Abstract: Systems and methods related to power amplification and power supply control. A method of operating a power amplification control system can include receiving, by an interface, a transceiver control signal from a transceiver. The method can further include generating, by a power amplifier control component, a power amplifier control signal based on the transceiver control signal from the transceiver. The method can also include generating, by a power supply control component, a power supply control signal based on one or more of the transceiver control signal from the transceiver or a local control signal from the power amplifier control component.

Abstract: A power splitter that amplifies an input radio-frequency (RF) signal. The power splitter uses a single transistor in a common emitter stage of a cascode amplifier and two or more common base stages of the cascode amplifier to amplify and to split the input RF signal. A common base biasing signal can be used to simultaneously enable two or more of the common base stages to generate two or more amplified RF output signals.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a power amplification system can comprise a current source configured to provide a bias current, a current mirror configured to mirror the bias current, a comparator configured to compare the mirrored bias current to a threshold current, and a transistor at an output of the comparator. The transistor can be configured to be activated in response to the mirrored bias current exceeding the threshold current.

Abstract: One aspect of this disclosure is a power amplifier system that includes a control interface, a power amplifier, a passive component on a same die as the power amplifier, and a bias circuit on a different die than the power amplifier. The control interface can operate as a serial interface or as a general purpose input/output interface. The power amplifier can be controllable based at least partly on an output signal from the control interface. The bias circuit can generate a bias signal based at least partly on an indication of the electrical property of the passive component. Other embodiments of the system are provided along with related methods and components thereof.

Abstract: A power amplification system with shared common base biasing is disclosed. A method for power amplification at a controller of a power amplification system comprising a plurality of cascode amplifier sections can include receiving a band select signal indicative of one or more frequency bands of a radio-frequency input signal to be amplified and transmitted. The method may further include biasing a common base stage of each of the plurality of cascode amplifier sections, and biasing a common emitter stage of a subset of the plurality of cascode amplifier sections.

Abstract: According to some implementations, a radio-frequency (RF) device includes a communication interface coupled to a serial bus. The RF device also includes a monitoring component coupled to the communication interface, the monitoring component configured to monitor the serial bus for first data transmitted to a first device coupled to the serial bus and configure the RF device based on the first data.

Abstract: A wireless device is disclosed that can support carrier aggregation uplink (“CAUL”) communication using a single wideband coupler. A single wideband coupler that can operate or support some or all of the communication bands of the wireless device can be used in conjunction with one or more diplexers and/or filters to measure the power of individual communication bands involved in the transmission process. Further, the use of a wideband coupler and switching network to measure the transmit power from the one or more transmit paths or main paths of a wireless device can reduce the size of a transceiver and reduce the insertion loss attributed to the power measurement components compared to systems that use separate measurement systems for each transmit path. The power measurement system may occur in a separate path in electrical connection with the wideband coupler, which may therefore be termed a coupler path.

Abstract: A voltage supply system is disclosed, comprising a boost converter configured to receive an input voltage and generate a first output voltage at a first output node, a low-voltage supply circuit configured to receive the input voltage and generate a second output voltage at a second output node, and a routing circuit configured to route the first output voltage of the boost converter to the second output node during a selected condition of the input voltage.

Abstract: Envelope tracking power amplifiers with advanced gain shaping are provided. In certain implementations, a power amplifier system includes a power amplifier that amplifies a radio frequency (RF) signal and an envelope tracker that controls a voltage level of a supply voltage of the power amplifier based on an envelope of the RF signal. The power amplifier system further includes a gain shaping circuit that generates a gain shaping current that changes with the voltage level of the supply voltage from the envelope tracker. For example, the gain shaping circuit can include an analog look-up table (LUT) mapping a particular voltage level of the supply voltage to a particular current level of gain shaping current. Additionally, the gain shaping circuit biases the power amplifier based on the gain shaping current.

Abstract: Concurrent electrostatic discharge and surge protection clamps in power amplifiers. In some embodiments, a semiconductor die can include a semiconductor substrate and an integrated circuit implemented on the semiconductor substrate. The integrated circuit can include a power amplifier and a controller. The semiconductor die can further include a clamp circuit implemented on the semiconductor substrate and configured to provide electrostatic discharge protection and surge protection for at least some of the integrated circuit.

Abstract: A power splitter that amplifies an input radio-frequency (RF) signal. The power splitter uses a single transistor in a common emitter stage of a cascode amplifier and two or more common base stages of the cascode amplifier to amplify and to split the input RF signal. A common base biasing signal can be used to simultaneously enable two or more of the common base stages to generate two or more amplified RF output signals.

Abstract: One aspect of this disclosure is a power amplifier module that includes a power amplifier on a substrate and a semiconductor resistor on the substrate. The power amplifier includes a bipolar transistor having a collector, a base, and an emitter. The collector has a doping concentration of at least 3×1016 cm?3 at an interface with the base. The collector also has at least a first grading in which doping concentration increases away from the base. The semiconductor resistor includes a resistive layer that that includes the same material as a layer of the bipolar transistor. Other embodiments of the module are provided along with related methods and components thereof.

Abstract: Systems and methods related to power amplification and power supply control. A method of operating a power amplification control system can include receiving, by an interface, a transceiver control signal from a transceiver. The method can further include generating, by a power amplifier control component, a power amplifier control signal based on the transceiver control signal from the transceiver. The method can also include generating, by a power supply control component, a power supply control signal based on one or more of the transceiver control signal from the transceiver or a local control signal from the power amplifier control component.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to devices and methods for detecting and preventing occurrence of a saturation state in a power amplifier. A power amplifier module can include a power amplifier including a cascode transistor pair. The cascode transistor pair can include a first transistor and a second transistor. The power amplifier module can include a current comparator configured to compare a first base current of the first transistor and a second base current of the second transistor to obtain a comparison value. The power amplifier module can include a saturation controller configured to supply a reference signal to an impedance matching network based on the comparison value. The impedance matching network can be configured to modify a load impedance of a load line in electrical communication with the power amplifier based at least in part on the reference signal.

Abstract: A power amplification system with shared common base biasing is disclosed. A method for power amplification at a controller of a power amplification system comprising a plurality of cascode amplifier sections can include receiving a band select signal indicative of one or more frequency bands of a radio-frequency input signal to be amplified and transmitted. The method may further include biasing a common base stage of each of the plurality of cascode amplifier sections, and biasing a common emitter stage of a subset of the plurality of cascode amplifier sections.

Abstract: Voltage supply system with boost converter and charge pump. A voltage supply system can include a boost converter controllable to receive an input voltage at an input node and generate an output voltage when the output voltage is greater than or equal to the input voltage. The voltage supply system can include a charge pump controllable to receive the input voltage at the input node and generate the output voltage when the output voltage is less than the input voltage. The voltage supply system can further include a controller configured to receive a control signal and control the boost converter or the charge pump to generate the output voltage at an output node based on the control signal.

Abstract: Power amplification system with variable supply voltage. A power amplification system can include a power amplifier and a boost converter configured to provide a supply voltage to the power amplifier. The power amplification system can include a control system configured to provide a boost converter control signal to the boost converter to adjust the supply voltage based on a parameter associated with the power amplifier.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a power amplification system can comprise a current source configured to provide a bias current, a current mirror configured to mirror the bias current, a comparator configured to compare the mirrored bias current to a threshold current, and a transistor at an output of the comparator. The transistor can be configured to be activated in response to the mirrored bias current exceeding the threshold current.

Abstract: A voltage supply system is disclosed, comprising a boost converter configured to receive an input voltage and generate a first output voltage at a first output node, a low-voltage supply circuit configured to receive the input voltage and generate a second output voltage at a second output node, and a routing circuit configured to route the first output voltage of the boost converter to the second output node during a selected condition of the input voltage.

Abstract: According to some implementations, a power amplifier (PA) includes a common emitter configured to receive a radio-frequency (RF) signal. The PA also includes a carrier amplifier coupled to the common emitter to form a carrier cascode configuration, a collector of the carrier amplifier provided with a first supply voltage. The PA further includes a peaking amplifier coupled to the common emitter to form a peaking cascode configuration, a collector of the peaking amplifier provided with a second supply voltage greater than the first supply voltage.