Divided amplifier

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11228292-B2
Application number	US-201916560660-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 4, 2019
Priority date	Sep 4, 2019
Publication date	Jan 18, 2022
Grant date	Jan 18, 2022

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed for processing a signal with a divided amplifier. In example implementations, an apparatus includes a first portion of an amplifier, a first port interface, a second port interface, and a switch matrix. The first port interface includes a first transformer; a second portion of the amplifier, which is coupled to the first transformer; and a first switch component that is coupled to at least one of the first transformer or the second portion of the amplifier. The second port interface includes a second transformer and a second switch component that is coupled to the second transformer. The switch matrix is coupled between the first switch component and the first portion of the amplifier and between the second switch component and the first portion of the amplifier. The switch matrix is also coupled between the second portion of the amplifier and the first portion of the amplifier.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A mobile device for processing a signal, the mobile device comprising:
a first portion of an amplifier;
a first receive port interface comprising:
a first transformer;
a second portion of the amplifier, the second portion of the amplifier coupled to the first transformer; and
a first switch component coupled to at least one of the first transformer or the second portion of the amplifier;

a second receive port interface comprising:
a second transformer; and
a second switch component coupled to the second transformer; and

a switch matrix, the switch matrix coupled between:
the first switch component and the first portion of the amplifier;
the second switch component and the first portion of the amplifier; and
the second portion of the amplifier and the first portion of the amplifier.

2. The mobile device of claim 1 , wherein the switch matrix comprises multiple signal paths configured to enable the first receive port interface or the second receive port interface to be operatively connected to the first portion of the amplifier responsive to engagement of the first switch component or the second switch component, respectively.

3. The mobile device of claim 1 , wherein:
the first portion of the amplifier comprises a first amplifier transistor;
the second portion of the amplifier comprises a second amplifier transistor; and
the switch matrix comprises a signal path coupled between the first amplifier transistor and the second amplifier transistor.

4. The mobile device of claim 3 , further comprising:
a first power distribution node; and
a second power distribution node,
wherein the first amplifier transistor and the second amplifier transistor are coupled together in series between the first power distribution node and the second power distribution node.

5. The mobile device of claim 4 , wherein the first amplifier transistor, the switch matrix, and the second amplifier transistor are configured to:
enable a direct-current current (DC current) to flow between the first power distribution node and the second power distribution node; and
enable the DC current to flow through the first amplifier transistor, the signal path of the switch matrix, and the second amplifier transistor.

6. The mobile device of claim 3 , wherein:
the signal path of the switch matrix includes a first end and a second end;
the first amplifier transistor comprises a channel terminal, the channel terminal of the first amplifier transistor coupled to the first end of the signal path; and
the second amplifier transistor comprises a channel terminal and a gate terminal, the gate terminal coupled to the first transformer, the channel terminal of the second amplifier transistor coupled to the second end of the signal path.

7. The mobile device of claim 6 , wherein:
the signal path of the switch matrix comprises a first signal path;
the switch matrix comprises a second signal path;
the first switch component comprises a first switch transistor, the first switch transistor coupled between the gate terminal of the second amplifier transistor and at least one bias voltage node; and
the second switch component comprises a second switch transistor, the second switch transistor comprising a first channel terminal and a second channel terminal, the first channel terminal coupled to the second signal path of the switch matrix, the second channel terminal coupled to the second transformer.

8. The mobile device of claim 1 , wherein:
the first switch component is configured, responsive to being in an engaged state, to enable a first signal propagation path from the first transformer, through the second portion of the amplifier, across the switch matrix, and to the first portion of the amplifier; and
the second switch component is configured, responsive to being in the engaged state, to enable a second signal propagation path from the second transformer, across the switch matrix, and to the first portion of the amplifier.

9. The mobile device of claim 8 , wherein:
the amplifier is configured, responsive to the first switch component being in the engaged state, as a multi-stage amplifier comprising the first portion of the amplifier and the second portion of the amplifier; and
the amplifier is configured, responsive to the second switch component being in the engaged state, as a single-stage amplifier comprising the first portion of the amplifier.

10. The mobile device of claim 8 , wherein:
responsive to the first switch component being in the engaged state, the second portion of the amplifier comprises a main stage of the amplifier, and the first portion of the amplifier comprises a cascode stage of the amplifier.

11. The mobile device of claim 10 , wherein:
the first portion of the amplifier comprises a cross-coupled differential amplifier; and
the second portion of the amplifier comprises a common-source differential amplifier.

12. The mobile device of claim 11 , wherein:
the cross-coupled differential amplifier comprises a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) cross-coupled differential amplifier; and
the common-source differential amplifier comprises a CMOS common-source differential amplifier.

13. The mobile device of claim 1 , wherein:
the first receive port interface corresponds to a first frequency band;
the second receive port interface corresponds to a second frequency band; and
the mobile device further comprises a controller coupled to the first switch component and to the second switch component, the controller configured to selectively activate the first receive port interface or the second receive port interface using the first switch component or the second switch component, respectively, based on a frequency of a received signal, the first frequency band, and the second frequency band.

14. The mobile device of claim 1 , wherein:
the second receive port interface comprises another second portion of the amplifier, the another second portion of the amplifier coupled to the second transformer;
the second switch component is coupled to the second transformer and the another second portion of the amplifier;
the switch matrix is coupled between the another second portion of the amplifier and the first portion of the amplifier;
the first switch component is configured, responsive to being in an engaged state, to enable a first signal propagation path from the first transformer, through the second portion of the amplifier, across the switch matrix, and to the first portion of the amplifier; and
the second switch component is configured, responsive to being in the engaged state, to enable a second signal propagation path from the second transformer, through the another second portion of the amplifier, across the switch matrix, and to the first portion of the amplifier.

15. The mobile device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a third receive port interface comprising:
a third transformer;
another second portion of the amplifier, the another second portion of the amplifier coupled to the third transformer; and
a third switch component coupled to at least one of the third transformer or the another second portion of the amplifier, wherein the switch matrix is coupled between:
the third switch component and the first portion of the amplifier; and
the another second portion of the amplifier and the first portion of the amplifier.

16. The mobile device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a mixer comprising a mixer input node and a mixer output node, the mixer input node coupled to the first portion of the amplifier; and
a filter co

Assignees

• Qualcomm Inc

Inventors

• Karmaker Rahul
• Donovan Conor
• Chang Li-Chung

Classifications

• H04B1/18

  Input circuits, e.g. for coupling to an antenna or a transmission line (coupling networks between antennas or lines and receivers independent of the nature of the receiver H03H) · CPC title

• H03F2200/451

  the amplifier being a radio frequency amplifier · CPC title

• H03F2203/45172

  A transformer being added at the input of the dif amp · CPC title

• H03F3/211

  using a combination of several amplifiers (H03F3/60 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H03F3/72

  Gated amplifiers, i.e. amplifiers which are rendered operative or inoperative by means of a control signal · CPC title