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: 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: A power supply modulator circuit includes a multi-output power supply that generates multiple power output signals; at least one power modulator circuit generates a modulated power output signal from the multiple power output signals of the multi-output power supply; at least one pulse shaping network (PSN) having at least one passive element, the PSN configured to shape the modulated power output signal; at least one power amplifier coupled to receive the modulated power signal; and a switching network having a plurality of switches to create or modify power signal paths from the at least one power modulator circuit to the at least one power amplifier.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a system comprises: a hybrid supply generator/modulator having: a first stage having an input configured to receive an input voltage and first and second outputs configured to provide respective first and second intermediate voltages having respective first and second intermediate voltage levels, and a second stage having first and second inputs configured to respectively receive the first and second intermediate voltages, a switching network, at least one energy storage device, and an output configured to provide an output voltage; and a controller configured to operate the switching network to modulate the voltage level of the output voltage from among a set of three or more voltage levels.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a hybrid supply generator/modulator comprises: a multi-output regulation stage configured to receive an input voltage and synthesize two intermediate voltages having voltage levels different from each other; a multilevel converter configured to receive the two intermediate voltages at its input and provide a supply voltage having a voltage level corresponding to one of the two intermediate voltage levels or at least one synthesized voltage level different than the two intermediate voltage levels, the multilevel converter comprising at least one flying capacitor and a set of at least four switches; and at least one charge regulation circuit to control charge on the at least one flying capacitor.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a hybrid generator/modulator comprises: a regulation stage having a single input and at least two outputs, the regulation stage configured to receive an input voltage at the single input and to provide two intermediate voltages at respective ones of the at least two outputs; and a multilevel converter configured to receive the two intermediate voltages and provide an output voltage having a voltage level corresponding to a voltage level of one of the two intermediate voltages or at least one other voltage level synthesized from the two intermediate voltages.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a system comprises: a hybrid supply generator/modulator comprising: an input to receive an input voltage; an output to provide a modulated voltage; a multi-output regulation stage configured to provide two intermediate voltages having voltage levels different from each other, at least one of the two intermediate voltages synthesized from the input voltage; and a multilevel converter configured to receive the two intermediate voltages and to generate the modulated voltage having a voltage level corresponding to one of the two intermediate voltage levels or at least one synthesized voltage level different from both intermediate voltage levels; and circuitry coupled to the output of the hybrid supply generator/modulator and to a power supply terminal of at least one radio frequency (rf) amplifier, the circuitry configured to modify the modulated voltage supplied to the at least one rf amplifier.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a hybrid generator/modulator comprises: a regulation stage configured to provide two intermediate voltages having voltage levels different from each other, at least one of the two intermediate voltages synthesized from an input voltage; and a plurality of multilevel converters each configured to selectively output three or more instantaneous output voltage levels from the two intermediate voltages for supplying one or more power amplifiers (PAs).

Abstract: Described are concepts, systems, system architectures, circuits, methods, and techniques directed toward power management and control. In particular, described are concepts, systems, system architectures, circuits, methods, and techniques for implementing power converters that may not have a right-hand pole zero in their linearized, averaged control-to-output transfer function, but that may still have buck and boost functionality.

Abstract: Described are concepts, systems, system architectures, circuits, methods, and techniques directed toward power management and control. In particular, described are concepts, systems, system architectures, circuits, methods, and techniques for implementing power converters that may not have a right-hand pole zero in their linearized, averaged control-to-output transfer function, but that may still have buck and boost functionality.

Abstract: Described are concepts, systems, system architectures, circuits, methods, and techniques directed toward power management and control. In particular, described are concepts, systems, system architectures, circuits, methods, and techniques for implementing power converters that may not have a right-hand pole zero in their linearized, averaged control-to-output transfer function, but that may still have buck and boost functionality.

Abstract: Described are concepts, systems, system architectures, circuits, methods, and techniques directed toward power management and control. In particular, described are concepts, systems, system architectures, circuits, methods, and techniques for implementing power converters that may not have a right-hand pole zero in their linearized, averaged control-to-output transfer function, but that may still have buck and boost functionality.

Abstract: Described are concepts, systems, system architectures, circuits, methods, and techniques directed toward power management and control. In particular, described are concepts, systems, system architectures, circuits, methods, and techniques for implementing power converters that may not have a right-hand pole zero in their linearized, averaged control-to-output transfer function, but that may still have buck and boost functionality.

Abstract: A tracker module is provided that includes a module laminate, and an integrated circuit disposed at the module laminate. The integrated circuit includes at least one switch included in a pre-regulator circuit; at least one switch included in a switched-capacitor circuit; at least one switch included in an output switching circuit; and a digital control circuit. In plan view of the module laminate, at least one of the at least one switch included in the output switching circuit; or the digital control circuit is disposed between the at least one switch included in the pre-regulator circuit and the at least one switch included in the switched-capacitor circuit.

Abstract: A circuit comprising a first capacitor configured to be charged to a voltage representing state information of a compensator, a second capacitor, a buffer circuit configured to charge the second capacitor to a voltage substantially equal to that of the first capacitor and a switching network configured to transition between a first state and a second state. When the switching network is in the first state, the second capacitor is charged to the voltage across the first capacitor. When the switching network is in the second state, the buffer circuit is disconnected from the second capacitor and the first capacitor and the second capacitor are connected in parallel.

Abstract: A tracker circuit is provided that includes a supply modulator to selectively output at least one of a plurality of discrete voltages to a power amplifier, and a filter circuit connected between the supply modulator and the power amplifier. The filter circuit includes an inductor connected between the supply modulator and the power amplifier, a capacitor connected between ground and a path connecting the inductor and the power amplifier, and a switch connected between the supply modulator and the power amplifier without via the inductor.

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: A circuit configured to receive a first and second voltages and generate an output voltage, the circuit comprising: a first capacitor configured to charge to a voltage equal a difference between the first voltage and the output voltage; a second capacitor configured to charge to a voltage equal to a difference between the first voltage and the second voltage; and a plurality of conductive paths coupled to the first and second capacitors. In a first state, the conductive paths are configured to cause the second capacitor to charge to the voltage equal to the difference between the first voltage and the second voltage. In a second state, the conductive paths are configured to cause the second capacitor to be connected in parallel with the first capacitor to cause the first capacitor to charge to the voltage equal to the difference between the first voltage and the output voltage.

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.