Methods and systems for optimizing amplifier operations are described. The described methods and systems particularly describe a feed-forward control circuit that may also be used as a feed-back control circuit in certain applications. The feed-forward control circuit provides a control signal that may be used to configure an amplifier in a variety of ways.

Methods and systems for optimizing amplifier operations are described. The described methods and systems particularly describe a feed-forward control circuit that may also be used as a feed-back control circuit in certain applications. The feed-forward control circuit provides a control signal that may be used to configure an amplifier in a variety of ways.

A semiconductor device includes input and output terminals, first and second power supply terminals, first and second transistors, and a first resistance element. In the first transistor, gate and source terminals are respectively connected to the input terminal and the first power supply terminal, a drain terminal is connected to the second power supply terminal in direct current and to the output terminal, and the gate and drain terminals are connected via the first resistance element. In the second transistor, a source terminal is connected to the first power supply terminal, and gate and drain terminals are short-circuited at a node connected to the gate terminal of the first transistor in direct current. In a lower frequency region, an impedance of the first resistance element is lower than impedances of parasitic capacitances in the first transistor between the gate and drain terminals and between the gate and source terminals.

A system and method which includes receiving an input signal and providing, by an amplifier circuit, an output signal in response to the input signal, the output signal having an envelope. An envelope detection signal corresponding to the envelope of the output signal is generated. A bias current provided to an amplifier circuit is adjusted based upon the envelope detection signal. The amplifier circuit includes an amplifier and a transformer, the transformer being configured to establish a magnetically coupled feedback loop from an output of the amplifier to an input of the amplifier.

A power amplifying circuit includes multi-stage power amplifiers, bias circuits, and a control circuit. The bias circuits output corresponding bias currents based on corresponding control currents. The control circuit outputs the control currents to the bias circuits based on a control voltage. The power amplifiers include a first stage of first and second power amplifiers connected in parallel electrically. The bias circuits include first and second bias circuits. The control circuit includes first and second current output units. The first current output unit outputs, to the first bias circuit, a first control current which has a first current value when the control voltage is a first threshold voltage, and which increases linearly with the control voltage, and the second current output unit outputs, to the second bias circuit, a second control current, having a second constant current value, when the control voltage is the first threshold voltage or greater.

A power amplifying circuit includes multi-stage power amplifiers, bias circuits, and a control circuit. The bias circuits output corresponding bias currents based on corresponding control currents. The control circuit outputs the control currents to the bias circuits based on a control voltage. The power amplifiers include a first stage of first and second power amplifiers connected in parallel electrically. The bias circuits include first and second bias circuits. The control circuit includes first and second current output units. The first current output unit outputs, to the first bias circuit, a first control current which has a first current value when the control voltage is a first threshold voltage, and which increases linearly with the control voltage, and the second current output unit outputs, to the second bias circuit, a second control current, having a second constant current value, when the control voltage is the first threshold voltage or greater.

A receiver front end having low noise amplifiers (LNAs) is disclosed herein. A cascode having a “common source” configured input FET and a “common gate” configured output FET can be turned on or off using the gate of the output FET. A first switch is provided that allows a connection to be either established or broken between the source terminal of the input FET of each LNA. A drain switch is provided between the drain terminals of input FETs to place the input FETs in parallel. This increases the g.sub.m of the input stage of the amplifier, thus improving the noise figure of the amplifier.

A receiver front end having low noise amplifiers (LNAs) is disclosed herein. A cascode having a “common source” configured input FET and a “common gate” configured output FET can be turned on or off using the gate of the output FET. A first switch is provided that allows a connection to be either established or broken between the source terminal of the input FET of each LNA. A drain switch is provided between the drain terminals of input FETs to place the input FETs in parallel. This increases the g.sub.m of the input stage of the amplifier, thus improving the noise figure of the amplifier.

An active biconical antenna and a receive array comprising a combination of active biconical and Vivaldi antennas. In one configuration, the active biconical antenna includes upper and lower cones. Each cone has a respective truncated apex. First and second feed points are respectively connected to the truncated apexes of the upper and lower cones and to first and second conductors. The active biconical antenna further includes a buffer amplifier having respective input terminals connected to the first and second conductors. The buffer amplifier has an input impedance that is impedance matched to an antenna impedance at and above but not below a frequency f.sub.c and is higher than the antenna impedance at frequencies substantially less than f.sub.c. The buffer amplifier also has an output impedance that is impedance matched to a system impedance at frequencies both above and below f.sub.c. A length of the first and second conductors is less than a wavelength at the frequency f.sub.c.

Apparatus and methods for true power detection are provided herein. In certain embodiments, a power amplifier system includes an antenna, a directional coupler, and a power amplifier electrically connected to the antenna by way of a through line of the directional coupler. The power amplifier system further includes a first switch, a second switch, and a combiner that combines a first coupled signal received from a first end of the directional coupler's coupled line through the first switch and a second coupled signal received from a second end of the directional coupler's coupled line through the second switch.