With Control Of Power Supply Or Bias Voltage Patents (Class 330/127)
  • Patent number: 10566935
    Abstract: An embodiment of a Doherty amplifier module includes a substrate, an RF signal splitter, a carrier amplifier die, and a peaking amplifier die. The RF signal splitter divides an input RF signal into first and second input RF signals, and conveys the first and second input RF signals to first and second splitter output terminals. The carrier amplifier die includes one or more first power transistors configured to amplify, along a carrier signal path, the first input RF signal to produce an amplified first RF signal. The peaking amplifier die includes one or more second power transistors configured to amplify, along a peaking signal path, the second input RF signal to produce an amplified second RF signal. The carrier and peaking amplifier die are coupled to the substrate so that the RF signal paths through the carrier and peaking amplifier die extend in substantially different (e.g., orthogonal) directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Elie A. Maalouf, Margaret A. Szymanowski
  • Patent number: 10523164
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit including a differential amplifier circuit, a first output circuit, a second output circuit, a selection circuit, and a feedback circuit. The differential amplifier circuit is configured to operate at a first source voltage. The first output circuit is configured to receive an output of the differential amplifier circuit, output a first output, and operate at the first source voltage. The second output circuit is configured to receive an output of the differential amplifier circuit, output a second output, and operate at a second source voltage lower than the first source voltage. The selection circuit is configured to select one of the first output from the first output circuit and the second output from the second output circuit according to an operating phase determined by an external control signal. The feedback circuit is connected between the differential amplifier circuit and the selection circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Sho Kamezawa, Tohru Kanno
  • Patent number: 10491162
    Abstract: An envelope tracking (ET) amplifier circuit is provided. In examples discussed herein, an amplifier circuit(s) is configured to amplify a radio frequency (RF) signal based on an ET modulated voltage. A tracker circuit is configured to generate the ET modulated voltage based on a number of target voltage amplitudes derived from a time-variant signal envelope of the RF signal. However, the tracker circuit can cause the ET modulated voltage to deviate from the target voltage amplitudes due to various impedance variations. In this regard, a voltage memory digital pre-distortion (mDPD) circuit digitally pre-distorts the target voltage amplitudes based on the time-variant signal envelope such that the ET modulated voltage can closely track the target voltage amplitudes. As such, it is possible to mitigate ET modulated voltage deviation, thus helping to improve overall linearity performance of the ET amplifier circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Frederic Chiron, Nadim Khlat, Andrew F. Folkmann, Michael R. Kay
  • Patent number: 10469042
    Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relating to the amplification of an audio signal. In particular, such application is performed by using an audio to pulse train converter configured to convert an analog audio signal to a complementary train of pulses having a duty cycle indicative of the level of the analog audio signal. The audio to pulse train converter can be a class-D amplifier, a sigma-delta amplifier, self-oscillating amplifier, or any other audio amplifier that is configured to provide complementary pulse trains each having a duty cycle that is representative of the input audio signal. The complementary pulse trains are directed to a circlotron that is configured to provide an amplified version of the audio signal at two output nodes. The amplifier circuit may further include one or more low pass filters and/or output reference resistors. Two similar circuits can be configured together to provide stereo audio amplification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Inventor: Ralph R. Karsten
  • Patent number: 10425049
    Abstract: A wireless electric power transmitter for transmitting electric power for a charging function to a wireless electric power receiver is provided. The wireless electric power transmitter includes an electric power supply unit which supplies electric power; an amplifier which amplifies and outputs the electric power supplied from the electric power supply unit by a preset gain as a magnitude of measured impedance increases; and a transmitter which transmits the amplified electric power to the wireless electric power receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Sung-Ku Yeo, Song-Cheol Hong, Duk-Ju Ahn, Gwang-Hyeon Jeong, Se-Ho Park, Min-Cheol Ha
  • Patent number: 10411661
    Abstract: An apparatus for power amplifier control is provided, applied to a multi-stage power amplifier. The apparatus controls an input voltage of an amplification triode in the first amplification stage, by using a detected current change at a base of an amplification triode in the last amplification stage, achieving control of output power and a maximum output current of the multi-stage power amplifier, greatly reducing an influence of current detection on maximum output power and maximum output efficiency of the power amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: BEIJING HUNTERSUN ELECTRONIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hao Meng, Yongxue Qian, Tin Wai Kwan
  • Patent number: 10396716
    Abstract: An amplifier may include control circuitry that may track a first input signal parameter and, in response, adjust a value of a second input parameter. Input parameter tracking and adjustment may facilitate control of output parameters for the amplifier. For example, an envelope-tracking amplifier may track input signal amplitude and adjust other input parameters in response. The adjustments may facilitate control of output parameters, such as gain or efficiency. The amplifier may further include calibration circuitry to determine adjustment responses to various tracked input parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte. Limited
    Inventors: Ali Afsahi, Debopriyo Chowdhury, Rethnakaran Pulikkoonattu, Sraavan Mundlapudi
  • Patent number: 10298191
    Abstract: In a power amplifier module for performing slope control of a transmitting signal, a gain variation due to a variation in battery voltage is suppressed while suppressing an increase in circuit size. The power amplifier module includes: a first regulator for outputting a first voltage corresponding to a control voltage for controlling a signal level; a second regulator for outputting a second voltage that rises as a battery voltage drops; a first amplifier supplied with the first voltage as a power-supply voltage to amplify an input signal and output an amplified signal; and a second amplifier for amplifying the amplified signal, wherein the second amplifier includes a first amplification unit supplied with the second voltage as the power-supply voltage to amplify the amplified signal, and a second amplification unit supplied with the battery voltage as the power-supply voltage to amplify the amplified signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takayuki Tsutsui, Tadashi Matsuoka, Satoshi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10277177
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Sabah Khesbak, Florinel G. Balteanu, Hardik Bhupendra Modi
  • Patent number: 10270345
    Abstract: An efficient power supply with fast, wideband response has been disclosed. In one implementation, two switching regulators with different frequency responses are combined to provide wideband, efficient power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Inventor: Sridhar Kotikalapoodi
  • Patent number: 10250190
    Abstract: A method for biasing a power amplifier using a transmission signal having a time-varying envelope is provided. The method comprises producing a time-varying signal indicative of an amplitude of the envelope of the transmission signal and comparing the time-varying signal to a plurality of distinct threshold voltages. The method further comprises, for each of the plurality of distinct threshold voltages exceeded by the time-varying signal, providing a respective bias voltage to a respective input of a summing device and producing, using the summing device, an output bias voltage that is at least a sum of the respective bias voltages provided to the respective inputs of the summing device. The method further comprises biasing the power amplifier with the output bias voltage and amplifying the transmission signal using the power amplifier biased at the output bias voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: ZTE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Andrey Kochetkov, Ying Shen, Shawn Walsh, Thanh Nguyen, Aleksandr Semenyshev, Zhiping Feng
  • Patent number: 10243476
    Abstract: A power conversion device includes a switching circuit and a switch driver. The switching circuit includes a plurality of switching elements including a first switching element and a second switching element that are electrically coupled in series. The switch driver includes a first, a second, and a third switching pattern controller. The first switching pattern controller executes a first switching pattern which is set such that a current in a reverse direction flows through the first switching element and the second switching element is off. The second switching pattern controller executes a second switching pattern which is set such that a direction of the current flowing through the first switching element is switched to a forward direction from the reverse direction. The third switching pattern controller executes a third switching pattern which is set such that the first switching element is off and the second switching element is on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Tetsumi Narita, Sadao Ishii, Takashi Kuboyama, Shinsuke Kajiwara
  • Patent number: 10230340
    Abstract: A wide modulation bandwidth radio frequency (RF) circuit is provided. In examples discussed herein, the RF front-end circuit includes a tracker circuit configured to generate a modulated voltage at a wide modulation bandwidth. The modulated voltage can be used by an amplifier circuit(s) for amplifying an RF signal(s). Notably, the tracker circuit may have inherent frequency-dependent impedance that can interact with a load current of the amplifier circuit(s) to cause degradation in the modulated voltage, which can further lead to distortions in an RF offset spectrum. In this regard, a notch circuit is provided and configured to operate at an appropriate notch frequency and a notch bandwidth to filter the modulated voltage in the RF offset spectrum. As a result, it may be possible to reduce the distortions caused by the modulated voltage degradation in the RF offset spectrum, thus helping to improve linearity and efficiency of the amplifier circuit(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.
    Inventors: Nadim Khlat, Michael R. Kay
  • Patent number: 10224970
    Abstract: Various examples are directed to systems and methods for wideband digital predistortion. A digital pre-distortion circuit may be programmed to receive a complex baseband signal and generate a pre-distorted signal. Generating the pre -distorted signal may comprise applying to the complex baseband signal a first correction for an Nth order distortion of a power amplifier at an Ith harmonic frequency zone centered at about an Ith harmonic of a carrier frequency and applying to the complex baseband signal a second correction for the Nth order distortion at a Jth harmonic frequency zone centered at about a Jth harmonic of the carrier frequency different than the Ith harmonic of a carrier frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Analog Devices Global
    Inventor: Patrick Pratt
  • Patent number: 10129823
    Abstract: An apparatus of a transmitter and method are provided, the apparatus comprising a processor that calculates a supply voltage (SV) value (SVV) to provide as an SV for a power amplifier (PA) of the transmitter for transmissions during a transmission time slot (TS). When the SV < an envelope tracking (ET) threshold (ETT), then the processor configures the PA to transmit a signal in an average power tracking (APT) mode that maintains the SV at the SVV during the TS. When the SV?ETT, and an APT condition is met, then the processor configures the PA to transmit the signal in the APT mode. When the SV?ETT, and the APT condition is not met, then the processor transmits by an adjustment to the SVV to track an amplitude modulation envelope during the TS in an ET mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Intel IP Corporation
    Inventors: Andrea Camuffo, Sandro Pinarello
  • Patent number: 10122370
    Abstract: A switched capacitor circuit includes a first capacitor coupled in series with a second capacitor in a first mode of operation across differential output terminals of a circuit. The first capacitor and the second capacitor are coupled in an anti-parallel layout in a second mode of operation. The switched capacitor circuit also includes a third capacitor coupled on a first side to a common node of the first capacitor and the second capacitor. The third capacitor is further coupled on a second side to a current source control voltage in the first mode of operation, and coupled between a bias reference voltage and a common mode reference voltage in the second mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Debesh Bhatta, Jeffrey Mark Hinrichs, Wenjing Yin
  • Patent number: 10115359
    Abstract: The DC voltage conversion circuit includes a booster circuit and a protection circuit. The booster circuit receives a first voltage, converts the first voltage into a second voltage, and provides the second voltage to a VGH line of a LCD device. The protection circuit includes a detection unit, a current-voltage conversion unit, a comparison unit, and a control unit. The detection unit detects a current flowing between the VGH line and a transmission line and obtains a detection current. The detection current is converted into a detection voltage by the current-voltage conversion unit. The comparison unit compares the detection voltage against a reference voltage. When the detection voltage is greater, the control unit issues a control signal to turn off the booster circuit. The transmission line is one of a VGL line and a VCOM line of the LCD device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Dan Cao
  • Patent number: 10090808
    Abstract: An envelope tracking system for controlling a power amplifier supply voltage includes envelope circuitry and a feed forward digital to analog converter (DAC) circuitry. The envelope circuitry is configured to generate a target envelope signal based on a selected power amplifier supply voltage. The feed forward DAC circuitry includes a voltage source circuitry and a selector circuitry. The voltage source circuitry is configured to generate a plurality of voltages. The selector circuitry is configured to select one of the plurality of voltages based at least on the target envelope signal. The feed forward DAC circuitry is configured to provide the selected voltage to a supply voltage input of a power amplifier that amplifies a radio frequency (RF) transmit signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Intel IP Corporation
    Inventors: Stephan Henzler, Andreas Menkhoff, Thomas Eichler, Wolfgang Walthes, Alexander Belitzer, Yifan Wang
  • Patent number: 10044324
    Abstract: This invention relates to a power amplifier device comprising an amplifier component (A) operable to receive an input signal (s;) and to provide an amplified output signal (so), according to a control signal (ctrl), an envelope tracking modulator (ET), providing the control signal (ctrl) according to a static voltage (V s) and a dynamic voltage (V D), a power supply (S) providing said static and dynamic voltages according to measurements performed by a power sensor (PS) on the amplified output signal, so that the static voltage (Vs) is determined as a mean value of the output signal (So) over a predetermined time duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventor: Michel Rixain
  • Patent number: 9991851
    Abstract: A multi-mode radio frequency (RF) power amplifier circuit is disclosed. The multi-mode RF power amplifier circuit can operate in a low-resource block (RB) mode and a high-RB mode. The multi-mode RF power amplifier circuit includes a driver stage power amplifier and an output stage power amplifier to amplify an RF input signal and generate an RF output signal. A control circuit is configured to provide a constant envelope voltage and an envelope tracking (ET) supply voltage to the driver stage power amplifier and the output stage power amplifier, respectively, in the high-RB mode. As a result, it is possible to optimize RF performance and reduce sensitivity of the driver stage power amplifier and the output stage power amplifier in the high-RB mode, without increasing costs and footprint of the multi-mode RF power amplifier circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.
    Inventor: Nadim Khlat
  • Patent number: 9991913
    Abstract: An envelope tracking arrangement is disclosed and includes a level select component, a chunk supply component and a power amplifier. The level select component is configured to segment an input signal into chunks based on time and to select a chunk level for each chunk based on information or envelope information. The chunk supply component is configured to selectively provide a discrete supply voltage according to the selected chunk level. The power amplifier is configured to generate a radio frequency (RF) output signal based on the input signal and utilizing the discrete supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Intel IP Corporation
    Inventors: Nati Dinur, Uri Perlmutter, Michael Kerner
  • Patent number: 9991856
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Sabah Khesbak, Florinel G. Balteanu, Hardik Bhupendra Modi
  • Patent number: 9973370
    Abstract: An apparatus compensates nonlinearities in envelope tracking (ET) used in a mobile device by limiting a bandwidth of an envelope signal representing an envelope of an input baseband signal to be less than a bandwidth of tracker circuitry, generating a scaled replica of an output signal of the tracker circuitry based on the bandwidth-limited envelope signal, and generating a model distortion signal based on the scaled replica and the input baseband signal, where the model distortion signal emulates ET linearity degradation. The apparatus is further configured to generate an output baseband signal based on the scaled replica, the model distortion signal, and the input baseband signal, where the output baseband signal is pre-distorted relative to the input baseband signal according to the scaled replica, the model distortion signal, and the input baseband signal to compensate for degradations in transmit signal quality due to ET nonlinearities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Intel IP Corporation
    Inventors: Andreas Langer, Christoph Hepp
  • Patent number: 9966919
    Abstract: A gain control circuit, having an attenuator including first to n-th (n>2) attenuator parts that attenuate an input signal respectively in accordance with first to n-th attenuation control signals to thereby generate an attenuated input signal, a signal amplifier configured to amplify the attenuated input signal, a detector circuit configured to conduct an envelope detection on the amplified attenuated input signal to thereby obtain an amplitude value, a comparator circuit configured to compare the amplitude value with a reference threshold value to thereby generate a comparison result signal, and an attenuator control circuit configured to generate the first to n-th attenuation control signals using the comparison result signal. The attenuation control signals indicate first to n-th attenuation amounts by which the first to n-th attenuator parts respectively attenuate the input signal, and first to n-th time periods during which the first to n-th attenuator parts respectively operate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: LAPIS SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yutaka Mimino
  • Patent number: 9948262
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a signal-processing apparatus for generating an amplified output signal based on an input signal is provided. The apparatus comprises: an amplifier configured to generate the output signal, wherein the amplifier is configured to receive a supply voltage; and a limiter configured to inhibit increases in the input signal power level from being applied to the amplifier, wherein the limiter comprises: a variable attenuator configured to selectively attenuate the input signal before being applied to the amplifier; wherein the limiter integrates over a voltage difference between a current measure of attenuated input signal power level and a limiter threshold level to control a level of attenuation applied by the variable attenuator to the input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Andrew Wireless Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Udo-Michael Vetter
  • Patent number: 9935582
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: SKYWORKS SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Florinel G. Balteanu, Sabah Khesbak, Yevgeniy A. Tkachenko, David Steven Ripley, Robert John Thompson
  • Patent number: 9912297
    Abstract: Envelope tracking power converter circuitry is configured to receive a supply voltage and simultaneously provide two envelope tracking power supply signals, an envelope tracking power supply signal and an average power tracking power supply signal, or a single envelope tracking power supply signal with improved efficiency. When providing a single envelope tracking power supply signal, an envelope tracking power supply signal is provided to a parallel amplifier in the envelope tracking power converter circuitry to provide multiple levels of envelope tracking which improves efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.
    Inventor: Nadim Khlat
  • Patent number: 9882534
    Abstract: Envelope tracking power converter circuitry is configured to receive a supply voltage and simultaneously provide two envelope tracking power supply signals, an envelope tracking power supply signal and an average power tracking power supply signal, or a single envelope tracking power supply signal with improved efficiency. When providing a single envelope tracking power supply signal, an envelope tracking power supply signal is provided to a parallel amplifier in the envelope tracking power converter circuitry to provide multiple levels of envelope tracking which improves efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.
    Inventor: Nadim Khlat
  • Patent number: 9859846
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for capacitive load reduction are disclosed. In one embodiment, a mobile device includes a supply control circuit that controls a voltage of a supply network, a plurality of radio frequency circuits that receive power from the supply network and are selectively enabled by a plurality of enable signals, a plurality of switchable capacitors electrically connected to the supply network, a plurality of field-effect transistors operatively associated with the plurality of switchable capacitors, and a bias control circuit that generates a plurality of control signals that bias the plurality of field-effect transistors based on a state of the plurality of enable signals. Each of the plurality of control signals are operable to selectively bias a corresponding one of the plurality of field-effect transistors in a cutoff mode to provide high impedance or as a dampening resistor to suppress oscillations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: SKYWORKS SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Sabah Khesbak
  • Patent number: 9837962
    Abstract: Techniques for efficiently generating a variable boosted supply voltage for an amplifier and/or other circuits are disclosed. In an exemplary design, an apparatus includes an amplifier, a boost converter, and a boost controller. The amplifier receives an envelope signal and a variable boosted supply voltage and provides an output voltage and an output current. The boost converter receives a power supply voltage and at least one signal determined based on the envelope signal and generates the variable boosted supply voltage based on the power supply voltage and the at least one signal. The boost controller generates the at least one signal (e.g., an enable signal and/or a threshold voltage) for the boost converter based on the envelope signal and/or the output voltage. The boost converter is enabled or disabled based on the enable signal and generates the variable boosted supply voltage based on the power supply voltage and the threshold voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Lennart Karl-Axel Mathe, Yunfei Shi
  • Patent number: 9819311
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing a supply control signal for a supply unit, the supply unit being configured to provide a variable controlled power supply to the power amplifier. The apparatus includes a determination module configured to determine a deviation of a signal from at least one nominal value; and an adjustment module configured to provide the supply control signal after an adjustment based on the determined deviation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Intel IP Corporation
    Inventor: Emanuel Cohen
  • Patent number: 9774716
    Abstract: According to one aspect, embodiments of the invention provide an overstress indicator circuit comprising a sense circuit configured to monitor a parameter of a device and generate a sense signal corresponding to the parameter, a detection circuit coupled to the sense circuit and configured to receive the sense signal from the sense circuit and generate a detection signal at a first level in response to a determination that the sense signal is indicative of an overstress condition in the device, an interface circuit, and a memory circuit coupled to the detection circuit and the interface circuit and configured to store an overstress condition indication for access via the interface circuit in response to receiving the detection signal at the first level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: SKYWORKS SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: James Phillip Young, Matthew Lee Banowetz, Leo John Wilz, Ali J. Mahmud
  • Patent number: 9762284
    Abstract: A method of operating a radio frequency transceiver may include generating, by a transmit circuit of the transceiver, in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) analog signals based on a digital calibration signal; mixing, by the transmit circuit, the I and Q analog signals with local oscillator (LO) and phase shifted LO signals to generate upconverted I and Q signals, the LO signal having a first frequency, and combining the upconverted I and Q signals to generate a combined signal; and converting, by a receive circuit of the transceiver, a signal based on the combined signal to a received digital signal using a sampling rate at a second frequency, the second frequency being less than the first frequency, wherein the converting downconverts frequency content in the combined signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Reza Alavi, Saeed Aghtar, Kenneth J. Keyes
  • Patent number: 9755579
    Abstract: The embodiments described herein include amplifiers configured for use in radio frequency (RF) applications. In accordance with these embodiments, the amplifiers are implemented to generate a shaped envelope signal, and to apply the shaped envelope signal to transistor gate(s) of the amplifier to provide gate bias modulation. So configured, the shaped envelope signal may facilitate high linearity in the amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: NXP USA, INC.
    Inventors: Abdulrhman M. S. Ahmed, Joseph Staudinger
  • Patent number: 9748836
    Abstract: A power stabilization circuit including a first reference power supply, a second reference power supply, and a combiner circuit coupled to the first reference power supply and the second reference power supply. The first reference power supply is configured to receive a first control signal, generate a first reference signal based on the first control signal, and provide the first reference signal to a first output power supply. The second reference power supply is configured to receive a second control signal, generate a second reference signal based on the second control signal, and provide the second reference signal to a second output power supply. The combiner circuit is configured to generate a combined reference signal based on the first reference signal and the second reference signal and drive a reference load based on the combined reference signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: QUANTANCE, INC.
    Inventor: Vikas Vinayak
  • Patent number: 9716477
    Abstract: Various methods and circuital arrangements for biasing one or more gates of stacked transistors of an amplifier are presented, where the amplifier can be an envelope tracking amplifier. Circuital arrangements to generate reference gate-to-source voltages for biasing of the gates of the transistors of the stack are also presented. Particular biasing for a case of an input transistor of the stack is also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Peregrine Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Poojan Wagh, Joseph Golat, David Kovac, Jeffrey A. Dykstra, Chris Olson
  • Patent number: 9712169
    Abstract: A transmit power measurement apparatus includes a transmit power detection path, a compensation circuit and a tracking circuit. The compensation circuit includes a programmable filter device and a compensation controller. The programmable filter device generates a filter output. The compensation controller sets the programmable filter device at least based on a frequency response of the transmit power detection path. The tracking circuit generates a transmit power tracking result at least based on the filter output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: MediaTek Singapore Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Bing Xu, Li-Shin Lai, Chi-Hsueh Wang, Hsiang-Hui Chang
  • Patent number: 9634698
    Abstract: The output of a Radio Frequency (RF) Power Amplifier (PA) is sampled and down-converted, and the amplitude envelope of the baseband feedback signal is extracted. This is compared to the envelope of a transmission signal, and the envelope tracking modulation of the RF PA supply voltage is adaptively pre-distorted to achieve a constant ISO-Gain (and phase) in the RF PA. In particular, a nonlinear function is interpolated from a finite number gain values calculated from the feedback and transmission signals. This nonlinear function is then used to pre-distort the transmission signal envelope, resulting in a constant gain at the RF PA over a wide range of supply voltage values. Since the gains are calculated from a feedback signal, the pre-distortion may be recalculated at event triggers, such as an RF frequency change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics International N.V.
    Inventor: Patrik Arno
  • Patent number: 9596110
    Abstract: A system, apparatus and method is described for dynamically boosting (increasing) the power supply voltage to an envelope tracking (ET) modulator within a transmitter system when the target/desired power amplifier voltage supply is above a predetermined threshold (e.g., equal to the available power supply of the system, such as a battery). By boosting the power input supply to the ET modulator, the modulated power supply provided to the power amplifier (PA) is also increased. This reduces or eliminates clipping that normally occurs when the target/desired PA supply voltage is greater than the available power supply voltage and reduces distortion in the transmitted signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Futurewei Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hong Jiang, Wael Al-Qaq, Robert Grant Irvine, Matthew M. Kostelnik, Zhihang Zhang
  • Patent number: 9590563
    Abstract: There is provided an amplification stage including an envelope tracking modulated supply for tracking a reference signal, comprising a low frequency path for tracking low frequency variations in the reference signal and for providing a first output voltage, and a high frequency path for tracking high frequency variations in the reference signal and for providing a second output voltage, and a combiner for combining the first and second output voltages to provide a third output voltage, the amplification stage further comprising a first amplifier arranged to receive the first output voltage as a supply voltage, and a second amplifier arranged to receive the third output voltage as a supply voltage, wherein the first and second amplifiers are enabled in different modes of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: SNAPTRACK, INC.
    Inventor: Gerard Wimpenny
  • Patent number: 9544027
    Abstract: A loop-powered transmitter includes a data isolation transformer including primary and secondary windings and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) to convert a sensor signal to a digital value. The transmitter also includes a first microcontroller coupled between a multi-signal interface of the ADC and only one tap of the primary winding of the data isolation transformer, and a second microcontroller coupled to the secondary winding of the data isolation transformer. The first microcontroller is configured to receive the digital value from the ADC over the multi-signal interface and to provide data indicative of the digital value via a single output data line through the tap of the primary winding of the data isolation transformer to the second microcontroller. Unipolar voltage converters may also be included in the transmitter along with a current limiting resistor for the data isolation transformer to reduce the risk of saturating the data isolation transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Evan David Cornell, Christopher Sean Tracy, Ajinder Pal Singh
  • Patent number: 9537451
    Abstract: An RF amplifier with enhance power efficiency is disclosed. The RF amplifier traces the envelope of the input RF signal and varies the supply voltage to the final FET depending on the detected envelope through a linear power supply and a switching power supply superposed on the linear power supply. The linear power supply promptly responds the change of the envelope and gradually decreases the supply current as maintaining the supply voltage. The switching power supply takes over the supplement of the supply current to the final FET.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Device Innovations, Inc.
    Inventor: Shingo Inoue
  • Patent number: 9491314
    Abstract: There is disclosed a voltage supply stage comprising an input supply voltage, a first (102) and second (104) switch connected in series, the first (102) and second (104) series-connected switches being connected in parallel with the input supply voltage between first and second terminals of the input supply voltage, a third (106) switch and capacitor connected in series, the series-connected third (106) switch and capacitor being connected in parallel with the first (102) switch, a fourth (108) switch connected between the connection of the third switch and the capacitor and an output, and a fifth (110) switch connected between the output and a terminal of the input supply voltage, wherein: in a first phase of operation, the first and the fourth switch are closed, and the second, third and fifth switches are open; in a second phase of operation, the second, third and fifth switches are closed, and the first and fourth switches are open; and the duty cycle of the first and second phases is controlled such that
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: SNAPTRACK, INC.
    Inventor: Gerard Wimpenny
  • Patent number: 9479121
    Abstract: A switched mode power supply arranged to provide a switched supply at one terminal of an inductor, another terminal of the inductor being connected to a first input of an error amplifier having a reference signal at a second input, the error amplifier generating a corrected switched supply at an output in dependence on the difference between signals at its first and second inputs, there being provided a feedback path between the output of the error amplifier and the first input of the error amplifier, and further comprising circuitry for sensing a switcher interference current in the feedback path of the error amplifier, and for adjusting the corrected switched supply output to reduce the switcher interference current in the output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: Martin Wilson
  • Patent number: 9450636
    Abstract: An intrinsically safe audio power circuit includes redundant electronic fuses disposed between the power input of an audio power amplifier and the battery source of the portable two-way radio device. The electronic fuse circuits are connected in series with each other, and each electronic fuse circuit includes a series switch transistor that can shut off the flow of current between the battery and the audio power amplifier. Each electronic fuse circuit also includes a current sense portion, and when the current through the electronic fuse circuits reaches a current threshold, it will shut off its series switch transistor using an active bias circuit in order to ensure sufficiently rapid shut off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Chen Kok Yeoh, Friedrich Josef Bollmann, Geng Xiang Lee @ Titus Lee, Joo Yih See
  • Patent number: 9425751
    Abstract: A system linearization assembly generally includes a filter that is coupled to a measuring device. The filter is configured to receive a signal that includes a time varying parameter representing a plurality of frequency components including at least one component caused by non-linear intermodulation distortion, such as an odd-order intermodulation distortion component. The filter is also configured to isolate at least one harmonic of the frequency components with the same order as the component caused by non-linear intermodulation distortion. The measuring device is configured to measure at least one parameter of the isolated harmonic. The system linearization assembly also includes a controller coupled to the measuring device. The controller is configured to modify, for example by minimizing, the signal from the determined measurement to facilitate a modification, such as a reduction, of the component caused by non-linear intermodulation distortion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: The Aerospace Corporation
    Inventor: Adam Wayne Bushmaker
  • Patent number: 9385662
    Abstract: There is disclosed an envelope tracking supply modulator comprising a switch mode path and a linear amplifier path, wherein the linear amplifier path includes a plurality of amplifiers, each amplifier having an output stage of a different size, wherein at least one of the plurality of amplifiers is enabled in dependence on an output power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: SNAPTRACK, INC.
    Inventor: Gerard Wimpenny
  • Patent number: 9385659
    Abstract: A control device provides a supply voltage to an output transistor of a power amplifier. The control device includes a detector encoder, a switch sequencer and a power switch. The detector encoder receives a detection signal indicating a negative peak voltage level of an output signal of the power amplifier, receives a reference signal indicating a critical voltage of the detection signal at which the negative peak voltage level of the output transistor is deemed to be out of voltage with reference to saturation voltage of the output transistor, compares the detection and reference signals, and outputs Boost Request and Recovery Request signals in response. The switch sequencer translates the Boost Request and Recovery Request signals into multiple control bits. The power switch coordinates switching among a no boost voltage and multiple boost voltages based on the control bits, and outputs one of these voltages as the supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael Wendell Vice, Sungkil Hwang
  • Patent number: 9379671
    Abstract: A power supply stage and a method of controlling the same comprising: a means for generating an intermediate supply signal in dependence on a reference signal representing a desired power supply; and a plurality of adjusting means, each adapted to generate an adjusted supply signal tracking the reference signal, in dependence on the generated intermediate supply signal and the reference signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: SnapTrack, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerard Wimpenny
  • Patent number: 9300255
    Abstract: A radio communication circuit includes a power amplifier configured to amplify a signal and output the amplified signal, an envelope detector configured to extract an envelope of an input signal inputted to the power amplifier, an offset generator configured to generate an offset value for a power supply voltage to be applied to the power amplifier, based on a distortion amount in an output signal from the power amplifier, and a power supply voltage modulator configured to control the power supply voltage to be applied to the power amplifier based on the envelope extracted and the offset value generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Yasuaki Takeuchi, Yusuke Yamamori, Yasuhiro Murakami, Takashi Tanii, Mikio Hayashihara