Patent US6639463B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6639463B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Adaptive power amplifier system and method
Assignee: Quarterhill Inc
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Filing: 2000-08-24
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Granted: 2003-10-28
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Expires: 2020-08-24
Abstract
Abstract A power amplifier system uses adaptive distribution of signals through an amplifier architecture of parallel amplifier stages. For example, the power amplifier system can adjust the operation of individual amplifier stages in the amplifier arrangement, for example to reduce power handling capability of the amplifier stages based on information of the signal to be amplified by the amplifier arrangement, such as the power level. To take advantage of the adjusted operation of the amplifier stages, the power amplifier system uses a variable power divider to reapportion the input signal power among the amplifier stages and at least one variable combiner to adaptively combine amplified signals from the amplifier stages in changing proportions. As such, the power amplifier system is reconfigurable and/or can adapt to changing conditions to provide improved performance and/or efficiency.
Inventors
- 👤 Reza Ghanadan
- 👤 Kyriaki Konstantinou
- 👤 Mohan Patel
- 👤 Anthony A. Triolo
- 👤 Norman Gerard Ziesse
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 18:32
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03F; H03F3/00; H03F3/60; H03F3/602; H03F2200/00; H03F2200/198
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of amplifying an input signal with a plurality of amplifier stages, said method comprising: receiving said input signal with a variable power dividing network and dividing said input signal to produce a changing portion of said input signal to said at least one active amplifier stage; and receiving amplified portions from said at least one active amplifier stage with a variable combining network where the amplified portions are used in varying proportions to produce an amplified output signal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of amplifying an input signal with a plurality of amplifier stages, said method comprising: receiving said input signal with a variable power dividing network and dividing said input signal to produce a changing portion of said input signal to said at least one active amplifier stage; and receiving amplified portions from said at least one active amplifier stage with a variable combining network where the amplified portions are used in varying proportions to produce an amplified output signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 further including: obtaining upstream signal information wherein said changing occurs in response to said upstream signal information.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said obtaining including: obtaining as said upstream signal information upstream signal configuration information comprising at least one of the number of carriers comprising the signal to be amplified, the type of carriers, the number of users, the average power per carrier, a peak power of said signal and a total average power of said signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
97 words
The method of claim 1 comprising: providing portions of said input signal to N active amplifier stages which amplify portions to produce N amplified portions which are combined to produce an amplified signal; changing to M active amplifier stages where M is not equal to N; and wherein said changing, amplifying and using including: changing said portions of said input signal being provided to said M active amplifier stages; amplifying by said M active amplifier stages said portions to produce M amplified portions; and combining said M amplified portions in different proportions to produce said amplified signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said changing including: turning “on” or “off” amplifier stages.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said turning “on” or “off” including: adjusting at least one bias voltage to said amplifier.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
98 words
The method of claim 1 including: providing portions of said input signal to N active amplifier stages which amplify said portions to produce N amplified portions which are combined to produce an amplified signal, said method further comprising: changing the operation of said N active amplifier stages; and wherein said changing, amplifying and using including: changing said portions of said input signal being provided to said N active amplifier stages; amplifying by said N active amplifier stages said portions to produce N amplified portions; and combining said N amplified portions in different proportions to produce said amplified signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said changing including: adjusting at least one bias voltage to said amplifier.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said changing including: providing said input signal to a variable dividing network; and dividing said input signal into at least one portion where said at least one portion depends on relative phase shifts provided between signal components used to construct said at least one portion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
76 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said variable dividing network includes at least one variable divider including: coupling onto first and second paths signal components of a signal received at the input to said variable divider; providing a relative phase shift between said signal components on said first and second paths; and distributing said signal components on said first and second paths to first and second output ports in proportions depending on said relative phase shift.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said coupling includes: using a 90 degree 3 dB hybrid coupler; and wherein said distributing includes: using a 90 degree 3 dB hybrid coupler.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
42 words
A method of producing an amplified signal with a plurality of amplifier stages, said method comprising: combining at least one varying proportion of at least one amplified signal portion from a variable power divider coupled to at least one active amplifier stage.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
42 words
A method of producing an amplified signal with a plurality of amplifier stages, said method comprising: combining at least one varying proportion of at least one amplified signal portion from a variable power divider coupled to at least one active amplifier stage.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
73 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said combining includes at least one variable combiner including: coupling onto first and second paths signal components of said amplified portions received at input ports to said variable combiner; providing a relative phase shift between said signal components on said first and second paths; and distributing said signal components on said first and second paths to an output port in proportions depending on said relative phase shift.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 12 comprising: changing a portion of said signal being provided to said at least one active amplifier stage.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
74 words
A power amplification system, said system comprising: an amplifier having at least one active amplifier stage; a variable dividing network configured to divide an input signal and produce a changing portion of said input signal to said at least one active amplifier stage; and a variable combining network configured to receive amplified portions from said at least one active amplifier and using the amplified portions in varying proportions to produce an amplified output signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
74 words
A power amplification system, said system comprising: an amplifier having at least one active amplifier stage; a variable dividing network configured to divide an input signal and produce a changing portion of said input signal to said at least one active amplifier stage; and a variable combining network configured to receive amplified portions from said at least one active amplifier and using the amplified portions in varying proportions to produce an amplified output signal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 15 further including: processing circuitry providing phase shift control signals to said variable dividing network and said variable combining network in response to upstream signal information.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
112 words
The system of claim 15 wherein said amplifier having a first configuration including N active amplifier stages which amplify said portions to produce N amplified portions which are combined to produce an amplified signal, said amplifier having at least a second configuration of M active amplifier stages where M is not equal to N, said variable dividing network configured to change said portions of said input signal being provided to said M active amplifier stages, said M active amplifier stages amplify said portions to produce M amplified portions, and said variable combining network receives said M amplified portions and combines said M amplified portions in different proportions to produce said amplified signal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
108 words
The system of claim 15 wherein said amplifier having a first configuration including N active amplifier stages which amplify said portions to produce N amplified portions which are combined to produce an amplified signal, said amplifier having at least a second configuration where said N active amplifier stages operate differently, said variable dividing network configured to change said portions of said input signal being provided to said N active amplifier stages, said N active amplifier stages amplify said portions to produce N amplified portions, and said variable combining network receives said N amplified portions and combines said M amplified portions in different proportions to produce said amplified signal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 15 wherein said variable dividing network responsive to phase shift controls provided between signal components to change said at least one portion.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
86 words
The system of claim 15 wherein said variable dividing network includes at least one variable divider including: a first coupler receiving a signal and coupling onto first and second paths signal components of said signal; a phase shifter providing a relative phase shift between said signal components on said first and second paths; and a second coupler receives said signal components with said relative phase shift on said first and second paths to first and second output ports in proportions depending on said relative phase shift.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 20 wherein said first coupler and said second coupler are 90 degree 3 dB hybrid couplers.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
68 words
A power amplification system, said system comprising: a variable combining network configured to receive at least one amplified portion from at least one active amplifier stage and using the amplified portion in varying proportions to produce an amplified output signal; and a variable dividing network configured to divide an input signal and produce a changing portion of said input signal to said at least one active amplifier stage.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
68 words
A power amplification system, said system comprising: a variable combining network configured to receive at least one amplified portion from at least one active amplifier stage and using the amplified portion in varying proportions to produce an amplified output signal; and a variable dividing network configured to divide an input signal and produce a changing portion of said input signal to said at least one active amplifier stage.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
90 words
The system of claim 22 wherein said variable combining network includes at least one variable combiner including: a first coupler receives signal portions from two input ports and couples said signal components of said signal portions onto first and second paths; a phase shifter providing a relative phase shift between said signal components on said first and second paths; and a second coupler distributes said signal components with said relative phase shift on said first and second paths at an output port in proportions depending on said relative phase shift.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-10-27 | 2007-04-28 | 2007-10-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-10-27 | 2011-04-28 | 2011-10-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-10-27 | 2015-04-28 | 2015-10-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |