Abstract: Apparatus and methods for adaptive power amplifier biasing are provided. In certain embodiments, a power amplifier system includes a power amplifier that provides amplification to a radio frequency (RF) signal, and a power amplifier bias control circuit that generates a bias signal of the power amplifier based on a bandwidth signal indicating a bandwidth of the RF signal. The power amplifier bias control circuit has a bandwidth that adapts to the bandwidth of the RF signal as indicated by the bandwidth signal.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for envelope tracking systems with automatic mode selection are provided herein. In certain configurations, a power amplifier system includes a power amplifier configured to provide amplification to a radio frequency signal and to receive power from a power amplifier supply voltage, and an envelope tracker including a signal bandwidth detection circuit configured to generate a detected bandwidth signal based on processing an envelope signal corresponding to an envelope of the radio frequency signal. The envelope tracker further includes a switch bank configured to receive a plurality of regulated voltages, a filter configured to filter an output of the switch bank to generate the power amplifier supply voltage, and a mode control circuit configured to control a filtering characteristic of the filter based on the detected bandwidth signal.

Abstract: High bandwidth envelope trackers are provided herein. In certain embodiments, an envelope tracking system for a power amplifier includes a switching regulator that operates in combination with a high bandwidth amplifier to generate a power amplifier supply voltage for the power amplifier based on an envelope of a radio frequency (RF) signal amplified by the power amplifier. The high bandwidth amplifier includes an output that generates an output current for adjusting the power amplifier supply voltage, a first input that receives a reference signal, and a second input that receives an envelope signal indicating the envelope of the RF signal. The second input has lower input impedance than the first input to provide a rapid transient response and high envelope tracking bandwidth.

Abstract: Fast envelope tracking systems are provided herein. In certain embodiments, an envelope tracking system for a power amplifier includes a switching regulator and a differential error amplifier configured to operate in combination with one another to generate a power amplifier supply voltage for the power amplifier based on an envelope of a radio frequency (RF) signal amplified by the power amplifier. The envelope tracking system further includes a differential envelope amplifier configured to amplify a differential envelope signal to generate a single-ended envelope signal that changes in relation to the envelope of the RF signal. Additionally, the differential error amplifier generates an output current operable to adjust a voltage level of the power amplifier supply voltage based on comparing the single-ended envelope signal to a reference signal.

Abstract: Envelope trackers providing compensation for power amplifier output load variation are provided herein. In certain configurations, a radio frequency (RF) system includes an antenna, a power amplifier that receives a radio frequency signal and outputs an amplified radio frequency signal to the antenna, a plurality of detectors coupled to the power amplifier and operable to generate a plurality of detection signals, and an envelope tracker that controls a supply voltage of the power amplifier based on an envelope of the radio frequency signal. The envelope tracker processes the plurality of detection signals to generate a load variation detection signal indicating a change in an output load of the power amplifier arising from a change in a voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) of the antenna. Additionally, the envelope tracker adjusts a gain of the power amplifier based on the load variation detection signal.

Abstract: A variable load power amplifier that improves the performance of a power amplifier that provides both envelope tracking (ET) and average power tracking (APT). The variable load power amplifier can include a plurality of amplifiers that are each selectively connectable into one of a plurality of parallel combinations, each of the plurality of parallel combinations characterized by a corresponding load line. The variable load power amplifier can also include a plurality of control elements arranged to selectively connect one or more of the plurality of amplifiers into one of the plurality of parallel combinations, each of the plurality of control elements having a respective input terminal provided to receive a respective control signal, each of the plurality of control elements responsive to the respective control signal.

Abstract: High bandwidth envelope trackers are provided herein. In certain embodiments, an envelope tracking system for a power amplifier includes a switching regulator that operates in combination with a high bandwidth amplifier to generate a power amplifier supply voltage for the power amplifier based on an envelope of a radio frequency (RF) signal amplified by the power amplifier. The high bandwidth amplifier includes an output that generates an output current for adjusting the power amplifier supply voltage, a first input that receives a reference signal, and a second input that receives an envelope signal indicating the envelope of the RF signal. The second input has lower input impedance than the first input to provide a rapid transient response and high envelope tracking bandwidth.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for envelope tracking systems with automatic mode selection are provided herein. In certain configurations, a power amplifier system includes a power amplifier configured to provide amplification to a radio frequency signal and to receive power from a power amplifier supply voltage, and an envelope tracker including a signal bandwidth detection circuit configured to generate a detected bandwidth signal based on processing an envelope signal corresponding to an envelope of the radio frequency signal. The envelope tracker further includes a switch bank configured to receive a plurality of regulated voltages, a filter configured to filter an output of the switch bank to generate the power amplifier supply voltage, and a mode control circuit configured to control a filtering characteristic of the filter based on the detected bandwidth signal.

Abstract: Described herein are systems, architectures, circuits, devices, and methods for a DC-DC converter that dynamically adjusts a supply voltage to a power amplifier based on the number of resource blocks in a signal to be transmitted. The disclosed technologies estimate the number of resource blocks in a signal, generate a signal corresponding to the estimated number of resource blocks, and modify a supply voltage based on the generated signal. These technologies can be used to increase the efficiency of power amplifier systems for cellular signals being transmitted that have fewer resource blocks than is typically assumed (e.g., at least 100 resource blocks).

Abstract: Fast envelope tracking systems are provided herein. In certain embodiments, an envelope tracking system for a power amplifier includes a switching regulator and a differential error amplifier configured to operate in combination with one another to generate a power amplifier supply voltage for the power amplifier based on an envelope of a radio frequency (RF) signal amplified by the power amplifier. The envelope tracking system further includes a differential envelope amplifier configured to amplify a differential envelope signal to generate a single-ended envelope signal that changes in relation to the envelope of the RF signal. Additionally, the differential error amplifier generates an output current operable to adjust a voltage level of the power amplifier supply voltage based on comparing the single-ended envelope signal to a reference signal.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Described herein are systems, architectures, circuits, devices, and methods for a DC-DC converter that dynamically adjusts a supply voltage to a power amplifier based on the number of resource blocks in a signal to be transmitted. The disclosed technologies estimate the number of resource blocks in a signal, generate a signal corresponding to the estimated number of resource blocks, and modify a supply voltage based on the generated signal. The disclosed DC-DC converters can be integrated into systems that employ power management strategies such as average power tracking (“APT”). In addition, the disclosed technologies can be used to improve existing APT-based systems.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Envelope trackers providing compensation for power amplifier output load variation are provided herein. In certain configurations, a radio frequency (RF) system includes an antenna, a power amplifier that receives a radio frequency signal and outputs an amplified radio frequency signal to the antenna, a plurality of detectors coupled to the power amplifier and operable to generate a plurality of detection signals, and an envelope tracker that controls a supply voltage of the power amplifier based on an envelope of the radio frequency signal. The envelope tracker processes the plurality of detection signals to generate a load variation detection signal indicating a change in an output load of the power amplifier arising from a change in a voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) of the antenna. Additionally, the envelope tracker adjusts a gain of the power amplifier based on the load variation detection signal.

Abstract: A variable load power amplifier that improves the performance of a power amplifier that provides both envelope tracking (ET) and average power tracking (APT). The variable load power amplifier can include a plurality of amplifiers that are each selectively connectable into one of a plurality of parallel combinations, each of the plurality of parallel combinations characterized by a corresponding load line. The variable load power amplifier can also include a plurality of control elements arranged to selectively connect one or more of the plurality of amplifiers into one of the plurality of parallel combinations, each of the plurality of control elements having a respective input terminal provided to receive a respective control signal, each of the plurality of control elements responsive to the respective control signal.

Abstract: Envelope trackers providing compensation for power amplifier output load variation are provided herein. In certain configurations, a radio frequency (RF) system includes a power amplifier that amplifies an RF signal, an output detector coupled to an output of the power amplifier and that generates an output detection signal, an input detector coupled to an input of the power amplifier and that generates an input detection signal, and an envelope tracker that generates a power amplifier supply voltage for the power amplifier based on an envelope of the RF signal. The envelope tracker compensates the power amplifier for output load variation based on the output detection signal and the input detection signal.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for envelope tracking systems with automatic mode selection are provided herein. In certain configurations, a power amplifier system includes a power amplifier configured to provide amplification to a radio frequency signal and to receive power from a power amplifier supply voltage, and an envelope tracker including a signal bandwidth detection circuit configured to generate a detected bandwidth signal based on processing an envelope signal corresponding to an envelope of the radio frequency signal. The envelope tracker further includes a switch bank configured to receive a plurality of regulated voltages, a filter configured to filter an output of the switch bank to generate the power amplifier supply voltage, and a mode control circuit configured to control a filtering characteristic of the filter based on the detected bandwidth signal.

Abstract: Fast envelope tracking systems are provided herein. In certain embodiments, an envelope tracking system for a power amplifier includes a switching regulator and a differential error amplifier configured to operate in combination with one another to generate a power amplifier supply voltage for the power amplifier based on an envelope of a radio frequency (RF) signal amplified by the power amplifier. The envelope tracking system further includes a differential envelope amplifier configured to amplify a differential envelope signal to generate a single-ended envelope signal that changes in relation to the envelope of the RF signal. Additionally, the differential error amplifier generates an output current operable to adjust a voltage level of the power amplifier supply voltage based on comparing the single-ended envelope signal to a reference signal.

Abstract: High bandwidth envelope trackers are provided herein. In certain embodiments, an envelope tracking system for a power amplifier includes a switching regulator that operates in combination with a high bandwidth amplifier to generate a power amplifier supply voltage for the power amplifier based on an envelope of a radio frequency (RF) signal amplified by the power amplifier. The high bandwidth amplifier includes an output that generates an output current for adjusting the power amplifier supply voltage, a first input that receives a reference signal, and a second input that receives an envelope signal indicating the envelope of the RF signal. The second input has lower input impedance than the first input to provide a rapid transient response and high envelope tracking bandwidth.