According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a series or source feedback is provided to a solid-state power amplifier to achieve improved amplifier output power, good impedance match, and low voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR). In an embodiment, an inductive element is coupled to the source of the power amplifier transistor to serve as a series or source feedback for the transistor. In an embodiment, a high-impedance microstrip is provided as an inductive element coupled to the source of the transistor. In an embodiment, a series or source feedback is provided to each amplifier in a multistage amplifier circuit. In an embodiment, a greater series or source feedback is provided at a later stage of a multistage amplifier circuit, whereas a smaller series or source feedback is provided at an earlier stage of the multistage amplifier circuit.

Embedded blocking capacitor structures for wideband amplifier circuits are disclosed. A wideband amplifier circuit includes transistors that output radio frequency (RF) signals. An embedded blocking capacitor structure is operably connected between the terminals of the transistors and an RF output. The embedded blocking capacitor structure distributes a bias voltage to the terminals of the transistors and blocks the bias voltage from passing to the RF output. The embedded blocking capacitor structure also propagates an RF signal to an RF output.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a series or source feedback is provided to a solid-state power amplifier to achieve improved amplifier output power, good impedance match, and low voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR). In an embodiment, an inductive element is coupled to the source of the power amplifier transistor to serve as a series or source feedback for the transistor. In an embodiment, a high-impedance microstrip is provided as an inductive element coupled to the source of the transistor. In an embodiment, a series or source feedback is provided to each amplifier in a multistage amplifier circuit. In an embodiment, a greater series or source feedback is provided at a later stage of a multistage amplifier circuit, whereas a smaller series or source feedback is provided at an earlier stage of the multistage amplifier circuit.

Apparatus and methods for an improved-efficiency Doherty amplifier are described. The Doherty amplifier may include a two-stage peaking amplifier that transitions from an “off” state to an “on” state later and more rapidly than a single-stage peaking amplifier used in a conventional Doherty amplifier. The improved Doherty amplifier may operate at higher gain values than a conventional Doherty amplifier, with no appreciable reduction in signal bandwidth.

The present invention relates to a RF amplifier circuit arrangement for amplifying at least one RF input signal to an output signal for delivery to a load. The RF amplifier circuit arrangement uses a simple and low-cost RF clipping circuit within a load modulated balanced amplifier arrangement which passes RF input signals to output linearly up to the signal input reaches a predefined amplitude. Beyond that predefined amplitude the clipping circuit clips excess amplitudes. The present invention further relates to an electronic device.

An amplifier circuit arrangement for amplifying at least one input signal to an output signal for delivery to a load. The amplifier circuit arrangement includes at least one four-port hybrid coupler, a main amplifier having an input terminal for receiving a first input signal and coupled to a first port of the hybrid coupler, an auxiliary amplifier having an input terminal for receiving a second input signal and coupled to the second port of the hybrid coupler, a negative resistance amplifier circuit coupled to the third port of the hybrid coupler. The negative resistance amplifier circuit receives a signal from the hybrid coupler via the third port and returns an amplified signal back to the third port of the hybrid coupler. At least one of the auxiliary amplifier and negative resistance amplifier circuit selectively operates in combination with the main amplifier circuit.

Circuits and methods for using in parallel amplification and signal combining are described herein. A circuit uses a digitally controlled multistage cascade combiner, a digital phase and drive signal amplifier controller and a digital combiner controller circuit with N parallel signals with constant amplitudes belonging to an alphabet with M discrete values and discrete phases feeding it. The signals resulting from N power amplifiers (PAs) have also constant amplitudes belonging to an alphabet with N discrete values and discrete phases prior to being fed to the multistage combiner. A digital combiner controller circuit generates digital control information to activate, or deactivate, the outputs of the PAs, where a set of digital control signals generated in digital combiner controller are used to control sets of switches, where the signals can be activated at the combiner's inputs, according to their power and phase values. The digital control information ensures that only in-phase signals are combined in the active combiner stage and any difference among the inputs of the combiners is always minimized. Both digital combiner controller and digital drive signal amplifier controller, share information about the signals not to be fed to the multistage combiner, so that PAs drive signals can also be powered off under these circumstances. In provide high efficiency amplification the signal amplifiers employed before the combining stage may be of switched or current source type.

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include a Doherty amplifier that includes a carrier amplifier having an output terminal, an output network coupled to the output terminal, and a peaking amplifier, wherein the output network comprises a non-linear reactance component, and wherein the non-linear reactance component changes an effective impedance of a load presented to the carrier amplifier when the peaking amplifier is off. Other embodiments are disclosed.

An amplifier includes a transistor, an input circuit coupled between an amplifier input and a transistor input terminal, and an output circuit coupled between a transistor output and a transistor output terminal. The input circuit includes an input-side harmonic termination circuit with a first inductor and a first capacitance in series between the transistor input terminal and ground. The output circuit includes a second inductor, an output-side harmonic termination circuit, and a shunt-L circuit. The second inductor is coupled between the transistor output terminal and the amplifier output. The output-side harmonic termination circuit includes a third inductor and a second capacitance in series between the amplifier output and ground. The shunt-L circuit includes a fourth inductor and a third capacitance connected in series between the amplifier output and ground. The input-side and output-side harmonic termination circuits resonate at a harmonic frequency of a fundamental frequency of operation of the amplifier.

Circuits and methods for using in parallel amplification and signal combining are described herein. A circuit uses a digitally controlled multistage cascade combiner, a digital phase and drive signal amplifier controller and a digital combiner controller circuit with N parallel signals with constant amplitudes belonging to an alphabet with M discrete values and discrete phases feeding it. The signals resulting from N power amplifiers (PAs) have also constant amplitudes belonging to an alphabet with N discrete values and discrete phases prior to being fed to the multistage combiner. A digital combiner controller circuit generates digital control information to activate, or deactivate, the outputs of the PAs, where a set of digital control signals generated in digital combiner controller are used to control sets of switches, where the signals can be activated at the combiner's inputs, according to their power and phase values. The digital control information ensures that only in-phase signals are combined in the active combiner stage and any difference among the inputs of the combiners is always minimized. Both digital combiner controller and digital drive signal amplifier controller, share information about the signals not to be fed to the multistage combiner, so that PAs drive signals can also be powered off under these circumstances. In provide high efficiency amplification the signal amplifiers employed before the combining stage may be of switched or current source type.