Abstract: This invention controls and modulates switched-mode power amplifiers to enable the production of signals that include amplitude modulation (and possibly, but not necessarily, phase modulation), the average power of which may be controlled over a potentially wide range.

Abstract: The present invention, generally speaking, provides methods and apparatus for producing an amplitude modulated communications signal, in which a constant-envelope carrier signal is modified in response to a power control signal to produce a modified constant-envelope carrier signal. The modified constant-envelope carrier signal is amplified in response to an amplitude modulation signal to produce a communications signal having amplitude modulation and having an average output power proportional to a signal level of the modified constant-envelope carrier signal. This manner of operation allows wide dynamic range of average output power to be achieved. Because amplitude modulation is applied after amplitude varying circuitry used to produce the modified constant-envelope carrier signal, the amplitude modulation is unaffected by possible non-linearities of such circuitry.

Abstract: The present invention, generally speaking, provides methods and apparatus for producing an amplitude modulated communications signal, in which a constant-envelope carrier signal is modified in response to a power control signal to produce a modified constant-envelope carrier signal. The modified constant-envelope carrier signal is amplified in response to an amplitude modulation signal to produce a communications signal having amplitude modulation and having an average output power proportional to a signal level of the modified constant-envelope carrier signal. This manner of operation allows wide dynamic range of average output power to be achieved. Because amplitude modulation is applied after amplitude varying circuitry used to produce the modified constant-envelope carrier signal, the amplitude modulation is unaffected by possible non-linearities of such circuitry.

Abstract: This invention controls and modulates switched-mode power amplifiers to enable the production of signals that include amplitude modulation (and possibly, but not necessarily, phase modulation), the average power of which may be controlled over a potentially wide range.

Abstract: This invention controls and modulates switched-mode power amplifiers to enable the production of signals that include amplitude modulation (and possibly, but not necessarily, phase modulation), the average power of which may be controlled over a potentially wide range.

Abstract: The present invention, generally speaking, provides an RF power amplifier that exhibits high PAE at high output powers. The design of the power amplifier is based on the observation that the switching transistor is controlled by either voltage (for a FET) or current (for bipolar transistors), but not both. Thus, it is not necessary to develop power from the driver amplifier in order to operate the final stage as a switch. This recognition runs exactly counter to conventional wisdom, i.e., the concept of impedance matching for interstage design of high efficiency power amplifiers. It is impossible to develop solely a voltage waveform or a current waveform in a passband (resonant) network such as an RF power amplifier—both voltages and current must exist. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, however, instead of maximizing power transfer, power consumption is reduced while maintaining the magnitude of the voltage (or current) waveform.

Abstract: Methods of and apparatus for distributing power and biasing RF PAs. A power distribution network includes a pre-final amplifier stage power distribution network and a final amplifier stage power distribution network. The pre-final amplifier stage power distribution network includes one or more pre-final amplifier stage power distribution branches, which may be configured to distribute power from one or more pre-final amplifier power supplies to one or more pre-final amplifier stages. Each pre-final amplifier stage power distribution branch comprises a ? C-R-C network coupled to an inductive load. A final amplifier stage power distribution network is configured to distribute power from a final amplifier stage power supply to a final stage of the amplifier circuit.

Abstract: Methods of and apparatus for distributing power and biasing RF PAs. A power distribution network includes a pre-final amplifier stage power distribution network and a final amplifier stage power distribution network. The pre-final amplifier stage power distribution network includes one or more pre-final amplifier stage power distribution branches, which may be configured to distribute power from one or more pre-final amplifier power supplies to one or more pre-final amplifier stages. Each pre-final amplifier stage power distribution branch comprises a ? C-R-C network coupled to an inductive load. A final amplifier stage power distribution network is configured to distribute power from a final amplifier stage power supply to a final stage of the amplifier circuit.

Abstract: This invention controls and modulates switched-mode power amplifiers to enable the production of signals that include amplitude modulation (and possibly, but not necessarily, phase modulation), the average power of which may be controlled over a potentially wide range.

Abstract: An impedance matching circuit (140) includes a capacitive element (C1, 220), having a capacitance C, coupled in parallel with an output node (215) of the matching circuit, and an inductor (L1, 225) coupled in series with a transmission line (T1, 230) between the input node and the output node. The transmission line has a length that, in combination with the inductor, provides impedance substantially equal to the input impedance of the transmission circuit (150) at a frequency of interest. In one embodiment, the inductor is connected to an output (195) of an amplifier (180), and the transmission line is connected to the inductor and to the output (215). The capacitive element is connected to the transmission line such that the length of the transmission line between the inductor and the capacitive element provides the desired inductance.

Abstract: This invention controls and modulates switched-mode power amplifiers to enable the production of signals that include amplitude modulation (and possibly, but not necessarily, phase modulation), the average power of which may be controlled over a potentially wide range.

Abstract: Methods of and apparatus for distributing power and biasing RF PAs. A power distribution network includes a pre-final amplifier stage power distribution network and a final amplifier stage power distribution network. The pre-final amplifier stage power distribution network includes one or more pre-final amplifier stage power distribution branches, which may be configured to distribute power from one or more pre-final amplifier power supplies to one or more pre-final amplifier stages. Each pre-final amplifier stage power distribution branch comprises a ? C-R-C network coupled to an inductive load. A final amplifier stage power distribution network is configured to distribute power from a final amplifier stage power supply to a final stage of the amplifier circuit.

Abstract: This invention controls and modulates switched-mode power amplifiers to enable the production of signals that include amplitude modulation (and possibly, but not necessarily, phase modulation), the average power of which may be controlled over a potentially wide range.

Abstract: Methods of and apparatus for distributing power and biasing RF PAs. A power distribution network includes a pre-final amplifier stage power distribution network and a final amplifier stage power distribution network. The pre-final amplifier stage power distribution network includes one or more pre-final amplifier stage power distribution branches, which may be configured to distribute power from one or more pre-final amplifier power supplies to one or more pre-final amplifier stages. Each pre-final amplifier stage power distribution branch comprises a ? C-R-C network coupled to an inductive load. A final amplifier stage power distribution network is configured to distribute power from a final amplifier stage power supply to a final stage of the amplifier circuit.

Abstract: An impedance matching circuit (140) includes a capacitive element (C1, 220), having a capacitance C, coupled in parallel with an output node (215) of the matching circuit, and an inductor (L1, 225) coupled in series with a transmission line (T1, 230) between the input node and the output node. The transmission line has a length that, in combination with the inductor, provides impedance substantially equal to the input impedance of the transmission circuit (150) at a frequency of interest. In one embodiment, the inductor is connected to an output (195) of an amplifier (180), and the transmission line is connected to the inductor and to the output (215). The capacitive element is connected to the transmission line such that the length of the transmission line between the inductor and the capacitive element provides the desired inductance.

Abstract: This invention controls and modulates switched-mode power amplifiers to enable the production of signals that include amplitude modulation (and possibly, but not necessarily, phase modulation), the average power of which may be controlled over a potentially wide range.

Abstract: The present invention, generally speaking, provides methods and apparatus for producing an amplitude modulated communications signal, in which a constant-envelope carrier signal is modified in response to a power control signal to produce a modified constant-envelope carrier signal. The modified constant-envelope carrier signal is amplified in response to an amplitude modulation signal to produce a communications signal having amplitude modulation and having an average output power proportional to a signal level of the modified constant-envelope carrier signal. This manner of operation allows wide dynamic range of average output power to be achieved. Because amplitude modulation is applied after amplitude varying circuitry used to produce the modified constant-envelope carrier signal, the amplitude modulation is unaffected by possible non-linearities of such circuitry.

Abstract: The present invention, generally speaking, provides methods and apparatus for producing an amplitude modulated communications signal, in which a constant-envelope carrier signal is modified in response to a power control signal to produce a modified constant-envelope carrier signal. The modified constant-envelope carrier signal is amplified in response to an amplitude modulation signal to produce a communications signal having amplitude modulation and having an average output power proportional to a signal level of the modified constant-envelope carrier signal. This manner of operation allows wide dynamic range of average output power to be achieved. Because amplitude modulation is applied after amplitude varying circuitry used to produce the modified constant-envelope carrier signal, the amplitude modulation is unaffected by possible non-linearities of such circuitry.

Abstract: The present invention, generally speaking, provides methods and apparatus for producing an amplitude modulated communications signal, in which a constant-envelope carrier signal is modified in response to a power control signal to produce a modified constant-envelope carrier signal. The modified constant-envelope carrier signal is amplified in response to an amplitude modulation signal to produce a communications signal having amplitude modulation and having an average output power proportional to a signal level of the modified constant-envelope carrier signal. This manner of operation allows wide dynamic range of average output power to be achieved. Because amplitude modulation is applied after amplitude varying circuitry used to produce the modified constant-envelope carrier signal, the amplitude modulation is unaffected by possible non-linearities of such circuitry.

Abstract: The present invention, generally speaking, provides methods and apparatus for producing an amplitude modulated communications signal, in which a constant-envelope carrier signal is modified in response to a power control signal to produce a modified constant-envelope carrier signal. The modified constant-envelope carrier signal is amplified in response to an amplitude modulation signal to produce a communications signal having amplitude modulation and having an average output power proportional to a signal level of the modified constant-envelope carrier signal. This manner of operation allows wide dynamic range of average output power to be achieved. Because amplitude modulation is applied after amplitude varying circuitry used to produce the modified constant-envelope carrier signal, the amplitude modulation is unaffected by possible non-linearities of such circuitry.