Wide-range power control systems and methods for radio frequency transmitters and mobile radiotelephones

Claim 2

A radio frequency transmitter comprising: a modulator that modulates an input signal; a radio frequency power amplifier that is coupled to the modulator to amplify the modulated input signal by a predetermined amount in response to a first power control signal; an antenna; a voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) attenuator that is coupled between the radio frequency power amplifier and the antenna to attenuate the output of the radio frequency power amplifier in response to reflected power from the antenna; and a power control attenuator that is coupled between the radio frequency power amplifier and the antenna to attenuate the output of the radio frequency power amplifier in response to a second power control signal.

Claim 3

A radio frequency transmitter according to claim 1 further comprising: a power controller that generates the first power control signal and the second power control signal to thereby provide power control for the radio frequency transmitter.

Claim 4

A radio frequency transmitter according to claim 2 wherein the power controller also generates a third power control signal, and wherein the VSWR attenuator is also responsive to the third power control signal.

Claim 5

A radio frequency transmitter according to claim 1 in combination with: a duplexer that is coupled between the power amplifier and the antenna; and a receive circuit that is coupled to the duplexer to thereby provide a radio frequency transceiver.

Claim 6

A radio frequency transmitter according to claim 4 in further combination with a mobile radiotelephone user interface.

Claim 7

A radio frequency transceiver according to claim 2 wherein the power controller provides minimum amplification of the radio frequency power amplifier via the first signal before attenuating the power control attenuator via the second signal.

Claim 8

A radio frequency transceiver according to claim 6 wherein the power controller bypasses the radio frequency power amplifier before attenuating the power control attenuator via the second signal.

Claim 9

A radio frequency transceiver according to claim 3 wherein the power controller provides minimum amplification of the radio frequency power amplifier via the first signal before attenuating the output of the radio frequency power amplifier via the second signal and the third signal.

Claim 10

A radio frequency transceiver according to claim 3 wherein the power controller provides maximum attenuation of the output of the radio frequency power amplifier via the third signal before controlling the radio frequency power amplifier via the first and second signals.

Claim 11

A radio frequency transceiver according to claim 1 wherein the VSWR attenuator and the power control attenuator are serially coupled between the power amplifier and the antenna.

Claim 12

A radio frequency transmitter comprising: means for modulating an input signal; means for amplifying the modulated input signal by a predetermined amount in response to a first power control signal to produce an amplified radio frequency output; an antenna that is coupled to the amplified radio frequency output; first means for attenuating the amplified radio frequency output in response to reflected power from the antenna; and second means for attenuating the amplified radio frequency output in response to a second power control signal.

Claim 13

A radio frequency transmitter comprising: means for modulating an input signal; means for amplifying the modulated input signal by a predetermined amount in response to a first power control signal to produce an amplified radio frequency output; an antenna that is coupled to the amplified radio frequency output; first means for attenuating the amplified radio frequency output in response to reflected power from the antenna; and second means for attenuating the amplified radio frequency output in response to a second power control signal.

Claim 14

A radio frequency transmitter according to claim 11 further comprising: means for generating the first power control signal and the second power control signal.

Claim 15

A radio frequency transmitter according to claim 12 wherein the generating means further comprises means for generating a third power control signal, and wherein the first means for attenuating is also responsive to the third power control signal.

Claim 16

A radio frequency transmitter according to claim 11 in combination with: means for receiving radio frequency signals; and means for switching the antenna between the amplified radio frequency output and the receiving means to thereby provide a radio frequency transceiver.

Claim 17

A radio frequency transmitter according to claim 14 in further combination with means for interfacing a mobile radiotelephone user to the radio frequency transmitter and to the means for receiving.

Claim 18

A radio frequency transmitter comprising: a modulator that modulates an input signal; a radio frequency power amplifier that is coupled to the modulator to amplify the modulated input signal by a predetermined amount in response to a first power control signal; an antenna; and an attenuator that is coupled between the radio frequency power amplifier and the antenna to attenuate the output of the radio frequency power amplifier in response to a second power control signal.

Claim 19

A radio frequency transmitter comprising: a modulator that modulates an input signal; a radio frequency power amplifier that is coupled to the modulator to amplify the modulated input signal by a predetermined amount in response to a first power control signal; an antenna; and an attenuator that is coupled between the radio frequency power amplifier and the antenna to attenuate the output of the radio frequency power amplifier in response to a second power control signal.

Claim 20

A radio frequency transmitter according to claim 16 further comprising: a power controller that generates the first power control signal and the second power control signal to thereby provide power control for the radio frequency transmitter.

Claim 21

A radio frequency transmitter according to claim 16 in combination with: a duplexer that is coupled between the power amplifier and the antenna; and a receive circuit that is coupled to the duplexer to thereby provide a radio frequency transceiver.

Claim 22

A radio frequency transmitter according to claim 18 in further combination with a mobile radiotelephone user interface.

Claim 23

A radio frequency transceiver according to claim 17 wherein the power controller provides minimum amplification of the radio frequency power amplifier via the first signal before attenuating the attenuator via the second signal.

Claim 24

A power controlling method for a radio frequency transmitter that includes a modulator that modulates an input signal, a radio frequency power amplifier that is coupled to the modulator to amplify the modulated input signal, an antenna, a voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) attenuator that is coupled between the radio frequency power amplifier and the antenna to attenuate the output of the radio frequency power amplifier in response to reflected power from the antenna, and a power control attenuator that is coupled between the radio frequency power amplifier and the antenna, the power controlling method comprising the step of: controlling amplification of the radio frequency power amplifier and attenuation of the power control attenuator in response to a power control signal, to thereby provide power control of the radio frequency transmitter.

Claim 25

A power controlling method for a radio frequency transmitter that includes a modulator that modulates an input signal, a radio frequency power amplifier that is coupled to the modulator to amplify the modulated input signal, an antenna, a voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) attenuator that is coupled between the radio frequency power amplifier and the antenna to attenuate the output of the radio frequency power amplifier in response to reflected power from the antenna, and a power control attenuator that is coupled between the radio frequency power amplifier and the antenna, the power controlling method comprising the step of: controlling amplification of the radio frequency power amplifier and attenuation of the power control attenuator in response to a power control signal, to thereby provide power control of the radio frequency transmitter.

Claim 26

A method according to claim 21 wherein the controlling step further comprises the step of: controlling amplification of the radio frequency power amplifier, attenuation of the power control attenuator and attenuation of the VSWR attenuator in response to a power control signal, to thereby provide power control of the radio frequency transmitter.

Claim 27

A method according to claim 21 wherein the controlling step comprises the steps of: providing minimum amplification of the radio frequency power amplifier; and then attenuating the power control attenuator.

Claim 28

A method according to claim 23 wherein step of providing minimum amplification comprises the step of: bypassing the radio frequency power amplifier.

Claim 29

A method according to claim 22 wherein the controlling step comprises the steps of: providing minimum amplification of the radio frequency power amplifier; and then attenuating the power control attenuator and the VSWR attenuator.

Claim 30

A power controlling method for a radio frequency transmitter that includes a modulator that modulates an input signal, a radio frequency power amplifier that is coupled to the modulator to amplify the modulated input signal, and an antenna that is coupled to the radio frequency power amplifier, the power controlling method comprising the steps of: attenuating the output of the radio frequency power amplifier in response to reflected power from the antenna; and controlling amplification of the radio frequency power amplifier and further attenuating the output of the radio frequency power amplifier in response to a power control signal, to thereby provide power control of the radio frequency transmitter.

Claim 31

A power controlling method for a radio frequency transmitter that includes a modulator that modulates an input signal, a radio frequency power amplifier that is coupled to the modulator to amplify the modulated input signal, and an antenna that is coupled to the radio frequency power amplifier, the power controlling method comprising the steps of: attenuating the output of the radio frequency power amplifier in response to reflected power from the antenna; and controlling amplification of the radio frequency power amplifier and further attenuating the output of the radio frequency power amplifier in response to a power control signal, to thereby provide power control of the radio frequency transmitter.

Claim 32

A method according to claim 26 wherein the controlling step comprises the steps of: providing minimum amplification of the radio frequency power amplifier; and then further attenuating the output of the radio frequency power amplifier in response to the power control signal.

Claim 33

A method according to claim 27 wherein the step of providing minimum amplification comprises the step of: bypassing the radio frequency power amplifier.