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:
Aug. 11, 2009
Filed:
Oct. 30, 2007
Noureddine Outaleb, Ottawa, CA;
Adrian Bergsma, Kanata, CA;
John Ilowski, Nepean, CA;
Nortel Networks Limited, St. Laurent, Quebec, CA;
Abstract
A digital power amplifier (or power switching amplifier or power switch) for use in a digital transmitter includes a low impedance multi-stage driver circuit having a low impedance pre-driver and a low impedance driver. The drive circuit drives a power switch stage having two power transistors configured in a current mode class-D push-pull configuration. Utilization of gallium nitride (GaN) transistors or pseudomorphic high electronic mobility transistors (pHEMT) (or combination thereof) and sizing the transistors progressively larger in the driver than in the pre-driver (at least about 3×) provides a reduction in output impedance of the driver circuit and progressive increases in the power driving capability of the succeeding stage. This allows the use of a power amplifier at higher frequencies without altering or affecting the power efficiency and allows use of a digital power amplifier for a digital transmitter.