Multi-mode power amplifier module

• US 10,615,758 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2017
• Issued: 04/07/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Skyworks Solutions Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Skyworks Solutions Incorporated
• Inventors: Arkiszewski, Roman Zbigniew, Oz, Onder, Ni, Jianxing
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hai V
• Application Number:
  US15/820,145
• Publication Number:
  US 20180226927A1
• Time in Patent Office: 868 Days
• Field of Search: 4555521
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/0277 Selecting one or more amplifiers from a plurality of amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/56 Modifications of input or output impedances, not otherwise provided for
• 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 2200/408 the output amplifying stage of an amplifier comprising three power stages
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/451 the amplifier being a radio frequency amplifier
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/507 A switch being used for switching on or off a supply or supplying circuit in an IC-block amplifier circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2203/7209 the gated amplifier being switched from a first band to a second band
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2203/7227 the gated amplifier being switched on or off by a switch in the supply circuit of 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 3/193 with field-effect devices H03F3/195 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/245 with semiconductor devices only
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/68 Combinations of amplifiers, e.g. multi-channel amplifiers for stereophonics power amplifiers using a combination of several semiconductor amplifiers H03F3/211; combinations of amplifiers using coupling networks with distributed constants H03F3/602
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/72 Gated amplifiers, i.e. amplifiers which are rendered operative or inoperative by means of a control signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A power amplifier that can support multiple communication networks while maintaining power efficiency across each of the supported communication networks is disclosed. In some implementations described herein, a power amplifier module includes a bypass circuit that enables different voltage supplies to be provided to the power amplifier. By regulating the voltage supply provided to the power amplifier, the power amplifier can support different communication networks while maintaining power efficiency across a dynamic frequency range. Moreover, embodiments herein may include a buck converter, or other form of DC-DC converter, that enables the power amplifier to operate with respect to multiple communication networks. Advantageously, in certain embodiments, because wireless devices that include multiple power amplifiers often require a DC-DC converter to support at least some of the communication networks, the inclusion of the buck converter in the embodiments described herein does not add additional cost or size to the wireless device.

Claims

1. A power amplifier module comprising:

a configurable power amplifier that supports communication with a plurality of communication networks across a plurality of frequency bands, the configurable power amplifier configured to process signals associated with the plurality of frequency bands based at least in part on a supply voltage provided to the configurable power amplifier; and

a bypass circuit in communication with the configurable power amplifier and configured to regulate selection of the supply voltage provided to the configurable power amplifier based at least in part on a selected communication network from the plurality of communication networks, the supply voltage selected from a plurality of possible supply voltages.

2. The power amplifier module of claim 1 wherein the bypass circuit is configured to select the supply voltage from one of a battery supply voltage or a buck-converter supply voltage.

3. The power amplifier module of claim 2 wherein the buck-converter supply voltage is combined with a buck boost to step up the supply voltage.

4. The power amplifier module of claim 1 further comprising a second power amplifier configured to process one or more different frequencies than the configurable power amplifier.

5. The power amplifier module of claim 4 wherein the second power amplifier is in communication with a battery supply voltage without being in communication with the bypass circuit.

6. The power amplifier module of claim 4 wherein the bypass circuit is in communication with the second power amplifier.

7. The power amplifier module of claim 1 wherein the bypass circuit includes a first transistor and a second transistor in communication with a buck-converter supply voltage.

8. The power amplifier module of claim 7 wherein the first transistor is a p-type transistor and the second transistor is an n-type transistor.

9. A front-end module comprising:

a power amplifier module including a configurable power amplifier that supports communication with a plurality of communication networks across a plurality of frequency bands and a bypass circuit, the configurable power amplifier configured to process a plurality of signals corresponding to the plurality of frequency bands based at least in part on a supply voltage provided to the configurable power amplifier, and the bypass circuit in communication with the configurable power amplifier and configured to regulate selection of the supply voltage provided to the configurable power amplifier based at least in part on a selected communication network from the plurality of communication networks, the supply voltage selected from a plurality of supply voltages; and

a direct current-direct current converter in communication with the power amplifier module and configured to provide at least one supply voltage from the plurality of supply voltages to the bypass circuit.

10. The front-end module of claim 9 wherein the direct current-direct current converter includes a buck converter.

11. The front-end module of claim 10 wherein the buck converter is combined with a buck boost.

12. The front-end module of claim 9 wherein the plurality of supply voltages includes a battery supply voltage or a buck-converter supply voltage.

13. The front-end module of claim 9 wherein the bypass circuit includes one or more switches.

14. The front-end module of claim 9 wherein the power amplifier module further includes a second power amplifier configured to process at least one frequency band not included in the different frequency bands supported by the configurable power amplifier.

15. The front-end module of claim 14 wherein the second power amplifier receives power from a battery supply voltage without communicating with the direct current-direct current converter.

16. A method of operating a power amplifier module, the method comprising:

receiving, by a baseband processor of a wireless device, an identification of a communication network for transmission of a signal, the communication network one of a plurality of different communication networks that support different frequency bands;

determining a type of the communication network; and

in response to determining that the type of the communication network is of a first type, configuring a bypass circuit of the wireless device to provide a supply voltage from a direct current-direct current converter to a power amplifier of the wireless device, the power amplifier supporting communication with a plurality of communication networks across a plurality of frequency bands.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising, in response to determining that the type of the communication network is of a second type, providing a battery supply voltage to the power amplifier.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein providing the battery supply voltage to the power amplifier includes configuring the bypass circuit to provide the battery supply voltage to the power amplifier.

19. The method of claim 16 further comprising providing a battery supply voltage to a second power amplifier of the wireless device.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein the type of the communication network is determined based at least in part on one or more of a communication protocol implemented by the communication network or a frequency band supported by the communication network.