Patents by Inventor Robert John Thompson
Robert John Thompson 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: 20230239000Abstract: Circuits, devices, and methods related to setting a drive power of a power amplifier to a first power level, switching an input of the power amplifier to an isolation state, switching an antenna selection state of an antenna network, and switching the input of the power amplifier to an active state.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2023Publication date: July 27, 2023Inventor: Robert John Thompson
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Patent number: 11652504Abstract: Circuits, devices, and methods related to setting a drive power of a power amplifier to a first power level, switching an input of the power amplifier to an isolation state, switching an antenna selection state of an antenna network, and switching the input of the power amplifier to an active state.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2020Date of Patent: May 16, 2023Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.Inventor: Robert John Thompson
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Publication number: 20220069775Abstract: Power amplifier modules with controllable envelope tracking noise filters are provided herein. In certain embodiments, an envelope tracking system includes a power amplifier module and an envelope tracker that provides the power amplifier module with a power amplifier supply voltage that changes based on an envelope of a radio frequency (RF) signal amplified by the power amplifier module. The power amplifier module includes a controllable filter that filters the power amplifier supply voltage to provide flexibility in filtering envelope tracking noise.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2021Publication date: March 3, 2022Inventors: Florinel G. Balteanu, Serge Francois Drogi, Robert John Thompson, Shayan Farahvash, David Richard Pehlke, Stephan Henzler
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Patent number: 11159194Abstract: Front end systems with switched termination for enhanced intermodulation distortion performance are provided herein. The switched termination can be used on transmit paths and/or receive paths of the front end system to suppress impedance variation when the signal paths are inactive. For example, with respect to switched termination for transmit paths, a front end system can include a frequency multiplexing circuit connected to a band switch by a first radio frequency (RF) signal path and by a second RF signal path. The band switch selectively provides the frequency multiplexing circuit with a first transmit signal over the first RF signal path and with a second transmit signal over the second RF signal path. The front end system further includes a switched termination circuit in shunt with the first RF signal path and operable to turn on to suppress impedance variation when the first RF signal path is inactive.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2020Date of Patent: October 26, 2021Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Robert John Thompson, Timothy M. Faughn, Jonathan Christian Crandall
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Publication number: 20210184720Abstract: Front end systems with switched termination for enhanced intermodulation distortion performance are provided herein. The switched termination can be used on transmit paths and/or receive paths of the front end system to suppress impedance variation when the signal paths are inactive. For example, with respect to switched termination for transmit paths, a front end system can include a frequency multiplexing circuit connected to a band switch by a first radio frequency (RF) signal path and by a second RF signal path. The band switch selectively provides the frequency multiplexing circuit with a first transmit signal over the first RF signal path and with a second transmit signal over the second RF signal path. The front end system further includes a switched termination circuit in shunt with the first RF signal path and operable to turn on to suppress impedance variation when the first RF signal path is inactive.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2020Publication date: June 17, 2021Inventors: Robert John Thompson, Timothy M. Faughn, Jonathan Christian Crandall
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Publication number: 20210075462Abstract: Circuits, devices, and methods related to setting a drive power of a power amplifier to a first power level, switching an input of the power amplifier to an isolation state, switching an antenna selection state of an antenna network, and switching the input of the power amplifier to an active state.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2020Publication date: March 11, 2021Inventor: Robert John Thompson
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Patent number: 10868577Abstract: Front end systems with switched termination for enhanced intermodulation distortion performance are provided herein. The switched termination can be used on transmit paths and/or receive paths of the front end system to suppress impedance variation when the signal paths are inactive. For example, with respect to switched termination for transmit paths, a front end system can include a frequency multiplexing circuit connected to a band switch by a first radio frequency (RF) signal path and by a second RF signal path. The band switch selectively provides the frequency multiplexing circuit with a first transmit signal over the first RF signal path and with a second transmit signal over the second RF signal path. The front end system further includes a switched termination circuit in shunt with the first RF signal path and operable to turn on to suppress impedance variation when the first RF signal path is inactive.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2020Date of Patent: December 15, 2020Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Robert John Thompson, Timothy M. Faughn, Jonathan Christian Crandall
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Publication number: 20200343933Abstract: Front end systems with switched termination for enhanced intermodulation distortion performance are provided herein. The switched termination can be used on transmit paths and/or receive paths of the front end system to suppress impedance variation when the signal paths are inactive. For example, with respect to switched termination for transmit paths, a front end system can include a frequency multiplexing circuit connected to a band switch by a first radio frequency (RF) signal path and by a second RF signal path. The band switch selectively provides the frequency multiplexing circuit with a first transmit signal over the first RF signal path and with a second transmit signal over the second RF signal path. The front end system further includes a switched termination circuit in shunt with the first RF signal path and operable to turn on to suppress impedance variation when the first RF signal path is inactive.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2020Publication date: October 29, 2020Inventors: Robert John Thompson, Timothy M. Faughn, Jonathan Christian Crandall
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Patent number: 10727894Abstract: Front end systems with switched termination for enhanced intermodulation distortion performance are provided herein. The switched termination can be used on transmit paths and/or receive paths of the front end system to suppress impedance variation when the signal paths are inactive. For example, with respect to switched termination for transmit paths, a front end system can include a frequency multiplexing circuit connected to a band switch by a first radio frequency (RF) signal path and by a second RF signal path. The band switch selectively provides the frequency multiplexing circuit with a first transmit signal over the first RF signal path and with a second transmit signal over the second RF signal path. The front end system further includes a switched termination circuit in shunt with the first RF signal path and operable to turn on to suppress impedance variation when the first RF signal path is inactive.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2019Date of Patent: July 28, 2020Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Robert John Thompson, Timothy M. Faughn, Jonathan Christian Crandall
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Publication number: 20190334573Abstract: Front end systems with switched termination for enhanced intermodulation distortion performance are provided herein. The switched termination can be used on transmit paths and/or receive paths of the front end system to suppress impedance variation when the signal paths are inactive. For example, with respect to switched termination for transmit paths, a front end system can include a frequency multiplexing circuit connected to a band switch by a first radio frequency (RF) signal path and by a second RF signal path. The band switch selectively provides the frequency multiplexing circuit with a first transmit signal over the first RF signal path and with a second transmit signal over the second RF signal path. The front end system further includes a switched termination circuit in shunt with the first RF signal path and operable to turn on to suppress impedance variation when the first RF signal path is inactive.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2019Publication date: October 31, 2019Inventors: Robert John Thompson, Timothy M. Faughn, Jonathan Christian Crandall
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Publication number: 20190319720Abstract: Apparatus and methods of calibrating a power amplifier system to compensate for envelope amplitude misalignment are provided. In certain configurations, a method of calibrating a power amplifier system includes generating a supply voltage of a power amplifier using an envelope tracker based on shaping a scaled envelope signal using shaping data generated at a target gain compression, controlling a variable gain of a variable gain amplifier based on a gain control level signal, changing the variable gain by adjusting the gain control level signal using a calibration module, monitoring an output of the power amplifier to determine an amount of variable gain at which a detected gain compression of the power amplifier corresponds to the target gain compression of the shaping data, and calibrating the power amplifier system to compensate for envelope amplitude misalignment based on the determined amount of variable gain.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2019Publication date: October 17, 2019Inventors: David Steven Ripley, Sabah Khesbak, Benjamin Bartram, Kevin Lee Cobley, Robert Astle Henshaw, Julian Hildersley, Robert John Thompson
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Patent number: 10382147Abstract: Methods of calibrating a power amplifier system to compensate for envelope amplitude misalignment are provided. In certain configurations, a method of calibrating a power amplifier system includes amplifying a radio frequency signal from a transceiver using a power amplifier and generating a supply voltage of the power amplifier using an envelope tracker, including generating a scaled envelope signal based on a power control level signal and an envelope signal, and shaping the scaled envelope signal using a shaping table generated at a target gain compression. The method further includes changing a scaling of the scaled envelope signal using a calibration module, monitoring an output of the power amplifier to determine an amount of scaling of the scaled envelope signal at which a detected gain compression of the power amplifier corresponds to the target gain compression of the shaping table, and calibrating the power amplifier system based on the determination.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2016Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignees: Skyworks Solutions, Inc., SnapTrack, Inc.Inventors: David Steven Ripley, Sabah Khesbak, Benjamin Bartram, Kevin Lee Cobley, Robert Astle Henshaw, Julian Hildersley, Robert John Thompson
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Patent number: 10333470Abstract: Apparatus and methods for envelope tracking systems are provided. In certain configurations, an envelope tracking system includes a digital filter that generates a filtered envelope signal based on a digital envelope signal representing an envelope of a radio frequency signal, a buck converter controllable by the filtered envelope signal and including an output electrically connected to a power amplifier supply voltage, a digital-to-analog converter module including an output electrically connected to the output of the buck converter and that provides an output current, and a digital shaping and delay circuit configured to generate a shaped envelope signal based on shaping the filtered envelope signal. The shaped envelope signal controls a magnitude of the output current, and the digital shaping and delay circuit controls a delay of the shaped envelope signal to align the output of the digital-to-analog converter module and the output of the buck converter.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2018Date of Patent: June 25, 2019Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Florinel G. Balteanu, Sabah Khesbak, Yevgeniy A. Tkachenko, David Steven Ripley, Robert John Thompson
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Publication number: 20180302036Abstract: Apparatus and methods for envelope tracking systems are provided. In certain configurations, an envelope tracking system includes a digital filter that generates a filtered envelope signal based on a digital envelope signal representing an envelope of a radio frequency signal, a buck converter controllable by the filtered envelope signal and including an output electrically connected to a power amplifier supply voltage, a digital-to-analog converter module including an output electrically connected to the output of the buck converter and that provides an output current, and a digital shaping and delay circuit configured to generate a shaped envelope signal based on shaping the filtered envelope signal. The shaped envelope signal controls a magnitude of the output current, and the digital shaping and delay circuit controls a delay of the shaped envelope signal to align the output of the digital-to-analog converter module and the output of the buck converter.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2018Publication date: October 18, 2018Inventors: Florinel G. Balteanu, Sabah Khesbak, Yevgeniy A. Tkachenko, David Steven Ripley, Robert John Thompson
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Patent number: 9935582Abstract: Apparatus and methods for envelope tracking systems are provided. In certain configurations, an envelope tracking system includes a digital filter that generates a filtered envelope signal based on a digital envelope signal representing an envelope of a radio frequency signal, a buck converter controllable by the filtered envelope signal and including an output electrically connected to a power amplifier supply voltage, a digital-to-analog converter module including an output electrically connected to the output of the buck converter and that provides an output current, and a digital shaping and delay circuit configured to generate a shaped envelope signal based on shaping the filtered envelope signal. The shaped envelope signal controls a magnitude of the output current, and the digital shaping and delay circuit controls a delay of the shaped envelope signal to align the output of the digital-to-analog converter module and the output of the buck converter.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2016Date of Patent: April 3, 2018Assignee: SKYWORKS SOLUTIONS, INC.Inventors: Florinel G. Balteanu, Sabah Khesbak, Yevgeniy A. Tkachenko, David Steven Ripley, Robert John Thompson
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Publication number: 20170093505Abstract: Methods of calibrating a power amplifier system to compensate for envelope amplitude misalignment are provided. In certain configurations, a method of calibrating a power amplifier system includes amplifying a radio frequency signal from a transceiver using a power amplifier and generating a supply voltage of the power amplifier using an envelope tracker, including generating a scaled envelope signal based on a power control level signal and an envelope signal, and shaping the scaled envelope signal using a shaping table generated at a target gain compression. The method further includes changing a scaling of the scaled envelope signal using a calibration module, monitoring an output of the power amplifier to determine an amount of scaling of the scaled envelope signal at which a detected gain compression of the power amplifier corresponds to the target gain compression of the shaping table, and calibrating the power amplifier system based on the determination.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2016Publication date: March 30, 2017Inventors: David Steven Ripley, Sabah Khesbak, Benjamin Bartram, Kevin Lee Cobley, Robert Astle Henshaw, Julian Hildersley, Robert John Thompson
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Patent number: 9584070Abstract: Apparatus and methods for envelope tracking are disclosed. In one embodiment, a power amplifier system including a power amplifier and an envelope tracker is provided. The power amplifier is configured to amplify a radio frequency (RF) signal, and the envelope tracker is configured to control a supply voltage of the power amplifier using an envelope of the RF signal. The envelope tracker includes a buck converter for generating a buck voltage from a battery voltage and a digital-to-analog conversion (DAC) module for adjusting the buck voltage based on the envelope of the RF signal to generate the supply voltage for the power amplifier.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2015Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: SKYWORKS SOLUTIONS, INC.Inventors: Florinel G. Balteanu, Sabah Khesbak, Yevgeniy A. Tkachenko, David Steven Ripley, Robert John Thompson
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Publication number: 20170047953Abstract: Apparatus and methods for envelope tracking systems are provided. In certain configurations, an envelope tracking system includes a digital filter that generates a filtered envelope signal based on a digital envelope signal representing an envelope of a radio frequency signal, a buck converter controllable by the filtered envelope signal and including an output electrically connected to a power amplifier supply voltage, a digital-to-analog converter module including an output electrically connected to the output of the buck converter and that provides an output current, and a digital shaping and delay circuit configured to generate a shaped envelope signal based on shaping the filtered envelope signal. The shaped envelope signal controls a magnitude of the output current, and the digital shaping and delay circuit controls a delay of the shaped envelope signal to align the output of the digital-to-analog converter module and the output of the buck converter.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2016Publication date: February 16, 2017Inventors: Florinel G. Balteanu, Sabah Khesbak, Yevgeniy A. Tkachenko, David Steven Ripley, Robert John Thompson
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Patent number: 9571152Abstract: Apparatus and methods for calibration of envelope trackers are provided. In one embodiment, a power amplifier system includes a VGA that amplifies an RF input signal to generate an amplified RF input signal, a power amplifier that amplifies the amplified RF input signal to generate an RF output signal, and an envelope tracker that generates a supply voltage for the power amplifier. The envelope tracker includes a scaling module that generates a scaled envelope signal based on a power control level (PCL) signal and an envelope signal that changes in relation to an envelope of the RF input signal. The envelope tracker further includes a calibration module that controls an amount of scaling of the scaled envelope signal based on calibration data to compensate for an envelope amplitude misalignment of the envelope tracker. The envelope tracker controls the voltage level of the supply voltage based on the scaled envelope signal.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2015Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignees: SKYWORKS SOLUTIONS, INC., SNAPTRACK, INC.Inventors: David Steven Ripley, Sabah Khesbak, Benjamin Bartram, Kevin Lee Cobley, Robert Astle Henshaw, Julian Hildersley, Robert John Thompson
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Publication number: 20160099742Abstract: Apparatus and methods for calibration of envelope trackers are provided. In one embodiment, a power amplifier system includes a VGA that amplifies an RF input signal to generate an amplified RF input signal, a power amplifier that amplifies the amplified RF input signal to generate an RF output signal, and an envelope tracker that generates a supply voltage for the power amplifier. The envelope tracker includes a scaling module that generates a scaled envelope signal based on a power control level (PCL) signal and an envelope signal that changes in relation to an envelope of the RF input signal. The envelope tracker further includes a calibration module that controls an amount of scaling of the scaled envelope signal based on calibration data to compensate for an envelope amplitude misalignment of the envelope tracker. The envelope tracker controls the voltage level of the supply voltage based on the scaled envelope signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2015Publication date: April 7, 2016Inventors: David Steven Ripley, Sabah Khesbak, Benjamin Bartram, Kevin Lee Cobley, Robert Astle Henshaw, Julian Hildersley, Robert John Thompson