Patent classifications
H03F1/0233
Envelope tracking integrated circuit supporting multiple types of power amplifiers
An envelope tracking (ET) integrated circuit (ETIC) supporting multiple types of power amplifiers. The ETIC includes a pair of tracker circuits configured to generate a pair of low-frequency currents at a pair of output nodes, respectively. The ETIC also includes a pair of ET voltage circuits configured to generate a pair of ET voltages at the output nodes, respectively. In various embodiments disclosed herein, the ETIC can be configured to generate the low-frequency currents independent of what type of power amplifier is coupled to the output nodes. Concurrently, the ETIC can also generate the ET voltages in accordance with the type of power amplifier coupled to the output nodes. As such, it is possible to support multiple types of power amplifiers based on a single ETIC, thus helping to reduce footprint, power consumption, and heat dissipation in an electronic device employing the ETIC and the multiple types of power amplifiers.
AMPLIFIER SYSTEMS
The present disclosure relates to circuitry comprising: amplifier circuitry configured to receive a variable supply voltage, wherein the supply voltage varies according to an output signal of the amplifier circuitry; monitoring circuitry configured to monitor one or more parameters of an output signal of the amplifier circuitry; and processing circuitry configured to receive an indication of the voltage of the variable supply voltage and an indication of the monitored parameters from the monitoring circuitry and to apply a correction to one or more of the monitored parameters to compensate for coupling between the variable supply voltage and the monitoring circuitry.
STACKED MULTI-STAGE PROGRAMMABLE LNA ARCHITECTURE
Methods and devices for reducing DC current consumption of a multi-stage LNA amplifier. According to one aspect, first and second amplification stages are stacked to provide a common conduction path of a DC current. The first stage includes a common-source amplifier, the second stage includes a common-drain amplifier. Coupling between the two stages is provided by series connection of load inductors of the respective stages and a capacitor coupled at a common node between the inductors. According to another aspect, a current splitter circuit is used to split a current to the first stage according to two separate conduction paths, one common path to the two stages, and another separate from the second stage. According to yet another aspect, the current splitter circuit includes a feedback loop that controls the splitting of the current so to maintain a constant current through the common path.
WIDEBAND TRANSMISSION CIRCUIT
A wideband transmission circuit is provided. The wideband transmission circuit includes a transceiver circuit and a power amplifier circuit(s). The transceiver circuit generates a radio frequency (RF) signal(s) from a time-variant input vector and provides the RF signal(s) to the power amplifier circuit(s). The power amplifier circuit(s) amplifies the RF signal(s) based on a modulated voltage and provides the amplified RF signal(s) to a coupled RF front-end circuit (e.g., filter/multiplexer circuit). In embodiments disclosed herein, the transceiver circuit is configured to apply an equalization filter to the time-variant input vector to thereby compensate for a voltage distortion filter caused by a coupling of the power amplifier circuit(s) and the RF front-end circuit. As a result, it is possible to reduce undesired instantaneous excessive compression and/or spectrum regrowth resulting from the voltage distortion filter to thereby improve efficiency and linearity of the power amplifier circuit(s).
WIDEBAND TRANSMISSION CIRCUIT
A wideband transmission circuit is provided. The wideband transmission circuit includes a power amplifier circuit(s) and an envelope tracking (ET) integrated circuit (ETIC). The ETIC is configured to generate a modulated voltage based on a modulated target voltage. The power amplifier circuit(s) amplifies a radio frequency (RF) signal(s) based on the modulated voltage and provides the amplified RF signal(s) to a coupled RF front-end circuit. In embodiments disclosed herein, the ETIC is configured to cause the modulated target voltage to be equalized by a real equalization filter to thereby compensate for a complex voltage distortion filter resulting from a coupling between the power amplifier circuit(s) and the RF front-end circuit. As a result, it is possible to reduce undesired instantaneous excessive compression and/or spectrum regrowth resulting from the complex voltage distortion filter to thereby improve efficiency and linearity of the power amplifier circuit(s).
ENVELOPE TRACKING VOLTAGE CORRECTION IN A TRANSMISSION CIRCUIT
Envelope tracking (ET) voltage correction in a transmission circuit is provided. The transmission circuit includes a transceiver circuit and a power amplifier circuit(s). The transceiver circuit generates a radio frequency (RF) signal(s) from a time-variant modulation vector and the power amplifier circuit(s) amplifies the RF signal(s) based on a modulated voltage and provides the amplified RF signal(s) to a coupled RF front-end circuit. Herein, the transceiver circuit is configured to apply a complex filter(s) to the time-variant modulation vector and/or the RF signal(s) to compensate for a voltage distortion filter created across a modulation bandwidth of the RF signal(s) by coupling the power amplifier circuit with the RF front-end circuit. As a result, it is possible to reduce undesired instantaneous excessive compression and/or spectrum regrowth resulting from the voltage distortion filter to thereby improve efficiency and linearity of the power amplifier circuit(s) across the modulation bandwidth of the RF signal(s).
VOLTAGE RIPPLE SUPPRESSION IN A TRANSMISSION CIRCUIT
Voltage ripple suppression in a transmission circuit is disclosed. The transmission circuit includes a power amplifier circuit coupled to an envelope tracking integrated circuit (ETIC) via a conductive path. Notably, the ETIC and the conductive path can present a large source impedance to the power amplifier circuit, which can cause a ripple in the modulated voltage received by the power amplifier circuit. In a conventional approach, the large source impedance may be isolated by a large decoupling capacitor at the expense of increased voltage switching time and battery current drain. In contrast, the ETIC disclosed herein can determine and apply a correction term to the modulated voltage generated by the ETIC to thereby suppress the ripple without requiring the large decoupling capacitor. By eliminating the large decoupling capacitor, the transmission circuit can thus achieve fast voltage switching with lower battery current drain.
Amplifier module
An amplifier module that implements two or more amplifying units connected in series is disclosed. The amplifier module includes a package, input and output terminals, two or more amplifying units including the first unit and the final unit, an output bias terminal for supplying an output bias to one of amplifying units except for the final unit, and an input bias terminal for supplying an input bias to another one of the amplifying units except for the first unit. A feature of the amplifier module is that the output bias terminal and the input bias terminal are disposed in axial symmetry with respect to a reference axis connecting the input terminal with the output terminal in one side of the package.
Power amplifier module
A power amplifier module includes a first transistor that amplifies and outputs a signal, a second transistor that supplies a bias current to a base of the first transistor, and a ballast resistor circuit that is disposed between the base and an emitter of the second transistor and that includes first and second resistive elements and a switching element. The first resistive element is arranged in series on a line connecting the base and the emitter. The first and second resistive elements are series-connected or parallel-connected. When the second resistive element is series-connected to the first transistor, the switching element is parallel-connected to the second resistive element. When the second resistive element is parallel-connected to the first transistor, the switching element is series-connected to the second resistive element. The switching element is switched on/off based on a collector current of the second transistor.
ENVELOPE TRACKING INTEGRATED CIRCUIT OPERABLE WITH MULTIPLE TYPES OF POWER AMPLIFIERS
An envelope tracking (ET) integrated circuit (ETIC) operable with multiple types of power amplifiers is provided. The ETIC is configured to provide one or more ET voltages to a power amplifier(s) for amplifying a radio frequency (RF) signal. In embodiments disclosed herein, the ETIC can be configured to generate the ET voltages at same or different voltage levels based on specific types of the power amplifier(s), such as multi-stage power amplifier and Doherty power amplifier, and for a wider modulation bandwidth of the RF signal. As such, the ETIC can be flexibly adapted to enable a variety of power management scenarios and/or topologies.