US5831475A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for delay matching in a power amplifier
Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
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Filing: 1997-08-04
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Granted: 1998-11-03
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Expires: 2017-08-04
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for efficient power amplification with low distortion includes a surface acoustic wave delay line (210), an envelope detector (220), an envelope amplifier (270), and a power amplifier (260). An envelope amplifier (270) includes a pulsewidth modulator (275), a driver (280), switching transistors (285), and a low pass filter (290). The surface acoustic wave delay line (210) functions to balance the delay of the envelope and the carrier of the signal to be amplified. The use of the surface acoustic wave delay line (210) obviates the need for a separate delay line in the phase path of the amplifier.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald Gene Myers
- 👤 Bernard Eugene Sigmon
- 👤 Frederick Herbert Raab
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 14:09
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03F; H03F1/00; H03F1/02; H03F1/0205; H03F1/0211; H03F1/0216; H03F1/0222
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
56 words
A method of amplifying a signal, said method comprising the steps of: splitting an input signal into an envelope signal and a carrier signal, where said splitting is performed by a device comprising a delay line; amplifying said envelope signal to produce an amplified envelope signal; and modulating said carrier signal with said amplified envelope signal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
56 words
A method of amplifying a signal, said method comprising the steps of: splitting an input signal into an envelope signal and a carrier signal, where said splitting is performed by a device comprising a delay line; amplifying said envelope signal to produce an amplified envelope signal; and modulating said carrier signal with said amplified envelope signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said amplifying step comprises: producing a pulsewidth modulated signal with a duty cycle proportional to said envelope signal; and filtering said pulsewidth modulated signal to produce said amplified envelope signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of: prior to said modulating step, amplitude limiting said carrier signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of: prior to said modulating step, upconverting said carrier signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said modulating step comprises the steps of: amplifying said carrier signal with a power amplifier; and modulating said power amplifier with said amplified envelope signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said splitting is performed by a device comprising a surface acoustic wave delay line.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
90 words
An amplifier comprising: a delay line having an input, a first delayed output, and a second delayed output; an envelope detector for detecting an envelope of a signal output from said first delayed output of said delay line, said envelope detector producing an input envelope signal; an envelope amplifier for amplifying said input envelope signal and producing an amplified envelope signal; and a power amplifier for amplifying a signal output from said second delayed output of said delay line, wherein said power amplifier is modulated by said amplified envelope signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
90 words
An amplifier comprising: a delay line having an input, a first delayed output, and a second delayed output; an envelope detector for detecting an envelope of a signal output from said first delayed output of said delay line, said envelope detector producing an input envelope signal; an envelope amplifier for amplifying said input envelope signal and producing an amplified envelope signal; and a power amplifier for amplifying a signal output from said second delayed output of said delay line, wherein said power amplifier is modulated by said amplified envelope signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The amplifier of claim 7 wherein said delay line comprises a surface acoustic wave delay line.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The amplifier of claim 7 wherein said envelope amplifier is a class S amplifier.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The amplifier of claim 7 further comprising a limiter coupled between said second delayed output of said delay line and said power amplifier.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The amplifier of claim 7 further comprising an upconverter coupled between said second delayed output of said delay line and said power amplifier.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
44 words
The amplifier of claim 7 wherein said envelope amplifier comprises: a pulsewidth modulator which produces a pulsewidth modulated signal with a duty cycle proportional to said input envelope signal; and a filter for filtering said pulsewidth modulated signal to produce said amplified envelope signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
97 words
A communications device including an amplifier wherein said amplifier comprises: a delay line having an input, a first delayed output, and a second delayed output; an envelope detector for detecting an envelope of a signal output from said first delayed output of said delay line, said envelope detector producing an input envelope signal; an envelope amplifier for amplifying said input envelope signal and producing an amplified envelope signal; and a power amplifier for amplifying a signal output from said second delayed output of said delay line, wherein said power amplifier is modulated by said amplified envelope signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
97 words
A communications device including an amplifier wherein said amplifier comprises: a delay line having an input, a first delayed output, and a second delayed output; an envelope detector for detecting an envelope of a signal output from said first delayed output of said delay line, said envelope detector producing an input envelope signal; an envelope amplifier for amplifying said input envelope signal and producing an amplified envelope signal; and a power amplifier for amplifying a signal output from said second delayed output of said delay line, wherein said power amplifier is modulated by said amplified envelope signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The communications device of claim 13 wherein said delay line comprises a surface acoustic wave delay line.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The communications device of claim 13 wherein said envelope amplifier is a class S amplifier.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The communications device of claim 13 further comprising a limiter coupled between said second delayed output of said delay line and said power amplifier.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The communications device of claim 13 further comprising an upconverter coupled between said second delayed output of said delay line and said power amplifier.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
45 words
The communications device of claim 13 wherein said envelope amplifier comprises: a pulsewidth modulator which produces a pulsewidth modulated signal with a duty cycle proportional to said input envelope signal; and a filter for filtering said pulsewidth modulated signal to produce said amplified envelope signal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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