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:
Mar. 14, 2017
Filed:
Jul. 28, 2015
Skyworks Solutions, Inc., Woburn, MA (US);
Anthony Francis Quaglietta, Methuen, MA (US);
SKYWORKS SOLUTIONS, INC., Woburn, MA (US);
Abstract
Provided herein are apparatus and methods for overdrive protection of radio frequency (RF) amplifiers. In certain configurations, an RF amplifier includes a plurality of amplification stages and an overdrive detection circuit. The overdrive detection circuit determines whether or not the RF amplifier is in an overdrive condition based on a current of an input amplification stage. Additionally, when the overdrive detection circuit detects an overdrive condition, the overdrive detection circuit controls an impedance of one or more feedback circuits of one or more amplification stages subsequent to the input amplification stage in a signal path of the RF amplifier to reduce the RF amplifier's gain. The overdrive protection schemes herein can be used to limit large current and voltage swing conditions manifesting within amplification transistors of the RF amplifier.