High-frequency power amplifier

• US 8,508,299 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2012
• Issued: 08/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
• Inventors: Seki, Kenta, Sakurai, Satoshi, Kawano, Takayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Khanh V
• Application Number:
  US13/398,893
• Publication Number:
  US 20120229217A1
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• Field of Search: 330/51, 330/124.R, 330/295, 330/302
• US Class Current: 330/295
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/0261 with control of the polarisation voltage or current, e.g. gliding Class A
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/0277 Selecting one or more amplifiers from a plurality of amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/565 using inductive elements
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/18 the bias of the gate of a FET being controlled by a control signal
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/222 A circuit being added at the input of an amplifier to adapt the input impedance of the amplifier
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/318 A matching circuit being used as coupling element between two amplifying stages
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/336 A I/Q, i.e. phase quadrature, modulator or demodulator being used in an amplifying circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/387 A circuit being added at the output of an amplifier to adapt the output impedance of the amplifier
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/411 the output amplifying stage of an amplifier comprising two power stages
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2203/7206 the gated amplifier being switched on or off by a switch in the bias circuit of the amplifier controlling a bias voltage in the amplifier
• 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 3/195 in integrated circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/211 using a combination of several amplifiers H03F3/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/245 with semiconductor devices only
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/72 Gated amplifiers, i.e. amplifiers which are rendered operative or inoperative by means of a control signal

Abstract

There is a need to provide a high-frequency power amplifier capable of reducing a talk current and reducing a phase deviation in output. The high-frequency power amplifier includes differently sized first through fifth power amplification transistors and impedance matching circuits for example. The high-frequency power amplifier changes a signal path to be used in accordance with a power specification signal. The high-frequency power amplifier uses a signal path from the first transistor to the second transistor in high power mode. The high-frequency power amplifier uses a signal path from the first transistor to the third transistor in medium power mode. The high-frequency power amplifier uses a signal path from the fourth transistor to the fifth transistor in low power mode. The high-frequency power amplifier is configured so that each of the signal paths includes the same number of stages of power amplification transistors and impedance matching circuits.

Claims

1. A high-frequency power amplifier comprising:

a first terminal where a first power signal is input;

a second terminal where a second power signal is output, the second power signal being generated by amplifying the first power signal;

a first impedance matching circuit provided between the second terminal and a first node; and

a first signal path and a second signal path that provide signal transmission paths from the first terminal to the first node and are switchable in accordance with a power specification signal capable of setting power levels of the second power signal,

wherein the first signal path includes;

a plurality of stages of power amplification transistors including a first power amplification transistor as a last stage; and

a plurality of impedance matching circuits including a second impedance matching circuit provided between an output node for the first power amplification transistor and the first node,

wherein the second signal path includes;

a plurality of stages of power amplification transistors including a second power amplification transistor as a last stage; and

a plurality of impedance matching circuits including a third impedance matching circuit provided between an output node for the second power amplification transistor and the first node,

wherein the number of stages of the power amplification transistors on the first signal path is equal to the number of stages of the power amplification transistors on the second signal path, and

wherein the number of the impedance matching circuits on the first signal path is equal to the number of the impedance matching circuits on the second signal path.

2. The high-frequency power amplifier according to claim 1, further comprising:

a fourth impedance matching circuit provided between the first terminal and a second node; and

fifth and sixth impedance matching circuits that use the second node as a common input,

wherein the fourth and the fifth impedance matching circuits are included in the impedance matching circuits on the first signal path, and

wherein the fourth and the sixth impedance matching circuits are included in the impedance matching circuits on the second signal path.

3. The high-frequency power amplifier according to claim 1, further comprising:

a third signal path that is formed from the first terminal to the first node and is switched in accordance with the power specification signal,

wherein the third signal path includes;

a plurality of stages of power amplification transistors including a third power amplification transistor as a last stage; and

a plurality of impedance matching circuits including a seventh impedance matching circuit provided between an output node for the third power amplification transistor and the first node,

wherein the number of stages of the power amplification transistors on the third signal path is equal to the number of stages of the power amplification transistors on the first and the second signal paths, and

wherein the number of the impedance matching circuits on the third signal path is equal to the number of the impedance matching circuits on the first and the second signal paths.

4. The high-frequency power amplifier according to claim 1,

wherein the number of capacitor elements included in the impedance matching circuits on the first signal path is equal to the number of capacitor elements included in the impedance matching circuits on the second signal path, and

wherein the number of inductor elements included in the impedance matching circuits on the first signal path is equal to the number of inductor elements included in the impedance matching circuits on the second signal path.

5. The high-frequency power amplifier according to claim 3,

wherein the second impedance matching circuit is equivalent to a first capacitor element inserted between an output node for the first power amplification transistor and a power supply voltage node,

wherein the third impedance matching circuit is equivalent to a second capacitor element inserted between an output node for the second power amplification transistor and a power supply voltage node, and

wherein the seventh impedance matching circuit is equivalent to a third capacitor element inserted between an output node for the third power amplification transistor and the power supply voltage node.

6. The high-frequency power amplifier according to claim 5,

wherein the third impedance matching circuit further includes a first switch inserted between the second capacitor element and the power supply voltage node, and

wherein the seventh impedance matching circuit further includes a second switch inserted between the third capacitor element and the power supply voltage node.

7. The high-frequency power amplifier according to claim 3,

wherein the high-frequency power amplifier is used for W-CDMA.

8. A high-frequency power amplifier comprising:

a first terminal where a first power signal is input;

a second terminal where a second power signal is output, the second power signal being generated by amplifying the first power signal;

a first power amplification transistor;

a second power amplification transistor sized smaller than the first power amplification transistor;

a third power amplification transistor sized smaller than the second power amplification transistor;

a first output impedance matching circuit provided between an output node for the first power amplification transistor and a first node;

a second output impedance matching circuit provided between an output node for the second power amplification transistor and the first node;

a third output impedance matching circuit provided between an output node for the third power amplification transistor and the first node;

a common output impedance matching circuit provided between the first node and the second terminal;

a fourth power amplification transistor provided prior to the first and the second power amplification transistors in common;

a first interstage impedance matching circuit provided between an output node for the fourth power amplification transistor and an input node for the first power amplification transistor;

a second interstage impedance matching circuit provided between an output node for the fourth power amplification transistor and an input node for the second power amplification transistor;

a fifth power amplification transistor that is provided prior to the third power amplification transistor and is sized smaller than the fourth power amplification transistor;

a third interstage impedance matching circuit provided between an output node for the fifth power amplification transistor and an input node for the third power amplification transistor;

a common input impedance matching circuit provided between the first terminal and the second node;

a first input impedance matching circuit provided between the second node and an input node for the fourth power amplification transistor;

a second input impedance matching circuit provided between the second node and an input node for the fifth power amplification transistor; and

a control circuit that provides control to activate one of the first through the third power amplification transistors and one of the fourth and the fifth power amplification transistors and inactivate the remaining power amplification transistors in accordance with a power specification signal for configuring a power level of the second power signal.

9. The high-frequency power amplifier according to claim 8,

wherein the first output impedance matching circuit is equivalent to a first capacitor element that is inserted in series between an output node for the first power amplification transistor and a power supply voltage node,

wherein the second output impedance matching circuit is equivalent to a second capacitor element that has a larger capacitance value than the first capacitor element and is inserted in series between an output node for the second power amplification transistor and the power supply voltage node, and

wherein the third output impedance matching circuit is equivalent to a third capacitor element that has a larger capacitance value than the second capacitor element and is inserted in series between an output node for the third power amplification transistor and the power supply voltage node.

10. The high-frequency power amplifier according to claim 9,

wherein the first input impedance matching circuit is equivalent to a fourth capacitor element inserted in series between the second node and an input node for the fourth power amplification transistor, and

wherein the second input impedance matching circuit is equivalent to a fifth capacitor element inserted in series between the second node and an input node for the fifth power amplification transistor.

11. The high-frequency power amplifier according to claim 10,

wherein the second output impedance matching circuit further includes a first switch inserted in series between the second capacitor element and the power supply voltage node, and

wherein the third output impedance matching circuit further includes a second switch inserted in series between the third capacitor element and the power supply voltage node.

12. The high-frequency power amplifier according to claim 8,

wherein the high-frequency power amplifier is used for W-CDMA.

13. A high-frequency power amplifier comprising:

a first terminal where a first power signal is input;

a second terminal where a second power signal is output, the second power signal being generated by amplifying the first power signal;

a first power amplification transistor;

a second power amplification transistor sized smaller than the first power amplification transistor;

a first output impedance matching circuit provided between an output node for the first power amplification transistor and a first node;

a second output impedance matching circuit provided between an output node for the second power amplification transistor and the first node;

a common output impedance matching circuit provided between the first node and the second terminal;

a third power amplification transistor provided prior to the first power amplification transistor;

a first interstage impedance matching circuit provided between an output node for the third power amplification transistor and an input node for the first power amplification transistor;

a fourth power amplification transistor that is provided prior to the second power amplification transistor and is sized smaller than the third power amplification transistor;

a second interstage impedance matching circuit provided between an output node for the fourth power amplification transistor and an input node for the second power amplification transistor;

a common input impedance matching circuit provided between the first terminal and the second node;

a first input impedance matching circuit provided between the second node and an input node for the third power amplification transistor;

a second input impedance matching circuit provided between the second node and an input node for the fourth power amplification transistor;

a control circuit that provides control to put the first through the fourth power amplification transistors into one of active state and inactive state in accordance with a power specification signal for configuring a power level of the second power signal,

wherein the first power amplification transistor is configured by coupling in parallel a first-A power amplification transistor and a first-B power amplification transistor,

wherein the third power amplification transistor is configured by coupling in parallel a third-A power amplification transistor and a third-B power amplification transistor,

wherein the control circuit, in accordance with the power specification signal, provides control to put the first-A, the first-B, and the second power amplification transistors into one of sets of “

active state, active state, and inactive state,”

“

active state, inactive state, and inactive state,” and

“

inactive state, inactive state, and active state,”

respectively, and to put the third-A, the third-B, and the fourth power amplification transistors into one of sets of “

active state, active state, and inactive state,”

“

active state, inactive state, and inactive state,” and

“

inactive state, inactive state, and active state,”

respectively.

14. The high-frequency power amplifier according to claim 13,

wherein the first output impedance matching circuit is equivalent to a first capacitor element that is inserted in series between an output node for the first power amplification transistor and a power supply voltage node, and

wherein the second output impedance matching circuit is equivalent to a second capacitor element that has a larger capacitance value than the first capacitor element and is inserted in series between an output node for the second power amplification transistor and the power supply voltage node.

15. The high-frequency power amplifier according to claim 14,

wherein the first input impedance matching circuit is equivalent to a third capacitor element inserted in series between the second node and an input node for the third power amplification transistor, and

wherein the second input impedance matching circuit is equivalent to a fourth capacitor element inserted in series between the second node and an input node for the fourth power amplification transistor.

16. The high-frequency power amplifier according to claim 15,

wherein the second output impedance matching circuit further includes a first switch inserted in series between the second capacitor element and the power supply voltage node.

17. The high-frequency power amplifier according to claim 13,

wherein the high-frequency power amplifier is used for W-CDMA.