Configurable amplifier systems are described in which the power supply rail of a linear amplifier, e.g., a class A amplifier, is modulated by a switching amplifier, e.g., a class D amplifier, that may also be configured to operate independently of the linear amplifier. Techniques are also described by which the standing current of the output stage of a linear amplifier is modulated based on the input signal to the linear amplifier or based on modulation of the power supply rail of the linear amplifier.

A power supply configured to supply a modulated voltage to a power amplifier is shown. The power supply has an alternating current (AC) component generator, a direct current (DC) component generator, and a transition accelerator. The AC component generator generates an AC component of the modulated voltage according to an envelope tracking signal. The DC component generator generates a DC component of the modulated voltage according to the operational voltage range of the power amplifier. The transition accelerator is coupled to an output terminal of the DC component generator to speed up the transition of the modulated voltage.

An apparatus for high-power combining includes multiple power-combining building blocks, a passive input network to couple one or more input signals to one or more input ports of the multiple power-combining building blocks, and a passive output network to couple to output ports of the multiple power-combining building blocks and to generate one or more amplified output signals. Each power-combining building block includes M high-power amplifiers (HPAs) coupled in parallel to a respective passive input network and a respective passive output network. A count of the multiple power-combining building blocks is determined based on a desired total number N of the HPAs and a number M of the HPAs in each power-combining building block.

A supply modulator includes a linear regulator that generates an output voltage in an envelope tracking mode. A switching regulator operates with the linear regulator to generate the output voltage in the envelope tracking mode and to selectively generate the output voltage in an average power tracking mode. A single inductor multiple output converter operates selectively with the switching regulator to generate the output voltage in the average power tracking mode, operates to provide a power supply voltage to the linear regulator in the envelope tracking mode, and includes a first capacitor connected with a power supply terminal of the linear regulator and a second capacitor selectively connected with an output terminal of the linear regulator through a first switch. A main controller decides a tracking mode to be executed by the supply modulator.

An embodiment of a Doherty amplifier includes a module substrate, first and second surface-mount devices coupled to a top surface of the module substrate, and an impedance inverter line assembly. The first and second surface-mount devices include first and second amplifier dies, respectively. The impedance inverter line assembly is electrically connected between outputs of the first and second amplifier dies. The impedance inverter line assembly includes an impedance inverter line coupled to the module substrate, a first lead of the first surface-mount device coupled between the first amplifier die output and a proximal end of the impedance inverter line, and a second lead of the second surface-mount device coupled between the second amplifier die output and a distal end of the impedance inverter line. According to a further embodiment, the impedance inverter line assembly has a 90 degree electrical length at a fundamental operational frequency of the Doherty amplifier.

A method including producing an electronic circuit. The method can include providing a first circuit portion, a second circuit portion, a flying capacitor voltage comparator, an output switching circuit, an electronic circuit first output node, and/or an electronic circuit second output node. The electronic circuit first output node can be electrically coupled to a first gate terminal of a switching converter. The electronic circuit second output node can be electrically coupled to a second gate terminal of the switching converter. The method also can include electrically coupling a voltage sensor output terminal of the flying capacitor voltage comparator to the first circuit second input node of the first circuit portion and the second circuit second input node of the second circuit portion. Other embodiments are disclosed.

An envelope tracking (ET) amplifier apparatus is provided. The ET amplifier apparatus includes an ET integrated circuit (IC) (ETIC) and a distributed ETIC (DETIC) coupled to the ETIC. The DETIC may be configured to provide a distributed voltage to a distributed amplifier circuit for amplifying a distributed radio frequency (RF) signal. In examples discussed herein, the ETIC is configured to generate a low-frequency current, which can affect the distributed voltage, at a desired level based on a feedback signal received from the DETIC. The DETIC may be configured to generate the feedback signal based on an indication(s) related to the distributed voltage. By dynamically adjusting the low-frequency current, and thus the distributed voltage, based on the feedback signal, it may be possible to maintain operating efficiency of the distributed amplifier circuit across a wider range of modulation bandwidth with minimal cost and/or size impact on the ET amplifier apparatus.

Provided is a power supply for envelope tracking, comprising: a first driving unit for finally providing a first current based on a preset and variably-set first high-frequency threshold or threshold interval; a second driving unit for finally providing a second current based on a preset and variably-set second low-frequency threshold or threshold interval; a third driving unit for providing a third current based on a delayed signal; and a superimposing unit for superimposing the first current, the second current, and the third current to provide a supply voltage of a radio-frequency power amplifier. A new power supply for envelope tracking is provided, which is capable of more efficiently providing a supply voltage of the radio frequency power amplifier by superimposing a first current to a third current.

A multi-level supply modulator for RF power amplifiers requires only a single independent voltage supply along with one or more flying capacitors to achieve multiple output levels. The flying capacitor is used to store the intermediate voltage level between the DC supply level and ground. A switch network is connected between the DC voltage supply and the power amplifier and is configured to provide power at variable, discrete DC voltages, for example the DC voltage supply level, ground, and a level halfway between the DC voltage supply level and ground. The flying capacitor is connected to switches in the switch network, and a sensing circuit detects the voltage across the flying capacitor and generates a feedback signal. Control circuitry controls the switch network (and thus the power supplied to the amplifier) based on the feedback signal.

A digital power amplifier comprising at least two individually activatable amplifiers connected to an output network comprising a first hybrid coupler. An output of a first amplifier is connected to a first input of the first hybrid coupler and an output of a second amplifier is connected to a second input of the first hybrid coupler such that activating an amplifier of the at least two amplifiers causes the amplifier to load modulate another activated amplifier of at least two amplifiers.