Patent · US Active

Bias current monitor and control mechanism for amplifiers

US9166533B2 · kind B2 · utility

7Cited by
40References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 11, 2010
Grant dateOct 20, 2015
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 10, 2031

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03F3/189
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Techniques for monitoring and controlling bias current of amplifiers are described. In an exemplary design, an apparatus may include an amplifier and a bias circuit. The amplifier may include at least one transistor coupled to an inductor. The bias circuit may generate at least one bias voltage for the at least one transistor in the amplifier to obtain a target bias current for the amplifier. The bias circuit may generate the at least one bias voltage based on a voltage across the inductor in the amplifier, or a current through a current mirror formed with one of the at least one transistor in the amplifier, or a gate-to-source voltage of one of the at least one transistor in the amplifier, or a voltage in a replica circuit replicating the amplifier, or a current applied to the amplifier with a switched mode power supply disabled.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.