The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 29, 2002
Filed:
Jan. 04, 2001
Joel R. King, Hillsboro, OR (US);
Gordon A. Olsen, Tigard, OR (US);
Prasad Yenigalla, San Jose, CA (US);
Maxim Integrated Products, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Abstract
The present invention teaches a power amplifier having two or more output power devices and a combining network for switching the output path between these several power devices. The first output power device is designed for power efficient signal amplification at the power amplifier's highest output power level. The second output power device is designed for power efficient signal amplification at the output power level that the power amplifier is most likely to operate. Either the first or second output power device is enabled depending on the output power level. A combining network is used to transform the output impedance, as required, for the proper operation of the enabled power device. By switching between a range of power devices according to the output power level, a high level of power efficiency can be achieved across a broad range of operating states of the power amplifier.