US-12620938-B2 - High efficiency amplifier with output signal bracketing dynamic supplies

US12620938B2US 12620938 B2US12620938 B2US 12620938B2US-12620938-B2

Abstract

A device including a first circuit, a second circuit. The first circuit to receive a first signal, a second signal, and a third signal, and the first circuit to provide a fourth signal and a fifth signal. The second circuit to receive the fourth signal and the fifth signal, and the second circuit to control a first set of components to maintain a difference between a first amount of power provided to a first terminal of a driver and a second amount of power provided to a second terminal of the driver or to control a second set of components to maintain the difference between the first amount of power provided to the first terminal of the driver and the second amount of power provided to the second terminal of the driver.

Inventors

Feng Su
Tom W. Kwan
Iuri Mehr
Fang Lin
Guo Wen Wei
Kevin Yuhang Li
Yue Hu

Assignees

AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL SALES PTE. LIMITED

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20230727

Claims (20)

1 . A system, comprising: a device comprising: a first circuit configured to: receive a first signal to indicate a first amount of power provided to a first terminal of a driver; receive a second signal to indicate a second amount of power provided to a second terminal of the driver; receive a third signal to indicate a third amount of power provided by the driver; provide a fourth signal having a first level in response to a level of the first signal being larger than a level of the third signal and the fourth signal having a second level in response to the level of the third signal being larger than the level of the first signal; and provide a fifth signal having a first level in response to a level of the second signal being larger than the level of the third signal and the fifth signal having a second level in response to the level of the third signal being larger than the level of the second signal; and a second circuit configured to: receive the fourth signal and the fifth signal; and determine, based on the fourth signal and the fifth signal, whether to control: a first set of components to maintain a difference between the first amount of power and the second amount of power; or a second set of components to maintain the difference between the first amount of power and the second amount of power.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the level of the first signal includes a first level, wherein the level of the second signal includes a first level, further comprising: a power source configured to: electrically couple with the first circuit; adjust the first signal from the first level to a second level; and produce, responsive to adjusting the first signal from the first level to the second level, a first threshold between the first signal and the third signal; and a second power source configured to: electrically couple with the first circuit; adjust the second signal from the first level to a second level; and produce, responsive to adjusting the second signal from the first level to the second level, a second threshold between the second signal and the third signal.
3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein: the second circuit is configured to provide a sixth signal and a seventh signal to indicate control of the first set of components or the second set of components; the first threshold is configured to result in the fourth signal having the second level prior to the level of the third signal exceeding the first level of the first signal; and the second threshold is configured to result in the fifth signal having the first level prior to the first level of the second signal exceeding the level of the third signal.
4 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising: the second circuit configured to provide a sixth signal and a seventh signal to indicate control of the first set of components or the second set of components; and a power source configured to: electrically couple with the first terminal of the driver; and provide a first level of the first amount of power; wherein the first set of components, in response to the sixth signal having a first level, are configured to: electrically couple the power source with the second terminal of the driver to adjust, from a first level to a second level, the second amount of power; and electrically couple a second power source with the first terminal of the driver to adjust, from the first level to a second level, the first amount of power; and wherein the first set of components, in response to the sixth signal having a second level, are configured to: electrically decouple the power source from the second terminal of the driver; and electrically decouple the second power source from the first terminal of the driver.
5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein: the second level of the first amount of power is configured to exceed, in response to the fourth signal having the second level, a level of the third amount of power; and the second level of the second amount of power is configured to maintain the difference between the first amount of power and the second amount of power.
6 . The system of claim 4 , wherein: a difference between the first level of the first amount of power and the first level of the second amount of power has a first value; a difference between the second level of the first amount of power and the second level of the second amount of power has a second value; and the first value and the second value are the same.
7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein: the second circuit is configured to provide a sixth signal and a seventh signal to indicate control of the first set of components or the second set of components; the second set of components, in response to the seventh signal having a first level, are configured to: electrically decouple a power source from the first terminal of the driver; and electrically couple a second power source with the second terminal of the driver; and the second set of components, in response to the seventh signal having a second level, are configured to: electrically decouple the second power source from the second terminal of the driver; and electrically couple the power source with the first terminal of the driver.
8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein: the power source is configured to provide, in response to the power source being electrically coupled with the first terminal of the driver, a first level of the first amount of power; the first level of the first amount of power is configured to exceed, in response to the fourth signal having the first level, a first level of the third amount of power; the second power source is configured to provide, in response to the second power source being electrically coupled with the second terminal of the driver, a first level of the second amount of power; and the first level of the second amount of power is configured to exceed, in response to the fifth signal having the first level, a second level of the third amount of power.
9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein: the first level of the first amount of power has a first amplitude and a first polarity; the first level of the second amount of power has a second amplitude and a second polarity; the first amplitude and the second amplitude are the same; and the first polarity and the second polarity are different.
10 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising: a power source configured to: adjust, from a first level to a second level, the first amount of power; and produce, responsive to adjusting the first amount of power, a difference between the first amount of power and the third amount of power; wherein the difference between the first amount of power and the third amount of power is produced in response to the fourth signal having the second level.
11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the power source is configured to: adjust, from a first level to a second level, the second amount of power; and produce, responsive to adjusting the second amount of power, a difference between the second amount of power and the third amount of power; wherein the difference between the second amount of power and the third amount of power is produced in response to the fifth signal having the first level.
12 . A device, comprising: a first circuit configured to: receive a first signal to indicate a first amount of power provided to a first terminal of a driver; receive a second signal to indicate a second amount of power provided to a second terminal of the driver; receive a third signal to indicate a third amount of power provided by the driver; provide a fourth signal having a first level in response to a level of the first signal being larger than a level of the third signal and the fourth signal having a second level in response to the level of the third signal being larger than the level of the first signal; and provide a fifth signal having a first level in response to a level of the second signal being larger than the level of the third signal and the fifth signal having a second level in response to the level of the third signal being larger than the level of the second signal; and a second circuit configured to: receive the fourth signal and the fifth signal; and determine, based on the fourth signal and the fifth signal, whether to control: a first set of components to maintain a difference between the first amount of power and the second amount of power; or a second set of components to maintain the difference between the first amount of power and the second amount of power.
13 . The device of claim 12 , wherein the level of the first signal includes a first level, wherein the level of the second signal includes a first level, further comprising: a power source configured to: electrically couple with the first circuit; adjust the first signal from the first level to a second level; and produce, responsive to adjusting the first signal from the first level to the second level, a first threshold between the first signal and the third signal; and a second power source configured to: electrically couple with the first circuit; adjust the second signal from the first level to a second level; and produce, responsive to adjusting the second signal from the first level to the second level, a second threshold between the second signal and the third signal.
14 . The device of claim 13 , wherein: the second circuit is configured to provide a sixth signal and a seventh signal to indicate control of the first set of components or the second set of components; the first threshold is configured to result in the fourth signal having the second level prior to the level of the third signal exceeding the first level of the first signal; and the second threshold is configured to result in the fifth signal having the first level prior to the first level of the second signal exceeding the level of the third signal.
15 . The device of claim 12 , further comprising: the second circuit configured to provide a sixth signal and a seventh signal to indicate control of the first set of components or the second set of components; and a power source configured to: electrically couple with the first terminal of the driver; and provide a first level of the first amount of power; wherein the first set of components, in response to the sixth signal having a first level, are configured to: electrically couple the power source with the second terminal of the driver to adjust, from a first level to a second level, the second amount of power; and electrically couple a second power source with the first terminal of the driver to adjust, from the first level to a second level, the first amount of power; and wherein the first set of components, in response to the sixth signal having a second level, are configured to: electrically decouple the power source from the second terminal of the driver; and electrically decouple the second power source from the first terminal of the driver.
16 . The device of claim 15 , wherein the second level of the first amount of power is configured to exceed, in response to the fourth signal having the second level, a level of the third amount of power; and the second level of the second amount of power is configured to maintain the difference between the first amount of power and the second amount of power.
17 . The device of claim 15 , wherein: a difference between the first level of the first amount of power and the first level of the second amount of power has a first value; a difference between the second level of the first amount of power and the second level of the second amount of power has a second value; and the first value and the second value are the same.
18 . The device of claim 12 , wherein: the second circuit is configured to provide a sixth signal and a seventh signal to indicate control of the first set of components or the second set of components; the second set of components, in response to the seventh signal having a first level, are configured to: electrically decouple a power source from the first terminal of the driver; and electrically couple a second power source with the second terminal of the driver; and the second set of components, in response to the seventh signal having a second level, are configured to: electrically decouple the second power source from the second terminal of the driver; and electrically couple the power source with the first terminal of the driver.
19 . The device of claim 18 , wherein: the power source is configured to provide, in response to the power source being electrically coupled with the first terminal of the driver, a first level of the first amount of power; the first level of the first amount of power is configured to exceed, in response to the fourth signal having the first level, a first level of the third amount of power; the second power source is configured to provide, in response to the second power source being electrically coupled with the second terminal of the driver, a first level of the second amount of power; and the first level of the second amount of power is configured to exceed, in response to the fifth signal having the first level, a second level of the third amount of power.
20 . A method for maintaining a difference between an amount of power provided to a first terminal of a driver and an amount of power provided to a second terminal of the driver, the method comprising: receiving, by a first circuit, a first signal to indicate the amount of power provided to the first terminal of the driver; receiving, by the first circuit, a second signal to indicate the amount of power provided to the second terminal of the driver; receiving, by the first circuit, a third signal to indicate a third amount of power provided by the driver; providing, by the first circuit, a fourth signal having a first level in response to the first signal being larger than the third signal and the fourth signal having a second level in response to the third signal being larger than the first signal; providing, by the first circuit, a fifth signal having a first level in response to the second signal being larger than the third signal and the fifth signal having a second level in response to the third signal being larger than the second signal; receiving, by a second circuit, the fourth signal and the fifth signal; and determining, by the second circuit based on the fourth signal and the fifth signal, whether to control: a first set of components to maintain the difference between the amount of power provided to the first terminal of the driver and the amount of power provided to the second terminal of the driver; or a second set of components to maintain the difference between the amount of power provided to the first terminal of the driver and the amount of power provided to the second terminal of the driver.

Description

BACKGROUND The present disclosure is related to amplification of signals and amplifiers. Amplifiers can have multiple classes and each class of amplifier can have different characteristics. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Various objects, aspects, features, and advantages of the disclosure will become more apparent and better understood by referring to the detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters identify corresponding elements throughout. In the drawings, like reference numbers generally indicate identical, functionally similar, and/or structurally similar elements. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system for use in voltage bracketing, according to some embodiments. FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of the system illustrated in FIG. 1, according to some embodiments. FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of the system illustrated in FIG. 1, according to some embodiments. FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of the system illustrated in FIG. 1, according to some embodiments. FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of the system illustrated in FIG. 1, according to some embodiments. FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of components having varying states for use in voltage bracketing, according to some embodiments. FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of the components illustrated in FIG. 6, according to some embodiments. FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram of the components illustrated in FIG. 6, according to some embodiments. FIG. 9 is a graph illustrated signals provided to components of the system illustrated in FIG. 2, according to some embodiments. FIG. 10 is a graph illustrating signals provided to components of the system illustrated in FIG. 2, according to some embodiments. FIG. 11 is a graph illustrating signals provided to components of the system illustrated in FIG. 3, according to some embodiments. FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a process of maintaining a voltage bracket, according to some embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Some embodiments are related to systems and methods for voltage bracketing for amplifiers. Voltage bracketing may refer to and/or include maintaining a voltage bracket between terminals of an amplifier, envelope tracking to determine when to adjust amounts of power provided to the terminals of the amplifier, monitoring voltage swings to adjust the amounts of power provided to the amplifier, output signal tracking, power supply tracking, or power supply modification as well as combinations of these operations in some embodiments. A voltage bracket may refer to a voltage difference between a positive supply terminal and a negative supply terminal. A voltage stress may refer to a maximum voltage differential applied to the amplifier in some embodiments. Maintaining a voltage bracket (e.g., a constant voltage differential) may allow for the efficiency of the amplifier to be improved in some embodiments. For example, a system that provides a voltage bracket of 5 Volts (V) may be implemented in circuits that include voltage tolerances less than 5V. The smaller the tolerance of the amplifier may result in an increase in efficiency relative to a second amplifier having a larger tolerance (for example, a voltage tolerance of 10V). Output signal tracking refer to monitoring, analyzing, recording, and/or otherwise evaluating output signals of amplifiers in some embodiments. For example, output signal tracking may include receiving an output signal from an amplifier and comparing a value of the output signal with an amount of power provided to the amplifier. Tracking values of output signals provided by amplifiers may allow for the efficiency of the amplifier to be improved in some embodiments. An amplifier is generally electrically coupled to a power supply and the power supply provides power to the amplifier. The power supply generally provides the power to the amplifier at a given voltage or current level (e.g., 0.7 volts, 1 volt, 5 volts, 10 volts, 12 volts, etc.). For example, an amount of power provided to a terminal of the amplifier may include a voltage level of 7V. The given voltage or current may be Direct Current (DC), Alternating Current (AC), and/or other varying combinations. The voltage level or current level provided to the amplifier can impact the efficiency of the amplifier. For example, the level of voltage provided to power supply terminals of the amplifier may establish an output range for the amplifier (e.g., the output of the amplifier may be unable to exceed the amount of power (e.g., voltage level) provided to the amplifier from the power supply). Additionally, characteristics of input signals may also impact the efficiency of the amplifier. According to one example, an amplifier may receive a signal at a voltage level of 3 volts and receive power at its power terminals at a voltage level of 12 volts. The amplifier and/or a circuit including the amplifier may have a given gain factor which impacts the volta