Switched-Capacitor Power Amplifiers

Abstract

A switched-capacitor power amplifier comprising a plurality of cells and methods for its operation are described. Switched signal lines switch supply to respective capacitors. Switches connect respective signal lines to a first supply and switches connect respective signal lines to a second supply. Pairs of switches on each signal line are switched so that one is switched off whilst the other is switched on. In a full amplitude mode, operation of the switches provides an output having a peak determined by the first supply. A switch signal line is provided between nodes in respective signal lines, a switch being provided in the switch signal line. In a half amplitude mode, switch is switched at the radio frequency in the other direction to that of switches connecting the signal lines to respective ones of the first and second supplies with the other switches being kept open.

Claims

1. A cell for a switched-capacitor power amplifier comprising: a first capacitor and a second capacitor together configured for providing a differential full amplitude output signal; a first input signal line connected to the first capacitor and a second input signal line connected to the second capacitor; a first switch and a second switch both provided in the first input signal line, the first switch being configured for supplying a first supply voltage to the first input signal line and the second switch being configured for supplying a second supply voltage to the first input signal line, the first switch and the second switch being configured to switch at a predetermined radio frequency and out of phase with each other; a third switch and a fourth switch provided in the second input signal line, the third switch being configured for supplying the first supply voltage to the second input signal line and the fourth switch being configured for supplying the second supply voltage to the second input signal line, the third switch and the fourth switch being configured to switch at the predetermined radio frequency and out of phase with each other, the first switch and the fourth switch being configured to switch in phase with each other and the second switch and the third switch being configured to switch in phase with each other; and a switched signal line connecting the first input signal line and the second input signal line, the switched signal line comprising a fifth switch configured to be switched at the predetermined radio frequency and in phase with the first switch and the fourth switch, the switched signal line being configured to provide a differential half amplitude output signal.

2. The cell according to claim 1, wherein the fifth switch comprises a first switch element and a second switch element, the first switch element and the second switch element being configured to be switched in phase with each other.

3. The cell according to claim 1, wherein the first switch comprises a first switch element and a second switch element and the second switch comprises a third switch element and a fourth switch element, the second switch element and the third switch element being connected to each another and to a third supply voltage, the third supply voltage being less than the first supply voltage but greater than the second supply voltage.

4. The cell according to claim 3, wherein the third switch comprises a fifth switch element and a sixth switch element and the fourth switch comprises a seventh switch element and an eighth switch element, the sixth switch element and the seventh switch element being connected to each another and to the third supply voltage.

5. The cell according to claim 4, wherein the fifth switch comprises four switch elements configured as two pairs of switches and the switched signal line defines a central node held at the third supply voltage.

6. The cell according to claim 1, wherein the second supply voltage is equal to ground.

7. A switched-capacitor power amplifier comprising a plurality of cells according to claim 1, wherein the switched-capacitor power amplifier is configured such that a differential output signal from each cell of the plurality is connected together to form a combined output.

8. A method of operating the cell of claim 1, the method comprising: switching the first switch and the second switch at the predetermined radio frequency and out of phase with each other; switching the third switch and the fourth switch at the predetermined radio frequency and out of phase with each other, the first switch and the fourth switch being switched in phase with each other and the second switch and the third switch being switched in phase with each other; and switching the fifth switch at the predetermined radio frequency in phase with the first switch and the fourth switch to provide a differential half amplitude output signal, the second switch and the third switch being in an open condition while switching the fifth switch.

9. A method of operating a switched-capacitor power amplifier, the method comprising performing for each cell of the switched-capacitor power amplifier, the method according to claim 8.

10. A method of operating a switched-capacitor power amplifier cell, the method comprising: switching a first switch and a second switch at a predetermined radio frequency and out of phase with each other, the first switch being configured for supplying a first supply voltage to a first input signal line and the second switch being configured for supplying a second supply voltage to the first input signal line, the first input signal line comprising a first capacitor; switching a third switch and a fourth switch at the predetermined radio frequency and out of phase with each other, the first switch and the fourth switch being switched in phase with each other and the second switch and the third switch being switched in phase with each other, the third switch being configured for supplying the first supply voltage to a second input signal line and the fourth switch being configured for supplying the second supply voltage to the second input signal line, the second input signal line comprising a second capacitor; and switching a fifth switch at the predetermined radio frequency in phase with the first switch and the fourth switch to provide a differential half amplitude output signal, the second switch and the third switch being in an open condition while switching the fifth switch, the fifth switch being configured to connect the first input signal line to the second input signal line, thereby providing a differential half amplitude output.

11. A method of operating a switched-capacitor power amplifier, the method comprising performing for each cell of the switched-capacitor power amplifier, the method according to claim 10.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0021] The above, as well as additional, features will be better understood through the following illustrative and non-limiting detailed description of example embodiments, with reference to the appended drawings.

[0022] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a switched-capacitor class-D power amplifier, according to an embodiment.

[0023] FIG. 2 is a graph illustrating typical efficiency of the power amplifier of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment.

[0024] FIG. 3a is a schematic view of a switched-capacitor power amplifier at full output amplitude, according to an embodiment.

[0025] FIG. 3b is a schematic view of a switched-capacitor power amplifier at half output amplitude, according to an embodiment.

[0026] FIG. 4a is a graph illustrating a comparison of a number of cells in the full amplitude mode, the half amplitude mode, and an off mode, according to an embodiment.

[0027] FIG. 4b is a graph illustrating a comparison of efficiency for two switched-capacitor power amplifiers, according to an embodiment.

[0028] FIG. 5a is a schematic view of a switched-capacitor power amplifier where the supply is less than the maximum safe transistor voltage, according to an embodiment.

[0029] FIG. 5b illustrates waveforms for the amplifier shown in FIG. 5a, according to an embodiment.

[0030] FIG. 6a is a schematic view of a switched-capacitor power amplifier where the supply is between a maximum safe transistor voltage and twice the maximum safe transistor voltage, according to an embodiment.

[0031] FIG. 6b illustrates waveforms for the amplifier shown in FIG. 6a, according to an embodiment.

[0032] All the figures are schematic, not necessarily to scale, and generally only show parts which are necessary to elucidate example embodiments, wherein other parts may be omitted or merely suggested.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] Example embodiments will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. That which is encompassed by the claims may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of example. Furthermore, like numbers refer to the same or similar elements or components throughout.

[0034] FIG. 1 illustrates a switched-capacitor power amplifier (SCPA) 100 comprising a plurality of cells, each cell comprising differential capacitors, namely, first and second capacitors 110, 120. The first capacitor 110 is connected, in a first signal line, to switches 130, 140 which, in turn, are connected to a supply voltage, V.sub.dd, and to ground, V.sub.ss, respectively. Switches 130, 140 are switched at an applied radio frequency (RF). The second capacitor 120 is connected, in a second signal line, to switches 150, 160 which are connected to a supply voltage, V.sub.dd, and to ground, V.sub.ss, respectively. Switches 150, 160 are also switched at the same applied RF. In operation, switches 130 and 160 are configured to close as switches 140 and 150 open as shown. Differential outputs 170, 180 from the first and second capacitors 110, 120 of each cell are combined at 190 and connect to a load 195. Although only one cell is shown, it will readily be appreciated that similar, if not identical, arrangements are provided in the other cells.

[0035] Although V.sub.ss is described as being ground, this can be any other suitable voltage which is lower than the supply voltage V.sub.dd.

[0036] For full power output, all cells switch the first and second output capacitors 110, 120 between the supply voltage, V.sub.dd, and the ground, V.sub.ss, at RF. Amplitude modulation is performed by disabling some of the cells by shorting the capacitors to either V.sub.dd or V.sub.ss.

[0037] As described above, the efficiency of an SCPA is typically a function of its output amplitude. A typical efficiency curve as a function of normalized output amplitude is shown in FIG. 2. As shown, the efficiency at peak output amplitude is good but falls off as output amplitude decreases.

[0038] Some embodiments include a switching scheme for an SCPA which helps address the issue of reduced efficiency at back-off, that is, at reduced output amplitude. In contrast to conventional SCPAs, embodiments herein can provide an SCPA with not only a full amplitude mode and an off mode, but a half amplitude mode. Cells can be changed to half amplitude when a lower output amplitude is desired, and when an even lower output amplitude is desired, some of the cells can be switched to the off mode.

[0039] FIGS. 3a and 3b illustrate a switching scheme for an SCPA in accordance with embodiments. Components previously described with reference to FIG. 1 bear the same reference numerals.

[0040] In FIG. 3a, SCPA 200 is shown, which is similar to SCPA 100 of FIG. 1 but with an additional switch 210, in a switch signal line, connecting capacitors 110, 120 together at nodes 220, 230 as shown. As described above with reference to FIG. 1, the switches 130, 140, 150, 160 operate at RF for the full amplitude mode.

[0041] FIG. 3b illustrates the switch 210 also being switched at RF with switches 140, 150 being open with no connection to V.sub.ss and V.sub.dd respectively. FIG. 3b also shows switches 130, 160 switching at RF. Output 270 from capacitor 110 and output 280 from capacitor 120 are combined at 290 and connect to load node 295.

[0042] In this way, the two differential capacitors 110, 120 are switched between the supply voltage, V.sub.dd, ground, V.sub.ss, and being connected together by switch 210. Effectively, the signal swing at the capacitor is half of the full amplitude mode. When none of the cells are in the off mode, no power is lost and hence efficiency is preserved down to half of the peak output amplitude.

[0043] In full amplitude mode (as shown in FIG. 3a), node 220 switches between the supply voltage, V.sub.dd, and ground, V.sub.ss. Signals applied to node 230 are the inverse or complement to those applied to node 220. If all cells are in this mode, the output power, P.sub.out, is:

[00001]$P_{\mathrm{out}}=\frac{2}{{}^2}.Math.\frac{V_{\mathrm{dd}}^2}{R_{\mathrm{load}}}$

[0044] where R.sub.load is the load impedance at the load node 295 assuming V.sub.ss=0.

[0045] When all cells are in the half amplitude mode (as shown in FIG. 3b), node 220 switches between the supply voltage, V.sub.dd, and half the supply voltage as switch 140 is open. Similarly, signals applied to node 230 are the inverse or complement of those applied to node 220, switching between ground, V.sub.ss, and half the supply voltage, V.sub.dd. The output power is:

[00002]$P_{\mathrm{out}}=\frac{2}{{}^2}.Math.\frac{{\left(\frac{1}{2}.Math.V_{\mathrm{dd}}\right)}^2}{R_{\mathrm{load}}}$

[0046] In general, the output power of the SCPA in accordance with the present disclosure is:

[00003]$P_{\mathrm{out}}=\frac{2}{{}^2}.Math.{\left(\frac{n_f+\frac{n_h}{2}}{N}\right)}^2.Math.\frac{V_{\mathrm{dd}}^2}{R_{\mathrm{load}}}$

[0047] where n.sub.f is the number of cells in the full amplitude mode, n.sub.h is the number of cells in the half amplitude mode, and N is the total number of cells.

[0048] The sum of n.sub.f and n.sub.h should be less than or equal to N. This assumes that all cells have equal weight (unary scaling). However, this is not necessarily the case. Binary scaling or a combination of unary and binary scaling is also possible (segmented).

[0049] For increased efficiency, a specific sequence of enabling the different modes is typically required. However, other sequences may be used for enabling the different modes. The number of full amplitude, half amplitude, and off cells is dependent on the output amplitude as shown in FIG. 4a. Line 300 refers to the off cells; line 310 refers to the half amplitude cells; and line 320 refers to the full amplitude cells. The resulting efficiency curve is shown in FIG. 4b where line 350 refers to the efficiency of a conventional SCPA as shown in FIG. 2, and line 360 refers to the efficiency of an SCPA in accordance with the present disclosure. As shown, the efficiency of the SCPA in accordance with the present disclosure can perform better at lower normalized output amplitudes than conventional SCPA, for example, as shown in FIG. 1.

[0050] The switching scheme of the present disclosure can be implemented in at least two ways using transistors as shown in FIGS. 5a and 5b and FIGS. 6a and 6b and as described in more detail below. When using a power supply voltage V.sub.dd lower than the maximum safe transistor voltage V.sub.max, the embodiment shown in FIG. 5a is typically used, and when using a power supply voltage V.sub.dd higher than the maximum safe transistor voltage V.sub.max but lower than twice the maximum safe transistor voltage V.sub.max, the embodiment of FIG. 6a is typically used.

[0051] Referring initially to FIG. 5a, an SCPA 400 in accordance with the present disclosure is shown where the switches of FIGS. 3a and 3b are implemented by transistors. The SCPA 400 comprises first and second capacitors 410, 420 where the first capacitor 410 is connected to transistors 430, 440, in a first signal line, which in turn are connected to a supply voltage V.sub.dd and to ground V.sub.ss respectively. Transistors 430, 440 are switched at an applied RF. The second capacitor 420 is connected to transistors 450, 460, in a second signal line, which in turn are connected to a supply voltage V.sub.dd and to ground V.sub.ss respectively. Transistors 450, 460 are also switched at the applied RF.

[0052] Input signals to transistors 430 and 460 are such that transistor 430 receives signal B and transistor 460 receives signal B. Similarly, input signals to transistors 440 and 450 are such that transistor 440 receives signal A and transistor 450 receives signal .

[0053] Differential outputs 470, 480 from the first and second capacitors 410, 420 are combined at 490 and connected to a load node 495. Input signals to transistors 450 and 460 are effectively inverted signals of input signals to transistors 440 and 430 respectively.

[0054] An additional transistor arrangement 510 is shown, in a switch signal line, connecting capacitors 410, 420 together at nodes 520, 530. The transistor arrangement 510 comprises first and second transistors 540, 550 where input signals to transistors 550, 540 are such that transistor 540 receives input signal C and transistor 550 receives signal C.

[0055] In a non-illustrated embodiment, only one of the first and second transistors 540, 550 is present to implement the switch 510.

[0056] As before, although only one cell is shown, it will readily be appreciated that similar if not identical arrangements are provided in the other cells, and that the output from each cell is connected to form differential outputs 470 and 480 respectively.

[0057] In the full amplitude mode, transistors 430, 440, 450, and 460 are switched at the RF frequency, thereby generating a square wave with an amplitude of V.sub.dd at node 520 and at node 530 (assuming V.sub.ss=0).

[0058] In the half amplitude mode, transistors 430, 460, 540, 550 are switched at the RF frequency, thereby generating a square wave with an amplitude of 0.5*V.sub.dd at nodes 520 and 530. Hence, the output amplitude of the half amplitude mode is half of the full amplitude mode.

[0059] In the off mode, transistors 440, 450, 540 and 550 are off, and, transistors 430 and 460 tie nodes 520 and 530 at V.sub.dd and V.sub.ss respectively. Other options for the off mode are possible, where the nodes 520 and 530 are connected to either one of V.sub.dd or V.sub.ss or connected together.

[0060] FIG. 5b shows waveforms A, B, and C at inputs to transistors 440, 430, 540, at nodes 520, 530 (Act_p, Act_n), and at load node 495 (Out) for all three modes. Waveforms 440W, 430W, 540W, 520W, 530W and 495W correspond to respective inputs to the transistors 440, 430, 540, at the nodes 520, 530, and at load node 495 for all three modes. Sections 495a, 495b, and 495c of the waveform 495W correspond respectively to full amplitude mode, half amplitude mode, and off mode. It will readily be understood that as the input signals to transistors 450, 460, and 550 are inverted with respect to those input to transistors 440, 430, and 540 respectively.

[0061] Turning now to FIG. 6a, an SCPA 600 used when using a power supply voltage V.sub.dd higher than the maximum transistor voltage V.sub.max but lower than twice the maximum transistor voltage 2V.sub.max is shown. Each cell comprises first and second capacitors 610, 620 connected to respective outputs 670 and 680 which are combined at 690 to provide an output load node 695. As before, the first capacitor 610 is in a first signal line and the second capacitor 620 is in a second signal line.

[0062] In this embodiment, there are two supply voltages, namely, twice the supply voltage, 2V.sub.dd and ground V.sub.ss. Transistors 630 and 650 are connected to the higher supply voltage 2V.sub.dd, and transistors 640 and 660 are connected to ground V.sub.ss. The bias voltage V.sub.dd is connected to transistors 635, 645, 655, 665 as shown. Transistor 640 receives input signal A and transistor 660 receives input signal A, with transistor 630 receiving input signal B and transistor 650 input signal B.

[0063] Nodes 720, 730 are connected together by transistor arrangement 710 in a switch signal line. In this embodiment, transistor arrangement 710 comprises transistors 740, 745, 750, and 755 as shown, where the input signal to transistor 740 is D with input signal to transistor 750 being D and input signal to transistor 745 is C with input signal to transistor 755 being C. In this embodiment, V.sub.dd exists between transistors 745 and 750 as shown, and it does not need to be supplied externally with a voltage supply or a stabilizing circuit. However, this embodiment does not exclude the use of a voltage supply or stabilizing circuit. Although the voltage V.sub.dd is the same as the gate for transistors 635, 645, 655, 665, in essence, the gate side and switching side do not need to be connected, although they could be.

[0064] In the full amplitude mode, transistors 640, 630, 650, and 660 are switched at the applied RF, thereby generating a square wave with an amplitude of 2V.sub.dd at nodes 720 and 730. Transistors 745, 740, 755, and 750 are controlled such that the connection between nodes 720 and 730 is open.

[0065] In the half amplitude mode, transistors 630, 740, 755, and 660 are switched at the RF frequency, thereby generating a square wave with an amplitude of 0.5*2V.sub.dd at nodes 720, 730. Hence, the output amplitude of the half amplitude mode is half of the amplitude of the full amplitude mode.

[0066] In the off mode, transistors 745, 740, 755, and 750 are configured such that nodes 720, 730 are statically connected together. Other options for the off mode are possible, where the nodes 720 and 730 are connected to either V.sub.ss or V.sub.dd.

[0067] The corresponding waveforms 640W (A), 660W (A), 630W (B), 650W (B), 745W (C), 755W (C), 740W (D), and 750W (D) of input signals to respective transistors 640, 660, 630, 650, 745, 755, 740, 750 and the waveforms at nodes 720, 730 (Act_p, Act_n) and at load node 795 (Out) are shown in FIG. 6b, for all three modes. Sections 695a, 695b and 695c respectively illustrate the full amplitude, half amplitude and off modes.

[0068] Potential advantages of the method in accordance with the present disclosure include: power amplifier efficiency improvement in back-off;

[0069] power amplifier efficiency improvement for signals with high PAPR;

[0070] efficiency improvement independent of frequency or bandwidth; and

[0071] no additional power supplies being required to generate the half amplitude mode.

[0072] Although specific implementations for switching the cells of the SCPA are discussed in accordance with the present disclosure, it will readily be appreciated that other implementations for achieving a similar switching regime may be possible.

[0073] While some embodiments have been illustrated and described in detail in the appended drawings and the foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative and not restrictive. Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected in practicing the claims, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. The mere fact that certain measures or features are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures or features cannot be used. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.