Patent classifications
H03F2200/36
Balanced Amplifiers with Wideband Linearization
An RF amplifier utilizes first and second main amplifiers in a balanced amplifier configuration with first and second auxiliary amplifiers connected in parallel across the first and second main amplifiers, respectively. The main and the auxiliary amplifiers are biased such that the third-order nonlinearity components in the combined output current are reduced. A common or independent bias control circuit(s) control(s) the DC operating bias of the auxiliary amplifiers and establishes DC operating points on curves representing third-order nonlinear components within the drain current having a positive slope (opposite to the corresponding slope of the main amplifiers). This results in reduction of overall third-order nonlinear components in combined currents at the output. In another embodiment, a phase shift of an input to one auxiliary amplifier is used to provide a peak in minimization at a frequency associated with the phase shift.
Power amplifier circuit
A power amplifier circuit includes a first impedance transformer circuit arranged to connect with a carrier device, and a second impedance transformer circuit arranged to connect with a peaking device. Both the first and the second impedance transformer circuit include a parallel impedance transformer arrangement.
Embedded Transmit/Receive Switch
A TX/RX switch includes a power amplifier (PA), a Low Noise Amplifier (LNA), and an antenna connection. The PA is connected to a PA matching network that has a PA network impedance and a common PA-LNA impedance connected in one or more series-parallel combinations in different embodiments in a transmitting mode. The LNA is connected to a LNA matching network that has a LNA network impedance and the same common PA-LNA impedance connected in one or more series-parallel combinations in a receive mode. A mode switch can connect the common PA-LNA impedance in different configurations to enable the transmitting and receiving mode respectively. In some embodiments, the mode switch can short or open circuit the connection of the PA matching circuit or the LNA matching circuit to the antenna. In some embodiments, the mode switch can also turn power on or off to the PA or the LNA when the switch is in a mode where the respective amplifier is not selected. Accordingly, with specific design limitations on the common PA-LNA impedance combined with different mode switch configurations of the TX/RX switch components in either the TX or RX mode, the TX/RX switch operates within a design bandwidth without transmission lines embedded in the TX/RX switch circuitry and provides optimum power transfer from/to the antenna at the antenna connection with reduced noise.
Receiving circuit, and semiconductor apparatus and semiconductor system using the same
A receiving circuit may include a first amplifying circuit, a second amplifying circuit, a third amplifying circuit, and a feedback circuit. The first amplifying circuit amplifies a first input signal and a second input signal to generate a first amplified signal and a second amplified signal, respectively. The second amplifying circuit amplifies the first amplified signal and the second amplified signal to generate a first preliminary output signal and a second preliminary output signal, respectively. The third amplifying circuit amplifies the first preliminary output signal and the second preliminary output signal to generate a first output signal and a second output signal, respectively. The feedback circuit changes voltage levels of the first amplified signal and the second amplified signal based on a current control signal, the first output signal, and the second output signal.
HIGH-FREQUENCY, MULTISTAGE, LOW-NOISE AMPLIFIER
An amplifier includes: a high-frequency input terminal; a high-frequency output terminal; a multistage circuit provided between the high-frequency input terminal and the high-frequency output terminal and including two or more amplifiers and connected in series, each amplifier including an input matching circuit, a transistor, and an output matching circuit; a stabilizing circuit provided in at least two of the amplifiers and including a bandpass filter and a resistor connected in parallel; and a band-rejection filter provided between the at least two of amplifiers and eliminating a frequency lower than an operation frequency of the amplifier. The stabilizing circuit and the band-rejection filter are provided between an output terminal of the transistor of the amplifier and the output matching circuit or provided in the output matching circuit. The closer to the high-frequency input terminal the bandpass filter is, the lower a resonance frequency of the bandpass filter is.
MULTI-STAGE WIDE-BAND AMPLIFIER WITH INTRA-STAGE AND INTER-STAGE INDUCTIVE COUPLING
A multi-stage amplifier includes a first stage comprising a first common-source amplifier, a first inductive load network comprising a serial connection of a first load resistor and a first load inductor, and a first source network configured to receive a first signal and output a first load signal, and a first inter-stage inductor configured to couple the first load signal to a second signal; and a second stage comprising a second common-source amplifier, a second inductive load network comprising a serial connection of a second load resistor and a second load inductor, and a second source network configured to receive the second signal and output a second load signal, and a second inter-stage inductor configured to couple the second load signal to a third signal, wherein the first load inductor and the second load inductor are laid out to enhance an inter-stage inductive coupling.
Amplifier compensation circuits and methods
Various examples are directed to a frequency-compensated amplifier circuit comprising a first multi-stage amplifier comprising a first amplifier input node, a first amplifier output node, and a first amplifier intermediate node. A first feedback path between the first amplifier input node and the first amplifier output node comprises a feedback resistance. A second feedback path between the first amplifier output node and the first amplifier intermediate node comprises a first capacitor and a portion of the feedback resistance. A first switch circuit may be electrically coupled to the first capacitor and to the feedback resistance. The first switch circuit may have a first state in which the first capacitor is coupled to a first tap point of the feedback resistance and the portion of the feedback resistance has a first value. The first switch circuit may also have a second state in which the first capacitor is coupled to a second tap point of the feedback resistance and the portion of the feedback resistance has a second value different than the first value.
Balanced differential transimpedance amplifier with single ended input and balancing method
A balanced differential transimpedance amplifier with a single-ended input operational over a wide variation in the dynamic range of input signals. A threshold circuit is employed to either or a combination of (1) generate a varying decision threshold to ensure a proper slicing over a wide range of input current signal levels; and (2) generate a bias current and voltage applied to an input of a transimpedance stage to cancel out a dependence of the transimpedance stage voltage input on input current signal levels.
ISO-gain implementation for a WiFi symbol-power-tracking architecture
A power amplifier module including an input configured to receive an input radio frequency signal, the input radio-frequency signal including a series of data symbols, an output configured to provide an output radio-frequency signal, a power amplifier having a signal input to receive the input radio-frequency signal and a power supply input to receive a supply voltage, the power amplifier configured to amplify the input radio-frequency signal to provide the output radio-frequency signal, and a controller to receive an indication of a peak output power level of an upcoming data symbol in the series of data symbols, to adjust at least the supply voltage provided to the power amplifier based on the peak output power level of the upcoming data symbol, and to configure the power amplifier module to maintain a substantially constant gain over the series of data symbols.
Traveling-Wave Transimpedance Amplifier
One illustrative high bandwidth transimpedance amplifier includes a distributed amplifier having multiple transistors that receive a propagating input signal at respective nodes of an input signal line and drive corresponding nodes of an amplified signal line that propagates an amplified signal to an output voltage buffer. A feedback impedance couples the output voltage to a feedback node in the distributed amplifier, making the output voltage proportional to the input signal's current. An illustrative method includes: propagating an input signal current along an input signal line of a distributed amplifier, the distributed amplifier responsively propagating an amplified signal along an amplified signal line; buffering the amplified signal from a final node of the amplified signal line to produce an output voltage signal; and using the output voltage signal to draw the input signal current from a final node of the input signal line via a feedback impedance.