IP Library Granted Patent US 7,576,612
Granted Patent B2
US 7,576,612 · App. 11/958,966 · Granted Aug 18, 2009

Power amplifier

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,576,612
App. No.
11/958,966
Granted
Aug 18, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention provides a power amplifier that includes the following: an RF operation transistor 3 having a base to which an RF signals is inputted, an emitter connected to the ground, and a collector connected to a power supply and a terminal for outputting an RF signal; a current reference transistor 12 having a collector connected to a reference current source 11 , an emitter connected to the ground, and a base connected to the base of the RF operation transistor, an operational amplifier 22 formed of CMOS having one input connected to the collector of the current reference transistor and the other input connected to the base of the RF operation transistor; and a voltage-to-current conversion transistor 22 for converting the output of the operational amplifier 22 into a current to be supplied to the base of the RF operation transistor. The power amplifier has low power consumption and an efficient use of chip area, and a current variation due to the relative variation in h FE can be prevented, so as to be driven with a low power supply voltage.

Claims (34)

1. A power amplifier comprising:

an RF operation transistor having a base to which an RF signal is inputted, an emitter connected to the ground, and a collector connected to a power supply and a terminal for outputting an RF signal;

a current reference transistor having a collector connected to a reference current source, an emitter connected to the ground, and a base connected to the base of the RF operation transistor;

a starting resistor connected between the base and the collector of the current reference transistor;

an operational amplifier formed of CMOS having one input connected to the collector of the current reference transistor and the other input connected to the base of the RF operation transistor; and

a voltage-to-current conversion transistor for converting an output of the operational amplifier to a current, the current being supplied to the base of the RF operation transistor.

2. The power amplifier according to claim 1 , wherein

the operational amplifier is formed by using a P-channel MOS transistor.

3. The power amplifier according to claim 1 , wherein

a feedback resistor is inserted in series between the emitter and ground of the current reference transistor.

4. The power amplifier according to claim 1 , wherein

an RF blocking resistor or an RF blocking inductor is provided between an output of the voltage-to-current conversion transistor and the RF operation transistor.

5. The power amplifier according to claim 1 , wherein

a low pass filter is inserted into an input of the operational amplifier.

6. The power amplifier according to claim 1 , wherein

the emitter of the RF operation transistor is grounded via an inductor.

7. Radio equipment comprising the power amplifier according to claim 1 .

8. A power amplifier comprising:

an RF operation transistor having a base to which an RF signal is inputted, an emitter connected to the ground, and a collector connected to a power supply and a terminal for outputting an RF signal;

a current reference transistor having a collector connected to a reference current source, an emitter connected to the ground, and a base connected to the base of the RF operation transistor;

an operational amplifier formed of CMOS having one input connected to the collector of the current reference transistor and the other input connected to the base of the RF operation transistor;

a phase adjusting section capable of adjusting a phase of an input signal and inserted into at least one input side of the operational amplifier; and

a voltage-to-current conversion transistor for converting an output of the operational amplifier to a current, the current being supplied to the base of the RF operation transistor.

9. Radio equipment comprising the power amplifier according to claim 8 .

10. The power amplifier according to claim 8 , wherein

the operational amplifier is formed by using a P-channel MOS transistor.

11. The power amplifier according to claim 8 , wherein

a feedback resistor is inserted in series between the emitter and ground of the current reference transistor.

12. The power amplifier according to claim 8 , wherein

an RF blocking resistor or an RF blocking inductor is provided between an output of the voltage-to-current conversion transistor and the RF operation transistor.

13. The power amplifier according to claim 8 , wherein

a low pass filter is inserted into an input of the operational amplifier.

14. The power amplifier according to claim 8 , wherein

the emitter of the RF operation transistor is grounded via an inductor.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 27, 2020
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION
To: PANASONIC SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 052755/0917 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 20, 2008
From: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 021897/0516 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 9, 2008
From: NAKAMURA, SHIGEKI; ITO, JUNJI
To: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 020778/0686 →