Patent EP0387834A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US6549071B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6549071B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Power amplifier circuitry and method using an inductance coupled to power amplifier switching devices
Assignee: SILICON LABOROATORIES Inc
•
Filing: 2000-09-12
•
Granted: 2003-04-15
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Expires: 2020-09-12
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus is provided for use in power amplifiers for reducing the peak voltage that transistors are subjected to. A power amplifier is provided with first and second switching devices and an inductor connected between the switching devices. The switching devices are driven such that the switching devices are turned on and off during the same time intervals.
Inventors
- 👤 Susanne A. Paul
- 👤 Timothy J. DuPuis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 19:47
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03F; H03F3/00; H03F3/20; H03F3/21; H03F3/217; H03F3/2176; H03F1/00; H03F1/02; H03F3/189; H03F3/19; H03F3/195; H03F3/211; H03F3/2171; H03F3/2173; H03F3/24; H03F3/30; H03F3/45; H03F3/45071; H03F3/45076; H03F3/45179; H03F3/72; H03K; H03K17/00; H03K17/04; H03K17/041; H03K17/0416; H03K17/04163; H03K17/51; H03K17/56; H03K17/687; H03K17/6871; H03K17/6872; H10; H10W; H10W44/00; H10W44/20; H10W44/501; H03F2200/00; H03F2200/387; H03F2200/391; H03F2200/451; H10W44/226; H10W70/00; H10W70/60; H10W70/62; H10W70/63; H10W72/00; H10W72/071; H10W72/072; H10W72/07251; H10W72/20; H10W90/00; H10W90/701; H10W90/721; H10W90/724; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S257/00; Y10S257/903; Y10S257/904
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 62
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
A power amplifier comprising: a first switching device connected between a first supply voltage and a first output node; a second switching device connected between a second supply voltage and a second output node; an inductance coupled between the first and second output nodes; and a preamplifier connected to the power amplifier, the preamplifier further comprising: a third switching device connected between said first supply voltage and a third node and coupled to the input to the first switching device; a fourth switching device connected between said second supply voltage and a fourth node and coupled to the input to the second switching device; and a second inductor coupled between the third and fourth nodes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
115 words
A power amplifier comprising: a first switching device connected between a first supply voltage and a first output node; a second switching device connected between a second supply voltage and a second output node; an inductance coupled between the first and second output nodes; and a preamplifier connected to the power amplifier, the preamplifier further comprising: a third switching device connected between said first supply voltage and a third node and coupled to the input to the first switching device; a fourth switching device connected between said second supply voltage and a fourth node and coupled to the input to the second switching device; and a second inductor coupled between the third and fourth nodes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The power amplifier of claim 1 , wherein a load is coupled to the second output node.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The power amplifier of claim 1 , further comprising a first capacitor coupled to the first output node, and a second capacitor coupled to the second output node.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The power amplifier of claim 1 , further comprising a first capacitor coupled to the first output node.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The power amplifier of claim 1 , further comprising a first capacitor coupled between the first and second output nodes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The power amplifier of claim 1 , wherein the first and second switching devices are driven by signals that repeatedly turn the devices on and off.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
The power amplifier of claim 6 , wherein the first and second switching devices are both cycled on during the same time period, and wherein the first and second switching devices are both cycled off during the same time period.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The power amplifier of claim 4 , wherein the first capacitor is provided by the input capacitance of a third switching device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The power amplifier of claim 3 , wherein the first capacitor is provided by the input capacitance of a third switching device, and wherein the second capacitor is provided by the input capacitance of a fourth switching device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The power amplifier of claim 1 , wherein the first and second switching devices are comprised of transistors.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The power amplifier of claim 1 , wherein the first switching device is comprised of a PMOS transistor, and wherein the second switching device is comprised of an NMOS transistor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The power amplifier of claim 1 , further comprising a load coupled across the first and second output nodes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The power amplifier of claim 1 , further comprising a transformation network coupled to the first and second output nodes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
45 words
The power amplifier of claim 13 , wherein the transformation network further comprises: a capacitor coupled to the first output node and a third node; an inductor coupled to the second output node and the third node; and a load coupled to the third node.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The power amplifier of claim 1 , further comprising one or more inductors coupled between the first output node and a third supply voltage.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
The power amplifier of claim 1 , further comprising one or more inductors coupled between the first output node and a third supply voltage, and one or more inductors coupled between the second output node and a fourth supply voltage.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
162 words
A method of reducing the peak output voltage of an amplifier comprising the steps of: providing a first inductor having first and second terminals; providing a first switching device connected between the first terminal of the first inductor and a first supply voltage; providing a second switching device connected between the second terminal of the first inductor and a second supply voltage; providing a third switching device connected between the gate of the first switching device and a third supply voltage; providing a fourth switching device connected between the gate of the second switching device and a fourth supply voltage; providing a second inductor connected between the gates of the first and second switching devices; applying a voltage between the first and second terminals of the first inductor during a first portion of a clock cycle by turning on the first and second switching devices; and turning off the first and second switching devices during a second portion of the clock cycle.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
162 words
A method of reducing the peak output voltage of an amplifier comprising the steps of: providing a first inductor having first and second terminals; providing a first switching device connected between the first terminal of the first inductor and a first supply voltage; providing a second switching device connected between the second terminal of the first inductor and a second supply voltage; providing a third switching device connected between the gate of the first switching device and a third supply voltage; providing a fourth switching device connected between the gate of the second switching device and a fourth supply voltage; providing a second inductor connected between the gates of the first and second switching devices; applying a voltage between the first and second terminals of the first inductor during a first portion of a clock cycle by turning on the first and second switching devices; and turning off the first and second switching devices during a second portion of the clock cycle.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 17 , further comprising the steps of providing a first capacitance connected to the first terminal, providing a second capacitance connected to the second terminal, wherein current from the inductor charges or discharges the first and second capacitances during the second portion of the clock cycle.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 17 , further comprising the step of connecting a load to the first node.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein the load includes a reactive network.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 17 , further comprising the step of driving the first and second switching devices such that the switching devices are turned on and off simultaneously.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 17 , further comprising the step of driving the first and second switching devices by repeatedly turning both devices on and then turning both devices off.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein the switching devices are comprised of transistors.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 17 , further comprising the step of differentially connecting a load to the first and second nodes.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein the load is connected across the first and second nodes.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
109 words
A differential power amplifier comprising: a first amplifier having a first switching device connected between a first supply voltage and a first output node, a second switching device connected between a second supply voltage and a second output node, and an inductance coupled between the first and second output nodes; a second amplifier having a third switching device connected between a third supply voltage and a third output node, a fourth switching device connected between a fourth supply voltage and a fourth output node, and an inductance coupled between the third and fourth output nodes; and wherein the first and second amplifiers are coupled together to drive a load.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
109 words
A differential power amplifier comprising: a first amplifier having a first switching device connected between a first supply voltage and a first output node, a second switching device connected between a second supply voltage and a second output node, and an inductance coupled between the first and second output nodes; a second amplifier having a third switching device connected between a third supply voltage and a third output node, a fourth switching device connected between a fourth supply voltage and a fourth output node, and an inductance coupled between the third and fourth output nodes; and wherein the first and second amplifiers are coupled together to drive a load.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
28 words
The differential power amplifier of claim 26 , wherein the second and fourth output nodes of the first and second amplifiers are coupled together to drive the load.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
30 words
The differential power amplifier of claim 26 , wherein the first, second, third, and fourth output nodes of the first and second amplifiers are coupled together to drive the load.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
49 words
The differential power amplifier of claim 26 , further comprising: a first transformation network connected between the first and second output nodes of the first amplifier and the load, and a second transformation network connected between the third and fourth output nodes of the second amplifier and the load.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
45 words
The differential power amplifier of claim 26 , further comprising: a first transformation network connected between the second output node of the first amplifier and the load, and a second transformation network connected between the third output node of the second amplifier and the load.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
22 words
The differential power amplifier of claim 26 further comprising: an inductor coupled between the first output node and the third output node.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
22 words
The differential power amplifier of claim 26 further comprising: an inductor coupled between the second output node and the fourth output node.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
52 words
The differential power amplifier of claim 29 , wherein the first transformation network further comprises: a first capacitor coupled to the second output node of the first amplifier and coupled to the load; and a first inductor coupled to the first output node of the first amplifier and coupled to the load.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
52 words
The differential power amplifier of claim 29 , wherein the second transformation network further comprises: a second capacitor coupled to the third output node of the second amplifier and coupled to the load; and a second inductor coupled to the fourth output node of the second amplifier and coupled to the load.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
17 words
The differential power amplifier of claim 26 , wherein the first amplifier receives first and second inputs.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
41 words
The differential power amplifier of claim 35 , wherein the first and second switching devices of the first amplifier are enabled and disabled simultaneously; and wherein the third and fourth switching devices of the second amplifier are enabled and disabled simultaneously.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
67 words
The differential power amplifier of claim 36 , wherein the first and second switching devices of the first amplifier are enabled during the time that the third and fourth switching devices of the second amplifier are disabled, and wherein the third and fourth switching devices of the second amplifier are enabled during the time that the first and second switching devices of the first amplifier are disabled.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
77 words
The differential power amplifier of claim 26 , wherein the first amplifier further comprises: a first capacitance coupled between the first output node and the first supply voltage; a second capacitance coupled between the second output node and the first supply voltage; and wherein the second amplifier further comprises: a third capacitance coupled between the third output node and a third supply voltage; a fourth capacitance coupled between the fourth output node and a fourth supply voltage.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
20 words
The differential power amplifier of claim 38 , wherein the first, second, third, and fourth capacitances are provided by capacitors.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
30 words
The differential power amplifier of claim 38 wherein the first, second, third, and fourth capacitances are provided by the input capacitance of fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth switching devices, respectively.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
56 words
The differential power amplifier of claim 40 , wherein the fifth switching device is coupled to the third output node, and the sixth switching device is coupled to the fourth output node, and the seventh switching device is coupled to the first output node, and the eighth switching device is coupled to the second output node.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
21 words
The differential power amplifier of claim 26 , further comprising a preamplifier for each of the first and second power amplifiers.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
40 words
The differential power amplifier of claim 42 , wherein each of the preamplifiers further comprise: fifth and sixth switching devices connected between the first and second supply voltages; and a third inductor connected between the fifth and sixth switching devices.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
16 words
The differential power amplifier of claim 26 , wherein the first and second amplifiers are cross-coupled.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
25 words
The power amplifier of claim 1 , wherein the first switching device is an n-channel device and the second switching device is a p-channel device.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein the first switching device is provided by an n-channel device and the second switching device is provided by a p-channel device.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
25 words
The power amplifier of claim 26 , wherein the first switching device is an n-channel device and the second switching device is a p-channel device.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
25 words
The power amplifier of claim 47 , wherein the third switching device is an n-channel device and the fourth switching device is a p-channel device.
Claim 52
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of providing a differential power amplifier comprising: providing a first amplifier; providing a second amplifier; and connecting the first and second amplifiers differentially to drive a load, wherein the first and second amplifiers are each provided by a first switching device connected between a first supply voltage and a first output node, a second switching device connected between a second supply voltage and a second output node, and an inductance coupled between the first and second output nodes.
Claim 53
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of providing a differential power amplifier comprising: providing a first amplifier; providing a second amplifier; and connecting the first and second amplifiers differentially to drive a load, wherein the first and second amplifiers are each provided by a first switching device connected between a first supply voltage and a first output node, a second switching device connected between a second supply voltage and a second output node, and an inductance coupled between the first and second output nodes.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 49 , wherein at least one of the output nodes of the first amplifier and at least one of the output nodes of the second amplifier are coupled together to drive the load.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 49 , further comprising the steps of: connecting a first transformation network between the first and second output nodes of the first amplifier and the load, and connecting a second transformation network between the first and second output nodes of the second amplifier and the load.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 49 , further comprising the steps of: connecting a first transformation network between the second output node of the first amplifier and the load, and connecting a second transformation network between the first output node of the second amplifier and the load.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 49 , wherein the first amplifier receives first and second inputs.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 53 , wherein the first and second switching devices of the first amplifier are enabled and disabled simultaneously; and wherein the first and second switching devices of the second amplifier are enabled and disabled simultaneously.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 49 , further comprising the step of providing a preamplifier for each of the first and second power amplifiers.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 55 , wherein the step of providing a preamplifier for each of the first and second power amplifiers further comprising the steps of: providing third and fourth switching devices connected between the first and second supply voltages; and a second inductor connected between the third and fourth switching devices.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 49 , further comprising the step of cross-coupling the first and second amplifiers.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 49 , wherein the first switching devices are n-channel devices and the second switching devices are a p-channel devices.
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