Patents by Inventor David Steven Ripley

David Steven Ripley 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).

  • Publication number: 20170026005
    Abstract: Compression control of cascode power amplifiers. 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 generate a comparison signal. The power amplifier module can include a saturation controller configured to maintain the power amplifier out of saturation based on the comparison signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: David Steven RIPLEY, Philip John LEHTOLA
  • Publication number: 20170019076
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system for biasing a power amplifier. The system can include a first die that includes a power amplifier circuit and a passive component having an electrical property that depends on one or more conditions of the first die. Further, the system can include a second die including a bias signal generating circuit that is configured to generate a bias signal based at least in part on measurement of the electrical property of the passive component of the first die.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Publication date: January 19, 2017
    Inventors: David Steven Ripley, Philip John Lehtola, Peter J. Zampardi, JR., Hongxiao Shao, Tin Myint Ko, Matthew Thomas Ozalas
  • Patent number: 9543919
    Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a dual mode control interface that can be used to provide both a radio frequency front end (RFFE) serial interface and a two-mode general purpose input/output (GPIO) interface within a single digital control interface die. In certain embodiments, the dual mode control interface, or digital control interface, can communicate with a power amplifier. Further, the dual mode control interface can be used to set the mode of the power amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: David Steven Ripley
  • Patent number: 9520835
    Abstract: One aspect of this disclosure is a power amplifier module that includes a first die including a power amplifier and a passive component, the power amplifier including a bipolar transistor having a collector, a base abutting the collector, and an emitter, the collector having a doping concentration of at least about 3×1016 cm?3 at an interface with the base, the collector also having a grading in which doping concentration increases away from the base; and a second die including a bias circuit configured to generate a bias signal based at least partly on an indication of an electrical property of the passive component of the first die and to provide the bias signal to the power amplifier. Other embodiments of the module are provided along with related methods and components thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Tin Myint Ko, Philip John Lehtola, Matthew Thomas Ozalas, David Steven Ripley, Hongxiao Shao, Peter J. Zampardi, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9490751
    Abstract: One aspect of this disclosure is a power amplifier module that includes a first die including a power amplifier and a passive component, the power amplifier including a bipolar transistor having a collector, a base abutting the collector, and an emitter, the collector having a doping concentration of at least about 3×1016 cm?3 at an interface with the base, the collector also having a grading in which doping concentration increases away from the base; and a second die including a bias circuit configured to generate a bias signal based at least partly on an indication of an electrical property of the passive component of the first die and to provide the bias signal to the power amplifier. Other embodiments of the module are provided along with related methods and components thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Tin Myint Ko, Philip John Lehtola, Matthew Thomas Ozalas, David Steven Ripley, Hongxiao Shao, Peter J. Zampardi, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9490827
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for tuning a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) are provided. In one aspect, a method of auto-tuning in a phase-locked loop includes generating a VCO clock signal using a VCO coupled to a capacitor array, dividing the VCO clock signal to generate a divided clock signal using a prescaler circuit having a selectable division ratio, controlling a value of the selectable division ratio using a first counter and a second counter of a counter module, generating a phase-frequency detector feedback signal based on a division control signal M and the divided clock signal using the counter module, counting a number of cycles of the divided clock signal that occur during a calibration interval using a cycle counter of a digital processing logic circuit, and determining the value of a capacitor array control signal based on the number of cycles counted during the calibration interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Hua Wang, David Steven Ripley, Bryan J. Roll
  • Patent number: 9473073
    Abstract: A voltage converter can be switched among two or more modes to produce an output voltage tracking a reference voltage that can be of an intermediate level between discrete levels corresponding to the modes. One or more voltages generated from a power supply voltage, such as a battery voltage, can be compared with the reference voltage to determine whether to adjust the mode. The reference voltage can be independent of the power supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Hui Liu, David Steven Ripley
  • Patent number: 9473019
    Abstract: In a voltage converter, a mode configuration is selected in response to a mode control signal using a switch matrix having two or more mode configurations. Each mode configuration corresponds to one of two or more output signal voltages. The output signal is compared with a reference signal to produce a direction comparison signal. The direction comparison signal is used to produce the mode control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: David Steven Ripley, Hui Liu
  • Publication number: 20160239040
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventor: David Steven RIPLEY
  • Publication number: 20160241197
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: David Richard PEHLKE, David Steven RIPLEY, Philip John LEHTOLA
  • Publication number: 20160241292
    Abstract: Power amplifier module with power supply control. A power amplification control system can include an interface configured to receive a transceiver control signal from a transceiver. The power amplification control system can include a power amplifier control component configured to generate a power amplifier control signal based on the transceiver control signal from the transceiver and a power supply control component configured to generate a power supply control signal based on the transceiver control signal from the transceiver and to generate the power supply control signal based on a local control signal from the power amplifier control component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventor: David Steven RIPLEY
  • Publication number: 20160241202
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: Philip John LEHTOLA, David Steven RIPLEY
  • Publication number: 20160241299
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventor: David Steven RIPLEY
  • Publication number: 20160241195
    Abstract: Power amplification system with shared common base biasing. A power amplification system can include a plurality of cascode amplifier sections. Each one of the plurality of cascode amplifier sections can include including a first transistor and a second transistor. The power amplification system can include a plurality of common emitter biasing components. Each one of the plurality of common emitter biasing components can be coupled to a base of the first transistor of a respective one of the plurality of cascode amplifier sections and can be controllable to bias the first transistor of the respective one of the plurality of cascode amplifier sections. The power amplification system can include a common base biasing component coupled to a base of the second transistor of each of the plurality of cascode amplifier sections and controllable to bias the second transistor of each of the plurality of cascode amplifier sections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: Philip John LEHTOLA, David Steven RIPLEY
  • Publication number: 20160241210
    Abstract: Multiband power amplifier with cascode switching. A power amplification system can include a first transistor having a base configured to receive an input radio-frequency (RF) signal and having an emitter coupled to a ground potential. The power amplification system can include a plurality of second transistors. Each one of the plurality of second transistors can have a respective emitter coupled to a collector of the first transistor and can be configured to, when biased at a respective base, output an output RF signal at a respective collector. The power amplification system can further include a biasing circuit configured to bias one or more of the plurality of second transistors based on a control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: Paul Raymond ANDRYS, David Steven Ripley
  • Publication number: 20160242057
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: David Steven RIPLEY, James Henry ROSS, Philip John LEHTOLA, David Richard PEHLKE, James Phillip YOUNG, Gregory A. BLUM, David Alan BROWN
  • Publication number: 20160241294
    Abstract: Switched-mode power supply with switch resizing. A power converter can include an inductor coupled between an input node and an intermediate node, a semiconductor device coupled between the intermediate node and an output node, and a plurality of drive transistors. Each one of the plurality of drive transistors can have a drain coupled to the intermediate node and a source coupled to a ground potential.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: David Richard PEHLKE, David Steven RIPLEY
  • Patent number: 9419567
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system for biasing a power amplifier. The system can include a first die that includes a power amplifier circuit and a passive component having an electrical property that depends on one or more conditions of the first die. Further, the system can include a second die including a bias signal generating circuit that is configured to generate a bias signal based at least in part on measurement of the electrical property of the passive component of the first die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: SKYWORKS SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: David Steven Ripley, Philip John Lehtola, Peter J. Zampardi, Jr., Hongxiao Shao, Tin Myint Ko, Matthew Thomas Ozalas
  • Publication number: 20160197586
    Abstract: Peak detecting cascode for breakdown protection. In some embodiments, a power amplifier can include an amplifying transistor configured to amplify a radio-frequency (RF) signal, and a bias circuit coupled to a bias node of the amplifying transistor and configured to yield a bias voltage at the bias node. The power amplifier can further include a bias adjustment circuit that couples an output node of the amplifying transistor and the bias circuit. The bias adjustment circuit can be configured to adjust the bias voltage in response to a potential difference between the output node and the bias node exceeding a threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Inventor: David Steven RIPLEY
  • Publication number: 20160191001
    Abstract: Compression control through power amplifier load adjustment. 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 power amplifier bias controller including 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Inventors: David Steven RIPLEY, Philip John LEHTOLA