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:
Apr. 15, 2008
Filed:
Feb. 24, 2006
Angelo Scuderi, Catania, IT;
Antonino Scuderi, Misterbianco, IT;
Luca LA Paglia, Caltagirone, IT;
Francesco Carrara, Acireale, IT;
Giuseppe Palmisano, San Giovanni la Punta, IT;
Angelo Scuderi, Catania, IT;
Antonino Scuderi, Misterbianco, IT;
Luca La Paglia, Caltagirone, IT;
Francesco Carrara, Acireale, IT;
Giuseppe Palmisano, San Giovanni la Punta, IT;
STMicroelectronics S.r.l., Agrate Brianza, IT;
Abstract
A protection method may prevent a load-mismatch-induced failure in solid-state power amplifiers. In an RF power amplifier, the load voltage standing-wave ratio results in very high voltage peaks at the collector of the final stage and may eventually lead to permanent failure of the power transistor due to avalanche breakdown. The method avoids breakdown by attenuating the input power to the final stage during overvoltage conditions, thus limiting the output collector swing. This is accomplished by a feedback control system, which detects the peak voltage at the output collector node and clamps its value to a given threshold by varying the circuit gain. Indeed, the control loop is unlocked in the nominal condition and it acts when an output mismatching condition is detected. A control circuit also allows a supply-independent collector-clamping threshold to be accurately set.