RF amplifier having discrete supply voltages
First Claim
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1. A radio frequency (RF) power amplifier system, comprising:
- RF power amplifier;
a digital-to-RF modulator to generate an RF input signal for the RF power amplifier based on input information indicative of amplitude values and phase values;
a voltage control unit to provide a variable supply voltage to the RF power amplifier in response to one or more control signals, the variable supply voltage being selected from a plurality of discrete voltage levels; and
a controller configured to;
receive data indicative of a vector to be transmitted from the transmitter;
select a variable supply voltage, an input phase angle and an input amplitude level for the power amplifier that are capable of providing the vector at the output of the power amplifier, wherein the input amplitude level is such that the power amplifier is backed off from a saturation point associated with the voltage level selected for the power amplifier; and
generate the input information based on the input phase angle and the input amplitude level, and generate the one or more control signals based on the selected variable supply voltage; and
provide the input information to the digital-to-RF modulator and the one or more control signals to the voltage control unit;
wherein the voltage control unit includes;
an output terminal to provide an output voltage signal, the output terminal being coupled to a supply input of the RF power amplifier;
first, second, and third voltage terminals to carry first, second, and third discrete voltage levels in the plurality of discrete voltage levels, respectively;
a first switch coupled between the output terminal and the first voltage terminal;
a second switch coupled between the output terminal and a first intermediate node;
a third switch coupled between the first intermediate node and the second voltage terminal; and
a network comprising at least one switch coupled between the first intermediate node and the third voltage terminal;
wherein the controller is configured to control states of at least the second switch and the at least one switch.
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Abstract
A radio frequency (RF) power amplifier system or transmitter includes one or more power amplifiers and a controller that is configured to adjust amplitudes and phases of RF input signals of the one or more power amplifiers and supply voltages applied to the one or more power amplifiers. In embodiments where multiple power amplifiers are used, a combiner may be provided to combine outputs of the power amplifiers.
149 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A radio frequency (RF) power amplifier system, comprising:
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RF power amplifier; a digital-to-RF modulator to generate an RF input signal for the RF power amplifier based on input information indicative of amplitude values and phase values; a voltage control unit to provide a variable supply voltage to the RF power amplifier in response to one or more control signals, the variable supply voltage being selected from a plurality of discrete voltage levels; and a controller configured to; receive data indicative of a vector to be transmitted from the transmitter; select a variable supply voltage, an input phase angle and an input amplitude level for the power amplifier that are capable of providing the vector at the output of the power amplifier, wherein the input amplitude level is such that the power amplifier is backed off from a saturation point associated with the voltage level selected for the power amplifier; and generate the input information based on the input phase angle and the input amplitude level, and generate the one or more control signals based on the selected variable supply voltage; and provide the input information to the digital-to-RF modulator and the one or more control signals to the voltage control unit; wherein the voltage control unit includes;
an output terminal to provide an output voltage signal, the output terminal being coupled to a supply input of the RF power amplifier;
first, second, and third voltage terminals to carry first, second, and third discrete voltage levels in the plurality of discrete voltage levels, respectively;
a first switch coupled between the output terminal and the first voltage terminal;
a second switch coupled between the output terminal and a first intermediate node;
a third switch coupled between the first intermediate node and the second voltage terminal; and
a network comprising at least one switch coupled between the first intermediate node and the third voltage terminal;
wherein the controller is configured to control states of at least the second switch and the at least one switch. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A machine implemented method for operating a radio frequency (RF) transmitter having a digital-to-RF modulator driving an RF power amplifier, the method comprising:
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obtaining transmit data to be transmitted from the RF transmitter; providing input information for the digital-to-RF modulator based, at least in part, on the transmit data, the input information to control an amplitude and a phase of an RF output signal of the digital-to-RF modulator; selecting a supply voltage for the RF power amplifier based, at least in part, on the transmit data, the supply voltage being selected from a plurality of discrete voltage levels, wherein the supply voltage changes with time, the supply voltage selected by the steps of; selecting a variable supply voltage, an input phase angle and an input amplitude level for the power amplifier that are capable of providing the vector at the output of the power amplifier, wherein the input amplitude level is such that the power amplifier is backed off from a saturation point associated with the voltage level selected for the power amplifier; and generating the input information based on the input phase angle and the input amplitude level, and generate the one or more control signals based on the selected variable supply voltage; and providing control signals to a plurality of switches within a voltage control unit based on the changing supply voltage selection, wherein the voltage control unit includes;
an output terminal to provide an output voltage signal, the output terminal being coupled to a supply terminal of the RF power amplifier;
first, second, and third voltage terminals to carry first, second, and third discrete voltage levels in the plurality of discrete voltage levels, respectively;
a first switch coupled between the output terminal and the first voltage terminal;
a second switch coupled between the output terminal and a first intermediate node;
a third switch coupled between the first intermediate node and the second voltage terminal; and
a network comprising at least one switch coupled between the first intermediate node and the third voltage terminal, wherein providing control signals includes providing control signals to at least the second switch and the at least one switch. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification