US5990735A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for high efficiency power amplification
Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
•
Filing: 1998-04-01
•
Granted: 1999-11-23
•
Expires: 2018-04-01
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for efficient power amplification of a wideband signal with a correspondingly wide modulation bandwidth includes an envelope detector (220), an multi-stage class S modulator (270), and a power amplifier (260). The multi-stage class S modulator (270) includes multiple stages (480), where each stage includes a pair of switching transistors (430, 440) and a capacitor (450). The capacitor (450) supplies the inrush current requirements of the stage (480) so that filtering at the switching frequency is substantially provided within the stage (480). Multiple stages (480) are included on a single semiconductor substrate resulting in higher switching frequencies, higher modulation bandwidths, and lower external filtering requirements.
Inventors
- 👤 Bernard Eugene Sigmon
- 👤 Ronald Gene Myers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 14:13
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03F; H03F1/00; H03F1/02; H03F1/0205; H03F1/0211; H03F1/0216; H03F1/0222; H03F1/32; H03F1/3241; H03G; H03G3/00; H03G3/20; H03G3/30; H03G3/3036; H03G3/3042
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of amplifying an input signal, said method comprising the steps of: creating a pulsewidth modulated signal as a function of said input signal; amplifying said pulsewidth modulated signal in a plurality of saturating amplifiers to create a plurality of amplified pulsewidth modulated signals; providing a transient current to each of said plurality of saturating amplifiers from a charge storage device; and combining said plurality of amplified pulsewidth modulated signals to produce a composite signal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of amplifying an input signal, said method comprising the steps of: creating a pulsewidth modulated signal as a function of said input signal; amplifying said pulsewidth modulated signal in a plurality of saturating amplifiers to create a plurality of amplified pulsewidth modulated signals; providing a transient current to each of said plurality of saturating amplifiers from a charge storage device; and combining said plurality of amplified pulsewidth modulated signals to produce a composite signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of filtering said composite signal.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of amplifying an input signal, said method comprising the steps of: splitting said input signal into an envelope component and a phase component; responsive to said envelope component, creating a pulsewidth modulated signal; amplifying said pulsewidth modulated signal using a plurality of saturating amplifiers to create a plurality of amplified pulsewidth modulated signals; providing a transient current from a charge storage device to said plurality of saturating amplifiers; combining said plurality of amplified pulsewidth modulated signals to produce an amplified envelope signal; amplifying said phase component with an amplifier stage; and modulating said amplifier stage with said amplified envelope signal.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of amplifying an input signal, said method comprising the steps of: splitting said input signal into an envelope component and a phase component; responsive to said envelope component, creating a pulsewidth modulated signal; amplifying said pulsewidth modulated signal using a plurality of saturating amplifiers to create a plurality of amplified pulsewidth modulated signals; providing a transient current from a charge storage device to said plurality of saturating amplifiers; combining said plurality of amplified pulsewidth modulated signals to produce an amplified envelope signal; amplifying said phase component with an amplifier stage; and modulating said amplifier stage with said amplified envelope signal.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
61 words
An apparatus comprising: a pulsewidth modulator coupled to an input of said apparatus, said pulsewidth modulator having an output; a plurality of switching stages, each of said plurality of switching stages having an input coupled to the output of said pulsewidth modulator, and an output; and a summing point coupled to the output of each of the plurality of switching stages.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
61 words
An apparatus comprising: a pulsewidth modulator coupled to an input of said apparatus, said pulsewidth modulator having an output; a plurality of switching stages, each of said plurality of switching stages having an input coupled to the output of said pulsewidth modulator, and an output; and a summing point coupled to the output of each of the plurality of switching stages.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
110 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein: each switching stage includes a high side switch, a low side switch, and a capacitor; the high side switch is coupled between a voltage supply and the output of the switching stage such that when the high side switch is closed, the output of the switching stage is electrically coupled to the voltage supply; the low side switch is coupled between a reference and the output of the switching stage such that when the low side switch is closed, the output of the switching ad stage is electrically coupled to the reference; and the capacitor is coupled between the voltage supply and the reference.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said apparatus is implemented on a monolithic semiconductor substrate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a low pass filter coupled between said summing point and an output of said apparatus.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said high side switch and said low side switch are transistors.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein each of said plurality of switching stages includes: means for switching the output of the switching stage between a voltage supply value and a reference value; and means for storing a charge that will supply a transient current when the output of the switching stage is switched to the voltage supply value.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said apparatus is implemented on a monolithic semiconductor substrate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
61 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said means for switching comprises a high side switching element and a low side switching element interconnected such that the high side switching element is coupled between a voltage supply and said output of the switching stage, and the low side switching element is coupled between a reference and said output of the switching stage.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said means for storing a charge comprises a capacitor coupled between said voltage supply and said reference.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said high side switching element and said low side switching element are transistors.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said apparatus is implemented on a monolithic semiconductor substrate.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
66 words
An apparatus for amplifying an input signal, said apparatus comprising: a power amplifier stage for amplifying said input signal, said power amplifier stage having a modulating input; an envelope detector for detecting an envelope of said input signal; and a multi-stage modulator for amplifying said envelope of said input signal, said multi-stage modulator having an output which drives said modulating input of said power amplifier stage.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
66 words
An apparatus for amplifying an input signal, said apparatus comprising: a power amplifier stage for amplifying said input signal, said power amplifier stage having a modulating input; an envelope detector for detecting an envelope of said input signal; and a multi-stage modulator for amplifying said envelope of said input signal, said multi-stage modulator having an output which drives said modulating input of said power amplifier stage.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
69 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said multistage modulator comprises: a pulsewidth modulator coupled to an input of said multi-stage modulator, said pulsewidth modulator having an output; a plurality of switching stages, each of said plurality of switching stages having an input coupled to the output of said pulsewidth modulator, and an output; and a summing point coupled to the output of each of the plurality of switching stages.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
109 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein: each switching stage includes a high side switch, a low side switch, and a capacitor; the high side switch is coupled between a voltage supply and the output of the switching stage such that when the high side switch is closed, the output of the switching stage is electrically coupled to the voltage supply; the low side switch is coupled between a reference and the output of the switching stage such that when the low side switch is closed, the output of the switching stage is electrically coupled to the reference; and the capacitor is coupled between the voltage supply and the reference.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
68 words
A communications device including an amplifier wherein said amplifier comprises: a pulsewidth modulator coupled to an input of said amplifier, said pulsewidth modulator having an output; a plurality of switching stages, each of said plurality of switching stages having an input coupled to the output of said pulsewidth modulator, and an output; and a summing point coupled to the output of each of the plurality of switching stages.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
68 words
A communications device including an amplifier wherein said amplifier comprises: a pulsewidth modulator coupled to an input of said amplifier, said pulsewidth modulator having an output; a plurality of switching stages, each of said plurality of switching stages having an input coupled to the output of said pulsewidth modulator, and an output; and a summing point coupled to the output of each of the plurality of switching stages.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
111 words
The communications device of claim 18 wherein: each switching stage includes a high side switch, a low side switch, and a capacitor; the high side switch is coupled between a voltage supply and the output of the switching stage such that when the high side switch is closed, the output of the switching stage is electrically coupled to the voltage supply; the low side switch is coupled between a reference and the output of the switching stage such that when the low side switch is closed, the output of the switching in stage is electrically coupled to the reference; and the capacitor is coupled between the voltage supply and the reference.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
The communications device of claim 19 wherein said amplifier is implemented on a monolithic semiconductor substrate.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3777275A
Cited
US4831334A
Cited
US5251330A
Cited
US5218315A
Cited
US5306986A
Cited
US5847602A
Cited
US5861777A
Cited
US5831475A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-11-22 | 2003-05-24 | 2003-11-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-11-22 | 2007-05-24 | 2007-11-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-11-22 | 2011-05-24 | 2011-11-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |