Multi-band amplifier

Claim 2

A multi-band amplifier circuit comprising: a plurality of amplifiers, each amplifier comprising at least one amplifying stage, being configurable to receive an input signal within a particular frequency band, and forming part of a monolithic integrated circuit; a plurality of impedance matching networks, each impedance matching network being coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of amplifiers, and each impedance matching network providing a predetermined impedance within the frequency band for the corresponding amplifier, wherein at least a portion of each of the plurality of impedance matching networks also forms part of the monolithic integrated circuit; and a control circuit coupled to each of the plurality of amplifiers for selectively enabling one of the amplifiers and disabling the remaining amplifiers in response to at least one control signal.

Claim 3

The multi-band amplifier circuit of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of impedance matching networks also forms part of the monolithic integrated circuit.

Claim 4

The multi-band amplifier circuit of claim 1 wherein the control circuit also forms part of the monolithic integrated circuit.

Claim 5

The multi-band amplifier circuit of claim 1 wherein each impedance matching network is coupled to an input of the corresponding amplifier to provide a predetermined input impedance within the frequency band for the corresponding amplifier.

Claim 6

The multi-band amplifier circuit of claim 4 wherein each predetermined input impedance approximately matches a source impedance for the input signal of the corresponding amplifier.

Claim 7

The multi-band amplifier circuit of claim 1 wherein each impedance matching network is coupled to an output of the corresponding amplifier to provide a predetermined output impedance within the frequency band for the corresponding amplifier.

Claim 8

The multi-band amplifier circuit of claim 1 wherein each amplifier comprises a plurality of amplifying stages arranged as a cascade, and wherein each amplifier further comprises at least one interstage impedance matching network coupled between two successive amplifying stages, wherein each interstage impedance matching network provides a predetermined interstage impedance within the frequency band for the corresponding amplifier.

Claim 9

The multi-band amplifier circuit of claim 7 wherein the interstage impedance is such that an output impedance of one of the successive amplifying stages approximately matches the input impedance of the other of the successive amplifying stages within the frequency band for the corresponding amplifier.

Claim 10

The multi-band amplifier circuit of claim 1 wherein the frequency band for one amplifier is near 800 MHz and the frequency band for another amplifier is near 1900 MHz.

Claim 11

The multi-band amplifier circuit of claim 1 wherein, when enabling one of the amplifiers, the control circuit further provides a predetermined bias to bias the enabled amplifier in a desired mode of operation.

Claim 12

The multi-band amplifier circuit of claim 10 wherein the desired mode of amplifier operation is one of: class A, B, AB, or C operation.

Claim 13

A multi-band amplifier circuit comprising: a plurality of amplifiers, each amplifier comprising an input, an output, and at least one amplifying stage, being configurable to receive an input signal within a particular frequency band, and forming part of a monolithic integrated circuit; a plurality of input impedance networks, each input impedance network being coupled to the input of a corresponding one of the plurality of amplifiers, and each input impedance network providing a predetermined input impedance within the frequency band for the corresponding amplifier, wherein at least a portion of each of the plurality of input impedance networks also forms part of the monolithic integrated circuit; a plurality of output impedance networks, each output impedance network being coupled to the output of a corresponding one of the plurality of amplifiers, and each output impedance network providing a predetermined output impedance within the frequency band for the corresponding amplifier; and a control circuit coupled to each of the plurality of amplifiers for selectively enabling one of the amplifiers and disabling the remaining amplifiers in response to at least one control signal.

Claim 14

A multi-band amplifier circuit comprising: a plurality of amplifiers, each amplifier comprising an input, an output, and at least one amplifying stage, being configurable to receive an input signal within a particular frequency band, and forming part of a monolithic integrated circuit; a plurality of input impedance networks, each input impedance network being coupled to the input of a corresponding one of the plurality of amplifiers, and each input impedance network providing a predetermined input impedance within the frequency band for the corresponding amplifier, wherein at least a portion of each of the plurality of input impedance networks also forms part of the monolithic integrated circuit; a plurality of output impedance networks, each output impedance network being coupled to the output of a corresponding one of the plurality of amplifiers, and each output impedance network providing a predetermined output impedance within the frequency band for the corresponding amplifier; and a control circuit coupled to each of the plurality of amplifiers for selectively enabling one of the amplifiers and disabling the remaining amplifiers in response to at least one control signal.

Claim 15

The multi-band amplifier circuit of claim 12 wherein each of the plurality of input impedance networks also forms part of the monolithic integrated circuit.

Claim 16

The multi-band amplifier circuit of claim 13 wherein each of the plurality of output impedance networks also forms part of the monolithic integrated circuit.

Claim 17

The multi-band amplifier circuit of claim 14 wherein the control circuit also forms part of the monolithic integrated circuit.

Claim 18

The multi-band amplifier circuit of claim 12 wherein each predetermined input impedance approximately matches a source impedance for an input signal of the corresponding amplifier.

Claim 19

A multi-band amplifier circuit comprising: a plurality of GaAs amplifiers, each GaAs amplifier comprising at least one amplifying stage having at least one GaAs transistor, being configurable to receive an input'signal within a particular frequency band, and forming part of a GaAs monolithic integrated circuit; a plurality of impedance matching networks, each impedance matching network being coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of amplifiers, and each impedance matching network providing a predetermined impedance within the frequency band for the corresponding amplifier, wherein at least a portion of each of the plurality of impedance matching networks also forms part of the GaAs monolithic integrated circuit; and a control circuit coupled to each of the plurality of amplifiers for selectively enabling one of the amplifiers and disabling the remaining amplifiers in response to at least one control signal.

Claim 20

A multi-band amplifier circuit comprising: a plurality of GaAs amplifiers, each GaAs amplifier comprising at least one amplifying stage having at least one GaAs transistor, being configurable to receive an input'signal within a particular frequency band, and forming part of a GaAs monolithic integrated circuit; a plurality of impedance matching networks, each impedance matching network being coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of amplifiers, and each impedance matching network providing a predetermined impedance within the frequency band for the corresponding amplifier, wherein at least a portion of each of the plurality of impedance matching networks also forms part of the GaAs monolithic integrated circuit; and a control circuit coupled to each of the plurality of amplifiers for selectively enabling one of the amplifiers and disabling the remaining amplifiers in response to at least one control signal.

Claim 21

The multi-band amplifier circuit of claim 17 wherein each of the plurality of impedance matching networks also forms part of the GaAs monolithic integrated circuit.

Claim 22

The multi-band amplifier circuit of claim 17 wherein the control circuit also forms part of the GaAs monolithic integrated circuit.

Claim 23

The multi-band amplifier circuit of claim 17 wherein each impedance matching network is coupled to an input of the corresponding GaAs amplifier to provide a predetermined input impedance within the frequency band for the corresponding GaAs amplifier.

Claim 24

The multi-band amplifier circuit of claim 20 wherein each predetermined input impedance approximately matches a source impedance for the input signal of the corresponding GaAs amplifier.

Claim 25

The multi-band amplifier circuit of claim 17 wherein each impedance matching network is coupled to an output of the corresponding GaAs amplifier and provides a predetermined output impedance within the frequency band for the corresponding GaAs amplifier.

Claim 26

The multi-band amplifier circuit of claim 17 wherein each GaAs amplifier comprises a plurality of amplifying stages arranged as a cascade, and wherein each GaAs amplifier further comprises at least one interstage impedance matching network coupled between two successive amplifying stages, each interstage impedance matching network providing a predetermined interstage impedance within the frequency band for the corresponding GaAs amplifier.

Claim 27

The multi-band amplifier circuit of claim 23 wherein the interstage impedance is such that an output impedance of one of the successive amplifying stages approximately matches an input impedance of the other of the successive amplifying stages within the frequency band for the corresponding GaAs amplifier.

Claim 28

The multi-band amplifier circuit of claim 17 wherein the frequency band for one amplifier is at near 800 MHz and the frequency band for another amplifier is near 1900 MHz.

Claim 29

The multi-band amplifier circuit of claim 17 wherein, when enabling one of the GaAs amplifiers, the control circuit further provides a predetermined bias to bias the enabled GaAs amplifier in a desired mode of operation.

Claim 30

The multi-band amplifier circuit of claim 26 herein the desired mode of amplifier operation is one of: class A, B, AB, or C operation.

Claim 31

The multi-band amplifier circuit of claim 17 wherein, in each amplifying stage of each GaAs amplifier, each GaAs transistor is a GaAs field effect transistor.

Claim 32

A wireless communication device including a dual-band amplifier circuit, the dual-band amplifier circuit comprising: a first amplifier comprising at least one amplifying stage, being configurable to receive an input signal within a first wireless communication frequency band, and forming part of a monolithic integrated circuit within the device; a first input impedance matching network coupled to the first amplifier, the first impedance matching network being configured to provide a predetermined impedance within the first frequency band; a second amplifier comprising at least one amplifying stage, being configurable to receive an input signal within a second wireless communication frequency band, and forming part of the monolithic integrated circuit; a second input impedance matching network coupled to the second amplifier, the second impedance matching network providing a predetermined impedance within the second frequency band, wherein the first and second impedance matching networks also form part of the monolithic integrated circuit; and a control circuit coupled to each of the plurality of amplifiers for selectively enabling one amplifier and disabling the other amplifier in response to at least one control signal.

Claim 33

A wireless communication device including a dual-band amplifier circuit, the dual-band amplifier circuit comprising: a first amplifier comprising at least one amplifying stage, being configurable to receive an input signal within a first wireless communication frequency band, and forming part of a monolithic integrated circuit within the device; a first input impedance matching network coupled to the first amplifier, the first impedance matching network being configured to provide a predetermined impedance within the first frequency band; a second amplifier comprising at least one amplifying stage, being configurable to receive an input signal within a second wireless communication frequency band, and forming part of the monolithic integrated circuit; a second input impedance matching network coupled to the second amplifier, the second impedance matching network providing a predetermined impedance within the second frequency band, wherein the first and second impedance matching networks also form part of the monolithic integrated circuit; and a control circuit coupled to each of the plurality of amplifiers for selectively enabling one amplifier and disabling the other amplifier in response to at least one control signal.

Claim 34

An amplifier circuit comprising: an amplifier having at least one amplifying stage, the amplifier receiving an input signal in one of a plurality of frequency bands; a plurality of impedance matching networks each comprising at least one component, each impedance matching network corresponding to one of the plurality of frequency bands and providing a predetermined impedance within the corresponding frequency band, wherein the plurality of impedance matching networks includes a first impedance matching network and a second impedance matching network, and the first and second networks each include a common passive component, and wherein furthermore the first impedance matching network comprises a first passive component and a second passive component, the second impedance matching network comprises the first passive component, and the second passive component is bypassed by the switch when the switch couples the second impedance matching network to the amplifier; and a switch for selectively coupling a particular one of the plurality of impedance matching networks to the amplifier in response to at least one control signal.

Claim 35

An amplifier circuit comprising: an amplifier having at least one amplifying stage, the amplifier receiving an input signal in one of a plurality of frequency bands; a plurality of impedance matching networks each comprising at least one component, each impedance matching network corresponding to one of the plurality of frequency bands and providing a predetermined impedance within the corresponding frequency band, wherein the plurality of impedance matching networks includes a first impedance matching network and a second impedance matching network, and the first and second networks each include a common passive component, and wherein furthermore the first impedance matching network comprises a first passive component and a second passive component, the second impedance matching network comprises the first passive component, and the second passive component is bypassed by the switch when the switch couples the second impedance matching network to the amplifier; and a switch for selectively coupling a particular one of the plurality of impedance matching networks to the amplifier in response to at least one control signal.

Claim 36

The amplifier circuit of claim 30 wherein none of the plurality of impedance matching networks include a passive component in common with the other networks.

Claim 37

The amplifier circuit of claim 30 wherein each impedance matching network is selectively coupled to an input of the amplifier to provide a predetermined input impedance for the amplifier within the corresponding frequency band.

Claim 38

The amplifier circuit of claim 32 wherein each predetermined input impedance approximately matches a source impedance for the input signal of the amplifier when the input signal is in the corresponding frequency band.

Claim 39

The amplifier circuit of claim 30 wherein each impedance matching network is selectively coupled to an output of the amplifier to provide a predetermined output impedance for the amplifier within the corresponding frequency band.

Claim 40

The amplifier circuit of claim 30 each impedance matching network is selectively coupled to a power input of the amplifier to provide a predetermined output impedance for the amplifier within the corresponding frequency band.

Claim 41

The amplifier circuit of claim 30 wherein one frequency band is near 800 MHz and another frequency band is near 1900 MHz.

Claim 42

The amplifier circuit of claim 30 further comprising a bias control circuit for providing, in response to the frequency band of the input signal, a desired bias to the amplifier to bias the amplifier in a desired mode of amplifier operation.

Claim 43

The amplifier circuit of claim 37 wherein the desired mode of amplifier operation is one of: class A, B, AB, or C operation.

Claim 44

The amplifier circuit of claim 30 wherein each impedance matching network comprises at least one reactive component.