Gain and phase calibration for closed loop feedback linearized amplifiers

• US 9,294,045 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2014
• Issued: 03/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qorvo International Pte. Ltd. (Qorvo, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: RF Micro Devices Incorporated (Qorvo, Inc.)
• Inventors: Scott, Baker, Maxim, George, Leipold, Dirk Robert Walter
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hieu
• Application Number:
  US14/215,815
• Publication Number:
  US 20140266457A1
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• Field of Search: 330/149, 375296-297, 455/114.3
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/28 Coils; Windings; Conductive connections
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/385 for reducing harmonics
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/22 by use of cascode coupling, i.e. earthed cathode or emitter stage followed by earthed grid or base stage respectively
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/32 Modifications of amplifiers to reduce non-linear distortion by negative feedback H03F1/34
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/3241 using predistortion circuits H03F1/3211, H03F1/3217 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/34 Negative-feedback-circuit arrangements with or without positive feedback H03F1/02 - H03F1/30, H03F1/38 - H03F1/50, H03F3/50 take precedence ; for rejection of common mode signals H03F3/45479
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/19 with semiconductor devices only
• 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 3/213 in integrated circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 7/09 Filters comprising mutual inductance
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 7/1775 Parallel LC in shunt or branch path H03H7/1791 takes precedence

Abstract

Embodiments of a radio frequency (RF) amplification device having an RF amplification circuit and an amplifier control circuit operably associated with the RF amplification circuit are disclosed. The RF amplification circuit is configured to amplify an RF signal in accordance with a transfer function. The amplifier control circuit includes a closed-loop linearization circuit and a calibration circuit. The closed-loop linearization circuit is configured to be activated so that the transfer function defines a closed-loop response and inactive so that the transfer function defines an open-loop response. For example, the closed-loop linearization circuit may become inactive at small-signal power levels. Accordingly, the amplifier control circuit also includes a calibration circuit configured to reduce a difference between the open-loop response and the closed-loop response of the transfer function. In this manner, the performance of the RF amplification device is maintained while the closed-loop linearization circuit is inactive.

Claims

1. A radio frequency (RF) amplification device, comprising:

an RF amplification circuit configured to receive an RF signal and generate an amplified RF signal in accordance with a transfer function; and

an amplifier control circuit operably associated with the RF amplification circuit wherein the amplifier control circuit comprises;

a closed-loop linearization circuit configured to be activated such that the transfer function of the RF amplification circuit defines a closed-loop response and inactivated such that the transfer function of the RF amplification circuit defines an open-loop response; and

a calibration circuit configured to control the RF amplification circuit to reduce a difference between the open-loop response and the closed-loop response of the transfer function based on a difference of the RF signal and the amplified RF signal.

2. The RF amplification device of claim 1 wherein the closed-loop linearization circuit is configured to linearize a response characteristic of the transfer function of the RF amplification circuit so that the response characteristic defines the closed-loop response while the closed-loop linearization circuit is activated and the response characteristic defines the open-loop response while the closed-loop linearization circuit is inactive.

3. The RF amplification device of claim 2 wherein:

the closed-loop linearization circuit is a closed-loop gain linearization circuit;

the response characteristic of the transfer function linearized by the closed-loop gain linearization circuit is a gain response that defines the closed-loop response as a closed-loop gain response and the open-loop response as an open-loop gain response; and

the calibration circuit is a gain calibration circuit that is configured to reduce the difference between the open-loop gain response and the closed-loop gain response.

4. The RF amplification device of claim 2 wherein:

the closed-loop linearization circuit is a closed-loop phase linearization circuit;

the response characteristic of the transfer function linearized by the closed-loop phase linearization circuit is a phase response that defines the closed-loop response as a closed-loop phase response and the open-loop response as an open-loop phase response; and

the calibration circuit is a phase calibration circuit that is configured to reduce the difference between the open-loop phase response and the closed-loop phase response.

5. The RF amplification device of claim 4 wherein the amplifier control circuit further comprises:

a closed-loop gain linearization circuit configured to linearize a gain response of the transfer function of the RF amplification circuit so that the gain response has a closed-loop gain response while the closed-loop gain linearization circuit is activated and the gain response has an open-loop gain response while the closed-loop gain linearization circuit is inactive; and

a gain calibration circuit configured to reduce a second difference between the open-loop gain response and the closed-loop gain response.

6. The RF amplification device of claim 1 wherein the calibration circuit is configured to reduce the difference between the open-loop response and the closed-loop response by being configured to adjust the closed-loop response to reduce the difference.

7. The RF amplification device of claim 1 wherein the calibration circuit is configured to reduce the difference between the open-loop response and the closed-loop response by being configured to adjust the open-loop response to reduce the difference.

8. The RF amplification device of claim 1 wherein the calibration circuit is configured to reduce the difference such that the difference is substantially eliminated.

9. The RF amplification device of claim 1 wherein the closed-loop linearization circuit is configured to be activated such that the transfer function of the RF amplification circuit defines the closed-loop response when a signal power level of the RF signal is above a threshold power level.

10. The RF amplification device of claim 1 wherein the closed-loop linearization circuit is further configured to be inactive to provide the open-loop response when a signal power level of the RF signal is below a threshold power level.

11. The RF amplification device of claim 10 wherein the closed-loop linearization circuit is further configured to be active when the signal power level of the RF signal is above a second threshold power level.

12. The RF amplification device of claim 11 wherein:

the closed-loop linearization circuit is configured to be partially active while the signal power level of the RF signal is between the threshold power level and the second threshold power level so that that the transfer function defines an open-loop to closed-loop transition response;

the calibration circuit results in a finite error at alignment of the open-loop response and the closed-loop response; and

the closed-loop linearization circuit and the calibration circuit are configured to operate in combination to reduce a second difference between the open-loop to closed-loop transition response and the closed-loop response.

13. The RF amplification device of claim 11 wherein:

the closed-loop linearization circuit is configured to be partially active while the signal power level of the RF signal is between the threshold power level and the second threshold power level so that that the transfer function defines an open-loop to closed-loop transition response; and

the closed-loop linearization circuit and the calibration circuit are configured to operate in combination to reduce a second difference between the open-loop to closed-loop transition response and the open-loop response.

14. The RF amplification circuit of claim 1 wherein:

the amplifier control circuit is configured to generate a control output that adjusts the transfer function of the RF amplification circuit;

the closed-loop gain linearization circuit is further configured to adjust the control output so as to linearize a response characteristic of the transfer function when the closed-loop linearization circuit is active, wherein the response characteristic defines the open-loop response and the closed-loop response; and

the calibration circuit is further configured to adjust the control output so as to reduce the difference between the open-loop response and the closed-loop response.

15. The RF amplification circuit of claim 14 wherein:

the closed-loop linearization circuit comprises an error detection circuit configured to generate an error signal having an error signal level that indicates a difference between a set point and a magnitude of the amplified RF signal;

the calibration circuit is configured to generate a calibration signal having a calibration signal level; and

the amplifier control circuit further comprises one or more control blocks and is operably associated with the closed-loop linearization circuit and the calibration circuit, wherein the one or more control blocks are configured to;

generate the control output based on the error signal level of the error signal so that the response characteristic of the transfer function is linearized while the closed-loop linearization circuit is activated; and

generate the control output based on the calibration signal level of the calibration signal so as to reduce the difference between the open-loop response and the closed-loop response.

16. The RF amplification circuit of claim 15 wherein:

the calibration circuit is further configured to;

store a stored signal level; and

generate the calibration signal such that the calibration signal level is set in accordance with the stored signal level.

17. The RF amplification circuit of claim 16, wherein:

the closed-loop linearization circuit is further configured to be active when a signal power level of the RF signal is above a first threshold power level;

the transfer response is configured to define a pure open-loop response characteristic when both the closed-loop linearization circuit and the calibration circuit are turned off, such that the pure open-loop response characteristic is substantially linear when the signal power level of the RF signal is below a second threshold power level and is substantially non-linear when the signal power level of the RF signal is above the second threshold power level; and

the calibration circuit is further configured to be calibrated during a calibration period and wherein, during the calibration period, the calibration circuit is configured to store the stored signal level based on the error signal level of the error signal when the signal power level of the RF signal is at a calibration power level that is between the first threshold power level and the second threshold power level.

18. The RF amplification circuit of claim 14 wherein:

the closed-loop linearization circuit comprises an error detection circuit configured to generate a digital error output representing an error value that indicates a difference between a set point and a magnitude of the amplified RF signal;

the calibration circuit is configured to generate a digital calibration control input representing a calibration value; and

the amplifier control circuit further comprises one or more control blocks operably associated with the closed-loop linearization circuit and the calibration circuit, wherein the one or more control blocks is configured to;

generate the control output based on the error value of the digital error output so that the response characteristic of the transfer function is linearized while the closed-loop linearization circuit is activated; and

generate the control output based on the calibration value of the digital calibration control input so as to reduce the difference between the open-loop response and the closed-loop response.

19. The RF amplification circuit of claim 18 wherein:

the calibration circuit is further configured to;

store the calibration value; and

generate the digital calibration control input representing the calibration value that is stored.

20. The RF amplification circuit of claim 19 wherein:

the closed-loop linearization circuit is further configured to be active when a signal power level of the RF signal is above a first threshold power level;

the transfer response is configured to define a pure open-loop response characteristic when both the closed-loop linearization circuit and the calibration circuit are turned off, such that the pure open-loop response characteristic is substantially linear when the signal power level of the RF signal is below a second threshold power level and is substantially non-linear when the signal power level of the RF signal is above the second threshold power level; and

the calibration circuit is further configured to be calibrated during a calibration period, wherein during the calibration period, the calibration circuit is configured to store the calibration value based on the error value of the digital error output when the signal power level of the RF signal is at a calibration power level that is between the first threshold power level and the second threshold power level.

26. The RF amplification device of claim 1 wherein to reduce the difference between the open-loop response and the closed-loop response of the transfer function, the calibration circuit is further configured to control the RF amplification circuit to:

determine an amplitude associated with the amplified RF signal;

determine a set point based on a power level associated with the RF signal; and

control a gain of the RF amplification circuit based on a difference between the amplitude associated with the amplified RF signal and the set point.

27. The RF amplification device of claim 26 wherein to reduce the difference between the open-loop response and the closed-loop response of the transfer function, the calibration circuit is further configured to control the RF amplification circuit to:

determine a phase associated with the amplified RF signal;

determine a phase associated with the RF signal; and

control a delay provided by the RF amplification circuit based on a difference between the phase associated with the amplified RF signal and the phase associated with the RF signal.

21. A method of providing amplification to a radio frequency (RF) signal, comprising:

receiving the RF signal and generating an amplified RF signal with an RF amplification circuit and in accordance with a transfer function of the RF amplification circuit;

linearizing a response characteristic of the RF amplification circuit so that the response characteristic defines a closed-loop response when linearization is being provided and the response characteristic defines an open-loop response when linearization is not being provided; and

reducing a difference between the open-loop response and the closed-loop response of the transfer function based on a difference of the RF signal and the amplified RF signal.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the response characteristic is a gain response.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein the response characteristic is a phase response.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein reducing the difference between the open-loop response and the closed-loop response comprises adjusting the closed-loop response to reduce the difference.

25. The method of claim 21 wherein reducing the difference between the open-loop response and the closed-loop response comprises adjusting the open-loop response to reduce the difference.

28. The method of claim 21 wherein reducing the difference between the open-loop response and the closed-loop response of the transfer function further comprises:

determining an amplitude associated with the amplified RF signal;

determining a set point based on a power level associated with the RF signal; and

controlling a gain of the RF amplification circuit based on a difference between the amplitude associated with the amplified RF signal and the set point.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein reducing the difference between the open-loop response and the closed-loop response of the transfer function further comprises:

determining a phase associated with the amplified RF signal;

determining a phase associated with the RF signal; and

controlling a delay provided by the RF amplification circuit based on a difference between the phase associated with the amplified RF signal and the phase associated with the RF signal.