Fast settling power amplifier regulator

• US 7,173,491 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2004
• Issued: 02/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Dupuis, Timothy J., Bocock, Ryan M.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KHANH V
• Application Number:
  US10/814,617
• Publication Number:
  US 20050024145A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,042 Days
• Field of Search: 330/127, 330/129, 330/207.P, 330/279, 330/285, 330/296, 330/297
• US Class Current: 330/285
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/0211 with control of the supply voltage or current
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/0216 Continuous control
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/0261 with control of the polarisation voltage or current, e.g. gliding Class A
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/471 the voltage being sensed
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/504 the supply voltage or current being continuously controlled by a controlling signal, e.g. the controlling signal of a transistor implemented as variable resistor in a supply path for, an IC-block showed amplifier
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/3042 in modulators, frequency-changers, transmitters or power amplifiers transmission power control in bidirectional transmission systems H04W52/04
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/3047 for intermittent signals, e.g. burst signals

Abstract

A method and apparatus is provided for dynamically changing the biasing conditions of a voltage regulator to overcome the problems caused by various conditions. The invention includes a detector and a bias control circuit for applying bias current to the voltage regulator to compensate for a detected condition.

Claims

1. A circuit for regulating the output power of a power amplifier during a switching transient comprising:

a regulator for providing regulated power to the power amplifier;

a detector circuit coupled to the regulator and to a control signal that is generated to control the output power of the power amplifier, wherein the detector circuit detects switching transients of the power amplifier; and

a bias control circuit coupled to the regulator for applying a bias signal to the regulator to decrease the settling time of the regulator during the detected switching transients, wherein the regulator continues to provide regulated power to the power amplifier while the bias signal is applied.

2. The circuit of claim 1, further comprising a timer circuit coupled to the bias control circuit and the detector circuit for controlling when the bias signal is applied to the regulator.

3. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the detector detects when a voltage level of the control signal drops.

4. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the bias control circuit decreases the settling time of the regulator by applying a bias current to the regulator.

5. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the bias control circuit decreases the settling time of the regulator by applying a bias voltage to the regulator.

6. The circuit of claim 1, further comprising a switching device coupled to the detector, wherein the bias control circuit decreases the settling time of the regulator by turning on the switching device in response to a detected condition.

7. A circuit for regulating the output power of a power amplifier during a switching transient comprising:

a regulator for providing regulated power to the power amplifier;

a detector for detecting a condition relating to the operation of the regulator; and

control circuitry coupled to the regulator for applying a bias signal to the regulator to decrease the settling time of the regulator in response to the detected condition, wherein the regulator continues to provide regulated power to the power amplifier while the condition is detected.

8. The circuit of claim 7, further comprising a timer coupled to the detector and the control circuitry for controlling the duration that the control circuitry controls the output power of the regulator in response to the detected condition.

9. The circuit of claim 8, further comprising delay circuitry for delaying when the control circuitry controls the output power of the regulator in response to the detected condition.

10. The circuit of claim 7, wherein the output level of the regulator is controlled by a power control signal, and wherein the detector detects a condition relating to the power control signal.

11. The circuit of claim 10, wherein the detector detects when the power control signal level drops.

12. The circuit of claim 7, wherein the control circuitry varies the speed at which the regulator is able to respond to the detected condition.

13. The circuit of claim 12, wherein the regulator is dynamically biased in response to a detected condition.

14. The circuit of claim 7, wherein the control circuitry changes the way the regulator controls the output power of the power amplifier in response to a detected condition.

15. The circuit of claim 14, further comprising switching circuitry for selectively activating two or more regulators in response to the detected condition.

16. The circuit of claim 7, wherein the regulator is a voltage regulator.

17. The circuit of claim 7, wherein the regulator is a current regulator.

18. A method of controlling a regulator for providing regulated power to a power amplifier, the method comprising:

using the regulator to regulate the power provided to the power amplifier;

detecting a condition relating to the operation of the regulator; and

in response to a detected condition, applying a bias signal to the regulator for a limited duration to decrease the settling time of the regulator while continuing to provide regulated power to the power amplifier.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the regulator is a voltage regulator.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the bias signal is a bias voltage.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the regulator is a current regulator.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the bias signal is a bias current.