Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) power amplifier system adjusts the supply voltage provided to a power amplifier (PA) adaptively, responsive to the measured or estimated power of the RF output signal of the PA. The RF PA system includes a power amplifier (PA) which receives and amplifies an RF input signal to generate an RF output signal at a level suitable for transmission to an antenna. A PA supply voltage controller generates a supply voltage control signal, which is used to control the supply voltage to the final stage of the PA. The supply voltage control signal is generated responsive to the measured or estimated power of the PA RF output signal, and also may be responsive to a parameter indicative of impedance mismatch experienced at the PA output. By controlling this supply voltage to the RF PA, the efficiency of the PA is improved.

Abstract: An RF power amplifier system comprises an amplitude control loop and a phase control loop. The amplitude control loop adjusts the supply voltage to the power amplifier based upon the amplitude correction signal indicating the amplitude difference between the amplitude of the input signal and an attenuated amplitude of the output signal. The phase control loop adjusts the phase of the input signal based upon a phase error signal indicating a phase difference between phases of the input signal and the output signal. The phase control loop may comprise one or more variable phase delays introducing a relative phase delay to allow the phase differences between the input and output signals of the PA circuit to be within a range compatible with a phase comparator generating the phase error signal, and a low frequency blocking module that removes the larger extent, lower frequency components of the phase error signal.

Abstract: A power supply system uses improved Class G amplifier architecture for high bandwidth operation with low distortion. The power supply system switches between multiple power supply rails, depending on the signal level handled by the power supply system. The lowest usable supply rail voltage is chosen to minimize power dissipation in the output driver, thus optimizing efficiency. Each supply rail has an associated driver capable of sourcing current to the amplifier output. When a supply rail is selected, its associated driver is enabled and other driver(s) not associated with the selected supply rail are disabled via separate disable control signals. The disabling of the deselected driver may be delayed until current above a predetermined threshold is sensed at the output of the enabled driver. In addition, the frequency of switching between the power rails may be limited via various means designed to limit distortion in the power supply system.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) power amplifier system adjusts the supply voltage provided to a power amplifier (PA) adaptively, responsive to the measured or estimated power of the RF output signal of the PA. The RF PA system includes a power amplifier (PA) which receives and amplifies an RF input signal to generate an RF output signal at a level suitable for transmission to an antenna. A PA supply voltage controller generates a supply voltage control signal, which is used to control the supply voltage to the final stage of the PA. The supply voltage control signal is generated responsive to the measured or estimated power of the PA RF output signal, and also may be responsive to a parameter indicative of impedance mismatch experienced at the PA output. By controlling this supply voltage to the RF PA, the efficiency of the PA is improved.

Abstract: A power amplifier controller circuit controls a power amplifier based upon an amplitude correction signal indicating the amplitude difference between the amplitude of the input signal and an attenuated amplitude of the output signal. The power amplifier controller circuit comprises an amplitude control loop and a phase control loop. The amplitude control loop adjusts the supply voltage to the power amplifier based upon the amplitude correction signal. The amplitude correction signal may also be split into two or more signals with different frequency ranges and provided respectively to different types of power supplies with different efficiencies to generate the adjusted supply voltage to the power amplifier. The phase control loop adjusts the phase of the input signal based upon a phase error signal indicating a phase difference between phases of the input signal and the output signal to reduce phase distortion generated by the power amplifier.

Abstract: A power amplifier controller circuit controls a power amplifier based upon an amplitude correction signal indicating the amplitude difference between the amplitude of the input signal and an attenuated amplitude of the output signal. The power amplifier controller circuit comprises an amplitude control loop and a phase control loop. The amplitude control loop adjusts the supply voltage to the power amplifier based upon the amplitude correction signal. The RF power amplifier system may reduce the corrective action of the amplitude loop during periods of relatively rapid changes in amplitude, and thus distortion can be further reduced.

Abstract: A power amplifier controller circuit controls a power amplifier based upon an amplitude correction signal indicating the amplitude difference between the amplitude of the input signal and an attenuated amplitude of the output signal. The power amplifier controller circuit comprises an amplitude control loop and a phase control loop. The amplitude control loop adjusts the supply voltage to the power amplifier based upon the amplitude correction signal. The amplitude loop may include a variable gain amplifier adjusting the amplitude of the input signal. The amplitude loop can include a compression control block which may be configured either to adjust the gain in the variable gain amplifier or the voltage from the power supply based upon the operating level of the other, in addition to being based upon the amplitude correction signal, thus providing a way of maintaining the depth beyond the PA's compression point and allowing a control of the efficiency of the RF power amplifier.

Abstract: A power supply system comprises a low-speed power supply and a high-speed power supply configured to operate in first and second frequency ranges, respectively, and generate first and second outputs, respectively. The lower end of the second frequency range is at least higher than a lower end of the first frequency range. A frequency blocking power combiner circuit combines the power from the first output with the power from the second output to generate a combined, third output for driving a load, while providing frequency-selective isolation between the first and second outputs. A feedback circuit is coupled to receive the combined, third output through a global feedback loop. The feedback circuit generates first and second power supply control signals for controlling the low-speed power supply and the high-speed power supply, respectively, based on a difference between the third output and the predetermined control signal.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) power amplifier system adjusts the supply voltage provided to a power amplifier (PA) adaptively, responsive to the measured or estimated power of the RF output signal of the PA. The RF PA system includes a power amplifier (PA) which receives and amplifies an RF input signal to generate an RF output signal at a level suitable for transmission to an antenna. A PA supply voltage controller generates a supply voltage control signal, which is used to control the supply voltage to the final stage of the PA. The supply voltage control signal is generated responsive to the measured or estimated power of the PA RF output signal, and also may be responsive to a parameter indicative of impedance mismatch experienced at the PA output. By controlling this supply voltage to the RF PA, the efficiency of the PA is improved.

Abstract: A system including a phase comparator to compare a first signal and a second signal to generate a phase error signal, and a controller to generate an adjusted phase error signal from the phase error signal in response to an amplitude of at least one of the first signal and the second signal.

Abstract: A power amplifier controller circuit controls a power amplifier based upon an amplitude correction signal indicating the amplitude difference between the amplitude of the input signal and an attenuated amplitude of the output signal. The power amplifier controller circuit comprises an amplitude control loop and a phase control loop. The amplitude control loop adjusts the supply voltage to the power amplifier based upon the amplitude correction signal. The RF power amplifier system may reduce the corrective action of the amplitude loop during periods of relatively rapid changes in amplitude, and thus distortion can be further reduced.

Abstract: A power amplifier controller circuit controls a power amplifier based upon an amplitude correction signal indicating the amplitude difference between the amplitude of the input signal and an attenuated amplitude of the output signal. The power amplifier controller circuit comprises an amplitude control loop and a phase control loop. The amplitude control loop adjusts the supply voltage to the power amplifier based upon the amplitude correction signal. The phase control loop adjusts the phase of the input signal based upon a phase error signal indicating a phase difference between phases of the input signal and the output signal to reduce phase distortion generated by the power amplifier. The amplitude control loop and the phase control loop may also adjust the gain and/or phase of the power amplifier, respectively.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) power amplifier system adjusts the supply voltage provided to a power amplifier (PA) adaptively, responsive to the measured or estimated power of the RF output signal of the PA. The RF PA system includes a power amplifier (PA) which receives and amplifies an RF input signal to generate an RF output signal at a level suitable for transmission to an antenna. A PA supply voltage controller generates a supply voltage control signal, which is used to control the supply voltage to the final stage of the PA. The supply voltage control signal is generated responsive to the measured or estimated power of the PA RF output signal, and also may be responsive to a parameter indicative of impedance mismatch experienced at the PA output. By controlling this supply voltage to the RF PA, the efficiency of the PA is improved.

Abstract: A power amplifier controller controls a power amplifier and is coupled to a polar modulator. The polar modulator generates an amplitude component and a phase-modulated component of the desired RF modulated signal, and outputs to the power amplifier controller. The power amplifier controller regenerates a combined phase and amplitude modulated RF signal to generate an input signal to a power amplifier by adjusting the gain of a VGA based on the amplitude component of the desired RF modulated signal. Concurrently, the power amplifier controller both controls an adjusted supply voltage to the PA and adjusts the gain of the VGA based upon an amplitude correction signal or amplitude error signal.

Abstract: A power amplifier controller circuit controls a power amplifier based upon an amplitude correction signal indicating the amplitude difference between the amplitude of the input signal and an attenuated amplitude of the output signal. The power amplifier controller circuit comprises an amplitude control loop and a phase control loop. The amplitude control loop adjusts the supply voltage to the power amplifier based upon the amplitude correction signal. The RF power amplifier system may reduce the corrective action of the amplitude loop during periods of relatively rapid changes in amplitude, and thus distortion can be further reduced.

Abstract: A power amplifier controller for adjusting a supply voltage to a power amplifier. The power amplifier controller adjusts the supply voltage so that distortion in an RF output signal corresponds to a predetermined limit. An amplitude error signal is generated by the power amplifier controller which represents a difference between an RF output signal and an attenuated RF output signal. The AC components of the amplitude error signal are processed to generate a deviation signal that represents the distortion in the RF output signal. The supply voltage to the power amplifier is increased when the deviation signal exceeds a distortion level control signal, and decreased when the deviation signal drops below the distortion level control signal.

Abstract: A maximum transmit power controller determines the amount of power available from a host device for powering a radio transmitter of a mobile device, and sets a limit for maximum transmit power in the radio transmitter based upon the determined amount of available power from the host device. As a result, it can be ensured that the radio transmitter does not transmit RF signals at transmit power levels exceeding the amount of power available from the host device. The host device may be a smartphone including the radio. The host device may also be a computer powering the mobile device via a peripheral interface such as a USB interface.

Abstract: A power amplifier controller circuit controls an adjustable impedance matching network at the output of a power amplifier to vary its load line to improve the efficiency of the RF PA. The PA controller circuit comprises an amplitude control loop that determines an amplitude correction signal. The amplitude loop is configured to control or correct for distortion from the adjustable matching network based upon the amplitude correction signal.

Abstract: An RF power amplifier system adjusts the supply voltage to the power amplifier based upon an amplitude correction signal indicating the amplitude difference between the amplitude of the RF input signal and an attenuated amplitude of the RF output signal of the power amplifier. A variable gain amplifier (VGA) adjusts the amplitude of the RF input signal, thus providing a second means of adjusting the amplitude of the output of the power amplifier. The gain of the VGA or the supply voltage to the power amplifier is controlled based on the AC components of the amplitude correction signal, while the DC components of the amplitude correction signal are blocked from controlling the VGA or the supply voltage to the power amplifier. The DC level of the gain control of the VGA, the average supply voltage to the power amplifier, or the closed loop gain of the overall amplitude correction loop is controlled separately by a compression control signal.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) power amplifier system is provided, in which a distortion of the RF output signal from the power amplifier is estimated by comparing the RF output signal with reference modulation information. The supply voltage to the power amplifier is adjusted so that the estimated distortion of the RF output signal corresponds to a predetermined distortion level. The predetermined distortion level is set to represent an acceptable distortion level at the RF output signal.