H03F3/211

Distributed envelope tracking amplifier circuit and related apparatus
10931248 · 2021-02-23 · ·

A distributed envelope tracking (ET) amplifier circuit and related apparatus are provided. The distributed ET amplifier apparatus includes an amplifier circuit configured to amplify a radio frequency (RF) signal based on a modulated voltage. In examples discussed herein, the amplifier circuit is co-located with an ET voltage circuit configured to supply the modulated voltage such that a trace inductance between the amplifier circuit and the ET voltage circuit can be reduced to below a defined threshold. By co-locating the amplifier circuit with the ET voltage circuit to reduce a coupling distance between the amplifier circuit and the ET voltage circuit and thus the trace inductance associated with the coupling distance, it may be possible to reduce degradation in the modulated voltage. As a result, it may be possible to improve efficiency and maintain linearity in the amplifier circuit, particularly when the RF signal is modulated at a higher modulation bandwidth.

Methods and apparatus for online timing mismatch calibration for polar and segmented power amplifiers

An apparatus and methods for timing mismatch in a power amplifier includes a segmented PA with two-path timing mismatch calibration to improve ACLR performance over different signal transitions, process, voltage and temperature (PVT) variations and device aging; a fast and efficient algorithm for measuring and calibrating the delay of two paths (signal path and control path); a signal magnitude variation detection circuit, such as flash ADC, with improved comparator's performance for RF signal processing and minimum delay. A method for choosing the threshold voltage of the magnitude variation detection circuit, according to status of the signals and orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) related standards; other critical blocks.

RF amplifier having maximum efficiency and SWR protection features and methods for providing maximum efficiency RF amplification
10931237 · 2021-02-23 ·

A method for increasing efficiency of a radio frequency (RF) amplifier employing laterally diffused metal oxide semiconductor (LDMOS) transistors coupled to an RF exciter including determining an emission mode of modulated RF input signals generated by the exciter, if the emission mode is of a type where the modulated RF input signals have a continuously varying envelope, biasing the LDMOS transistors in the RF amplifier for linear operation, and if the emission mode is of a type where the modulated RF input signals do not have a continuously varying envelope, biasing the LDMOS transistors in the RF amplifier with a fixed quiescent drain current and a fixed drain supply voltage for the LDMOS transistors selected to cause the LDMOS transistors to operate in compression.

WIRELESS TRANSMISSION CIRCUIT AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF
20210044309 · 2021-02-11 ·

A wireless transmission circuit includes a first induction circuit, a second induction circuit, a detection circuit, a first signal adjustment circuit, and a third induction circuit. The first induction circuit is configured to receive a first signal outputted from a power amplifier. The second induction circuit is configured to output the received first signal as a second signal. The detection circuit is configured to detect a common mode signal associated with the first signal. The first signal adjustment circuit is configured to adjust a phase or an amplitude of the common mode signal to generate a third signal. The third induction circuit is configured to receive the third signal and be coupled to the second induction circuit to reduce a second harmonic in the second signal.

Divided Amplifier
20210067115 · 2021-03-04 ·

An apparatus is disclosed for processing a signal with a divided amplifier. In example implementations, an apparatus includes a first portion of an amplifier, a first port interface, a second port interface, and a switch matrix. The first port interface includes a first transformer; a second portion of the amplifier, which is coupled to the first transformer; and a first switch component that is coupled to at least one of the first transformer or the second portion of the amplifier. The second port interface includes a second transformer and a second switch component that is coupled to the second transformer. The switch matrix is coupled between the first switch component and the first portion of the amplifier and between the second switch component and the first portion of the amplifier. The switch matrix is also coupled between the second portion of the amplifier and the first portion of the amplifier.

Systems and methods for split-frequency amplification
10965260 · 2021-03-30 · ·

A system for split-frequency amplification, preferably including: one or more primary-band amplification stages, one or more secondary-band amplification stages, one or more band-splitting filters, and/or one or more signal couplers. An analog canceller including one or more split-frequency amplifiers. A mixer including one or more split-frequency amplifiers. A voltage-controlled oscillator including one or more split-frequency amplifiers. A method for split-frequency amplification, preferably including: receiving an input signal, separating the input signal into signal portions, and/or amplifying the signal portions, and optionally including combining the amplified signal portions and/or providing one or more output signals.

Overvoltage protection for power amplifier with soft shutdown
10965255 · 2021-03-30 · ·

Various methods and circuital arrangements for protection of a power amplifier from over voltage are presented. According to one aspect, a protection circuit coupled to a varying supply voltage of the power amplifier controls a biasing current to the power amplifier to limit a power dissipation through the power amplifier. An overvoltage protection circuit detects a level of the varying supply voltage and decreases the biasing current as a linear function of an increasing supply voltage once the supply voltage reaches a programmable voltage level. A slope of the linear function can be made programmable. Programmability of the voltage level and the slope can be used to control biasing currents to a plurality of power amplifiers operating at different times and having different requirements in terms of voltage limits and thermal breakdown. According to another aspect a voltage to current converter for use in the overvoltage protection circuit is presented.

ELECTRONIC DEVICE INCLUDING A TEMPERATURE SENSOR CONNECTED TO A POWER AMPLIFIER AND A CONTROLLER TO CONTROL AN INPUT POWER BASED ON A TEMPERATURE OF THE POWER AMPLIFIER DETECTED BY THE TEMPERATURE SENSOR

An electronic device including: a modem configured to process a baseband signal; an intermediate frequency (IF) transceiver configured to convert the baseband signal provided from the modem into an IF band signal; and a radio frequency (RF) transceiver configured to convert the IF band signal provided from the IF transceiver into an RF band signal, wherein the RF transceiver includes a power amplifier configured to amplify the RF band signal, and a temperature sensor unit to detect a temperature of the power amplifier, and wherein the modem includes a controller configured to control an input power inputted to the RF transceiver based on the temperature of the power amplifier detected by the temperature sensor unit.

Complete turn off and protection of branched cascode amplifier
10938348 · 2021-03-02 · ·

Various methods and circuital arrangements for complete turn OFF of branches of a multi-branch cascode amplifier are presented. According to one aspect, a protection circuit coupled to a source node of an output transistor of a branch couples a reference voltage to the source node of the output transistor when the branch is turned OFF, and decouples the reference voltage from the source node when the branch is turned ON. According to another aspect, the protection circuit includes a switch whose off capacitance is sufficiently low so as not to affect performance of the branch when the branch is ON, and whose on resistance is sufficiently low to sufficiently reduce an RF amplitude at the source node of the output transistor when the branch is OFF and other branches are ON, and therefore allow use of low-voltage thin-oxide transistors in the branch. Further aspects include a second switch and use of transistor switches.

Continuous time linear equalization circuit with programmable gains
10924307 · 2021-02-16 · ·

A continuous time linear equalization (CTLE) circuit is disclosed. The CTLE circuit includes an input port, an output port, a first differential transistor pair coupled to the input port and the output port and a second differential transistor pair. The CTLE circuit further includes a first degenerative impedance circuit coupled between the first differential transistor pair and ground. The first degenerative impedance includes switchable components to vary impedance of the first degenerative impedance circuit. The CTLE circuit also includes a second degenerative impedance circuit coupled between the second differential transistor pair and ground. The second degenerative impedance includes switchable components to vary impedance of the second degenerative impedance circuit, wherein the resistive part of the impedance of the first degenerative impedance circuit is equal to the impedance of the second degenerative impedance circuit.