Abstract: In some embodiments, in an RF transceiver system having a transmit chain and a digital pre-distorter (DPD), a control unit includes: one or more inputs, one of which is connected to receive a first signal corresponding to a transmit signal or a modified version thereof; circuitry configured to generate a control signal for commanding a system state of the transmit chain based in part on the first signal; and an output connected to provide the control signal to the DPD and to a plurality of power amplifier (PA) cells of the transmit chain, wherein the DPD is configured to apply digital predistortion to the signal to be transmitted based in part on combining the first signal with a second signal corresponding to the control signal or a translated version thereof, and to provide a resulting pre-distorted signal to the transmit chain operating at the system state.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a system includes: a differential multilevel converter comprising a differential input to receive two different voltages; a plurality of switches coupled between the input terminals; and a capacitor having a first terminal coupled to a first terminal of a first one of the plurality of switches and a second terminal coupled to a first terminal of a second, different one of the plurality of switches; and an output terminal coupled to a first terminal of a third, different one of the plurality of switches. The differential multilevel converter can be part of a hybrid supply generator/modulator. The system can further include a controller configured to control selected ones of the plurality of switches to switch, at points in time, between a plurality of switch states with each switch state producing an output voltage corresponding to one of three discrete voltage levels.

Abstract: In some embodiments, in a radio frequency (RF) transceiver system having an RF amplifier and a digital pre-distorter (DPD), a control unit includes: one or more inputs, at least one of which is connected to receive a first signal corresponding to a signal desired to be transmitted via the RF amplifier or a modified version thereof circuitry configured to generate a control signal for controlling supply voltage level of the RF amplifier; and an output connected to provide the control signal to the DPD and to a circuit to alter the supply voltage level of the RF amplifier, wherein the DPD is configured to apply digital predistortion to the signal to be transmitted based at least in part on combining the first signal with a second signal corresponding to the control signal or a translated version thereof, and to provide a resulting pre-distorted signal to the RF amplifier.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, in a radio frequency (RF) transceiver system having a transmit chain with a beamforming array, a digital pre-distorter (DPD) includes: a plurality of inputs including at least a first input to receive a first signal corresponding to a signal desired to be transmitted via the transmit chain or a modified version of the signal desired to be transmitted via the transmit chain, and a second input to receive a second signal corresponding to a signal associated with the beamforming array or a translated version of the signal associated with the beamforming array; circuitry configured to apply digital predistortion to the signal desired to be transmitted based at least in part on combining the first and second signals; and an output connected to provide a resulting pre-distorted signal to the transmit chain.

Abstract: In some embodiments, in a radio frequency (RF) transceiver system having an RF amplifier, a digital pre-distorter (DPD) includes: preprocessing blocks collectively configured to receive input signals and to output preprocessed signals; and a nonlinear combiner. The input signals include a transmit signal and a control signal. The preprocessed signals include a first and a second preprocessed signal, the second preprocessed signal derived at least in part from the control signal. The preprocessing blocks include delay blocks configured to provide the first preprocessed signal corresponding to a delayed or advanced version of the transmit signal with respect to itself. The nonlinear combiner is configured to combine the first and preprocessed signal to provide a pre-distorted version of the transmit signal for transmission via the RF amplifier.

Abstract: In some embodiments, in a radio frequency (RF) transceiver system having an RF amplifier and a digital pre-distorter (DPD), a control unit includes: one or more inputs, one of which is connected to receive a first signal corresponding to a signal desired to be transmitted via the RF amplifier or a modified version thereof; circuitry configured to generate a control signal for controlling a bias of the RF amplifier; and an output connected to provide the control signal to the DPD and to a bias modulation circuit for varying the bias of the RF amplifier based in part the control signal, wherein the DPD is configured to apply digital predistortion to the signal to be transmitted based in part on combining the first signal with a second signal corresponding to the control signal or a translated version thereof, and to provide a resulting pre-distorted signal to the RF amplifier.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, in a radio frequency (RF) transceiver system having a transmit chain and a digital pre-distorter (DPD), a control unit includes: one or more inputs, at least one of which is connected to receive a first signal corresponding to a signal to be transmitted via the transmit chain or a modified version of the signal to be transmitted; and an output connected to provide a control signal to the DPD, and to a reconfigurable matching network (RMN) for commanding a reconfiguration of the RMN, wherein the DPD is configured to apply digital predistortion to the signal to be transmitted based at least in part on combining the first signal with a second signal corresponding to the control signal or a translated version thereof, and to provide a resulting pre-distorted signal to the transmit chain.

Abstract: In some embodiments, in a radio frequency (RF) transceiver system having a transmit chain and a digital pre-distorter (DPD), a control unit includes: one or more inputs, at least one of which is connected to receive a first signal corresponding to a signal desired to be transmitted via the transmit chain or a modified version of said signal; circuitry configured to generate a control signal for commanding a system state of the transmit chain based at least in part on the first signal; and an output connected to provide the control signal to the DPD and to a circuit to alter the system state of the transmit chain. The DPD is configured to apply digital predistortion to the signal to be transmitted based and provide a resulting pre-distorted signal to the transmit chain operating at the system state.

Abstract: Described are circuits and techniques to increase the efficiency of radio-frequency (rf) amplifiers including rf power amplifiers (PAs) through “supply modulation” (also referred to as “drain modulation” or “collector modulation”), in which supply voltages provided to rf amplifiers is adjusted dynamically (“modulated”) over time depending upon the rf signal being synthesized. For the largest efficiency improvements, a supply voltage can be adjusted among discrete voltage levels or continuously on a short time scale. The supply voltages (or voltage levels) provided to an rf amplifier may also be adapted to accommodate longer-term changes in desired rf envelope such as associated with adapting transmitter output strength to minimize errors in data transfer, for rf “traffic” variations.

Abstract: Described are circuits and techniques to increase the efficiency of radio-frequency (rf) amplifiers including rf power amplifiers (PAs) through “supply modulation” (also referred to as “drain modulation” or “collector modulation”), in which supply voltages provided to rf amplifiers is adjusted dynamically (“modulated”) over time depending upon the rf signal being synthesized. For the largest efficiency improvements, a supply voltage can be adjusted among discrete voltage levels or continuously on a short time scale. The supply voltages (or voltage levels) provided to an rf amplifier may also be adapted to accommodate longer-term changes in desired rf envelope such as associated with adapting transmitter output strength to minimize errors in data transfer, for rf “traffic” variations.

Abstract: Described are circuits and techniques to increase the efficiency of radio-frequency (rf) amplifiers including rf power amplifiers (PAs) through “supply modulation” (also referred to as “drain modulation” or “collector modulation”), in which supply voltages provided to rf amplifiers is adjusted dynamically (“modulated”) over time depending upon the rf signal being synthesized. For the largest efficiency improvements, a supply voltage can be adjusted among discrete voltage levels or continuously on a short time scale. The supply voltages (or voltage levels) provided to an rf amplifier may also be adapted to accommodate longer-term changes in desired rf envelope such as associated with adapting transmitter output strength to minimize errors in data transfer, for rf “traffic” variations.

Abstract: Described are circuits and techniques to communicate a digital envelope signal from a baseband chipset to a discrete supply modulator power management circuit (PMC).

Abstract: Described are circuits and techniques to communicate a digital envelope signal from a baseband chipset to a discrete supply modulator power management circuit (PMC). Also described is an apparatus and technique for power management control over a radio frequency (RF) transmission line for millimeter wave chip sets for cellular radios.

Abstract: Described is a power transmission gate which includes a charge pump, an NMOS transistor, and a gate driver circuit configured to power (or bias or “drive”) a gate of the NMOS transistor. With this arrangement, a power transmission gate capable of achieving substantially the same resistance provided by prior art power transmission gates while having a footprint of just over one NMOS size unit is provided.

Abstract: A pulse-shaping network configured for use in a radio frequency (rf) power amplifier system, the pulse-shaping network comprising: a coupled magnetic element comprising a first inductive element magnetically coupled to a second inductive element, the first inductive element comprising a first winding disposed about a first portion of a core, and the second inductive element comprising a second winding disposed about a second portion of a core, wherein the first and second inductive elements are electrically coupled to provide three output terminals of the coupled magnetic element.

Abstract: Described is a power transmission gate which includes a charge pump, an NMOS transistor, and a gate driver circuit configured to power (or bias or “drive”) a gate of the NMOS transistor. With this arrangement, a power transmission gate capable of achieving substantially the same resistance provided by prior art power transmission gates while having a footprint of just over one NMOS size unit is provided.

Abstract: Described are concepts, circuits, systems and techniques directed toward N-phase control techniques useful in the design and control of supply generators configured for use in a wide variety of power management applications including, but not limited to mobile applications.

Abstract: Described are circuits and techniques to increase the efficiency of radio-frequency (rf) amplifiers including rf power amplifiers (PAs) through “supply modulation” (also referred to as “drain modulation” or “collector modulation”), in which supply voltages provided to rf amplifiers is adjusted dynamically (“modulated”) over time depending upon the rf signal being synthesized. For the largest efficiency improvements, a supply voltage can be adjusted among discrete voltage levels or continuously on a short time scale. The supply voltages (or voltage levels) provided to an rf amplifier may also be adapted to accommodate longer-term changes in desired rf envelope such as associated with adapting transmitter output strength to minimize errors in data transfer, for rf “traffic” variations.

Abstract: Described is a system for modulating power to one or more radio frequency (RF) amplifiers to suppress undesired output signal components, improve linearity and reduce noise. The described systems and techniques enable shaping of spectral components introduced via an amplifier bias voltage owing to transitions among bias discrete states. The systems and techniques facilitate operation of multilevel, RF amplifiers under a wider range of operating conditions. In embodiments, the system includes modulators coupled to a supply terminal port of each of the one or more amplifiers to modulate the voltage levels supplied to the one or more amplifiers. The outputs of the modulators may be combined to provide a combined signal coupled to the amplifiers. A delay circuit delays switching of at least one of the power modulators relative to other modulator, by a variable time delay. This results in suppression of undesired output signal components of the amplifier output.

Abstract: Described are circuits and techniques to increase the efficiency of radio-frequency (rf) amplifiers including rf power amplifiers (PAs) through “supply modulation” (also referred to as “drain modulation” or “collector modulation”), in which supply voltages provided to rf amplifiers is adjusted dynamically (“modulated”) over time depending upon the rf signal being synthesized. For the largest efficiency improvements, a supply voltage can be adjusted among discrete voltage levels or continuously on a short time scale. The supply voltages (or voltage levels) provided to an rf amplifier may also be adapted to accommodate longer-term changes in desired rf envelope such as associated with adapting transmitter output strength to minimize errors in data transfer, for rf “traffic” variations.