Including Particular Power Supply Circuitry Patents (Class 330/297)
  • Patent number: 11349476
    Abstract: A positive high voltage, a first terminal of a semiconductor element, and a first terminal of a first resistance element are connected to a first terminal of a first current controller. A current input terminal of a first active element is connected to a second terminal of the first current controller, and a second terminal of the semiconductor element and a second terminal of the first resistance element are connected to a control terminal of the first active element. A second resistance element is connected between a current output terminal and a control terminal of the first active element. The first current controller allows a drive current corresponding to an input signal to flow in the first active element and allows the drive current output from the first active element to flow into a load, thereby generating an output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuki Nakamura, Takuma Nishimoto, Hiroshi Touda, Isao Furuya, Suguru Kondo
  • Patent number: 11263895
    Abstract: An audio riser active electrical supervision system includes a high-voltage audio alert system connected to a riser circuit. The high-voltage audio alert system disconnects a high-voltage analog signal from the riser circuit when the audio riser active electrical supervision system operates in a standby mode, and connects the high-voltage analog signal to the riser circuit when the audio riser active electrical supervision system operates in an active alert mode. A plurality of isolator modules operate in a closed state that connects a circuit node to the riser circuit and an open state that disconnects the respective circuit node from the riser circuit. A riser supervision circuit is connected to at least one isolator module to detect a circuit fault on the riser circuit when the audio riser active electrical supervision system operates in the standby mode and the active alert mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventor: Barry Dorobkowski
  • Patent number: 11245367
    Abstract: Described are circuits and techniques to increase the efficiency of radio-frequency (rf) amplifiers including rf power amplifiers (PAs) through “supply modulation” (also referred to as “drain modulation” or “collector modulation”), in which supply voltages provided to rf amplifiers is adjusted dynamically (“modulated”) overtime depending upon the rf signal being synthesized. For the largest efficiency improvements, a supply voltage can be adjusted among discrete voltage levels or continuously on a short time scale. The supply voltages (or voltage levels) provided to an rf amplifier may also be adapted to accommodate longer-term changes in desired rf envelope such as associated with adapting transmitter output strength to minimize errors in data transfer, for rf “traffic” variations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: ETA WIRELESS, INC.
    Inventors: James Garrett, Sri Harsh Pakala, Brendan Metzner, Ivan Duzevik, David J. Perreault, John R. Hoversten, Yevgeniy A. Tkachenko
  • Patent number: 11239800
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for power amplifier bias modulation for low bandwidth envelope tracking are provided herein. In certain embodiments, an envelope tracking system includes a power amplifier that amplifies an RF signal and a low bandwidth envelope tracker that generates a power amplifier supply voltage for the power amplifier based on an envelope of the RF signal. The envelope tracking system further includes a bias modulation circuit that modulates a bias signal of the power amplifier based on a voltage level of the power amplifier supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Serge Francois Drogi, Philip John Lehtola, Florinel G. Balteanu
  • Patent number: 11233481
    Abstract: An apparatus that includes a tracking amplifier having an amplifier output terminal coupled to an output voltage node and an envelope input terminal configured to receive an envelope signal of a radio frequency signal is disclosed. A multi-level voltage converter has a switched voltage terminal coupled to the output voltage node and a converter control input terminal configured to receive a converter control signal. A control signal multiplexer has a converter control output terminal coupled to the converter control input terminal, a first converter signal input terminal configured to receive a first converter control signal corresponding to a lower envelope modulation bandwidth, a second converter signal input terminal configured to receive a second converter control signal corresponding to a higher envelope modulation bandwidth, and a converter control signal selector terminal configured to receive a control selector signal for selecting between the first and second converter control signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.
    Inventors: Nadim Khlat, Michael R. Kay
  • Patent number: 11223324
    Abstract: Multi-level envelope trackers with an analog interface are provided herein. In certain embodiments, an envelope tracking system for generating a power amplifier supply voltage for a power amplifier is provided. The envelope tracking system includes a multi-level supply (MLS) DC-to-DC converter that outputs multiple regulated voltages, an MLS modulator that controls selection of the regulated voltages over time based on an analog envelope signal corresponding to an envelope of the RF signal amplified by the power amplifier, and a modulator output filter coupled between an output of the MLS modulator and the power amplifier supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Florinel G. Balteanu, Serge Francois Drogi, Shayan Farahvash, David Richard Pehlke
  • Patent number: 11218121
    Abstract: A circuit for generating a radio frequency signal is provided. The circuit includes an amplifier configured to generate a radio frequency signal based on a baseband signal. Further, the circuit includes a power supply configured to generate a variable supply voltage based on a control signal indicating a desired supply voltage, and to supply the variable supply voltage to the amplifier. The circuit further includes an envelope tracking circuit configured to generate the control signal based on a bandwidth of the baseband signal, and to supply the control signal to the power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Andreas Langer, Christoph Hepp
  • Patent number: 11129095
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for providing stable and reliable power to components on the top of a cell tower. The system performs a device discovery process to determine with Power Supply Units are connected to which Remote Radio Heads on the tower. It also provides several ways of characterizing the power cables and input capacitance to the Remote Radio Heads to provide optimal power to the Remote Radio Heads, including situations in which the power demand for the Remote Radio Heads increases, while obviating the need to replace the power cables with those of greater current capacity. Further, the system provides for stable power even in the presence of sensor instabilities and data dropouts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: John Mezzalingua Associates, LLC
    Inventor: Ronak Bhadresh Gandhi
  • Patent number: 11114980
    Abstract: An envelope tracking (ET) amplifier apparatus is provided. The ET amplifier apparatus includes an ET integrated circuit (ETIC) having a number of voltage circuits coupled to a common port and configured to generate an ET voltage(s) based on a number of ET target voltages, respectively. In examples discussed herein, a selected voltage circuit(s) in the ETIC receives a maximum ET target voltage among all the ET target voltages and is configured to generate a reference ET voltage based on the maximum ET target voltage. As such, another voltage circuit(s), which happens to receive the maximum ET target voltage, may simply treat the reference ET voltage as a respective ET voltage(s) instead of generating the respective ET voltage(s). As a result, it may be possible to opportunistically turn off or reduce functionality of the voltage circuit(s) to help reduce peak battery current and improve heat dissipation in the ET amplifier apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.
    Inventor: Nadim Khlat
  • Patent number: 11108610
    Abstract: A multi-level voltage circuit and related apparatus are provided. The multi-level voltage circuit is configured to provide an average power tracking (APT) voltage to an amplifier circuit for amplifying a radio frequency (RF) signal, which can be modulated in a number of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols. The RF signal may experience power fluctuations from one OFDM symbol to another and the multi-level voltage circuit may need to adjust the APT voltage accordingly. In examples discussed herein, when the APT voltage needs to increase from a present value to a higher future value at a predetermined effective time, the multi-level voltage circuit may start increasing the APT voltage from the present value toward the future value ahead of the predetermined effective time. As such, it may be possible to ramp up the APT voltage in a timely fashion to help improve linearity and efficiency of the amplifier circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.
    Inventor: Nadim Khlat
  • Patent number: 11108367
    Abstract: An internal power supply for an amplifier is disclosed. The internal power supply floats according to a common mode voltage at the input to the amplifier and according to an input voltage at an input stage of the amplifier. Powering the input stage of the amplifier using the floating supply allows for the use of low voltage devices even when the range of possible common mode voltages includes high voltages. The use of low voltage devices can correspond to performance improvement for the amplifier and can help reduce the size of the amplifier. The internal supply can accommodate both positive and negative common mode voltages and can be used for current sense amplifiers of any gain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Alexandra-Oana Petroianu
  • Patent number: 11095264
    Abstract: Configurable amplifier systems are described in which the power supply rail of a linear amplifier, e.g., a class A amplifier, is modulated by a switching amplifier, e.g., a class D amplifier, that may also be configured to operate independently of the linear amplifier. Techniques are also described by which the standing current of the output stage of a linear amplifier is modulated based on the input signal to the linear amplifier or based on modulation of the power supply rail of the linear amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth Schindler, Scott P. Robinson, Joel A. Butler
  • Patent number: 11038471
    Abstract: Envelope tracking systems with modeling for power amplifier supply voltage filtering are provided herein. In certain embodiments, an envelope tracking system includes a supply voltage filter, a power amplifier that receives a power amplifier supply voltage through the supply voltage filter, and an envelope tracker that generates the power amplifier supply voltage. The power amplifier provides amplification to a radio frequency (RF) signal that is generated based on digital signal data, and the envelope tracker generates the power amplifier supply voltage based on an envelope signal corresponding to an envelope of the RF signal. The envelope tracking system further includes digital modeling circuitry that models the supply voltage filter and operates to digitally compensate the digital signal data for effects of the supply voltage filter, such as distortion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Serge Francois Drogi, Florinel G. Balteanu, Shayan Farahvash
  • Patent number: 11038464
    Abstract: An envelope tracking (ET) amplifier apparatus is provided. The ET amplifier apparatus includes an ET integrated circuit (IC) (ETIC) and a distributed ETIC (DETIC) coupled to the ETIC. The DETIC may be configured to provide a distributed voltage to a distributed amplifier circuit for amplifying a distributed radio frequency (RF) signal. In examples discussed herein, the ETIC is configured to generate a low-frequency current, which can affect the distributed voltage, at a desired level based on a feedback signal received from the DETIC. The DETIC may be configured to generate the feedback signal based on an indication(s) related to the distributed voltage. By dynamically adjusting the low-frequency current, and thus the distributed voltage, based on the feedback signal, it may be possible to maintain operating efficiency of the distributed amplifier circuit across a wider range of modulation bandwidth with minimal cost and/or size impact on the ET amplifier apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.
    Inventor: Nadim Khlat
  • Patent number: 11018627
    Abstract: A multi-bandwidth envelope tracking (ET) integrated circuit (IC) (ETIC) and related apparatus are provided. In a non-limiting example, the multi-bandwidth ETIC is coupled to an amplifier circuit(s) configured to amplify a radio frequency (RF) signal corresponding to a wide range of modulation bandwidth (e.g., from less than 90 KHz to over 40 MHz). In this regard, the multi-bandwidth ETIC is configured to generate different ET voltages based on the modulation bandwidth of the RF signal. By generating the ET voltages based on the modulation bandwidth of the RF signal, it may be possible to optimize operating efficiency of the amplifier circuit(s). As a result, it may be possible to improve power consumption and reduce heat dissipation in an apparatus employing the multi-bandwidth ETIC, thus making it possible to provide the multi-bandwidth ETIC in a wearable device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.
    Inventor: Nadim Khlat
  • Patent number: 10992264
    Abstract: An envelope tracking (ET) circuit is provided. In examples discussed herein, the ET circuit can be configured to operate in a fifth-generation (5G) standalone (SA) mode and a 5G non-standalone (NSA) mode. In the SA mode, the ET circuit can enable a first pair of ET power amplifier circuits to amplify a 5G signal based on ET for concurrent transmission in a 5G band(s). In the NSA mode, the ET circuit can enable a second pair of ET power amplifier circuits to amplify an anchor signal and a 5G signal based on ET for concurrent transmission in an anchor band(s) and a 5G band(s), respectively. As such, the ET circuit may be provided in a 5G-enabled wireless communication device (e.g., a 5G-enabled smartphone) to help improve power amplifier linearity and efficiency in both 5G SA and NSA networks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.
    Inventor: Nadim Khlat
  • Patent number: 10992266
    Abstract: A power amplifier circuit includes a first transistor, a second transistor and a bias circuit. The first transistor has a base configured to receive a first signal. The second transistor has an emitter connecting to a collector of the first transistor and a collector configured to output a second signal. The bias circuit is coupled to the first transistor and the second transistor. The bias circuit is configured to provide a direct current (DC) voltage at the collector of the second transistor about twice a DC voltage at the collector of the first transistor. The bias circuit is configured to provide an alternating current (AC) or radio frequency (RF) voltage at the collector of the second transistor about twice an AC or RF voltage at the collector of the first transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: ADVANCED SEMICONDUCTOR ENGINEERING, INC.
    Inventor: Jaw-Ming Ding
  • Patent number: 10985715
    Abstract: A power amplifier circuit includes a lower transistor having a first terminal, a second terminal connected to ground, and a third terminal, wherein a first power supply voltage is supplied to the first terminal, and an input signal is supplied to the third terminal; a first capacitor; an upper transistor having a first terminal, a second terminal connected to the first terminal of the lower transistor via the first capacitor, and a third terminal, wherein a second power supply voltage is supplied to the first terminal, an amplified signal is outputted to an output terminal from the first terminal, and a driving voltage is supplied to the third terminal; a first inductor that connects the second terminal of the upper transistor to ground; a voltage regulator circuit; and at least one termination circuit that short-circuits an even-order harmonic or odd-order harmonic of the amplified signal to ground potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi Tanaka, Kazuo Watanabe, Yusuke Tanaka, Satoshi Arayashiki
  • Patent number: 10985703
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Florinel G. Balteanu, Serge Francois Drogi, Sabah Khesbak, Hardik Bhupendra Modi
  • Patent number: 10985713
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for a power amplifier with a tracking power supply. The power amplifier may use envelope tracking. The power amplifier is protected when the output of the power amplifier is short circuited or overloaded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: APEX MICROTECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory Michael Patchin, Miroslav Vasic, Vladan Lazarevic, Jens Eltze, Kirby Neil Gaulin, Jesus Angel Oliver, Pedro Alou, Jose Antonio Cobos
  • Patent number: 10931245
    Abstract: Radio frequency (RF) amplifier circuitry for amplifying an RF input signal to provide an RF output signal includes target envelope supply voltage compensation circuitry, envelope tracking power supply circuitry, and power amplifier circuitry. The target envelope supply voltage compensation circuitry is configured to compensate a target envelope supply voltage to provide a compensated target envelope supply voltage, which is used by the envelope tracking power supply circuitry to provide an output envelope supply voltage. The power amplifier circuitry is configured to amplify the RF input signal using a power amplifier envelope supply voltage. The power amplifier envelope supply voltage is different from the output envelope supply voltage due to a parasitic impedance. The target envelope supply voltage compensation circuitry is configured to compensate the target envelope supply voltage to reduce an error between the target envelope supply voltage and the power amplifier envelope supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.
    Inventors: Nadim Khlat, Michael R. Kay
  • Patent number: 10879857
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a power amplifier, a radio remote unit RRU, and a base station. A multiphase pulse width modulator performs modulation to generate N multiphase pulse-width modulation PWM signals. The multiphase pulse-width modulation PWMn signal may be amplified. The multiphase pulse-width modulation PWMn signal may be filtered and a combination may be performed at a drain or a collector of a power amplifier transistor. According to the new radio frequency amplifier in accordance with the disclosure, envelope feeding loop inductance can be effectively reduced, so that video bandwidth is increased and DPD correction performance is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhonghua Cai, Lipeng Zhang, Kaizhan Wang, Zhiyuan Pang, Sheng Zhu
  • Patent number: 10833637
    Abstract: Charge-pump tracker circuitry is disclosed having a first switch network configured to couple a first capacitor between a voltage input terminal and a ground terminal during a first charging phase and couple the first capacitor between the voltage input terminal and a pump output terminal during a first discharging phase. A second switch network is configured to couple the second capacitor between the voltage input terminal and the ground terminal during a second charging phase and couple the second capacitor between the voltage input terminal and the pump output terminal during a second discharging phase. A switch controller is configured to control the first switch network and the second switch network so that the first discharging phase and the second discharging phase are in unison in a parallel mode and so that the first discharging phase and the second discharging phase alternate in an interleaved mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.
    Inventors: Nadim Khlat, Michael R. Kay
  • Patent number: 10826434
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes at least one RF power amplifier (RFPA) and a voltage supply adjustment network coupled with the RFPA for providing an internal supply voltage to the RFPA based on an applied input voltage. The voltage supply adjustment network includes multiple resistors, multiple Zener diodes, a voltage return connection, an internal supply voltage connection coupled with the RFPA for conveying the supply voltage to the RFPA, an input voltage connection adapted to receive the input voltage, and a configurable connection network coupled with the resistors and Zener diodes. A subset of the resistors and Zener diodes are selectively connected together between the input voltage and the voltage return connections via corresponding conductive links to provide a prescribed output voltage to the internal supply voltage connection as a function of the applied input voltage. The connection network is configured by applying an energy source to a selected conductive link(s) in the connection network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: COOLSTAR TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Yi Zheng, Xiaotong Lin
  • Patent number: 10812021
    Abstract: Antenna waveguide transitions for solid state power amplifiers (SSPAs) are disclosed. An SSPA includes a waveguide channel that is configured to propagate an input signal, such as an electromagnetic signal, from an input port to a solid state amplifier for amplification. The waveguide channel is further configured to propagate an amplified signal from the solid state amplifier to an output port. Waveguide transitions to and from the solid state amplifier are bandwidth matched to the waveguide channel. Additionally, the waveguide transitions may be thermally coupled to the waveguide channel. The waveguide transitions may include antenna structures that have a signal conductor and a ground conductor. In this manner, the SSPA may have improved broadband coupling as well as improved thermal dissipation for heat generated by the solid state amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.
    Inventors: Ankush Mohan, Soack Yoon, Dan Denninghoff
  • Patent number: 10742170
    Abstract: Envelope tracking circuit and related power amplifier system are provided. In one aspect, an ET circuit is configured to generate a first number of ET modulated voltages based on a second number of target voltages and output the first number of ET modulated voltages via a third number of voltage outputs. In another aspect, the ET circuit can be provided in a power amplifier system including a transceiver circuit(s) and a number of power amplifier circuits. In examples discussed herein, the ET circuit may receive the second number of target voltages from the transceiver circuit(s) and provide the first number of ET modulated voltages to the power amplifier circuits for amplifying a radio frequency (RF) signal(s). By providing the ET circuit in the power amplifier system, it is possible to flexibly enable ET power management based on any number of transceiver circuits and for any number of power amplifier circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.
    Inventor: Nadim Khlat
  • Patent number: 10666202
    Abstract: An envelope tracking (ET) power management circuit is provided. The ET power management circuit includes an amplifier circuit(s) configured to output a radio frequency (RF) signal at a defined power level corresponding to a direct current, an alternating current, and an ET modulated voltage received by the amplifier circuit(s). The ET power management circuit can operate in a high-power ET mode when the defined power level exceeds a defined power level threshold and the RF signal is modulated to include no more than a defined number of resource blocks. The ET power management includes two ET tracker circuitries each generating a respective ET modulated voltage and two charge pump circuitries each generating a respective current. In the high-power ET mode, both charge pump circuitries are activated to each provide a reduced current to the amplifier circuit, thus helping to reduce a footprint and cost of the ET power management circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.
    Inventors: Nadim Khlat, Michael R. Kay
  • Patent number: 10637413
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes the following elements. A chip has a main surface substantially parallel with a plane defined by first and second directions intersecting with each other. A power amplifier amplifies an input signal and outputs an amplified signal from plural output terminals. First and second filter circuits attenuate harmonics of the amplified signal. The first filter circuit includes a first capacitor connected between the plural output terminals and a ground. The second filter circuit includes a second capacitor connected between the plural output terminals and a ground. On the main surface of the chip, the plural output terminals are disposed side by side in the first direction, and the first capacitor is disposed on a side in the first direction with respect to the plural output terminals, while the second capacitor is disposed on a side opposite the first direction with respect to the plural output terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takayuki Tsutsui, Satoshi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10530303
    Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a system may include a circuit having a power converter and an amplifier, wherein the power converter is configured to generate an intermediate voltage, provide the intermediate voltage as an amplifier supply voltage to the amplifier, and share the intermediate voltage with one or more additional circuits external to the circuit, wherein at least one of the one or more additional circuits is configured to generate the intermediate voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Allen May, Eric J. King, Firas Azrai
  • Patent number: 10516368
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Florinel G. Balteanu, Serge Francois Drogi, Sabah Khesbak, Hardik Bhupendra Modi
  • Patent number: 10516329
    Abstract: In a power converter system, a control unit includes a drive circuit controlling on-off switching operations of a converter switch, and a power supply circuit that includes a power supply switch and a transformer connected to the power supply switch. The control unit includes a frequency changing unit that receives a reception frequency of a radio receiver, and calculates harmonic frequencies of a driving frequency of the power supply switch. The control unit determines whether an absolute value of each of frequency differences between any of the harmonic frequencies and the reception frequency is equal to or smaller than a predetermined threshold. The control unit changes the driving frequency such that the absolute value of at least one of the frequency differences becomes greater than the predetermined threshold when determining that the absolute value is equal to or smaller than the predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takuya Okubo
  • Patent number: 10511262
    Abstract: Each sub-stage of an amplifier stage includes a resistor coupled to another resistor in an adjacent sub-stage or to a high DC voltage, the resistor and the other resistor forming part of a string of equal valued resistors; an FET having a source coupled to a cathode of a Zener diode coupled in parallel with a capacitor, a drain coupled to another sub-stage in the string, an output node of the amplifier stage, or the high DC voltage; and at least one active device coupled to a gate of the FET and coupled to the resistor for providing high impedance between a voltage on a node of the resistor and the gate of the FET and a low impedance between the at least one active device and the gate of the FET, the at least one active device coupled to both the cathode and an anode of the Zener diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Inventor: Bruce T. Williams
  • Patent number: 10425053
    Abstract: A Class G amplifier system including a processing unit configured to receive an input signal and output a delayed processed input signal, a class G amplifier configured to receive the delayed processed input signal, and a power supply. The power supply includes a regulator configured to operate in a plurality of configurations, each configuration outputs a different supply voltage to the class G amplifier and a control circuit configured to receive the input signal and determine the supply voltage required from the regulator when the delayed processed input signal is received at the class G amplifier, and output a signal to the regulator to indicate the required configuration for the required supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: AVNERA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Garry N. Link, Eric King, Xudong Zhao, Wai Lee, Alexander C. Stange, Amit Kumar
  • Patent number: 10411651
    Abstract: An amplifying device includes a power amplifying unit, a power supply unit for providing the power amplifying unit with a positive power supply and a negative power supply, and a mode control unit for controlling a working mode of the power supply unit. The positive power supply and the negative power supply of the amplifying device are able to vary with an output signal thereof, which reduces the power consumption of the outputted transistors of the amplifying device, thereby improving the efficiency of the amplifying device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Chengdu University of Information technology
    Inventors: Haishi Wang, Yingxiang Li, Jiang Du, Yan Yang, Tianbao Wang, Zhan Wen, Xin Zheng, Jie Sun, Yu Zhang, Junjie Yang
  • Patent number: 10361672
    Abstract: An audio reproduction apparatus is shown and includes an amplifier with a power amplification stage having transistors in a push-pull arrangement. A bias generator biases the transistors with a standing current. A processor receives a data stream comprising digital samples of an analog audio signal and analyzes the peak level of each group. It then determines the appropriate standing currents to maintain Class A operation of the power amplification stage given the peak levels of each of the groups. A digital to analog converter produces an analog input signal for the input stage of the amplifier from the data stream. A feedforward path between the processor and the bias generator allows the standing current to be adjusted prior to the arrival of the analog input signal in the power amplification stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Entotem Limited
    Inventor: Andrew Paul George Randall
  • Patent number: 10348247
    Abstract: An apparatus for generating a plurality of power supply signals for a plurality of power amplifiers configured to amplify radio frequency transmit signals includes a first power supply circuit configured to generate a first power supply signal and a different second power supply signal. The first power supply circuit is configured to provide the first power supply signal to a first output path and the second power supply signal to a second output path. Further, the apparatus includes a second power supply circuit configured to generate a third power supply signal. Still further, the apparatus includes a switching circuit configured to couple the second power supply circuit to the first output path in a first operating mode to provide a first combined power supply signal at an output of the first output path based on the first power supply signal and the third power supply signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Intel IP Corporation
    Inventors: Stephan Henzler, Johannes Harrebek, Christian Kranz, Holger Wenske
  • Patent number: 10326408
    Abstract: An envelope tracking (ET) power management circuit is provided. The ET power management circuit includes an amplifier circuit(s) configured to output a radio frequency (RF) signal at a defined power level corresponding to a direct current, an alternating current, and an ET modulated voltage received by the amplifier circuit(s). The ET power management circuit can operate in a high-power ET mode when the defined power level exceeds a defined power level threshold and the RF signal is modulated to include no more than a defined number of resource blocks. The ET power management includes two ET tracker circuitries each generating a respective ET modulated voltage and two charge pump circuitries each generating a respective current. In the high-power ET mode, both charge pump circuitries are activated to each provide a reduced current to the amplifier circuit, thus helping to reduce a footprint and cost of the ET power management circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.
    Inventors: Nadim Khlat, Michael R. Kay
  • Patent number: 10320345
    Abstract: Described herein are power amplifier (PA) architectures that improve PA performance (e.g., efficiency, linearity, etc.) over an extended range of the operating power levels of the PA. These architectures can be implemented on a single chip to provide a single-chip standalone PA solution. This improvement comes with little additional complexity, little additional current consumption, and/or little additional chip area. The architectures utilize a dynamic biasing technique using positive envelope feedback based at least in part on an instantaneous envelope signal at an output of a power amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: SKYWORKS SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Smarjeet Sharma, Nicolas Gerard Constantin
  • Patent number: 10284949
    Abstract: An impedance matching method for an electret microphone is provided. In some embodiments, the impedance matching method includes collecting a bias voltage between a source and a drain of a field effect transistor built in the electret microphone; determining whether the bias voltage is within a preset bias voltage threshold range; and if it is detected that the bias voltage is not within the preset bias voltage threshold range, sending a corresponding control signal to adjust load bias impedance so that the bias voltage is within the preset voltage threshold. An impedance matching apparatus for an electret microphone and a communication device are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: ZTE Corporation
    Inventors: Feng Zhang, Wei Wang
  • Patent number: 10254811
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for monitoring power rails during power sequences are disclosed. An apparatus includes one or more voltage regulators, a plurality of registers, and control logic. The control logic is configured to monitor a power rail generated by a voltage regulator. The control logic generates and stores an indication of pass or failure in a first register for the power rail during a power sequence. The control logic enables the first register to be read by an external device subsequent to completion of the power sequence. In another embodiment, the control logic generates a pass indicator if the power rail is less than a first voltage value on a first boundary of a timing interval and if the power rail is greater than a second voltage value on a second boundary of the timing interval. Otherwise, a fail indicator is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald L. Cheung, Anup Chakravarthi Suggula
  • Patent number: 10230343
    Abstract: A Class G amplifier system including a processing unit configured to receive an input signal and output a delayed processed input signal, a class G amplifier configured to receive the delayed processed input signal, and a power supply. The power supply includes a regulator configured to operate in a plurality of configurations, each configuration outputs a different supply voltage to the class G amplifier and a control circuit configured to receive the input signal and determine the supply voltage required from the regulator when the delayed processed input signal is received at the class G amplifier, and output a signal to the regulator to indicate the required configuration for the required supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: AVNERA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Garry N. Link, Eric King, Xudong Zhao, Wai Lee, Alexander C. Stange, Amit Kumar
  • Patent number: 10171053
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for power amplifiers with an injection-locked oscillator driver stage are provided herein. In certain configurations, a multi-mode power amplifier includes a driver stage implemented using an injection-locked oscillator and an output stage having an adjustable supply voltage that changes based on a mode of the multi-mode power amplifier. By implementing the multi-mode power amplifier in this manner, the multi-mode power amplifier exhibits excellent efficiency, including when the voltage level of the adjustable supply voltage is relatively low.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: SKYWORKS SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Yasser Khairat Soliman
  • Patent number: 10135396
    Abstract: Methods and systems for modulating an amplifier power supply to efficiently attain amplified RF output power with much lower power dissipation than existing amplifiers. In a cable television (CATV) network, a processor receives a signal to be amplified by an amplifier at a location remote from the processor. A bias point of the amplifier may be variably modulated based on peaks of an input signal to reduce amplifier dissipation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC
    Inventors: Marcel F. Schemmann, Zoran Maricevic
  • Patent number: 10079575
    Abstract: A PA power supply, which includes a first ET power supply, power supply control circuitry, a first PMOS switching element, and a second PMOS switching element, is disclosed. During a first operating mode, the power supply control circuitry selects an OFF state of the first PMOS switching element, selects an ON state of the second PMOS switching element, and adjusts a voltage of a first switch control signal to maintain the OFF state of the first PMOS switching element using a voltage at a source of the first PMOS switching element and a voltage at a drain of the first PMOS switching element; the PA power supply provides a first PA power supply signal; and the first ET power supply provides a first ET power supply signal, such that the first PA power supply signal is based on the first ET power supply signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.
    Inventors: Manbir Singh Nag, Michael R. Kay, Philippe Gorisse, Nadim Khlat
  • Patent number: 10038406
    Abstract: A voltage converter can be switched among two or more modes to produce an output voltage tracking a reference voltage that can be of an intermediate level between discrete levels corresponding to the modes. One or more voltages generated from a power supply voltage, such as a battery voltage, can be compared with the reference voltage to determine whether to adjust the mode. The reference voltage can be independent of the power supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Hui Liu, David Steven Ripley
  • Patent number: 10008994
    Abstract: An audio amplifier system is described comprising: a variable gain audio processor for processing digital audio signal, a digital to analog converter coupled to the audio processor, and configured to receive the processed digital audio signal, a variable gain amplifier having an input coupled to the output of the digital to analog converter and operably connected to a power supply, a controller coupled to the variable gain audio processor and the variable gain amplifier and configured to switch the audio amplifier system between a first operating mode having a first power supply voltage value and a second operating mode having a second higher power supply voltage value; wherein the controller is operable in the first operating mode to set the audio amplifier system gain to a desired gain value and in the second operating mode to maintain the desired gain value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Marco Berkhout, Lûtsen Ludgerus Albertus Hendrikus Dooper, Maarten van Dommelen, Han Martijn Schuurmans
  • Patent number: 10008992
    Abstract: An amplifier may include a final output stage switchable among a plurality of modes comprising a mode which is enabled by coupling an output driver to an output of the final output stage and a preconditioning circuit coupled to the output of the final output stage. The preconditioning circuit may be configured to precondition at least one of a voltage and a current of the output of the final output stage prior to coupling the output driver to the output of the final output stage to limit audio artifacts caused by switching the final output stage to the mode or may be configured to perform a switching sequence to switch between a first mode and a second mode of the plurality of modes, such that at all points of the switching sequence, output terminals of the output of the final output stage have a known impedance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Lei Zhu, Xin Zhao, Alan Mark Morton, Tejasvi Das, Ku He, Xiaofan Fei
  • Patent number: 10003875
    Abstract: A phantom power supply device supplies a power supply current to a condenser microphone from a positive terminal of the first DC power supply through a hot and cold supply resistors in the hot and the cold signal line, and includes a remote control switch. A negative terminal, being connected in series to a negative terminal of the first DC power supply in a voltage-adding manner, of the second DC power supply is connected to the switch, and an added voltage of the first and second DC supply is fed to the current drive element on the condenser microphone by an ON operation of the remote control switch. This configuration enables the LEDs connected in series mounted on the condenser microphone to be lit up with enough light emitting luminance even when a low voltage, such as 12 V, is selected as a phantom power supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: AUDIO-TECHNICA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Satoshi Yoshino
  • Patent number: 9998075
    Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatuses for efficient control of a pass device driven into its triode region of operation are described. Output drive capability of an operational amplifier driving the pass device is boosted during a transition of the pass device from operating in a triode region to operating in a saturation region. An exemplary implementation of an LDO controlling pass devices for providing burst RF power to a power amplifier is described. An alternative configuration that boosts the driving capability of the operational amplifier using an asymmetrical mirroring circuit is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: pSemi Corporation
    Inventor: Jaroslaw Adamski
  • Patent number: 9973147
    Abstract: An envelope tracking power management circuit is disclosed. An envelope tracking power management circuit includes a first envelope tracking amplifier(s) and a second envelope tracking amplifier(s), each configured to amplify a respective radio frequency (RF) signal(s) based on a respective supply voltage. A power management circuit can determine that a selected envelope tracking amplifier, which can be either the first envelope tracking amplifier(s) or the second envelope tracking amplifier(s), receives the respective supply voltage lower than a voltage required to amplify the respective RF signal(s) to a predetermined voltage. In response, the power management circuit provides a boosted voltage, which is no less than the required voltage, to the selected envelope tracking amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.
    Inventor: Nadim Khlat