Methods and apparatus for controlling power amplifier quiescent current in a wireless communication device
US6043706A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 5, 1999 |
| Grant date | Mar 28, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 5, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03F1/30
- WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method is provided for controlling the quiescent current of a power amplifier in a wireless communication device, the amplifier configured to amplify an applied communication signal and employing biasing controlled by a reference voltage. In a preferred embodiment, the method includes: measuring the operating current of the communication device with no communication signal applied to the amplifier and with the reference voltage set to zero, increasing the reference voltage, while continuing to measure the operating current, until the difference between the operating current at a particular reference voltage and the operating current with the reference voltage set to zero reaches a pre-selected current value, and storing a digital value corresponding to the particular reference voltage. The pre-selected current value is preferably determined by characterizing a sufficient sample of amplifiers (e.g., based on model or production lot) to determine a minimum amplifier quiescent current adequate to meet desired performance characteristics for a particular system or application.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.