Power amplifier with wide dynamic range am feedback linearization scheme

• US 9,742,359 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2014
• Issued: 08/22/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qorvo International Pte. Ltd. (Qorvo, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qorvo International Pte. Ltd. (Qorvo, Inc.)
• Inventors: Scott, Baker, Maxim, George
• Primary Examiner(s): Choe, Henry
• Application Number:
  US14/217,199
• Publication Number:
  US 20140266451A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,254 Days
• Field of Search: 330133, 330278, 330254
• 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

Circuitry, which includes a package interface, a radio frequency (RF) amplification circuit, and a closed-loop gain linearization circuit. The package interface receives an RF signal and provides an amplified RF signal. The RF amplification circuit amplifies the RF signal in accordance with a gain of the RF amplification circuit so as to generate the amplified RF signal. In one embodiment, the closed-loop gain linearization circuit is configured to endogenously establish a target gain magnitude using the RF signal and linearize the gain of the RF amplification circuit in accordance with the target gain magnitude. By endogenously establishing the target gain magnitude using the RF signal, the closed-loop gain linearization circuit can provide linearity with greater independence from external control circuitry.

Claims

1. Circuitry, comprising:

a radio frequency (RF) amplification circuit configured to amplify an RF signal in accordance with a gain of the RF amplification circuit so as to generate an amplified RF signal, wherein the RF amplification circuit comprises;

an initial RF amplifier stage configured to receive the RF signal from a package interface and amplify the RF signal in accordance with a first amplifier stage gain so as to generate a first interstage RF signal;

an intermediate RF amplifier stage configured to receive the first interstage RF signal from the initial RF amplifier stage and amplify the first interstage RF signal in accordance with a second amplifier stage gain so as to generate a second interstage RF signal; and

a final RF amplifier stage configured to receive the second interstage RF signal from the intermediate RF amplifier stage and amplify the second interstage RF signal in accordance with a third amplifier stage gain so as to generate the amplified RF signal, wherein the gain of the RF amplification circuit is an aggregate of the first amplifier stage gain, the second amplifier stage gain, and the third amplifier stage gain;

a closed-loop gain linearization circuit configured to;

endogenously establish a target gain magnitude using the RF signal; and

linearize the gain of the RF amplification circuit in accordance with the target gain magnitude by being configured to adjust a first gain magnitude of the second amplifier stage gain to set a gain magnitude of the gain of the RF amplification circuit, by being configured further to adjust a second gain magnitude of the third amplifier stage gain to set the gain magnitude of the gain of the RF amplification circuit in accordance with the target gain magnitude, by being configured to adjust the first gain magnitude of the second amplifier stage gain, and by being configured to adjust an internal impedance level of the intermediate RF amplifier stage to set the gain magnitude of the gain of the RF amplification circuit in accordance with the target gain magnitude; and

the package interface configured to receive the RF signal and transmit the amplified RF signal.

2. The circuitry of claim 1 wherein the closed-loop gain linearization circuit is configured to endogenously establish the target gain magnitude using the RF signal by being configured to:

detect a first signal amplitude of the RF signal; and

endogenously establish a target reference amplitude set in accordance with the target gain magnitude and the first signal amplitude of the RF signal.

3. The circuitry of claim 2 wherein the closed-loop gain linearization circuit is configured to linearize the gain by being configured to:

detect a measured signal amplitude of the amplified RF signal; and

adjust the gain magnitude of the gain of the RF amplification circuit so as to reduce a difference between the target reference amplitude and the measured signal amplitude of the amplified RF signal.

4. The circuitry of claim 1 wherein the RF amplification circuit comprises a plurality of RF amplifier stages connected in cascade, wherein the plurality of RF amplifier stages include the initial RF amplifier stage, the intermediate RF amplifier stage, and the final RF amplifier stage.

5. The circuitry of claim 4 wherein the RF amplification circuit is configured to control more than one of the RF amplifier stages in order to adjust the gain magnitude of the gain of the RF amplification circuit.

6. The circuitry of claim 4 wherein:

the plurality of RF amplifier stages has a plurality of amplifier stage gains such that each RF amplifier stage of the plurality of RF amplifier stages has an amplifier stage gain of the plurality of amplifier stage gains, wherein the gain of the RF amplification circuit is an aggregate of the plurality of amplifier stage gains; and

the closed-loop gain linearization circuit is configured to linearize the gain magnitude by being configured to adjust more than one of the plurality of amplifier stage gains.

7. The circuitry of claim 1 further comprising an amplifier control circuit that includes the closed-loop gain linearization circuit, wherein:

the amplifier control circuit is configured to generate a control output that sets the gain of the RF amplification circuit; and

the closed-loop gain linearization circuit is configured to linearize the gain of the RF amplification circuit in accordance with the target gain magnitude by being configured to adjust the control output in order to linearize the gain of the RF amplification circuit in accordance with the target gain magnitude.

8. The circuitry of claim 1 wherein the closed-loop gain linearization circuit is configured to adjust the second gain magnitude of the third amplifier stage gain by being configured to adjust a quiescent operating level of the final RF amplifier stage to set the gain magnitude of the gain of the RF amplification circuit in accordance with the target gain magnitude.

9. The circuitry of claim 1 wherein the closed-loop gain linearization circuit is configured to adjust the first gain magnitude of the second amplifier stage gain to set the gain magnitude of the gain of the RF amplification circuit in accordance with the target gain magnitude while the amplified RF signal is below a threshold power level, and is configured to adjust the second gain magnitude of the third amplifier stage gain to set the gain magnitude of the gain of the RF amplification circuit in accordance with the target gain magnitude while the amplified RF signal is above the threshold power level.

10. An integrated circuit (IC) package, comprising:

a radio frequency (RF) amplification device integrated into the IC package, wherein the RF amplification device comprises;

an RF amplification circuit configured to amplify an RF signal in accordance with a gain of the RF amplification circuit so as to generate an amplified RF signal, wherein the RF amplification circuit comprises;

an initial RF amplifier stage configured to receive the RF signal from a package interface and amplify the RF signal in accordance with a first amplifier stage gain so as to generate a first interstage RF signal;

an intermediate RF amplifier stage configured to receive the first interstage RF signal from the initial RF amplifier stage and amplify the first interstage RF signal in accordance with a second amplifier stage gain so as to generate a second interstage RF signal; and

a final RF amplifier stage configured to receive the second interstage RF signal from the intermediate RF amplifier stage and amplify the second interstage RF signal in accordance with a third amplifier stage gain so as to generate the amplified RF signal, wherein the gain of the RF amplification circuit is an aggregate of the first amplifier stage gain, the second amplifier stage gain, and the third amplifier stage gain;

a closed-loop gain linearization circuit configured to;

endogenously establish a target gain magnitude using the RF signal; and

linearize the gain of the RF amplification circuit in accordance with the target gain magnitude by being configured to adjust a first gain magnitude of the second amplifier stage gain to set a gain magnitude of the gain of the RF amplification circuit, by being configured further to adjust a second gain magnitude of the third amplifier stage gain to set the gain magnitude of the gain of the RF amplification circuit in accordance with the target gain magnitude, by being configured to adjust the first gain magnitude of the second amplifier stage gain, and by being configured to adjust an internal impedance level of the intermediate RF amplifier stage to set the gain magnitude of the gain of the RF amplification circuit in accordance with the target gain magnitude; and

the package interface configured to receive the RF signal into the IC package and transmit the amplified RF signal from the IC package.

11. The IC package of claim 10 wherein the closed-loop gain linearization circuit is configured to endogenously establish the target gain magnitude using the RF signal by being configured to:

detect a first signal amplitude of the RF signal; and

endogenously establish a target reference amplitude set in accordance with the target gain magnitude and the first signal amplitude of the RF signal.

12. The IC package of claim 11 wherein the closed-loop gain linearization circuit is configured to linearize the gain magnitude by being configured to:

detect a measured signal amplitude of the amplified RF signal; and

adjust the gain magnitude of the gain of the RF amplification circuit so as to reduce a difference between the target reference amplitude and the measured signal amplitude of the amplified RF signal.

13. The IC package of claim 10 wherein the RF amplification circuit comprises a plurality of RF amplifier stages connected in cascade, wherein the plurality of RF amplifier stages include the initial RF amplifier stage, the intermediate RF amplifier stage, and the final RF amplifier stage.

14. The IC package of claim 13 wherein the RF amplification circuit is configured to control more than one of the RF amplifier stages in order to adjust the gain magnitude of the gain of the RF amplification circuit.

15. The IC package of claim 13 wherein:

the plurality of RF amplifier stages has a plurality of amplifier stage gains such that each RF amplifier stage of the plurality of the RF amplifier stages has an amplifier stage gain of the plurality of amplifier stage gains, wherein the gain of the RF amplification circuit is an aggregate of the plurality of amplifier stage gains; and

the closed-loop gain linearization circuit is configured to linearize the gain magnitude by being configured to adjust more than one of the plurality of amplifier stage gains.

16. The IC package of claim 15 wherein the plurality of RF amplifier stages comprises:

the initial RF amplifier stage configured to receive the RF signal from the package interface and amplify the RF signal in accordance with the first amplifier stage gain so as to generate the first interstage RF signal;

the intermediate RF amplifier stage configured to receive the first interstage RF signal from the initial RF amplifier stage and amplify the first interstage RF signal in accordance with the second amplifier stage gain so as to generate the second interstage RF signal; and

the final RF amplifier stage configured to receive the second interstage RF signal from the intermediate RF amplifier stage and amplify the second interstage RF signal in accordance with the third amplifier stage gain so as to generate the amplified RF signal, wherein the gain of the RF amplification circuit is the aggregate of the first amplifier stage gain, the second amplifier stage gain, and the third amplifier stage gain, wherein the plurality of amplifier stage gains comprise the first amplifier stage gain, the second amplifier stage gain, and the third amplifier stage gain.