responsive to the input signal and generating a second switch module signal in accordance with the input signal, the first and second switch module signals cooperating to generate a composite switch module signal; a transformer module, the transformer module receiving the composite switch module signal and generating a transformer signal; and an output module, the output module receiving the transformer signal and generating an output signal, wherein the power amplifier operates in a plurality of modes, each of the plurality of modes characteristic of a respective one of a plurality of power amplifier classes, and wherein a value of a circuit component located within the output module is varied, based on the input signal, to switch between the plurality of modes of the power amplifier. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A power amplifier comprising:
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a first switch module, the first switch module being responsive to an input signal and generating a first switch module signal in accordance with the input signal; a second switch module arranged in a push-pull configuration with the first switch module, the second switch module responsive to the input signal and generating a second switch module signal in accordance with the input signal, the first and second switch module signals cooperating to generate a composite switch module signal; a transformer module, the transformer module receiving the composite switch module signal and generating a transformer signal; and an output module, the output module receiving the transformer signal and generating an output signal, the output module including a first capacitive element and an inductive element, wherein the power amplifier operates in a plurality of modes, each of the plurality of modes characteristic of a respective one of a plurality of power amplifier classes, and wherein the value of the capacitive element is varied, based on the input signal, to switch between the plurality of modes of the power amplifier. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A power amplifier comprising:
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a first switching device, the first switching device responsive to an input signal to generate a first switching device signal; a second switching device arranged in a push-pull configuration with the first switching device, the second switching device responsive to the input signal to generate a second switching device signal, the first and second switching device signals cooperating to generate a composite switching device signal; a transformer module, the transformer module receiving the composite switching device signal and generating a transformer signal; and an output module, the output module receiving the transformer signal and generating an output signal, the output module including a first capacitor and an inductor, wherein the power amplifier operates in a plurality of modes, each of the plurality of modes characteristic of a respective one of Class AB or Class E power amplifier classes, and wherein the value of the capacitor is varied, based on the input signal, to switch between the plurality of modes of the power amplifier. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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Specification