Patents by Inventor Andrew F. Folkmann
Andrew F. Folkmann has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20220368283Abstract: A power management circuit supporting phase correction in an analog signal is disclosed. The power management circuit includes a power amplifier circuit configured to amplify an analog signal having a time-variant power envelope based on a modulated voltage. The power management circuit also includes an envelope tracking (ET) integrated circuit (ETIC) configured to generate the modulated voltage and a modulated phase correction voltage to thereby cause a phase change in the analog signal. In embodiments disclosed herein, a correlation between the time-variant power envelope, the modulated voltage, and the modulated phase correction voltage is explored to thereby allow the ETIC to generate the modulated voltage and the modulated phase correction voltage based on the time-variant power envelope. As a result, it is possible to enable good time and phase alignment between the modulated voltage and the time-variant power envelope to thereby improve efficiency and linearity of the power amplifier circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2021Publication date: November 17, 2022Inventors: Andrew F. Folkmann, Nadim Khlat, Mark Connor
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Patent number: 11025224Abstract: RF circuitry, which includes a first acoustic RF resonator (ARFR) and a first compensating ARFR, is disclosed. A first inductive element is coupled between the first compensating ARFR and a first end of the first ARFR. A second inductive element is coupled between the first compensating ARFR and a second end of the first ARFR. The first compensating ARFR, the first inductive element, and the second inductive element at least partially compensate for a parallel capacitance of the first ARFR.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2019Date of Patent: June 1, 2021Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.Inventors: Nadim Khlat, Jean-Frederic Chiron, Marcus Granger-Jones, Andrew F. Folkmann, Robert Aigner
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Patent number: 10742474Abstract: An envelope tracking (ET) amplifier circuit is provided. The voltage mDPD circuit is provided in an ET amplifier circuit and configured to determine a voltage deviation relative to an ET modulated target voltage signal, execute an mDPD polynomial in one or more iterations to extract an mDPD coefficient(s), and adjust a time-variant target voltage envelope of the ET modulated target voltage signal based on the mDPD coefficient(s) extracted in each of the mDPD iterations to reduce the voltage deviation to a predefined threshold. By reducing the voltage deviation in the ET modulated voltage, it is possible improve linearity (e.g., gain linearity) of the ET amplifier circuit, which can lead to reduced power consumption and improved radio frequency (RF) performance.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2019Date of Patent: August 11, 2020Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.Inventors: Nadim Khlat, Jean-Frederic Chiron, Andrew F. Folkmann
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Patent number: 10680559Abstract: An envelope tracking (ET) system is provided. The ET amplifies a radio frequency (RF) signal correspond to an amplitude bandwidth exceeding a voltage modulation bandwidth limitation of the ET system. The ET system compresses the amplitude bandwidth to match the voltage modulation bandwidth of the ET system. More specifically, the ET system compresses a predefined voltage waveform, which tracks time-variant amplitudes of a digital form of the RF signal, to generate a modified voltage waveform at a reduced bandwidth. To ensure that signal distortion(s) resulted from the bandwidth compression can be corrected, the ET system nonlinearly modifies predefined amplitude(s) of the predefined voltage waveform to generate modified amplitude(s) of the modified voltage waveform that is never less than the predefined amplitude(s) of the predefined voltage waveform. As such, the ET system can amplify the RF signal with improved linearity and efficiency, without degrading spectral performance of the RF signal.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2018Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.Inventors: Nadim Khlat, Andrew F. Folkmann
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Patent number: 10530305Abstract: Nonlinear bandwidth compression circuitry is provided. In examples discussed herein, nonlinear bandwidth compression circuitry can be configured to modify predefined amplitude(s) of a predefined voltage waveform to generate modified amplitude(s) of a modified voltage waveform that is never less than the predefined amplitude(s) of the predefined voltage waveform. Thus, by providing the nonlinear bandwidth compression circuitry in an envelope tracking (ET) system to perform bandwidth compression, signal distortion(s) resulted from the bandwidth compression can be corrected (e.g., via digital pre-distortion). As such, the ET system can amplify a radio frequency (RF) signal having a signal modulation bandwidth exceeding a voltage modulation bandwidth limitation of the ET system, without degrading spectral performance of the RF signal.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2018Date of Patent: January 7, 2020Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.Inventors: Andrew F. Folkmann, Nadim Khlat, James M. Retz
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Patent number: 10491162Abstract: An envelope tracking (ET) amplifier circuit is provided. In examples discussed herein, an amplifier circuit(s) is configured to amplify a radio frequency (RF) signal based on an ET modulated voltage. A tracker circuit is configured to generate the ET modulated voltage based on a number of target voltage amplitudes derived from a time-variant signal envelope of the RF signal. However, the tracker circuit can cause the ET modulated voltage to deviate from the target voltage amplitudes due to various impedance variations. In this regard, a voltage memory digital pre-distortion (mDPD) circuit digitally pre-distorts the target voltage amplitudes based on the time-variant signal envelope such that the ET modulated voltage can closely track the target voltage amplitudes. As such, it is possible to mitigate ET modulated voltage deviation, thus helping to improve overall linearity performance of the ET amplifier circuit.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2018Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.Inventors: Jean-Frederic Chiron, Nadim Khlat, Andrew F. Folkmann, Michael R. Kay
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Publication number: 20190229975Abstract: An envelope tracking (ET) amplifier circuit is provided. The voltage mDPD circuit is provided in an ET amplifier circuit and configured to determine a voltage deviation relative to an ET modulated target voltage signal, execute an mDPD polynomial in one or more iterations to extract an mDPD coefficient(s), and adjust a time-variant target voltage envelope of the ET modulated target voltage signal based on the mDPD coefficient(s) extracted in each of the mDPD iterations to reduce the voltage deviation to a predefined threshold. By reducing the voltage deviation in the ET modulated voltage, it is possible improve linearity (e.g., gain linearity) of the ET amplifier circuit, which can lead to reduced power consumption and improved radio frequency (RF) performance.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2019Publication date: July 25, 2019Inventors: Nadim Khlat, Jean-Frederic Chiron, Andrew F. Folkmann
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Publication number: 20190214966Abstract: RF circuitry, which includes a first acoustic RF resonator (ARFR) and a first compensating ARFR, is disclosed. A first inductive element is coupled between the first compensating ARFR and a first end of the first ARFR. A second inductive element is coupled between the first compensating ARFR and a second end of the first ARFR. The first compensating ARFR, the first inductive element, and the second inductive element at least partially compensate for a parallel capacitance of the first ARFR.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2019Publication date: July 11, 2019Inventors: Nadim Khlat, Jean-Frederic Chiron, Marcus Granger-Jones, Andrew F. Folkmann, Robert Aigner
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Patent number: 10333494Abstract: RF circuitry, which includes a first acoustic RF resonator (ARFR) and a first compensating ARFR, is disclosed. A first inductive element is coupled between the first compensating ARFR and a first end of the first ARFR. A second inductive element is coupled between the first compensating ARFR and a second end of the first ARFR. The first compensating ARFR, the first inductive element, and the second inductive element at least partially compensate for a parallel capacitance of the first ARFR.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2015Date of Patent: June 25, 2019Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.Inventors: Nadim Khlat, Jean-Frederic Chiron, Marcus Granger-Jones, Andrew F. Folkmann, Robert Aigner
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Publication number: 20190181803Abstract: An envelope tracking (ET) amplifier circuit is provided. In examples discussed herein, an amplifier circuit(s) is configured to amplify a radio frequency (RF) signal based on an ET modulated voltage. A tracker circuit is configured to generate the ET modulated voltage based on a number of target voltage amplitudes derived from a time-variant signal envelope of the RF signal. However, the tracker circuit can cause the ET modulated voltage to deviate from the target voltage amplitudes due to various impedance variations. In this regard, a voltage memory digital pre-distortion (mDPD) circuit digitally pre-distorts the target voltage amplitudes based on the time-variant signal envelope such that the ET modulated voltage can closely track the target voltage amplitudes. As such, it is possible to mitigate ET modulated voltage deviation, thus helping to improve overall linearity performance of the ET amplifier circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2018Publication date: June 13, 2019Inventors: Jean-Frederic Chiron, Nadim Khlat, Andrew F. Folkmann, Michael R. Kay
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Patent number: 10291205Abstract: RF circuitry, which includes a first acoustic RF resonator (ARFR) and a first compensating ARFR, is disclosed. A first inductive element is coupled between the first compensating ARFR and a first end of the first ARFR. A second inductive element is coupled between the first compensating ARFR and a second end of the first ARFR. The first compensating ARFR, the first inductive element, and the second inductive element at least partially compensate for a parallel capacitance of the first ARFR.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2015Date of Patent: May 14, 2019Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.Inventors: Nadim Khlat, Jean-Frederic Chiron, Marcus Granger-Jones, Andrew F. Folkmann, Robert Aigner
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Patent number: 10284412Abstract: An envelope tracking (ET) amplifier circuit is provided. The voltage mDPD circuit is provided in an ET amplifier circuit and configured to determine a voltage deviation relative to an ET modulated target voltage signal, execute an mDPD polynomial in one or more iterations to extract an mDPD coefficient(s), and adjust a time-variant target voltage envelope of the ET modulated target voltage signal based on the mDPD coefficient(s) extracted in each of the mDPD iterations to reduce the voltage deviation to a predefined threshold. By reducing the voltage deviation in the ET modulated voltage, it is possible improve linearity (e.g., gain linearity) of the ET amplifier circuit, which can lead to reduced power consumption and improved radio frequency (RF) performance.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2017Date of Patent: May 7, 2019Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.Inventors: Nadim Khlat, Jean-Frederic Chiron, Andrew F. Folkmann
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Patent number: 10277260Abstract: A multi radio access technology (RAT) radio circuit is provided. The multi RAT radio circuit can support concurrent transmission of radio frequency (RF) transmit signals modulated based on a first RAT and a second RAT and concurrent reception of RF receive signals modulated based on the first RAT and the second RAT. The multi RAT radio circuit splits each RF transmit signal into an in-phase transmit signal and a quadrature transmit signal. The determined phase offset is so configured such that the multi RAT radio circuit can effectively suppress an IMD(s) located above and below a transmit band(s) of the RF transmit signals. By suppressing the IMD(s), it is possible to improve RF performance of the multi RAT radio circuit regardless of whether the RF transmit signals and the RF receive signals are communicated in a contiguous or non-contiguous RF spectrum.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2018Date of Patent: April 30, 2019Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.Inventors: Nadim Khlat, Andrew F. Folkmann
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Publication number: 20190109566Abstract: Nonlinear bandwidth compression circuitry is provided. In examples discussed herein, nonlinear bandwidth compression circuitry can be configured to modify predefined amplitude(s) of a predefined voltage waveform to generate modified amplitude(s) of a modified voltage waveform that is never less than the predefined amplitude(s) of the predefined voltage waveform. Thus, by providing the nonlinear bandwidth compression circuitry in an envelope tracking (ET) system to perform bandwidth compression, signal distortion(s) resulted from the bandwidth compression can be corrected (e.g., via digital pre-distortion). As such, the ET system can amplify a radio frequency (RF) signal having a signal modulation bandwidth exceeding a voltage modulation bandwidth limitation of the ET system, without degrading spectral performance of the RF signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2018Publication date: April 11, 2019Inventors: Andrew F. Folkmann, Nadim Khlat, James M. Retz
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Publication number: 20190109613Abstract: An envelope tracking (ET) system is provided. The ET amplifies a radio frequency (RF) signal correspond to an amplitude bandwidth exceeding a voltage modulation bandwidth limitation of the ET system. The ET system compresses the amplitude bandwidth to match the voltage modulation bandwidth of the ET system. More specifically, the ET system compresses a predefined voltage waveform, which tracks time-variant amplitudes of a digital form of the RF signal, to generate a modified voltage waveform at a reduced bandwidth. To ensure that signal distortion(s) resulted from the bandwidth compression can be corrected, the ET system nonlinearly modifies predefined amplitude(s) of the predefined voltage waveform to generate modified amplitude(s) of the modified voltage waveform that is never less than the predefined amplitude(s) of the predefined voltage waveform. As such, the ET system can amplify the RF signal with improved linearity and efficiency, without degrading spectral performance of the RF signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2018Publication date: April 11, 2019Inventors: Nadim Khlat, Andrew F. Folkmann
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Patent number: 10256790Abstract: RF circuitry, which includes a first acoustic RF resonator (ARFR) and a first compensating ARFR, is disclosed. A first inductive element is coupled between the first compensating ARFR and a first end of the first ARFR. A second inductive element is coupled between the first compensating ARFR and a second end of the first ARFR. The first compensating ARFR, the first inductive element, and the second inductive element at least partially compensate for a parallel capacitance of the first ARFR.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2015Date of Patent: April 9, 2019Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.Inventors: Nadim Khlat, Jean-Frederic Chiron, Marcus Granger-Jones, Andrew F. Folkmann, Robert Aigner
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Publication number: 20190081649Abstract: A multi radio access technology (RAT) radio circuit is provided. The multi RAT radio circuit can support concurrent transmission of radio frequency (RF) transmit signals modulated based on a first RAT and a second RAT and concurrent reception of RF receive signals modulated based on the first RAT and the second RAT. The multi RAT radio circuit splits each RF transmit signal into an in-phase transmit signal and a quadrature transmit signal. The determined phase offset is so configured such that the multi RAT radio circuit can effectively suppress an IMD(s) located above and below a transmit band(s) of the RF transmit signals. By suppressing the IMD(s), it is possible to improve RF performance of the multi RAT radio circuit regardless of whether the RF transmit signals and the RF receive signals are communicated in a contiguous or non-contiguous RF spectrum.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 6, 2018Publication date: March 14, 2019Inventors: Nadim Khlat, Andrew F. Folkmann
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Patent number: 10193502Abstract: A dual-mode envelope tracking (ET) power management circuit is provided. An ET amplifier(s) in the dual-mode ET power management circuit is capable of supporting normal-power user equipment (NPUE) mode and high-power user equipment (HPUE) mode. In the NPUE mode, the ET amplifier(s) amplifies a radio frequency (RF) signal(s) to an NPUE voltage based on a supply voltage for transmission in an NPUE output power. In the HPUE mode, the ET amplifier(s) amplifies the RF signal(s) to an HPUE voltage higher than the NPUE voltage based on a boosted supply voltage higher than the supply voltage for transmission in an HPUE output power higher than the NPUE output power. The ET amplifier(s) maintains a constant load line between the NPUE mode and the HPUE mode. By maintaining the constant load line, it is possible to maintain efficiency of the ET amplifier(s) in both the NPUE mode and the HPUE mode.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2017Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.Inventors: Nadim Khlat, Andrew F. Folkmann, Michael R. Kay, Philippe Gorisse
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Publication number: 20190020526Abstract: An envelope tracking (ET) amplifier circuit is provided. The voltage mDPD circuit is provided in an ET amplifier circuit and configured to determine a voltage deviation relative to an ET modulated target voltage signal, execute an mDPD polynomial in one or more iterations to extract an mDPD coefficient(s), and adjust a time-variant target voltage envelope of the ET modulated target voltage signal based on the mDPD coefficient(s) extracted in each of the mDPD iterations to reduce the voltage deviation to a predefined threshold. By reducing the voltage deviation in the ET modulated voltage, it is possible improve linearity (e.g., gain linearity) of the ET amplifier circuit, which can lead to reduced power consumption and improved radio frequency (RF) performance.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2017Publication date: January 17, 2019Inventors: Nadim Khlat, Jean-Frederic Chiron, Andrew F. Folkmann
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Patent number: 9935662Abstract: A front-end module configured to cancel unwanted transmit spectrum at one or more receivers comprises at least one transmitter having a power amplifier and configured to transmit signals to an antenna. The front-end module also comprises at least one receiver to receive the transmit signals, wherein the at least one receiver receives at least a portion of unwanted transmit spectrum. A directional coupler couples at least a portion of a transmit output signal from the power amplifier to provide a coupled transmit output signal to signal conditioning circuitry associated with the at least one receiver and configured to condition the coupled transmit output signal to generate a conditioned transmit signal to provide to the at least one receiver, wherein the conditioned transmit signal at least partially cancels the unwanted transmit spectrum. The signal conditioning circuitry may adjust the amplitude and phase of the coupled transmit output signal.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2016Date of Patent: April 3, 2018Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.Inventors: Nadim Khlat, Andrew F. Folkmann