Multimode Power Amplifier Bias Switching Across Linear and Saturation Modes

Solution Overview

Problem

Current power amplifiers (PAs) require different designs for saturated and linear modes, leading to increased costs and complexity when accommodating multiple telecommunication standards, as they need to switch between various modes and standards like GSM, EDGE, TD-SCDMA, TD-LTE, and CDMA2000.

Innovation Solution

A multimode PA with multiple stages of amplifier circuits connected in cascade, each stage comprising basic amplifying units with adjustable bias voltage, allowing for flexible configuration to switch between modes by turning units on or off and adjusting bias voltages, eliminating the need for a gating switch.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple single mode PAs are used to meet different telecommunication standards, then the adaptability to different standards is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to different telecommunication standardsVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by designing a single power amplifier that can operate in multiple modes (saturated and linear) to support different telecommunication standards. The PA includes a saturated mode amplifier and a linear mode amplifier sharing common components (input matching network, output matching network, power supply), allowing one device to perform multiple functions rather than requiring separate PAs for each standard

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the saturated mode amplifier and linear mode amplifier into a single integrated circuit. Both amplifiers share common input matching networks, output matching networks, and power supply circuits, combining multiple functions into one unified device to reduce overall system complexity and component count

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple single mode PAs are used to meet different telecommunication standards, then the adaptability to different standards is improved, but the cost increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to different telecommunication standardsVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by designing a single power amplifier that can operate in multiple modes (saturated and linear) to support different telecommunication standards. The PA includes a saturated mode amplifier and a linear mode amplifier sharing common components (input matching network, output matching network, power supply), allowing one device to perform multiple functions rather than requiring separate PAs for each standard

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the saturated mode amplifier and linear mode amplifier into a single integrated circuit. Both amplifiers share common input matching networks, output matching networks, and power supply circuits, combining multiple functions into one unified device to reduce overall system complexity and component count

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If a PA is designed for linear mode to support 3G standards, then the linearity performance is improved, but the ability to support saturated mode standards like GSM deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelinearity performanceVSAvoidsupport for different operating modes

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the PA's operating mode switchable rather than fixed. A mode switching circuit allows the PA to dynamically transition between saturated mode and linear mode operation, enabling the same hardware to adapt its characteristics based on the required telecommunication standard, whether GSM (saturated) or 3G (linear)

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies universality by designing a single power amplifier that can operate in multiple modes (saturated and linear) to support different telecommunication standards. The PA includes a saturated mode amplifier and a linear mode amplifier sharing common components (input matching network, output matching network, power supply), allowing one device to perform multiple functions rather than requiring separate PAs for each standard

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2890005B1Multimode power amplifier, multimode switching method and mobile terminal thereof

Publication Date: 2019.05.08 VANCHIP TIANJIN TECH

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AI summary

Disclosed are a multimode power amplifier, also a method for implementing different work mode switching by the multimode power amplifier and a mobile terminal using the multimode power amplifier. The multimode power amplifier includes at least two stage amplification circuits, each stage amplification circuit is connected in serial way; each stage amplification circuit has at least one basic amplification unit array, the amplification unit array is composed of multiple basic amplification units in parallel way. Bias voltage of each basic amplification unit array is controlled independently. By configuring the bias voltage flexibly, the multimode power amplifier can implement the switching between saturation mode and linear mode, and meets the actual needs of multi-communication mode. In addition, the multimode power amplifier also has the advantages of lower cost, simple and flexible circuit, and easy realization.