Metamaterial power amplifier systems

• US 8,421,532 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2012
• Issued: 04/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gula Consulting Limited Liability Company (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Hollinworth Fund L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Dupuy, Alexandre, Gummalla, Ajay, Achour, Maha
• Primary Examiner(s): Choe, Henry
• Application Number:
  US13/410,864
• Publication Number:
  US 20120161867A1
• Time in Patent Office: 410 Days
• Field of Search: 330/126, 330/302, 330/285, 330/296
• US Class Current: 330/126
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 1/2039 Galvanic coupling between Input/Output
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 1/2138 using hollow waveguide filters H01P1/2131 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 5/12 Coupling devices having more than two ports H01P5/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 5/20 Magic-T junctions
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/0211 with control of the supply voltage or current
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/0261 with control of the polarisation voltage or current, e.g. gliding Class A
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/111 the amplifier being a dual or triple band amplifier, e.g. 900 and 1800 MHz, e.g. switched or not switched, simultaneously or not
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2203/7209 the gated amplifier being switched from a first band to a second band
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2203/7236 the gated amplifier being switched on or off by putting into parallel or not, by choosing between amplifiers by (a ) switch(es)
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/60 Amplifiers in which coupling networks have distributed constants, e.g. with waveguide resonators H03F3/54 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/72 Gated amplifiers, i.e. amplifiers which are rendered operative or inoperative by means of a control signal
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 7/0123 comprising distributed impedance elements together with lumped impedance elements
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 7/38 Impedance-matching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 7/46 Networks for connecting several sources or loads, working on different frequencies or frequency bands, to a common load or source for use in multiplex transmission systems H04J1/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

Power amplifying systems and modules and components therein are designed based on CRLH structures, providing high efficiency and linearity.

Claims

1. A power amplifying system configured to operate for a plurality of frequency bands, comprising:

one or more transistors configured to receive input signals in the plurality of frequency bands and configured to amplify the input signals to generate output signals in the plurality of frequency bands;

an output matching network, located downstream from the one or more transistors along a data pathway, configured to perform output impedance matching for the output signals in the plurality of frequency bands; and

a frequency selecting module, located downstream from the output matching network along the data pathway, that is coupled to the output matching network and configured to direct the output signal in each of the plurality of frequency bands to an output signal path associated with the frequency band;

wherein the frequency selecting module includes at least one filtering element configured to direct signals by filtering signals based on their frequency, wherein certain signals are allowed to pass and other signals are removed via filtration.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of output ports that are coupled to the output matching network and configured to output the output signals in the plurality of frequency bands, respectively;

wherein the frequency selecting module is configured to direct the output signal in each of the plurality of frequency bands to the output signal path associated with the frequency band and coupled through the output matching network to one of the plurality of output ports that outputs the output signal in the frequency band.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an output port that is coupled to the frequency selecting module and configured to output the output signals in the plurality of frequency bands;

wherein the one or more transistors comprise a plurality of single-band transistors that are configured to operate for the plurality of frequency bands, respectively;

wherein the output matching network is configured to receive the output signals from the plurality of single-band transistors, and configured to process and send the output signals to the frequency selecting module; and

wherein the frequency selecting module is configured to direct the output signal in each of the plurality of frequency bands to the output signal path associated with the plurality of frequency bands and coupled to the output port.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the frequency selecting module includes a plurality of frequency selectors, each of which is configured to transmit a signal in a frequency band associated with the frequency selector, and remove signals in one or more frequency bands that are different from the frequency band associated with the frequency selector.

5. A power amplifying system configured to operate for a plurality of frequency bands, comprising:

an input matching network configured to perform input impedance matching for input signals in the plurality of frequency bands;

a frequency selecting module that is coupled to the input matching network and configured to direct the input signal in each of the plurality of frequency bands to an input signal path associated with the corresponding frequency band; and

one or more transistors configured to receive the input signals in the plurality of frequency bands and configured to amplify the input signals to generate output signals in the plurality of frequency bands;

wherein the frequency selecting modules includes at least one filtering element configured to direct signals by filtering signals based on their frequency, wherein certain signals are allowed to pass and other signals are removed via filtration

wherein, along a data pathway, the frequency selection module is upstream from the input matching network, and the one or more transistors is located downstream from the input matching network.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising:

a plurality of input ports that are coupled to the input matching network and configured to receive the input signals in the plurality of frequency bands, respectively;

wherein the input matching network is configured to receive the input signals from the plurality of input ports and configured to process and send the input signals to the frequency selecting module; and

wherein the frequency selecting module is configured to direct the input signal in each of the plurality of frequency bands to the input signal path associated with the plurality of frequency bands and coupled to the at least one transistor.

7. The system of claim 5, further comprising:

an input port that is coupled to the frequency selecting module and is configured to receive the input signals in the plurality of frequency bands;

wherein the one or more transistors comprise a plurality of single-band transistors that are configured to operate for the plurality of frequency bands, respectively;

wherein the frequency selecting module is configured to receive the input signals in the plurality of frequency bands from the input port and is configured to direct the input signal in each of the plurality of frequency bands to the input signal path associated with the frequency band and coupled through the input matching network to one of the plurality of single-band transistors that operates for the frequency band.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the frequency selecting module include a plurality of frequency selectors, each of which is configured to transmit a signal in a frequency band associated with the frequency selector, and remove signals in one or more frequency bands that are different from the frequency band associated with the frequency selector.

9. A method of making a power amplifying system operable for a plurality of frequency bands, the method comprising:

receiving input signals in the plurality of frequency bands;

amplifying the input signals to generate output signals in the plurality of frequency bands;

matching an output impedance for the output signals in the plurality of frequency bands;

directing, after the matching, the output signal in each of the plurality of frequency bands to an output signal path associated with the frequency band;

wherein said directing comprises filtering the output signal, wherein certain signals are allowed to pass and other signals are removed via filtration.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the system includes a plurality of output ports that are configured to output the output signals in the plurality of frequency bands, respectively, and said directing further comprises directing the output signal to one of the plurality of output ports that outputs the output signal in the frequency band.

11. A method of making a power amplifying system operable for a plurality of frequency bands, the method comprising:

receiving input signals in the plurality of frequency bands;

directing the received input signals in each of the plurality of frequency bands to an input signal path associated with the plurality of frequency bands;

matching, after the directing, an input impedance of the received and directed input signals; and

amplifying the directed input signals to generate output signals in the plurality of frequency bands;

wherein said directing comprises filtering the received input signals, wherein certain signals are allowed to pass and other signals are removed via filtration.