Patents by Inventor Michael R. Kay
Michael R. Kay 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: 20190245496Abstract: A wide modulation bandwidth radio frequency (RF) circuit is provided. In examples discussed herein, the RF front-end circuit includes a tracker circuit configured to generate a modulated voltage at a wide modulation bandwidth. The modulated voltage can be used by an amplifier circuit(s) for amplifying an RF signal(s). Notably, the tracker circuit may have inherent frequency-dependent impedance that can interact with a load current of the amplifier circuit(s) to cause degradation in the modulated voltage, which can further lead to distortions in an RF offset spectrum. In this regard, a notch circuit is provided and configured to operate at an appropriate notch frequency and a notch bandwidth to filter the modulated voltage in the RF offset spectrum. As a result, it may be possible to reduce the distortions caused by the modulated voltage degradation in the RF offset spectrum, thus helping to improve linearity and efficiency of the amplifier circuit(s).Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2019Publication date: August 8, 2019Inventors: Nadim Khlat, Michael R. Kay
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Publication number: 20190222178Abstract: An envelope tracking (ET) voltage tracker circuit and related power management circuit are provided. In examples discussed herein, an amplifier circuit(s) is configured to amplify a radio frequency (RF) signal(s) based on an ET modulated voltage provided by an ET voltage tracker circuit(s). The ET voltage tracker circuit(s) includes amplifier circuitry, which operates based on an ET target voltage and a bias current to generate the ET modulated voltage. However, the ET modulated voltage may deviate from the ET target voltage from time to time due to cross over distortions. In this regard, the ET voltage tracker circuit includes a bias modulation circuit to dynamically determine the cross over distortion and adjust the bias current to reduce deviations of the ET modulated voltage. As a result, the ET modulated voltage can track the ET target voltage more closely, thus helping to improve linearity performance and efficiency of the amplifier circuit(s).Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2018Publication date: July 18, 2019Inventors: Nadim Khlat, Michael R. Kay
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Publication number: 20190222175Abstract: An envelope tracking (ET) power management circuit is provided. The ET power management circuit includes a number of tracker circuits each configured to operate based on a respective input voltage. In various operation scenarios, one or more selected tracker circuits may be configured to provide ET modulated voltages to a number of amplifier circuits. In examples discussed herein, each of the selected tracker circuits is configured to draw the respective input voltage from a single voltage circuit (e.g., an inductor-based buck-boost circuit) in the ET power management circuit. By utilizing the single voltage circuit to power the selected tracker circuits, as opposed to employing multiple voltage circuits, it is possible to reduce the footprint of the ET power management circuit, thus helping to reduce cost and power consumption of the ET power management circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2018Publication date: July 18, 2019Inventors: Nadim Khlat, Michael R. Kay
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Patent number: 10326408Abstract: An envelope tracking (ET) power management circuit is provided. The ET power management circuit includes an amplifier circuit(s) configured to output a radio frequency (RF) signal at a defined power level corresponding to a direct current, an alternating current, and an ET modulated voltage received by the amplifier circuit(s). The ET power management circuit can operate in a high-power ET mode when the defined power level exceeds a defined power level threshold and the RF signal is modulated to include no more than a defined number of resource blocks. The ET power management includes two ET tracker circuitries each generating a respective ET modulated voltage and two charge pump circuitries each generating a respective current. In the high-power ET mode, both charge pump circuitries are activated to each provide a reduced current to the amplifier circuit, thus helping to reduce a footprint and cost of the ET power management circuit.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2018Date of Patent: June 18, 2019Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.Inventors: Nadim Khlat, Michael R. Kay
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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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Publication number: 20190089310Abstract: An envelope tracking (ET) power management circuit is provided. The ET power management circuit includes an amplifier circuit(s) configured to output a radio frequency (RF) signal at a defined power level corresponding to a direct current, an alternating current, and an ET modulated voltage received by the amplifier circuit(s). The ET power management circuit can operate in a high-power ET mode when the defined power level exceeds a defined power level threshold and the RF signal is modulated to include no more than a defined number of resource blocks. The ET power management includes two ET tracker circuitries each generating a respective ET modulated voltage and two charge pump circuitries each generating a respective current. In the high-power ET mode, both charge pump circuitries are activated to each provide a reduced current to the amplifier circuit, thus helping to reduce a footprint and cost of the ET power management circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2018Publication date: March 21, 2019Inventors: Nadim Khlat, Michael R. Kay
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Patent number: 10230340Abstract: A wide modulation bandwidth radio frequency (RF) circuit is provided. In examples discussed herein, the RF front-end circuit includes a tracker circuit configured to generate a modulated voltage at a wide modulation bandwidth. The modulated voltage can be used by an amplifier circuit(s) for amplifying an RF signal(s). Notably, the tracker circuit may have inherent frequency-dependent impedance that can interact with a load current of the amplifier circuit(s) to cause degradation in the modulated voltage, which can further lead to distortions in an RF offset spectrum. In this regard, a notch circuit is provided and configured to operate at an appropriate notch frequency and a notch bandwidth to filter the modulated voltage in the RF offset spectrum. As a result, it may be possible to reduce the distortions caused by the modulated voltage degradation in the RF offset spectrum, thus helping to improve linearity and efficiency of the amplifier circuit(s).Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2018Date of Patent: March 12, 2019Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.Inventors: Nadim Khlat, Michael R. Kay
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Publication number: 20190036493Abstract: Aspects disclosed in the detailed description include an envelope tracking (ET) amplifier circuit. The ET amplifier circuit includes ET tracker circuitry configured to provide an ET modulated voltage, which tracks an ET modulated target voltage, to an amplifier circuit(s) for amplifying a radio frequency (RF) signal. The ET amplifier circuit also includes fast switcher circuitry that is activated to provide an alternate current (AC) current to the amplifier circuit(s) when the RF signal includes a higher number of resource blocks (RBs). However, the fast switcher circuitry and its associated control circuitry may incur a processing delay that can cause the fast switcher circuitry to lag behind the ET modulated target voltage. As such, the ET amplifier circuit further includes timing adjustment circuitry to help compensate for the processing delay, thus helping to maintain efficiency of the ET tracker circuitry for improved performance of the ET amplifier circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2018Publication date: January 31, 2019Inventors: Nadim Khlat, Philippe Gorisse, Jeffrey D. Potts, Michael R. Kay
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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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Patent number: 10181826Abstract: Aspects disclosed in the detailed description include an envelope tracking (ET) amplifier circuit. The ET amplifier circuit includes ET tracker circuitry configured to provide an ET modulated voltage, which tracks an ET modulated target voltage, to an amplifier circuit(s) for amplifying a radio frequency (RF) signal. The ET amplifier circuit also includes fast switcher circuitry that is activated to provide an alternate current (AC) current to the amplifier circuit(s) when the RF signal includes a higher number of resource blocks (RBs). However, the fast switcher circuitry and its associated control circuitry may incur a processing delay that can cause the fast switcher circuitry to lag behind the ET modulated target voltage. As such, the ET amplifier circuit further includes timing adjustment circuitry to help compensate for the processing delay, thus helping to maintain efficiency of the ET tracker circuitry for improved performance of the ET amplifier circuit.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2017Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.Inventors: Nadim Khlat, Philippe Gorisse, Jeffrey D. Potts, Michael R. Kay
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Publication number: 20180375475Abstract: A PA power supply, which includes a first ET power supply, power supply control circuitry, a first PMOS switching element, and a second PMOS switching element, is disclosed. During a first operating mode, the power supply control circuitry selects an OFF state of the first PMOS switching element, selects an ON state of the second PMOS switching element, and adjusts a voltage of a first switch control signal to maintain the OFF state of the first PMOS switching element using a voltage at a source of the first PMOS switching element and a voltage at a drain of the first PMOS switching element; the PA power supply provides a first PA power supply signal; and the first ET power supply provides a first ET power supply signal, such that the first PA power supply signal is based on the first ET power supply signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2018Publication date: December 27, 2018Inventors: Manbir Singh Nag, Michael R. Kay, Philippe Gorisse, Nadim Khlat
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Patent number: 10122323Abstract: An envelope tracking power supply, which includes a parallel amplifier, switching circuitry, and a parallel switching supply, is disclosed. The envelope tracking power supply provides an envelope power supply signal to a load. The parallel amplifier regulates an envelope power supply voltage of the envelope power supply signal based on a setpoint of the envelope power supply voltage. The switching circuitry at least partially provides the envelope power supply signal via a first inductive element and drives an output current from the parallel amplifier toward zero. The parallel switching supply provides an assist current to further drive the output current from the parallel amplifier toward zero based on an estimate of a current in the first inductive element and an estimate of a current in the load.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2017Date of Patent: November 6, 2018Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.Inventors: Nadim Khlat, Baker Scott, Michael R. Kay
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Publication number: 20180309414Abstract: Aspects disclosed in the detailed description include an envelope tracking (ET) amplifier circuit. The ET amplifier circuit includes ET tracker circuitry configured to provide an ET modulated voltage, which tracks an ET modulated target voltage, to an amplifier circuit(s) for amplifying a radio frequency (RF) signal. The ET amplifier circuit also includes fast switcher circuitry that is activated to provide an alternate current (AC) current to the amplifier circuit(s) when the RF signal includes a higher number of resource blocks (RBs). However, the fast switcher circuitry and its associated control circuitry may incur a processing delay that can cause the fast switcher circuitry to lag behind the ET modulated target voltage. As such, the ET amplifier circuit further includes timing adjustment circuitry to help compensate for the processing delay, thus helping to maintain efficiency of the ET tracker circuitry for improved performance of the ET amplifier circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2017Publication date: October 25, 2018Inventors: Nadim Khlat, Philippe Gorisse, Jeffrey D. Potts, Michael R. Kay
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Patent number: 10097145Abstract: A multi-mode power management circuit is provided. The multi-mode power management circuit includes a second generation (2G) amplifier circuit(s) configured to amplify a 2G radio frequency (RF) signal for transmission in a 2G RF band(s). The multi-mode power management circuit includes a pair of tracker circuitries coupled to the 2G amplifier circuit. Each tracker circuitry includes a charge pump circuitry configured to generate a voltage and a current. When the 2G amplifier circuit amplifies the 2G RF signal for transmission in the 2G RF band(s), both charge pump circuitries are controlled to provide two currents to the 2G amplifier circuit. As a result, the 2G amplifier circuit is able to amplify the 2G RF signal to a higher power corresponding to a sum of the two currents for transmission in the 2G RF band(s).Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2017Date of Patent: October 9, 2018Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.Inventors: Nadim Khlat, Jeffrey D. Potts, Michael R. Kay, Michael J. Murphy
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Patent number: 10090762Abstract: A direct current (DC) voltage converter configured to transition between operation modes is disclosed. A voltage selection circuitry is provided in a DC voltage conversion circuit to control a buck-boost converter that generates a DC output voltage. As opposed to conventional methods of switching the buck-boost converter between a buck mode and a boost mode based on a single switching threshold, the voltage selection circuitry is configured to switch the buck-boost converter between the buck mode and the boost mode based on multiple voltage thresholds. Each of the multiple voltage thresholds defines a respective range for the DC output voltage. By controlling the buck-boost converter based on multiple voltage thresholds, it is possible to provide a smoother transition between the buck mode and the boost mode, thus reducing voltage errors in the DC output voltage and improving reliability of the DC voltage conversion circuit.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2015Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.Inventors: Mohammad Ahsanul Adeeb, Philippe Gorisse, Nadim Khlat, Michael R. Kay
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Patent number: 10079575Abstract: A PA power supply, which includes a first ET power supply, power supply control circuitry, a first PMOS switching element, and a second PMOS switching element, is disclosed. During a first operating mode, the power supply control circuitry selects an OFF state of the first PMOS switching element, selects an ON state of the second PMOS switching element, and adjusts a voltage of a first switch control signal to maintain the OFF state of the first PMOS switching element using a voltage at a source of the first PMOS switching element and a voltage at a drain of the first PMOS switching element; the PA power supply provides a first PA power supply signal; and the first ET power supply provides a first ET power supply signal, such that the first PA power supply signal is based on the first ET power supply signal.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2016Date of Patent: September 18, 2018Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.Inventors: Manbir Singh Nag, Michael R. Kay, Philippe Gorisse, Nadim Khlat
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Patent number: 10069470Abstract: A multi-mode envelope tracking (ET) amplifier circuit is provided. The multi-mode ET amplifier circuit can operate in low-resource block (RB) mode and high-RB mode. The multi-mode ET amplifier circuit includes an ET amplifier(s) to amplify a radio frequency (RF) signal(s) to an amplified voltage, low-RB switcher circuitry to generate a direct current (DC) current, and high-RB switcher circuitry to generate an alternating current (AC) current. The amplified voltage, the DC current, and the AC current collectively cause the RF signal to be transmitted at a determined power. A control circuit(s) activates the high-RB switcher circuitry in the high-RB mode to provide the AC current, thus minimizing AC current sourced from the ET amplifier(s). As a result, it is possible to improve efficiency of the ET amplifier(s) and the multi-mode ET amplifier circuit in the high-RB mode and the low-RB mode.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2017Date of Patent: September 4, 2018Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.Inventors: Nadim Khlat, Michael R. Kay
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Patent number: 9979295Abstract: A buck-boost DC-DC converter, which includes converter control circuitry, converter switching circuitry, and a first inductive element, is disclosed. The converter control circuitry provides a buck mode timing signal and a boost mode timing signal. The converter switching circuitry provides a switching output signal. During a buck mode of the buck-boost DC-DC converter, when a buck pulse-width of the switching output signal is less than a buck pulse-width threshold, the buck pulse-width is limited based on both the buck mode timing signal and the boost mode timing signal. During a boost mode of the buck-boost DC-DC converter, when a boost pulse-width of the switching output signal is less than a boost pulse-width threshold, the boost pulse-width is limited based on both the buck mode timing signal and the boost mode timing signal. The first inductive element receives and filters the switching output signal to provide a converter output signal.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2017Date of Patent: May 22, 2018Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.Inventors: Michael R. Kay, Manbir Singh Nag
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Patent number: 9948240Abstract: Dual-output power converter circuitry includes an input node, a first output node, a second output node, a number of capacitive elements, and a number of switching elements. The switching elements are coupled between the input node, the first output node, the second output node, and the capacitive elements. In operation, the switching elements charge and discharge the capacitive elements such that a power supply output voltage is provided asynchronously to the first output node and the second output node.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2016Date of Patent: April 17, 2018Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.Inventors: Nadim Khlat, Michael R. Kay
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Patent number: 9929696Abstract: A parallel amplifier and an offset capacitance voltage control loop are disclosed. The parallel amplifier has a parallel amplifier output, which is coupled to an envelope tracking power supply output via an offset capacitive element. The offset capacitive element has an offset capacitive voltage. The offset capacitance voltage control loop regulates the offset capacitive voltage, which is adjustable on a communications slot-to-communications slot basis.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2014Date of Patent: March 27, 2018Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.Inventors: Nadim Khlat, Michael R. Kay, Manbir Singh Nag