Power amplification system with adjustable common base bias. A power amplification system can include a cascode amplifier coupled to a radio-frequency input signal and coupled to a radio-frequency output. The power amplification system can further include a biasing component configured to apply one or more biasing signals to the cascode amplifier, the biasing component including a bias controller and one or more bias components. Each respective bias component may be coupled to a respective bias transistor.

A power amplifier includes a transistor, a temperature sensor and a filter. The transistor is used to receive a bias signal and amplify a radio frequency (RF) signal. The temperature sensor is arranged in proximity to the transistor, and is used to detect a temperature of the transistor to provide a voltage signal at a control node accordingly. The filter is coupled to the temperature sensor and is used to filter the voltage signal to generate a filtered voltage. The bias signal is adjusted according to the filtered voltage.

Solder bumps are placed in direct contact with the silicon substrate of an amplifier integrated circuit having a flip chip configuration. A plurality of amplifier transistor arrays generate waste heat that promotes thermal run away of the amplifier if not directed out of the integrated circuit. The waste heat flows through the thermally conductive silicon substrate and out the solder bump to a heat-sinking plane of an interposer connected to the amplifier integrated circuit via the solder bumps.

Measurement of signal power for variable or time varying signals. A log-linear VGA coupled in a feedback configuration to a difference detector and an integrator, includes a set of amplifier cells selectable by a sliding current generator, producing a sum of outputs. Outputs of the sliding current generator include a first control current provided using a sum of amplified currents, a sequence of intermediate control currents, and a final control current provided using a sum of amplified currents. Control currents to be summed can be differentially amplified or attenuated; attenuators include capacitors to compensate for capacitive loading. Selectable amplifier cells are differentially amplified or attenuated. Isolating switches and canceling stages reduce the effects of leakage between adjacent amplifier cells. The sliding current generator can have boosted current to first and last amplifier cells, providing a more linear-in-dB gain near a relative maximum or minimum.

An apparatus is disclosed for gain stabilization. In an example aspect, the apparatus includes an amplifier and a gain-stabilization circuit. The amplifier has a gain that is based on a bias voltage and an amplification control signal. The gain- stabilization circuit is coupled to the amplifier and includes a replica amplifier. The replica amplifier has a replica gain that is based on the bias voltage and the amplification control signal. The gain-stabilization circuit is configured to adjust at least one of the bias voltage or the amplification control signal based on a gain error associated with the replica amplifier.

The invention relates to a signal amplifier circuit for amplifying a signal, in particular an audio amplifier circuit, includes at least one first amplifier transistor (Q1) and at least one second amplifier transistor (Q2), wherein the first amplifier transistor (Q1) and the second amplifier transistor (Q2) are connected to one another in a push-pull circuit and are fed by an amplifier voltage source (V+, V−); and one or more bias diodes (D1, D2) thermally coupled in each case to an associated amplifier transistor (Q1, Q2), wherein the bias diodes (D1, D2) are arranged in a parallel connection with respect to the amplifying transistors (Q1, Q2) to reduce or avoid a crossover distortion, wherein the bias diodes (D1, D2) are fed at least partly by a voltage source (UA) which is independent of the amplifier voltage source (V+, V−). The invention furthermore relates to a system and a voltage converter for providing an output-side DC voltage, including a first transformer (T1) and a second transformer (T2) connected to the first transformer (T1).

A circuit comprises an amplifier network including a first amplifier and a second amplifier and a first transistor having a first base. The first transistor is thermally isolated from the second amplifier. The circuit further comprises a second transistor having a second base. The second transistor is thermally linked to the second amplifier. The circuit further comprises coupling circuitry configured to couple the first base to the second base.

An audio amplifier system is described herein, comprising: an amplifier adapted to amplify an audio signal and comprising an output enable/disable input, the amplifier further adapted to receive an output enable signal at the output enable/disable input that enables/disables an output of the amplifier; a Zobel network connected to the output of the audio amplifier and comprising a Zobel capacitor and a Zobel resistor arranged such that they form a high pass frequency filter function and wherein the Zobel network is adapted to be substantially resistive when a frequency of an audio signal output from the audio amplifier is within a first frequency range; a mirroring resistor connected in parallel to the Zobel resistor and adapted to mirror a power that is dissipated in the Zobel resistor, and wherein a printed circuit board upon which the mirroring resistor is located is adapted to conduct heat generated by the mirroring resistor; a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) resistor located in close proximity to the mirroring resistor to receive the conducted heat from the mirroring resistor and which is adapted to change its resistance in response to the transferred heat such that its resistance goes down as a temperature of the NTC resistor increases; and a circuit adapted to generate the output enable signal, wherein the circuit generates an output enable signal that enables the output of the amplifier when the temperature of the Zobel resistor is below a first temperature, and wherein the circuit generates an output enable signal that disables the output of the amplifier when the temperature of the Zobel resistor is substantially the same or above the first temperature.

A power amplifier includes an over-current protection loop and/or an over-voltage protection loop to assist in preventing operation outside a safe operation zone. In a further exemplary aspect, triggering of the over-current protection loop adjusts a threshold voltage for the over-voltage protection loop. In further exemplary aspects, the over-current protection loop may adjust not only a bias regulator, but also provide an auxiliary control signal that further limits signals reaching the power amplifier. In still further exemplary aspects, the over-voltage protection loop may operate independently of the over-current protection current loop or the over-voltage protection loop contribute to an over-current protection signal.

A power amplifier includes an over-current protection loop and/or an over-voltage protection loop to assist in preventing operation outside a safe operation zone. In a further exemplary aspect, triggering of the over-current protection loop adjusts a threshold voltage for the over-voltage protection loop. In further exemplary aspects, the over-current protection loop may adjust not only a bias regulator, but also provide an auxiliary control signal that further limits signals reaching the power amplifier. In still further exemplary aspects, the over-voltage protection loop may operate independently of the over-current protection current loop or the over-voltage protection loop contribute to an over-current protection signal.