Enhanced amplifier efficiency through cascode current steering
First Claim
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1. A power amplifier comprising:
- a common emitter configured to receive a radio-frequency signal;
a carrier amplifier coupled to the common emitter to form a carrier cascode configuration, a collector of the carrier amplifier provided with a first supply voltage and a base of the carrier amplifier coupled to a first bias voltage that varies as a function of an output power of the power amplifier; and
a peaking amplifier coupled to the common emitter to form a peaking cascode configuration, a collector of the peaking amplifier provided with a second supply voltage greater than the first supply voltage and a base of the peaking amplifier coupled to a second bias voltage that varies as a function of the output power of the power amplifier.
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Abstract
According to some implementations, a power amplifier (PA) includes a common emitter configured to receive a radio-frequency (RF) signal. The PA also includes a carrier amplifier coupled to the common emitter to form a carrier cascode configuration, a collector of the carrier amplifier provided with a first supply voltage. The PA further includes a peaking amplifier coupled to the common emitter to form a peaking cascode configuration, a collector of the peaking amplifier provided with a second supply voltage greater than the first supply voltage.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A power amplifier comprising:
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a common emitter configured to receive a radio-frequency signal; a carrier amplifier coupled to the common emitter to form a carrier cascode configuration, a collector of the carrier amplifier provided with a first supply voltage and a base of the carrier amplifier coupled to a first bias voltage that varies as a function of an output power of the power amplifier; and a peaking amplifier coupled to the common emitter to form a peaking cascode configuration, a collector of the peaking amplifier provided with a second supply voltage greater than the first supply voltage and a base of the peaking amplifier coupled to a second bias voltage that varies as a function of the output power of the power amplifier. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A radio-frequency module comprising:
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a packaging substrate configured to receive a plurality of components; and a power amplifier implemented on the packaging substrate, the power amplifier including a common emitter configured to receive a radio-frequency signal, the power amplifier further including a carrier amplifier coupled to the common emitter to form a carrier cascode configuration, a collector of the carrier amplifier provided with a first supply voltage and a base of the carrier amplifier coupled to a first bias voltage that varies as a function of an output power of the power amplifier, the power amplifier further including a peaking amplifier coupled to the common emitter to form a peaking cascode configuration, a collector of the peaking amplifier provided with a second supply voltage greater than the first supply voltage and a base of the peaking amplifier coupled to a second bias voltage that varies as a function of the output power of the power amplifier. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A radio-frequency device comprising:
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a transceiver configured to generate a radio-frequency signal; a front-end module in communication with the transceiver, the front-end module including a packaging substrate configured to receive a plurality of components, the front-end module further including a power amplifier implemented on the packaging substrate, the power amplifier including a common emitter configured to receive a radio-frequency signal, the power amplifier further including a carrier amplifier coupled to the common emitter to form a carrier cascode configuration, a collector of the carrier amplifier provided with a first supply voltage and a base of the carrier amplifier coupled to a first bias voltage that varies as a function of an output power of the power amplifier, the power amplifier further including a peaking amplifier coupled to the common emitter to form a peaking cascode configuration, a collector of the peaking amplifier provided with a second supply voltage greater than the first supply voltage and a base of the peaking amplifier coupled to a second bias voltage that varies as a function of the output power of the power amplifier; and an antenna in communication with the front-end module, the antenna configured to transmit the amplified radio-frequency signal. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification