POWER AMPLIFIER INTERFACE COMPATIBLE WITH INPUTS SEPARATED BY MODE OR FREQUENCY
Power amplifier interface compatible with inputs separated by mode or frequency. In some embodiments, a power amplifier (PA) system can include a first block having a first PA configured to operate in a first mode, and a second block having a second PA configured to operate in a second mode. The PA system can further include an interface implemented in the first block. The interface can be configured to be capable of routing a radio-frequency (RF) signal from a transceiver to the first PA, and also be capable of routing the RF signal to the second PA.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 62/038,323 filed Aug. 17, 2014, entitled POWER AMPLIFIER INTERFACE COMPATIBLE WITH INPUTS SEPARATED BY MODE OR FREQUENCY, and 62/038,322 filed Aug. 17, 2014, entitled CIRCUITS AND METHODS FOR 2G AMPLIFICATION USING 3G/4G LINEAR PATH COMBINATION, the disclosure of each of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
BACKGROUND1. Field
The present disclosure generally relates to radio-frequency (RF) power amplifier systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
In many radio-frequency (RF) applications, a wireless device can amplify and transmit an RF signal. Such a transmission can be achieved in a given operating mode. Such an RF signal can be in a given frequency band.
SUMMARYIn some implementations, the present disclosure relates to a power amplifier (PA) system having a first block including a first PA configured to operate in a first mode, and a second block including a second PA configured to operate in a second mode. The PA system further includes an interface implemented in the first block. The interface is configured to be capable of routing a radio-frequency (RF) signal from a transceiver to the first PA, and to be capable of routing the RF signal to the second PA.
In some embodiments, the RF signal can be a mode-separated signal. The interface can be configured to route the mode-separated signal to the first PA.
In some embodiments, the RF signal can be a frequency-separated signal. The interface can be configured to route the frequency-separated signal to the second PA. The PA system can further include an electrical connection between the interface of the first block and the second block to facilitate the routing of the frequency-separated signal to the second PA.
In some embodiments, the interface can include a switch having a pole connected to an input port, a first throw and a second throw. The first throw can be connected to the first PA, and the second throw can be connected to an interface port to allow the routing of the RF signal to the second PA.
In some embodiments, the first and second modes can include 2G and 3G modes. In some embodiments, the first block can be configured for the 2G mode, and the second block can be configured for the 3G mode. The PA system can be substantially the same when implemented for mode-separated or frequency-separated operation. In some embodiments, the first block can be configured for the 3G mode, and the second block can be configured for the 2G mode.
In some embodiments, each of the first block and the second block can further include a plurality of amplification paths. The plurality of amplification paths can include a 2G low band (LB) and a 2G high band (HB) for the corresponding block. The plurality of amplification paths can include a 3G low band (LB) and a 3G mid band (MB) for the corresponding block.
According to a number of implementations, the present disclosure relates to a power amplifier (PA) block that includes a PA configured to operate in a first mode, and an interface configured to be capable of routing a radio-frequency (RF) signal from a transceiver to the PA, and also to be capable of routing the RF signal to another PA block configured operate in a second mode.
In some embodiments, the first mode can include a 2G mode or a 3G mode. The second mode can include a 3G mode if the first mode is the 2G mode, and a 2G mode if the first mode is the 3G mode.
In some embodiments, the interface can include a routing circuit. In some embodiments, the routing circuit can include a switch having a pole connected to an input port, a first throw and a second throw. The first throw can be connected to the PA, and the second throw can be connected to an interface port to allow the routing of the RF signal to the other PA block.
In some teachings, the present disclosure relates to a method for amplifying radio-frequency (RF) signals. The method includes receiving a radio-frequency (RF) signal from a transceiver into an interface implemented in a first power amplifier (PA) block configured to operate in a first mode. The method further includes routing the RF signal to a second PA block configured to operate in a second mode.
According to a number of teachings, the present disclosure relates to a method for fabricating a power amplifier (PA) device. The method includes forming a PA circuit on a substrate, with the PA circuit being configured to operate in a first mode. The method further includes forming a routing circuit on the substrate, with the routing circuit being configured to be capable of receiving a radio-frequency (RF) signal, and to be capable of routing the RF signal to the PA circuit or another PA circuit configured operate in a second mode.
In accordance with a number of implementations, the present disclosure relates to a method for implementing a power amplifier (PA) system on a circuit board. The method includes mounting a first block on the circuit board, where the first block includes a first PA configured to operate in a first mode, and an interface. The method further includes mounting a second block on the circuit board, where the second block includes a second PA configured to operate in a second mode. The method further includes forming a plurality of electrical connections for the interface to allow the first and second PAs to amplify mode-separated radio-frequency (RF) signals or frequency-separated RF signals.
In some implementations, the present disclosure relates to a wireless device that includes a transceiver configured to generate a radio-frequency (RF) signal, and a power amplifier (PA) system in communication with the transceiver. The PA system is configured to amplify the RF signal, and includes a first block having a first PA configured to operate in a first mode, and a second block having a second PA configured to operate in a second mode. The PA system further includes an interface implemented in the first block. The interface is configured to be capable of routing the RF signal to the first PA, and to be capable of routing the RF signal to the second PA. The wireless device further includes an antenna in communication with the PA system and configured to facilitate transmission of the amplified RF signal. In some embodiments, the wireless device can be a cellular phone capable of operating in 2G and 3G modes.
For purposes of summarizing the disclosure, certain aspects, advantages and novel features of the inventions have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein.
The headings provided herein, if any, are for convenience only and do not necessarily affect the scope or meaning of the claimed invention.
In the example of
In the example of
Referring to
In
In the example of
If the PA system 102 of
If the PA system 102 of
Based on the foregoing example described in reference to
In some RF applications, the foregoing advantageous features provided by the routing circuit implemented on a PA block (e.g., the first PA block 110 of
Although various examples are described in the context of 2G and 3G applications, it will be understood that one or more features of the present disclosure can also be implemented in other combinations of modes used in the past, currently in use, to be used in the future, or any combination thereof. It will also be understood that one or more features implemented for 3G bands can also be implemented for 4G bands.
The switching circuit 26 is depicted as having a pole for each of the two inputs, and two throws for each pole. More particularly, the first pole is shown to receive a 2GLB signal or a 3GLB signal from the transceiver, and the second pole is shown to receive a 2GHB signal or a 3GMB signal from the transceiver. When operating in 2G mode, the first pole can be connected to the first throw to thereby route the 2GLB signal to a 2G LB PA in the 2G PA block 22, and second pole can be connected to the first throw to thereby route the 2GHB signal to a 2G HB PA also in the 2G PA block 22. Similarly, when operating in 3G mode, the first pole can be connected to the second throw to thereby route the 3GLB signal to a 3G LB PA in the 3G PA block 24, and second pole can be connected to the second throw to thereby route the 3GMB signal to a 3G MB PA also in the 3G PA block 24.
In the foregoing examples described in reference to
In
In the example of
The second throw of each of the first and second switches S1, S2 is shown to be connected to an interface port (114a or 114b) that is unused in the example configuration of
Referring to
Similarly, the 2GLB/2GHB signals from the single frequency-separated source is shown to be split into the two input ports 113a, 113b of the 2G PA block 110. Accordingly, with the two switches S1, S2 having the poles connected to the first throws (as shown in
In
In
Similarly, 2GHB/3GMB signals from the frequency-separated source are shown to be provided to the second input port 113b. With the second switch S2 having its pole connected to the second throw as shown in
In the example of
Accordingly, 2GLB/2GHB signals from a single frequency-separated source are shown to be split into the two input ports of the 2G PA block 110. Thus, the 2G PA block 110 can process 2G signals generally independently from the 3G PA block 120. Similarly, 3GLB/3GMB signals from the single frequency-separated source are shown to be split into the two input ports of the 3G PA block 120. Accordingly, with the two switches S1, S2 having the poles connected to the first throws (as shown in
In
Accordingly, 2GLB/3GLB signals from a frequency-separated source are shown to be provided to the first input port of the 3G PA block 120, and can be routed to the 2G LB PA of the 2G PA block 110 as described herein. Similarly, 2GHB/3GMB signals from the frequency-separated source are shown to be provided to the second input port of the 3G PA block 120, and can be routed to the 2G HB PA of the 2G PA block 110. In the example of
In the example conventional PA systems of
In some embodiments, the same antenna port and the antenna switch can also facilitate receive (RX) operations. In such a case, the received signals can be routed from the antenna port to “Rx Outputs” through the antenna switch and the duplexer bank.
In the various example PA systems of
In some embodiments, the 3G PA block 120 having one or more features as described herein can be implemented in, for example, a die (e.g., a PA die) or a packaged module (e.g., a PA module or a front-end module). In some embodiments, the 2G PA block 110 and 3G PA block 120 having one or more features as described herein do not necessarily need to be implemented in separate devices, and some or all of such PA blocks can be implemented in a common device.
In the various examples described herein in reference to
In
In some embodiments, the input configuration that facilitates the foregoing functionality can be part of a routing circuit 100 implemented in the 3G/4G PA block 110. As shown in the example of
In some implementations, a device and/or a circuit having one or more features described herein can be included in an RF device such as a wireless device. Such a device and/or a circuit can be implemented directly in the wireless device, in a modular form as described herein, or in some combination thereof. In some embodiments, such a wireless device can include, for example, a cellular phone, a smart-phone, a hand-held wireless device with or without phone functionality, a wireless tablet, etc.
As further shown in
In the example wireless device 400, RF signals received through the antenna 416 can be routed to one or more low-noise amplifiers (LNAs) 418 through the antenna switch 432 and the duplexers 430. The output(s) from the LNA(s) 418 can be routed to the transceiver 410 for further processing.
The transceiver 410 is shown to interact with a baseband sub-system 408 that is configured to provide conversion between data and/or voice signals suitable for a user and RF signals suitable for the transceiver 410. The transceiver 410 is also shown to be connected to a power management component 406 that is configured to manage power for the operation of the wireless device. Such power management can also control operations of the baseband sub-system 408 and the PA system 102.
The baseband sub-system 408 is shown to be connected to a user interface 402 to facilitate various input and output of voice and/or data provided to and received from the user. The baseband sub-system 408 can also be connected to a memory 404 that is configured to store data and/or instructions to facilitate the operation of the wireless device, and/or to provide storage of information for the user.
A number of other wireless device configurations can utilize one or more features described herein. For example, a wireless device does not need to be a multi-band device. In another example, a wireless device can include additional antennas such as diversity antenna, and additional connectivity features such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS.
Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words “comprise,” “comprising,” and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense, as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to.” The word “coupled”, as generally used herein, refers to two or more elements that may be either directly connected, or connected by way of one or more intermediate elements. Additionally, the words “herein,” “above,” “below,” and words of similar import, when used in this application, shall refer to this application as a whole and not to any particular portions of this application. Where the context permits, words in the above Description using the singular or plural number may also include the plural or singular number respectively. The word “or” in reference to a list of two or more items, that word covers all of the following interpretations of the word: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list, and any combination of the items in the list.
The above detailed description of embodiments of the invention is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed above. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the invention are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. For example, while processes or blocks are presented in a given order, alternative embodiments may perform routines having steps, or employ systems having blocks, in a different order, and some processes or blocks may be deleted, moved, added, subdivided, combined, and/or modified. Each of these processes or blocks may be implemented in a variety of different ways. Also, while processes or blocks are at times shown as being performed in series, these processes or blocks may instead be performed in parallel, or may be performed at different times.
The teachings of the invention provided herein can be applied to other systems, not necessarily the system described above. The elements and acts of the various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments.
While some embodiments of the inventions have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. Indeed, the novel methods and systems described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the methods and systems described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the disclosure. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the disclosure.
Claims
1. A power amplifier (PA) system comprising:
- a first block including a first PA configured to operate in a first mode;
- a second block including a second PA configured to operate in a second mode; and
- an interface implemented in the first block, the interface configured to be capable of routing a radio-frequency (RF) signal from a transceiver to the first PA, the interface further configured to be capable of routing the RF signal to the second PA.
2. The PA system of claim 1 wherein the RF signal is a mode-separated signal.
3. The PA system of claim 2 wherein the interface is configured to route the mode-separated signal to the first PA.
4. The PA system of claim 1 wherein the RF signal is a frequency-separated signal.
5. The PA system of claim 4 wherein the interface is configured to route the frequency-separated signal to the second PA.
6. The PA system of claim 5 further comprising an electrical connection between the interface of the first block and the second block to facilitate the routing of the frequency-separated signal to the second PA.
7. The PA system of claim 1 wherein the interface includes a switch having a pole connected to an input port, the switch further including a first throw and a second throw, the first throw connected to the first PA, the second throw connected to an interface port to allow the routing of the RF signal to the second PA.
8. The PA system of claim 1 wherein the first and second modes include 2G and 3G modes.
9. The PA system of claim 8 wherein the first block is configured for the 2G mode, and the second block is configured for the 3G mode.
10. The PA system of claim 8 wherein the PA system is substantially the same when implemented for mode-separated or frequency-separated operation.
11. The PA system of claim 8 wherein the first block is configured for the 3G mode, and the second block is configured for the 2G mode.
12. The PA system of claim 8 wherein each of the first block and the second block further includes a plurality of amplification paths.
13. The PA system of claim 12 wherein the plurality of amplification paths includes a 2G low band (LB) and a 2G high band (HB) for the corresponding block.
14. The PA system of claim 13 wherein the plurality of amplification paths includes a 3G low band (LB) and a 3G mid band (MB) for the corresponding block.
15. A power amplifier (PA) block comprising:
- a PA configured to operate in a first mode; and
- an interface configured to be capable of routing a radio-frequency (RF) signal from a transceiver to the PA, the interface further configured to be capable of routing the RF signal to another PA block configured operate in a second mode.
16. The PA block of claim 15 wherein the first mode includes a 2G mode or a 3G mode.
17. The PA block of claim 16 wherein the second mode includes a 3G mode if the first mode is the 2G mode, and a 2G mode if the first mode is the 3G mode.
18. The PA block of claim 15 wherein the interface includes a switch having a pole connected to an input port, the switch further including a first throw and a second throw, the first throw connected to the PA, the second throw connected to an interface port to allow the routing of the RF signal to the other PA block.
19. A wireless device comprising:
- a transceiver configured to generate a radio-frequency (RF) signal;
- a power amplifier (PA) system in communication with the transceiver, the PA system configured to amplify the RF signal, the PA system including a first block having a first PA configured to operate in a first mode, the PA system further including a second block having a second PA configured to operate in a second mode, the PA system further including an interface implemented in the first block, the interface configured to be capable of routing the RF signal to the first PA, the interface further configured to be capable of routing the RF signal to the second PA; and
- an antenna in communication with the PA system, the antenna configured to facilitate transmission of the amplified RF signal.
20. The wireless device of claim 19 wherein the wireless device is a cellular phone capable of operating in 2G and 3G modes.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 17, 2015
Publication Date: Jun 30, 2016
Inventor: Joel Anthony PENTICOFF (Cedar Rapids, IA)
Application Number: 14/827,543