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).

  • Patent number: 9178472
    Abstract: Circuitry, which includes a linear amplifier, is disclosed. The linear amplifier has a linear amplifier output and includes an input amplifier stage and an output amplifier stage. The output amplifier stage at least partially provides an envelope power supply voltage to a radio frequency (RF) power amplifier (PA) via an envelope power supply output using a selected one of a group of linear amplifier power supply signals. The group of linear amplifier power supply signals includes at least a first bi-directional power supply signal. The input amplifier stage selects the one of the group of linear amplifier power supply signals based on the envelope power supply voltage and a setpoint of the envelope power supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: RF Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew F. Folkmann, Nadim Khlat, Michael R. Kay
  • Publication number: 20150234402
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to radio frequency (RF) power converters and methods of operating the same. In one embodiment, an RF power converter includes an RF switching converter, a low-drop out (LDO) regulation circuit, and an RF filter. The RF filter is coupled to receive a pulsed output voltage from the RF switching converter and a supply voltage from the LDO regulation circuit. The RF filter is operable to alternate between a first RF filter topology and a second RF filter topology. In the first RF filter topology, the RF filter is configured to convert the pulsed output voltage from a switching circuit into the supply voltage. The RF filter in the second RF filter topology is configured to filter the supply voltage from the LDO regulation circuit to reduce a ripple variation in a supply voltage level of the supply voltage. As such, the RF filter provides greater versatility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2015
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Inventors: Michael R. Kay, Nadim Khlat
  • Patent number: 9099961
    Abstract: A switch mode power supply converter, a parallel amplifier, and a parallel amplifier output impedance compensation circuit are disclosed. The switch mode power supply converter provides a switching voltage and generates an estimated switching voltage output, which is indicative of the switching voltage. The parallel amplifier generates a power amplifier supply voltage at a power amplifier supply output based on a compensated VRAMP signal. The parallel amplifier output impedance compensation circuit provides the compensated VRAMP signal based on a combination of a VRAMP signal and a high frequency ripple compensation signal. The high frequency ripple compensation signal is based on a difference between the VRAMP signal and the estimated switching voltage output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: RF Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Kay, Nadim Khlat
  • Publication number: 20150180422
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed in the detailed description relate to a pseudo-envelope follower power management system used to manage the power delivered to a linear RF power amplifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Inventors: Nadim Khlat, Michael R. Kay
  • Patent number: 9041365
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to radio frequency (RF) power converters and methods of operating the same. In one embodiment, an RF power converter includes an RF switching converter, a low-drop out (LDO) regulation circuit, and an RF filter. The RF filter is coupled to receive a pulsed output voltage from the RF switching converter and a supply voltage from the LDO regulation circuit. The RF filter is operable to alternate between a first RF filter topology and a second RF filter topology. In the first RF filter topology, the RF filter is configured to convert the pulsed output voltage from a switching circuit into the supply voltage. The RF filter in the second RF filter topology is configured to filter the supply voltage from the LDO regulation circuit to reduce a ripple variation in a supply voltage level of the supply voltage. As such, the RF filter provides greater versatility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: RF Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Kay, Nadim Khlat
  • Patent number: 9024688
    Abstract: A direct current (DC)-DC converter, which includes switching circuitry, a first parallel amplifier, and a second parallel amplifier, is disclosed. The switching circuitry has a switching circuitry output. The first parallel amplifier has a first feedback input and a first parallel amplifier output. The second parallel amplifier has a second feedback input and a second parallel amplifier output. A first inductive element is coupled between the switching circuitry output and the first feedback input. A second inductive element is coupled between the first feedback input and the second feedback input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: RF Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Kay, Andrew F. Folkmann, Nadim Khlat, Philippe Gorisse
  • Patent number: 8981848
    Abstract: Programmable delay circuitry, which includes an input buffer circuit and variable delay circuitry, is disclosed. The variable delay circuitry includes an input stage, a correction start voltage circuit, and a variable delay capacitor. The input buffer circuit is coupled to the input stage, the correction start voltage circuit is coupled to the input stage, and the variable delay capacitor is coupled to the input stage. The programmable delay circuitry is configured to provide a fixed time delay and a variable time delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: RF Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Kay, Philippe Gorisse, Nadim Khlat
  • Patent number: 8981839
    Abstract: Circuitry, which includes a first switching transistor element having a first gate, a second switching transistor element having a second gate, a third switching transistor element having a third gate, and a fourth switching transistor element having a fourth gate, is disclosed. The first switching transistor element and the third switching transistor element are coupled in series between a first power source and a first downstream circuit. The second switching transistor element and the fourth switching transistor element are coupled in series between a second power source and the first downstream circuit. A voltage swing at the first gate and a voltage swing at the second gate are both about equal to a first voltage magnitude. A voltage swing at the third gate and a voltage swing at the fourth gate are both about equal to a second voltage magnitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: RF Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Kay, Manbir Singh Nag, Philippe Gorisse
  • Publication number: 20150048891
    Abstract: A DC-DC converter, which provides a converter output voltage using a DC source voltage, is disclosed. The DC-DC converter includes converter control circuitry and a boosting charge pump. The converter control circuitry selects one of a first boost operating mode, a second boost operating mode, and a boost disabled mode based on the DC source voltage. During the boost disabled mode, the boosting charge pump presents a high impedance at a charge pump output of the boosting charge pump. Otherwise, the boosting charge pump provides a charge pump output voltage. During the first boost operating mode, a nominal value of the charge pump output voltage is equal to about one and one-half times the DC source voltage. During the second boost operating mode, a nominal value of the charge pump output voltage is equal to about two times the DC source voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventors: Ashraf Rozek, Michael R. Kay
  • Patent number: 8942652
    Abstract: An envelope tracking power supply and transmitter control circuitry are disclosed. The transmitter control circuitry receives a first envelope power supply control signal and a second envelope power supply control signal. The envelope tracking power supply operates in one of a group of operating modes, which includes a first operating mode and a second operating mode. During both the first operating mode and the second operating mode, a first envelope power supply signal is provided to a driver stage based on the first envelope power supply control signal. During the first operating mode, a second envelope power supply signal is provided to a final stage based on the first envelope power supply control signal. However, during the second operating mode, the second envelope power supply signal is provided to the final stage based on the second envelope power supply control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: RF Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Nadim Khlat, Michael R. Kay, Philippe Gorisse
  • Patent number: 8878606
    Abstract: A direct current (DC)-DC converter, which includes a parallel amplifier and a switching supply, is disclosed. The switching supply includes switching circuitry, a first inductive element, and a second inductive element. The parallel amplifier has a feedback input and a parallel amplifier output. The switching circuitry has a switching circuitry output. The first inductive element is coupled between the switching circuitry output and the feedback input. The second inductive element is coupled between the feedback input and the parallel amplifier output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: RF Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Nadim Khlat, Michael R. Kay, Philippe Gorisse
  • Publication number: 20140306769
    Abstract: Power supply circuitry, which includes a parallel amplifier and a parallel amplifier power supply, is disclosed. The power supply circuitry operates in either an average power tracking mode or an envelope tracking mode. The parallel amplifier power supply provides a parallel amplifier power supply signal. The parallel amplifier regulates an envelope power supply voltage based on an envelope power supply control signal using the parallel amplifier power supply signal, which provides power for amplification. During the envelope tracking mode, the envelope power supply voltage at least partially tracks an envelope of an RF transmit signal and the parallel amplifier power supply signal at least partially tracks the envelope power supply control signal. During the average power tracking mode, the envelope power supply voltage does not track the envelope of the RF transmit signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: RF Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Nadim Khlat, Baker Scott, Michael R. Kay
  • Publication number: 20140266429
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a digital internal amplified voltage of power management circuitry is forced to an input threshold voltage upon a determination that a set of emergency conditions is satisfied, and is set to an input minimum battery voltage upon a determination that the set of emergency conditions is not satisfied. The emergency conditions may include determining that a battery voltage is less than a threshold voltage and determining that an input minimum battery voltage is less than an input threshold voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: RF Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Nadim Khlat, Jean-Blaise Pierres, Michael R. Kay
  • Publication number: 20140225674
    Abstract: Circuitry, which includes a linear amplifier, is disclosed. The linear amplifier has a linear amplifier output and includes an input amplifier stage and an output amplifier stage. The output amplifier stage at least partially provides an envelope power supply voltage to a radio frequency (RF) power amplifier (PA) via an envelope power supply output using a selected one of a group of linear amplifier power supply signals. The group of linear amplifier power supply signals includes at least a first bi-directional power supply signal. The input amplifier stage selects the one of the group of linear amplifier power supply signals based on the envelope power supply voltage and a setpoint of the envelope power supply voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: RF Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew F. Folkmann, Nadim Khlat, Michael R. Kay
  • Patent number: 8792840
    Abstract: Radio frequency (RF) transmitter circuitry, which includes an RF power amplifier (PA) and an envelope tracking power supply, is disclosed. The RF PA receives and amplifies an RF input signal to provide an RF transmit signal using an envelope power supply signal. The envelope tracking power supply provides the envelope power supply signal, which has switching ripple. Further, the envelope tracking power supply operates in either a normal switching ripple mode or a modified switching ripple mode, such that during the normal switching ripple mode, the envelope power supply signal has normal switching ripple, and during the modified switching ripple mode, the envelope power supply signal has modified switching ripple. When the modified switching ripple is required, the envelope tracking power supply operates in the modified switching ripple mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: RF Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Nadim Khlat, Michael R. Kay
  • Publication number: 20140203869
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: RF Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Nadim Khlat, Michael R. Kay, Manbir Singh Nag
  • Publication number: 20140203868
    Abstract: A parallel amplifier and a parallel amplifier power supply are disclosed. The parallel amplifier power supply provides a parallel amplifier power supply signal, which is adjustable on a communications slot-to-communications slot basis. During envelope tracking, the parallel amplifier regulates an envelope power supply voltage based on the parallel amplifier power supply signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: RF Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Nadim Khlat, Michael R. Kay, Manbir Singh Nag
  • Publication number: 20140139199
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a modulated power supply system having a switching converter with an output terminal for supplying modulated power to a load. The modulated power supply system also includes a controller adapted to transition the switching converter between a buck mode and a boost mode in response to a detection of at least one predetermined condition associated with the output terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: RF Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Nadim Khlat, Michael R. Kay
  • Publication number: 20140125408
    Abstract: A switch mode power supply converter, a parallel amplifier, and a parallel amplifier output impedance compensation circuit are disclosed. The switch mode power supply converter provides a switching voltage and generates an estimated switching voltage output, which is indicative of the switching voltage. The parallel amplifier generates a power amplifier supply voltage at a power amplifier supply output based on a combination of a VRAMP signal and a high frequency ripple compensation signal. The parallel amplifier output impedance compensation circuit provides the high frequency ripple compensation signal based on a difference between the VRAMP signal and the estimated switching voltage output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: RF Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Kay, Nadim Khlat
  • Publication number: 20140111178
    Abstract: An envelope tracking power supply and an offset capacitive element are disclosed. The offset capacitive element is coupled between a switching output and an analog output of the envelope tracking power supply, which operates in one of an envelope tracking mode, a transition mode, and an average power tracking mode. During the envelope tracking mode, the envelope tracking power supply provides an envelope power supply signal using both the switching output and the analog output. During the transition mode, the envelope tracking power supply drives a voltage across the offset capacitive element from a first voltage to a second voltage, such that during a transition from the envelope tracking mode to the transition mode, the offset capacitive element has the first voltage, and during a transition from the transition mode to the average power tracking mode, the offset capacitive element has the second voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: RF Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Nadim Khlat, Michael R. Kay, Mohammad Ahsanul Adeeb