Plural Amplifier Stages Patents (Class 455/127.3)
  • Patent number: 7937062
    Abstract: A monolithic integrated circuit (IC), and method of manufacturing same, that includes all RF front end or transceiver elements for a portable communication device, including a power amplifier (PA), a matching, coupling and filtering network, and an antenna switch to couple the conditioned PA signal to an antenna. An output signal sensor senses at least a voltage amplitude of the signal switched by the antenna switch, and signals a PA control circuit to limit PA output power in response to excessive values of sensed output. Stacks of multiple FETs in series to operate as a switching device may be used for implementation of the RF front end, and the method and apparatus of such stacks are claimed as subcombinations. An iClass PA architecture is described that dissipatively terminates unwanted harmonics of the PA output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Peregrine Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Mark L. Burgener, James S. Cable
  • Patent number: 7924200
    Abstract: In a particular embodiment, a circuit device includes an input to receive a pulse-width modulated (PWM) signal and an output to send a modulated PWM signal. The circuit device further includes a pulse edge control circuit coupled between the input and the output. The pulse edge control circuit receives the PWM signal via the input and includes a control input to receive a modulation control signal. The pulse edge control circuit is adapted to modify the PWM signal to provide the modulated PWM signal with suppressed carrier power and associated harmonics to the output based on the modulation control signal. The circuit device further includes a modulation sequence controller adapted to provide the modulation control signal via the control input. The modulation control signal selectively controls a sequence of the modification of the PWM signal to selectively alter an output power spectrum of the modulated PWM signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: John M Khoury
  • Patent number: 7920836
    Abstract: A system for saturation detection, correction and recovery in a power amplifier includes a power amplifier, a closed power control loop configured to develop a power control signal (VPC), and power control circuitry configured to reduce the power control signal if the power amplifier is operating in a saturation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Dmitriy Rozenblit, Tirdad Sowlati, Darioush Agahi
  • Patent number: 7907921
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for enabling a transmitter to have a substantially linear magnitude response and a substantially linear phase response. The transmitter includes first and second power amplifier drivers (PADs) having respective first and second non-linear phase responses. The first non-linear phase response is based on a first bias applied to the first PAD, and the second non-linear phase response is based on a second bias applied to the second PAD. The first and second PADs are coupled in parallel to provide a combined substantially linear phase response. According to an embodiment, the first and second PADs have respective first and second average input capacitances. Signal swings about the first and second biases vary the respective first and second average input capacitances, which may be combined to provide a combined average input capacitance that is substantially insensitive to the signal swings about the first and second biases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Meng-An Pan
  • Patent number: 7904029
    Abstract: A full duplex communication system is capable of providing actual wireless transmission rates on the order of 125 Mb/s, or higher, with relatively high transmission power on the order of 0.5 to 2 watts (W) or higher, with a high signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio, a bit error rate on the order of 10?12 or lower, 99.99% availability, and with relatively simple circuit designs. A single compact and efficient, low distortion transceiver design is used based on high power (e.g., 0.5 W) monolithic millimeter wave integrated circuits (MMICs), having a compression point which accommodates high speed modems such as OC-3 and 100 Mb/s Fast Ethernet modems used in broadband networking technologies like SONET/SDH (e.g., SONET ring architectures having self-healing ring capability). By applying high power MMIC technology of conventional radar systems to wireless duplex communications, significant advantages can be realized in a fixed wireless spectrum of 18-40 GHz or wider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Vernon T. Brady, Greg Stilwell, Eugene Fischer
  • Patent number: 7904038
    Abstract: An output monitor circuit of a radio-frequency circuit outputs a radio-frequency signal of wavelength ?. The circuit includes a directional coupler, a detection circuit, and a back flow blocking circuit. The directional coupler has a coupling line of a length less than ?/4 coupled with an output line of the radio-frequency circuit and a terminating resistor connected to one end on the radio-frequency circuit side of the coupling line. A radio-frequency signal is derived from the other end of the coupling line by means of coupling between the coupling line and the output line. The detection circuit detects a radio-frequency signal derived from the directional coupler to produce a monitor signal. The back flow blocking circuit blocks signal components back flowing from the output side toward the output line in a portion where there is no coupling between the output line and the coupling line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Akihiro Satomi
  • Patent number: 7899420
    Abstract: A wireless transmission device includes a RF power amplification section for amplifying a transmit RF signal and outputting the amplified signal to a transmission antenna, a detector section, and a control section. The RF power amplification section includes a plurality of stages of amplification, the transmit RF signal is input to an input of a first one of the plurality of stages of amplification, and an output of a last one of the plurality of stages of amplification is output to the transmission antenna. The detector section includes a plurality of detectors provided so as to correspond to the plurality of stages of amplification, each for detecting an input level of a corresponding one of the stages of amplification, and a synthesizer for synthesizing together detection outputs from the plurality of detectors. The control section controls, in a feedback control, an output level of the RF power amplification section based on an output level of the synthesizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeki Nakamura, Fumiya Kamimura, Junji Ito, Hidefumi Suzaki
  • Patent number: 7894780
    Abstract: Various aspect of a system for a linearized transmitter including a power amplifier may include at least one transconductance amplifier that enables generation of a single analog quadrature signal. Transmitter mixers may enable generation of a plurality of upconverted RF signals in a corresponding plurality of RF processing chains based on the generated single analog quadrature signal. In various embodiments of the invention, a gain stage, for example gain stage, may also be referred to as an RF processing chain. Power amplifier circuit may enable generation of a corresponding plurality of RF output signals within a wireless communication system based on the generated plurality of upconverted RF signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Meng-An Pan, Ali Afsahi, Vikram Magoon, Arya Behzad
  • Patent number: 7894782
    Abstract: An RF transceiver includes a plurality of RF receivers for receiving a corresponding one of a plurality of received signals. Each of the plurality of the RF receivers includes an AGC module that generates an automatic gain control (AGC) signal based on the strength of the corresponding one of the plurality of received signals, and a low noise amplifier that amplifies the corresponding one of the plurality of received signals based on the AGC signal. A processing module generates a transmit power control signal based on the AGC signals from each of the plurality of RF receivers. A plurality of RF transmitters each generate a corresponding one of a plurality of transmit signals having a selected power level, wherein the selected power level is based on the transmit power control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Ahmadreza (Reza) Rofougaran
  • Patent number: 7894547
    Abstract: In-phase (I) and quadrature-phase (Q) signals are corrected for both amplitude and phase imbalances by passing the I and Q signals successively through a first amplitude correction stage, a sum-difference stage, and a second amplitude correction stage. The first amplitude correction stage balances the signal levels of the I and Q signals. The sum-difference stage produce a sum of the input I and Q signals, and a difference of the input I and Q signals, resulting in ideal quadrature in the outputs produced. The second amplitude correction stage corrects the amplitude differences from the sum-difference stage. Circuit configurations are used that minimize errors produced by the signal processing stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: RF Magic, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Jacques Fortier, Wing Fat Andy Lau, Peter Shah
  • Patent number: 7890079
    Abstract: A radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC) includes a silicon substrate, CMOS processing circuitry, and a bipolar power amplifier module. The CMOS processing circuitry is on the silicon substrate. The bipolar power amplifier module is on the silicon substrate and is operable in a 5 GHz frequency band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Arya Reza Behzad, Payman Hosseinzadeh Shanjani, Hsin-Hsing Liao, Hao Jiang
  • Patent number: 7877065
    Abstract: A signal processing circuit having a modulator having frequency conversion circuits, each having a local oscillator and a mixer. The circuit multiplies a signal having a first frequency and a local oscillation signal from the local oscillator at the mixer to convert the frequency of the first frequency signal to a second frequency, outputs a current format frequency converted signal and a first gain control circuit amplifying the current format frequency converted signals from the frequency conversion circuits by a first gain in accordance with a first control voltage. The circuit also outputs the current format amplified signals and a second gain control circuit connected after the first gain control circuit and having at least one gain control circuit which amplifies a current format amplified signal output from the first gain control circuit by a second gain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hideo Morohashi
  • Patent number: 7877066
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides an RF log-amp detector, comprising a pre-amplifer at the input of the RF log-amp detector, a plurality of limiters with variable gain connected to the pre-amplifier, wherein the gain of the preamplifier is set to its minimum and the dynamic range is expanded by modifying the amplification gain of the plurality of limiters, thereby increasing the dynamic range and reducing accuracy, after which a coarse measurement of a power level is taken and wherein the RF log-amp detector then defines which pre-amplification level is required based on the course measurement to bring the signal at the output of the preamp within an optimum dynamic range of the log-amp and wherein the pre-amplification gain is then set while the gain of the plurality of limiters are set to their minimum value with the RF log-amp then performing a second measurement with higher accuracy and calculating the final measurement from fine measurements and the pre-amplification gain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Paratek Microwave Inc
    Inventor: Guillaume Blin
  • Patent number: 7873334
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to the field of automatic power control (APC) circuitries used in the analog front end of a mobile transmitter. It particularly refers to a power control circuitry and a corresponding method for controlling the power level of an RF signal to be transmitted at the output port of a variable-gain power amplifier by performing an additional regulation of the APC loop's reference signal. Thereby, it is proposed to increase the radiated RF power in case a transmitting antenna is mismatched to said power amplifier in order to not release an ongoing call. In case there is a subject very close to the terminal antenna, the antenna load is changed and the increased reflected signal is measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
    Inventors: Grigory Itkin, Andrei Kabanov
  • Patent number: 7860468
    Abstract: A programmable variable gain amplifier includes at least three amplifiers. A first amplifier is configured to amplify an input signal. A second amplifier, which includes a programmable output load stage, is configured to receive an output signal from the first amplifier and to output a first differential output signal. The output load stage includes multiple first switches and multiple first diode-connected transistors that are open-circuited or short-circuited by the first switches. A third amplifier, which includes a programmable current mirror input stage, is configured to receive the first differential output signal from the second amplifier through the current mirror input stage and to output a second differential output signal. The current mirror input stage includes multiple second switches and multiple second transistors that are open-circuited or short-circuited by the plurality of second switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Il-Ku Nam, Byeong-Ha Park, Jong-Dae Bae, Jung-Wook Heo, Ho-Jung Ju, Hyun-Won Mun, Jeong-Hyun Choi
  • Patent number: 7853234
    Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) front-end includes a plurality of power amplifier modules and a plurality of impedance matching circuits. Each of the plurality of impedance matching circuits includes an input connection and an output connection, wherein outputs of the plurality of power amplifier modules are coupled to corresponding input connections of the plurality of impedance matching circuits to provide a desired loading of the plurality of power amplifier modules and wherein the output connections of the plurality of impedance matching circuits are coupled together to add power of the plurality of power amplifiers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Ali Afsahi
  • Patent number: 7848714
    Abstract: A radio frequency circuit apparatus and a radio frequency module which permit alleviation of the PA efficiency drop and are compatible with both a MIMO system and a conventional system are to be provided. They are provided with a plurality of power amplifiers for amplifying a transmit signal and the plurality of power amplifiers include at least two power amplifiers differing in maximum output power from each other, and at least one out of the plurality of power amplifiers is used according to the communication system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi Metals, Ltd.
    Inventors: Eriko Takeda, Akira Kuriyama, Tatemi Ido
  • Patent number: 7844235
    Abstract: Methods and systems for vector combining power amplification are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a plurality of signals are individually amplified, then summed to form a desired time-varying complex envelope signal. Phase and/or frequency characteristics of one or more of the signals are controlled to provide the desired phase, frequency, and/or amplitude characteristics of the desired time-varying complex envelope signal. In another embodiment, a time-varying complex envelope signal is decomposed into a plurality of constant envelope constituent signals. The constituent signals are amplified equally or substantially equally, and then summed to construct an amplified version of the original time-varying envelope signal. Embodiments also perform frequency up-conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
    Inventors: David F. Sorrells, Gregory S. Rawlins, Michael W. Rawlins
  • Patent number: 7844233
    Abstract: A passive amplifier structure capable of multiplying the voltage of an input signal is provided. In a first stage, a first and a second capacitance are connected between a first and a second input port of a balanced input port in response to a first oscillator signal. In a second stage, in response to a second oscillator signal having a phase different from that of the first oscillator signal, the first capacitance is connected between the first input port and a third capacitance and the second capacitance is connected between the second input port and the third capacitance. An output voltage over the third capacitance is obtained from terminals of the third capacitance. Presented embodiments also describe an automatic gain control feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventor: Risto Vaisanen
  • Patent number: 7840198
    Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for processing signals in a high performance receive chain may include amplifying radio frequency signals in amplifier chains in a multistandard radio frequency front-end, comprising one or more shared processing stages, and combining, with substantially equal gain, a number of phase-shifted radio frequency signals of the radio frequency signals into substantially equal-gain-combined radio frequency signals. The substantially equal-gain-combined radio frequency signals may be demodulated to obtain inphase channels and quadrature channels. A number of inphase channels and quadrature channels may be processed in I-channel processing blocks and Q-channel processing blocks to generate an output analog baseband signal. The multistandard radio frequency front-end may be capable of processing Bluetooth® signals and Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Broadcom Corp.
    Inventors: Arya Behzad, Adedayo Ojo, Yuyu Chang, Hung-Ming Chien, Kishore Rama Rao, Guruprasad Seetharam
  • Patent number: 7840193
    Abstract: A modulator 23 corrects an amplitude signal Rd by adding thereto an offset value ? and generates, based on the corrected amplitude signal Rd, an amplitude signal Ra for amplitude-modulating a radio-frequency signal. The modulator 23 includes: an offset voltage measurement section 109 operable to measure an offset voltage V2cal of the amplitude signal Ra; a correction value calculation section 110 operable to obtain a difference value ?V2cal between the offset voltage V2cal measured by the offset voltage measurement section 109 and an initial value of the offset voltage V2cal and operable to calculate, based on the difference value ?V2cal, a correction value VODAC for correcting the offset voltage V2cal; and an addition section 106 operable to add the correction value VODAC calculated by the correction value calculation section 110 to a signal processed until the amplitude signal Ra is generated from the amplitude signal Rd.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Hara, Shigeru Morimoto
  • Patent number: 7835709
    Abstract: Methods and systems for vector combining power amplification are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a plurality of signals are individually amplified, then summed to form a desired time-varying complex envelope signal. Phase and/or frequency characteristics of one or more of the signals are controlled to provide the desired phase, frequency, and/or amplitude characteristics of the desired time-varying complex envelope signal. In another embodiment, a time-varying complex envelope signal is decomposed into a plurality of constant envelope constituent signals. The constituent signals are amplified equally or substantially equally, and then summed to construct an amplified version of the original time-varying envelope signal. Embodiments also perform frequency up-conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
    Inventors: David F. Sorrells, Gregory S. Rawlins, Michael W. Rawlins
  • Patent number: 7821440
    Abstract: In a particular embodiment, a circuit device includes an input to receive a pulse-width modulated (PWM) signal and an output to send a modulated PWM signal. The circuit device further includes a pulse edge control circuit coupled between the input and the output. The pulse edge control circuit receives the PWM signal via the input and includes a control input to receive a modulation control signal. The pulse edge control circuit is adapted to modify the PWM signal to provide the modulated PWM signal with suppressed carrier power and associated harmonics to the output based on the modulation control signal. The circuit device further includes a modulation sequence controller adapted to provide the modulation control signal via the control input. The modulation control signal selectively controls a sequence of the modification of the PWM signal to selectively alter an output power spectrum of the modulated PWM signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: John M. Khoury
  • Patent number: 7817962
    Abstract: Various embodiments are disclosed relating to wireless systems, and also relating to transmitter amplifiers, such as, for example, polar transmitter amplifiers with variable output power. According to an example embodiment, a circuit is provided including a plurality of selectable amplifier cells. Each amplifier cell may receive a phase or frequency modulated signal and an amplitude modulated signal. Each amplifier cell may output a signal based upon a combination of the received amplitude modulated signal and the received phase or frequency modulated signal if the amplifier cell is selected. The circuit may provide a variable output current or output power based upon the selection of one or more of the amplifier cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Alireza Zolfaghari
  • Patent number: 7805117
    Abstract: A transmitter (200) includes a plurality of amplifier “n” stages (202, 204, 206) providing predetermined gain stages and a plurality of filters (208, 210). Each filter (208, 210) is distributed between each gain stage (202, 204) (204, 206) so as to reject far out noise in accordance with the gain stage preceding that filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventor: George R. Sarkees
  • Patent number: 7796953
    Abstract: A filtering method, a transceiver and a transmitter are provided. The transmitter comprises a power amplifier amplifying an RF signal and having multiple stages, and a local oscillator, the power amplifier comprising between at least two stages of the power amplifier an impedance circuitry for forming an impedance at a frequency related to the frequency of the local oscillator, and a switch for switching the impedance of the impedance circuitry means to RF frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Marko J. Alanen, Sami Vilhonen, Ari Vilander
  • Patent number: 7773959
    Abstract: The present invention provides a quadrature RF amplifier output network that includes a quadrature RF combiner and impedance transformation circuitry. The output network is coupled between a quadrature RF amplifier and an antenna, or other downstream circuitry to optimize net RF power transfer and improve overall power efficiency. The quadrature RF combiner phase-shifts and combines quadrature RF signals from the quadrature RF amplifier into a single combined RF signal that feeds the impedance transformation circuitry. The impedance transformation circuitry transforms an impedance that is presented to the output of the quadrature RF amplifier output network into a desired quadrature impedance that is presented to the outputs of the quadrature RF amplifier. Termination circuitry is coupled to the quadrature RF combiner to capture improperly phased signals, reflected signals, or imbalanced signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: RF Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen P. Bachhuber, Derek Schooley
  • Patent number: 7761055
    Abstract: An antenna (8), mounted to a roof (3) of a building (1), receives digital broadcast transmissions and feeds a signal through a cable (9) to a desk stand (2). The desk stand has an amplifier and a loop antenna. A mobile telephone handset (6) capable of receiving digital broadcast transmissions also includes a loop antenna. Using inductive coupling, the signal is transmitted from the desk stand to the mobile telephone handset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Kimmo Laiho, Mauri Mäkivuoti
  • Patent number: 7761068
    Abstract: System and method for creating a time alignment analog notch. An embodiment includes a digital power amplifier coupled to an enable signal line and to a digital control bits bus, and a matching network coupled to the digital power amplifier. The matching network to provide impedance matching and the digital power amplifier to produce a current based on a value on the digital control bits bus. The digital power amplifier comprises a selection circuit and a plurality of transistors. The transistors, controlled by outputs of the selection circuit, provide a current based on the value on the digital control bits bus. The adjustment of a delay between a signal on the enable signal line and the values on the digital control bits bus creates an analog notch at about Fs/2, where Fs is a sampling frequency of a sigma-delta modulator used to modulate data provided to the digital power amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Sameh Sameer Rezeq, Khurram Waheed, Sudheer Vemulapalli
  • Patent number: 7756494
    Abstract: The RF power amplifier includes first and second amplifiers Q1 and Q2 as final-stage amplification power devices connected in parallel between an input terminal RF_In and an output terminal RF_Out. The amplifiers Q1 and Q2 are formed on one semiconductor chip. The first bias voltage Vg1 of the amplifier Q1 is set to be higher than the second bias voltage Vg2 of the amplifier Q2 so that the amplifier Q1 is operational between Class B and AB, and Q2 is operational in Class C. The first effective device size Wgq1 of the amplifier Q1 is intentionally set to be smaller than the second effective device size Wgq2 of the amplifier Q2 beyond a range of a manufacturing error of the semiconductor chip. An RF power amplifier that exhibits a high power-added efficiency characteristic regardless of whether the output power is High or Low can be materialized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Toru Fujioka, Toshihiko Shimizu, Masami Ohnishi, Hidetoshi Matsumoto, Satoshi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7751784
    Abstract: In a power amplifier, techniques are provided for protecting the power amplifier from temperature extremes resulting from conditions such as load mismatches. After sensing the temperature of the power amplifier, the operation of the RF power amplifier is controlled accordingly. In one example, the power amplifier is shut down when the sensed temperature reaches a threshold value, which can be set to a value just below the point where permanent damage would occur. In another example, when a threshold temperature is reached, the operation of the power amplifier is changed, to prevent the temperature of the power amplifier from rising to a level that would damage the power amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Black Sand Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mendy M. Ouzillou, Ryan M. Bocock
  • Patent number: 7747231
    Abstract: A system and method for transmitting a signal in a communication system are provided. In the signal transmitting method, a multi-FA signal is generated by combining single FA signals to be transmitted by N FAs. An operation mode is determined for N MMPAs according to a used FA strategy and adjustment of amplification characteristics of the N MMPAs is controlled according to the operation mode. The power of the multi-FA signal is divided by N, the N divided signals are amplified according to the adjusted amplification characteristics, and the power of the amplified N signals is combined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyun-Su Yoon, Joong-Ho Jeong
  • Publication number: 20100151805
    Abstract: In a multi-stage amplifier, a power supply circuit and a multiplier perform control so that, when there are manufacturing variations in, for example, inter-stage capacitance, a collector voltage of a stage immediately preceding a final stage is smaller than a collector voltage of the final stage, thereby suppressing variations in AM-PM characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Inventors: Junji KAIDO, Kazuki Tateoka, Masahiko Inamori, Hirokazu Makihara, Shingo Matsuda
  • Patent number: 7738853
    Abstract: A RF device such as a tower mounted amplifier (TMA), mast-head amplifier (MHA), or Tower Mounted Boosters (TMB) includes a housing having a plurality of cavities and an input and an output, the input being coupled to the antenna and the output being coupled to a base station. The housing includes a transmission path holding multiple coaxial resonators. The housing further includes multiple receive paths including at least one path having a plurality of cavities, each cavity containing a dielectric resonator. The metallic transmit resonator nearest the antenna input is coupled to the first dielectric resonator via a common resonant wire. The last dielectric resonator in the receive path is coupled to a first metallic resonator of a downstream clean-up filter via another common resonant wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Antone Wireless Corporation
    Inventors: Michael M. Eddy, Gregory L. Hey-Shipton
  • Patent number: 7720448
    Abstract: A signal generation power management control system (100) for use in a portable communications device includes a digital signal processor (DSP) (101) for processing a digital source input and providing a digital processed bit stream A digital-to-analog converter (DAC) (103) is used for converting the digital processed bit stream to provide an analog signal. A power management controller (115) within the DSP (101) is then used for interpreting control parameters of signal processing components used within the portable communications device and dynamically adjusting the bias current of these components based on minimal signal requirements of the analog signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Raul Salvi, Cesar Carralero, Steven P. Hoggarth
  • Patent number: 7711331
    Abstract: In a transmission power amplifier apparatus, a signal calculator divides an input signal into a plurality of N constant amplitude signals having a substantially identical predetermined constant amplitude value and having predetermined phases different from each other, and N power amplifiers amplify electric powers of the N constant amplitude signals under same predetermined operating condition. A power combiner combines the electric powers of the N power-amplified constant amplitude signals, and outputs a combined output signal. A controller controls the signal calculator to detect an amplitude value of the input signal, to detect an average value and one of a maximum value of the amplitude value of the input signal and a peak-to-peak value of the amplitude value for a unit time interval based on the detected amplitude value of the input signal, and to divide the input signal into the N constant amplitude signals having a constant amplitude value and different phases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyasu Takehara
  • Publication number: 20100102889
    Abstract: In at least some embodiments, a communication system includes a receiver having a local oscillator (LO) for each of a plurality of frequency bands. Each LO is controlled by a separate phase-locked loop (PLL) that tracks carrier frequency offset (CFO) using a common phase error (CPE). The CPE is selectively weighted based on at least one inter-band frequency correlation (IFC) coefficient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Yehuda AZENKOT, Michael E. WILHOYTE, Manoneet SINGH
  • Patent number: 7706762
    Abstract: An objective of this invention is to obtain a signal processing circuit and a signal processing method that reduce temperature-induced distortion when inputting a signal to a mixer and changing the frequency of the signal to a desired frequency. If a sensing result from a temperature sensor 133 is lower than a predetermined temperature, the attenuation factor of a first variable attenuator 102 is large while the attenuation factor of a second variable attenuator 108 is small. The magnitude relationship between the attenuation factors is reversed in a temperature range of the predetermined temperature or more. In a mixer 104 in which at a low temperature, the gain increases, and distortion increases, an increase in IM3 distortion can be prevented by increasing the attenuation factor at a low temperature. The same applies to a case where a mixer that has an amplifier arranged at a preceding stage thereof and makes the amplification factor of the amplifier large at a low temperature is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Akihiro Kirisawa
  • Patent number: 7706760
    Abstract: A system for saturation detection, correction and recovery in a power amplifier includes a power amplifier, a closed power control loop configured to develop a power control signal (VPC), and power control circuitry configured to reduce the power control signal if the power amplifier is operating in a saturation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Dmitriy Rozenblit, Tirdad Sowlati, Darioush Agahi
  • Patent number: 7702359
    Abstract: Disclosed is a direct conversion type transmitter or transceiver circuit suitable for a mobile communication device which corresponds to broad signal output level variable width to be required by W-CDMA, which does not necessitate any high-performance low noise VCO and RF filter, capable of reducing a number of components and the cost. In the input portion of an orthogonal modulator composed of a divider, mixers, and a common load, there are provided variable attenuators. If an input signal level of the orthogonal modulator within the transmitter circuit lowers, this variable attenuator circuit is operated so as to lower the bias of the orthogonal modulator to reduce the amount of occurrence of carrier leak, and to prevent the signal during low output level and carrier leak ratio from being deteriorated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Satoshi Tanaka, Taizo Yamawaki, Kazuaki Hori, Kazuo Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7702301
    Abstract: A method of reducing distortion in the output of an amplifier is provided. The method comprises subtractively combining an error signals with the appropriate phase shift with input signals to be amplified. The error signal being generated by subtractively combining a fed-forward portion of the input signal with a portion of the fed-back amplified output signal, and signal processing applied to it between its generation and application to correcting the input signal in the baseband domain. The error therefore being down-converted, filtered, and up-converted in the feedback path. The filtered baseband error signal components providing inputs to a controller which adjusts active elements of the amplification and feedback path in order to minimize the distortion within the output of the amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Sige Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Gordon G. Rabjohn, Johan Grundlingh
  • Publication number: 20100093292
    Abstract: A Tx module for wireless communications includes a plurality of Tx signal input ports receiving Tx signals of different frequencies, respectively, a plurality of power amplification units having input ports connected to the plurality of Tx signal input ports, respectively, a plurality of matching circuit units configured as transformers having input ports connected to output ports of the plurality of power amplification units, respectively, a plurality of harmonic filter units having input ports connected to output ports of the plurality of matching circuit units, respectively, a switch unit having input ports connected to output ports of the plurality of harmonic filter units, respectively and selecting one of signals input through the input ports as output, a gain/switching control unit controlling gains of the power amplification units and controlling the output selection of the switch unit, and a Tx signal output port connected to an output port of the switch unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ki Joong KIM, Shinichi IIZUKA, Hyo Keun BAE, Sang Hee KIM, Joong Jin NAM, Youn Suk KIM
  • Patent number: 7689182
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for maintaining a consistent operating condition of a power amplifier power amplifier across a range of operating temperatures. The power amplifier is provided with an input bias voltage (Vbias) that adjusts with temperature to compensate for the temperature dependent change of the power amplifier's base-emitter voltage drop Vbe. This maintains a consistent operating condition in the power amplifier, which reduces temperature-dependent changes in the amplifier's gain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: RF Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Bosley, Jackie Johnson, Frank Tamborino, Michael F. Zybura
  • Patent number: 7689183
    Abstract: A transmitter controlling output power to generate a ramp and a method thereof. The transmitter comprises a baseband module, a transmitter module, and a power amplifier. The baseband module receives a power control level, determines a scaling factor according to the power control level, determines a difference between an upper power limit and lower power limit according to a position on the ramp, and calculates a control signal according to the scaling factor, the lower power limit, and the difference. The transmitter module transmits data. The power amplifier coupled to the baseband module and the transmitter module, outputs the data with the output power according the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Via Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Liang Yan
  • Patent number: 7684514
    Abstract: A transmitter providing a wide output control variable width with high efficiency is provided. Saturation mode operation is performed in the vicinity of the maximum transmission power and the input level of a large power amplifier is enlarged and fixed. When the large power amplifier is operated in a saturation state, the amplitude component of a modulation signal is input to an R input terminal in the range responsive to an output power control level and power supply voltage of a power supply terminal is amplitude-modulated, whereby highly efficient polar coordinate modulation is performed. In smaller transmission power, linear mode operation is performed, the input level of the large power amplifier is lessened for operating the large power amplifier in the linear mode, and the power supply voltage of the power supply terminal is made variable in response to the output power control level, whereby transmission power control is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Noriaki Saito, Koichiro Tanaka, Mitsuru Tanabe
  • Patent number: 7684772
    Abstract: A tuner down-converts a Radio Frequency (RF) wireless signal and outputs the converted signal. The tuner compensates for a TOP depending on a temperature and: detects a received signal strength depending on a RF output of the tuner and transmitting the detected strength to a gain control unit; measures an operating temperature of the tuner and transmits the measured temperature value; receives the measured temperature value to compare the received temperature value with a reference TOP value, compensating compensates for the TOP value depending on variation in temperature and outputting outputs the compensated value; and receives the compensated value to control the RF output based on the TOP value and the received signal strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Integrant Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Junghwan Lee, Bonkee Kim
  • Publication number: 20100069025
    Abstract: A transmitter generates first and second constant-envelope radio frequency (RF) component signals having first and second phase angles. The first and second phases are controlled by a phase controller. First and second nonlinear power amplifiers (PAs) are modulated by an amplitude-modulated power supply signal as the first and second constant-envelope RF component signals are amplified. The phase controller controls the first and second phases of the first and second constant-envelope RF component signals, in response to a power control signal, and, in so doing, controls an effective load impedance seen at the outputs of the first and second nonlinear PAs. By controlling the effective load impedance in response to a power control signal, rather than in response to rapid amplitude variations in an input signal envelope, the output power of the transmitter is efficiently controlled over a wide dynamic range even at low output powers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventors: Koji Takinami, Paul Cheng-Po Liang
  • Publication number: 20100069026
    Abstract: Systems and method for implementing a transmitter with hybrid closed loop power control in a communication device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Nick Shute, Michael Wilheim, Andrea Camuffo, Alexander Belitzer
  • Publication number: 20100069027
    Abstract: An RF integrated circuit (IC) includes a processing module that determines a selected one of the plurality of power modes based on current use characteristics of at least one application, and generates a power mode signal based on the selected one of the plurality of power modes. An on-chip power management circuit receives the power mode signal and generates a plurality of power supply signals based on the power mode signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ahmadreza (Reza) Rofougaran
  • Patent number: 7680467
    Abstract: In a distortion compensating amplifier that compensates for distortion occurring in main amplifiers, a first amplifying unit amplifies, with a first main amplifier, a first signal consisting of a main signal to be amplified and detects distortion occurring in the first main amplifier, a distortion adjusting unit subjects the distortion detected by the first amplifying unit to vector adjustment, a second amplifying unit combines a second signal consisting of the main signal to be amplified and the distortion supplied from the distortion adjusting unit and amplifies a combined signal with a second main amplifier, and a combining unit combines an amplified signal supplied from the first amplifying unit and an amplified signal supplied from the second amplifying unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc.
    Inventor: Takeshi Ishigami