Rf Micro Devices, Inc.

Khoi Tam Vu

Jon D Jorgenson

Victor E Steel

Edward T Spears

Curtis A Barratt

An amplifier provides two or more selectively enabled amplifier segments allowing a source signal to be amplified with a selectable output power. A bias circuit responsive to a bias control signal enables selectable combinations of one or more amplifier segments, thus allowing selection of a desired output power. Selecting a desired output signal power via the bias control signal corresponds to selecting an overall amplifier quiescent current that decreases with decreasing output signal power. Thus, the amplifier permits a controlling system, such as a mobile terminal (e.g., cellular telephone) to amplify a transmit signal with a selectable transmit signal output power and corresponding level of amplifier quiescent power consumption. Preferably, each segment comprises one or more transistor amplification stages which, when enabled by the bias circuit, are biased to permit maximum power linear amplification for the transmit signal.

Segmented power amplifier and method of control

Adaptive manufacturing of semiconductor circuits

A high efficiency multiple power level power amplifier has a PIN diode network that selectively associates an impedance transformation network with an interstage impedance matching network to maintain desired gain and linearity characteristics for the power amplifier at different output power levels. The PIN diode network in the off mode (high power), has a high breakdown voltage and high series resistance thereby reducing distortion components. The PIN diode network in the on mode (low power), has a low series resistance thereby reducing insertion losses.

Growing community of inventors

Jamestown, NC, United States of America

Khoi Tam Vu