Cancelation of gain change due to amplifier self-heating

• US 8,441,320 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2011
• Issued: 05/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Marvell Asia Pte Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Original Assignee: Marvell World Trade Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Inventors: Signoff, David M., Loeb, Wayne A., He, Ming
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HIEU P
• Application Number:
  US13/306,289
• Publication Number:
  US 20120146730A1
• Time in Patent Office: 532 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 330/289
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/30 Modifications of amplifiers to reduce influence of variations of temperature or supply voltage or other physical parameters in differential amplifiers H03F3/45479
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/447 the amplifier being protected to temperature influence
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/468 the temperature being sensed
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/3042 in modulators, frequency-changers, transmitters or power amplifiers transmission power control in bidirectional transmission systems H04W52/04

Abstract

A system includes a power amplifier, a preamplifier, a first temperature sensor, and a bias generator. The power amplifier has a first gain, which is a function of a temperature of the power amplifier. The preamplifier has a second gain, amplifies an input signal, and outputs an amplified signal to the power amplifier. The first temperature sensor senses the temperature and generates a first signal. The bias generator generates a first biasing signal to bias the power amplifier, generates a second biasing signal to bias the preamplifier, and adjusts the second gain by adjusting the second biasing signal based on the first signal. The adjusted second gain compensates a change in the first gain due to the change in the temperature.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a power amplifier having a first gain, wherein the first gain of the power amplifier is a function of a temperature of the power amplifier;

a preamplifier having a second gain, wherein the preamplifier is configured to receive an input signal,

amplify the input signal according to the second gain of the preamplifier, and output an amplified signal to the power amplifier;

a first temperature sensor configured to

sense the temperature of the power amplifier, and

generate a first signal in accordance with the temperature of the power amplifier,

wherein the first temperature sensor is located at a first distance from the power amplifier;

a second temperature sensor configured to

sense an ambient temperature, and

generate a second signal in accordance with the ambient temperature,

wherein the second temperature sensor is located at a second distance from the power amplifier, and

wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance; and

a bias generator configured to

generate a first biasing signal to bias the power amplifier, wherein the first gain of the power amplifier is based on the first biasing signal,

generate a second biasing signal to bias the preamplifier, wherein the second gain of the preamplifier is based on the second biasing signal, and

adjust the second gain of the preamplifier by adjusting the second biasing signal based on (i) the first signal generated by the first temperature sensor in response to sensing a change in the temperature of the power amplifier and (ii) the second signal generated by the second temperature sensor in response to sensing a change in the ambient temperature,

wherein the adjusted second gain of the preamplifier compensates a change in the first gain of the power amplifier due to the change in the temperature of the power amplifier.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the bias generator is configured to adjust the second gain of the preamplifier by (i) adding the first signal to the second biasing signal, and (ii) subtracting the second signal from the second biasing signal.

3. An integrated circuit comprising:

a die,

wherein the die includes the system of claim 1, and

wherein the first temperature sensor is arranged on the die near the power amplifier.

4. A system comprising:

a power amplifier having a first gain;

a preamplifier having a second gain, wherein an output of the preamplifier is input to the power amplifier;

a first temperature sensor configured to (i) sense a temperature of the power amplifier, and (ii) generate a first signal in accordance with the temperature, wherein the first temperature sensor is located at a first distance from the power amplifier;

a second temperature sensor configured to

sense an ambient temperature, and

generate a second signal in accordance with the ambient temperature,

wherein the second temperature sensor is located at a second distance from the power amplifier, and

wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance; and

a bias generator configured to

generate a first biasing signal, wherein the first gain of the power amplifier is based on the first biasing signal,

generate a second biasing signal, wherein the second gain of the preamplifier is based on the second biasing signal, and

adjust the second gain of the preamplifier by adjusting the second biasing signal based on tithe first signal and (ii) the second signal.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the adjusted second gain of the preamplifier compensates a change in the first gain of the power amplifier due to a change in the temperature of the power amplifier.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the bias generator is configured to adjust the second gain of the preamplifier by (i) adding the first signal to the second biasing signal, and (ii) subtracting the second signal from the second biasing signal.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the adjusted second gain of the preamplifier compensates a change in the first gain of the power amplifier due to a change in the temperature of the power amplifier.

8. An integrated circuit comprising:

a die,

wherein the die includes the system of claim 5, and

wherein the first temperature sensor is arranged on the die near the power amplifier.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising compensating a change in the first gain of the power amplifier due to a change in the temperature of the power amplifier by adjusting the second gain of the preamplifier.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising adjusting the second gain of the preamplifier by (i) adding the first signal to the second biasing signal, and (ii) subtracting the second signal from the second biasing signal.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising arranging the power amplifier, the preamplifier, the first temperature sensor, and the second temperature sensor on a die of an integrated circuit.

9. A method comprising:

arranging a first temperature sensor at a first distance from a power amplifier, wherein the power amplifier (i) has a first gain and (ii) receives, as input, an output of a preamplifier having a second gain;

sensing a temperature of the power amplifier using the first temperature sensor;

generating a first signal in accordance with the temperature;

arranging a second temperature sensor at a second distance from the power amplifier, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance;

sensing an ambient temperature using the second temperature sensor;

generating a second signal in accordance with the ambient temperature;

generating a first biasing signal, wherein the first gain of the power amplifier is based on the first biasing signal;

generating a second biasing signal, wherein the second gain of the preamplifier is based on the second biasing signal; and

adjusting the second gain of the preamplifier by adjusting the second biasing signal based on (i) the first signal and (ii) the second signal.