A radio-frequency (RF) transceiver front-end circuit includes an antenna, a power amplifier, a low-noise amplifier, a first switch unit and a second switch unit. The power amplifier is connected to a transmitting unit and the antenna to form a transmission path. The low-noise amplifier is connected to a receiving unit and the antenna to form a reception path. The transmission path and the reception path selectively do not include a /4 transmission line connected to the antenna. The RF transceiver front-end circuit has a receiving state and a transmitting state. In the receiving state, the first switch unit is controlled and causes the transmission path to have high impedance. In the transmitting state, the second switch unit is controlled and causes the reception path to have high impedance.

An amplifier for amplifying radio frequency signals comprising: a signal splitter configured to split an input radio frequency signal into two or more signals; and two or more switching power amplifiers. Each of the switching power amplifiers is configured to amplify a respective signal of the two or more signals using an active device and output a respective amplified signal at a respective output terminal of the switching power amplifier when the switching power amplifier is activated. Each of the two or more switching power amplifiers has a different maximum output power. The amplifier further comprises: an output node connected to each of the output terminals of the switching power amplifiers to combine the amplified signals and output a combined amplified signal; and control circuitry configured to issue control signal to control bias voltages provided to a gate of each of the active devices of the switching power amplifier to selectively activate and deactivate the active devices.

Front-end for processing 2G signal using 3G/4G paths. In some embodiments, a front-end architecture can include a first amplification path and a second amplification path, with each being configured to amplify a 3G/4G signal, and the first amplification path including a phase shifting circuit. The front-end architecture can further include a splitter configured to receive a 2G signal and split the 2G signal into the first and second amplification paths, and a combiner configured to combine amplified 2G signals from the first and second amplification paths into a common output path. The front-end architecture can further include an impedance transformer implemented along the common output path to provide a desired impedance for the combined 2G signal.

Radio frequency amplifiers with overload protection are provided herein. In certain configurations, an RF amplifier system includes an RF amplifier that receives an RF signal from an input terminal and that generates an amplified RF signal at an output terminal, and an overload detection circuit that generates a detection signal indicating a detected signal level of the RF amplifier. The RF amplifier includes an amplification device that amplifies the RF signal and a degeneration circuit that provides degeneration to the amplification device. Additionally, the detection signal is operable to control an amount of degeneration provided by the degeneration circuit so as to protect the RF amplifier from overload.

A scalable periphery tunable matching power amplifier is presented. Varying power levels can be accommodated by selectively activating or deactivating unit cells of which the scalable periphery tunable matching power amplifier is comprised. Tunable matching allows individual unit cells to see a constant output impedance, reducing need for transforming a low impedance up to a system impedance and attendant power loss. The scalable periphery tunable matching power amplifier can also be tuned for different operating conditions such as different frequencies of operation or different modes.

A power amplifier circuit includes external input and output terminals; a first power amplifier with first input and output terminals, the first input terminal being connected to the external input terminal, the first output terminal being connected to the external output terminal; a second power amplifier having second input and output terminals, the second input terminal being connected to the external input terminal, the second output terminal being connected to the external output terminal; a power supply terminal that receives a power supply voltage that is supplied to the first power amplifier and controllably supplied to the second power amplifier; and a switch having first and second terminals, the first terminal being connected to the power supply terminal, the second terminal being connected to the second power amplifier.

A radio-frequency (RF) transceiver front-end circuit includes an antenna, a power amplifier, a low-noise amplifier, a first switch unit and a second switch unit. The power amplifier is connected to a transmitting unit and the antenna to form a transmission path. The low-noise amplifier is connected to a receiving unit and the antenna to form a reception path. The transmission path and the reception path selectively do not include a /4 transmission line connected to the antenna. The RF transceiver front-end circuit has a receiving state and a transmitting state. In the receiving state, the first switch unit is controlled and causes the transmission path to have high impedance. In the transmitting state, the second switch unit is controlled and causes the reception path to have high impedance.

A radio-frequency (RF) transceiver front-end circuit includes an antenna, a power amplifier, a low-noise amplifier, a first switch unit and a second switch unit. The power amplifier is connected to a transmitting unit and the antenna to form a transmission path. The low-noise amplifier is connected to a receiving unit and the antenna to form a reception path. The transmission path and the reception path selectively do not include a /4 transmission line connected to the antenna. The RF transceiver front-end circuit has a receiving state and a transmitting state. In the receiving state, the first switch unit is controlled and causes the transmission path to have high impedance. In the transmitting state, the second switch unit is controlled and causes the reception path to have high impedance.

Front-end system having switchable amplifier output stage. In some embodiments, a method for operating a front-end system can include amplifying a signal in a driver stage of a power amplifier, and routing the signal from the driver stage to a selected one of a plurality of output stages, such that the selected output stage further amplifies the signal. The method can further include routing the amplified signal for transmission from the selected output stage to a selected one of a plurality of antennas.

A scalable periphery tunable matching power amplifier is presented. Varying power levels can be accommodated by selectively activating or deactivating unit cells of which the scalable periphery tunable matching power amplifier is comprised. Tunable matching allows individual unit cells to see a constant output impedance, reducing need for transforming a low impedance up to a system impedance and attendant power loss. The scalable periphery tunable matching power amplifier can also be tuned for different operating conditions such as different frequencies of operation or different modes.