High efficiency power amplifier power architecture
View Patent ↗A distributed power converter is for use with an RF power amplifier and includes a primary converter connected to an input voltage and configured to provide an unregulated DC intermediate voltage that is galvanically isolated from the input voltage. Additionally, the distributed power converter also includes a secondary regulator connected galvanically to the unregulated DC intermediate voltage and configured to generate a regulated DC supply voltage for at least a portion of the RF power amplifier. In another aspect, a method of operating a distributed power converter is for use with an RF power amplifier and includes providing an unregulated DC intermediate voltage that is galvanically isolated from an input voltage and generating a regulated DC supply voltage for at least a portion of the RF power amplifier that is galvanically connected to the unregulated DC intermediate voltage.
1. A distributed power converter for use with an RF power amplifier, comprising:
a primary converter connected to an input voltage and configured to provide an unregulated DC intermediate voltage that is galvanically isolated from the input voltage and provide another unregulated DC intermediate voltage that is galvanically isolated from the input voltage and the unregulated DC intermediate voltage; and
a secondary regulator connected galvanically to the unregulated DC intermediate voltage and configured to generate a regulated DC supply voltage for at least a portion of the RF power amplifier.
2. The converter as recited in claim 1 wherein the primary converter is a fixed duty cycle converter.
3. The converter as recited in claim 1 wherein the secondary regulator is a variable duty cycle regulator.
4. The converter as recited in claim 1 wherein the secondary regulator provides a reduced value of the regulated DC supply voltage during an idle time of at least the portion of the RF power amplifier.
5. The converter as recited in claim 1 wherein the secondary regulator generates the regulated DC supply voltage for a final RF amplifier stage of the RF power amplifier.
6. The converter as recited in claim 1 further comprising an additional secondary regulator connected galvanically to the unregulated DC intermediate voltage and configured to generate an additional regulated DC supply voltage.
7. The converter as recited in claim 6 wherein the additional secondary regulator provides the additional regulated DC supply voltage to a preamplifier stage of the RF power amplifier.
8. The converter as recited in claim 1 further comprising another secondary regulator connected galvanically to the another unregulated DC intermediate voltage and configured to generate another regulated DC supply voltage.
9. The converter as recited in claim 8 wherein the another secondary regulator generates the another regulated DC supply voltage for a preamplifier of the RF power amplifier.
10. A method of operating a distributed power converter for use with an RF power amplifier, comprising:
providing an unregulated DC intermediate voltage that is galvanically isolated from an input voltage;
providing another unregulated DC intermediate voltage that is galvanically isolated from the input voltage and the unregulated DC intermediate voltage; and
generating a regulated DC supply voltage for at least a portion of the RF power amplifier that is galvanically connected to the unregulated DC intermediate voltage.
11. The method as recited in claim 10 wherein providing the unregulated DC intermediate voltage employs a fixed duty cycle conversion.
12. The method as recited in claim 10 wherein generating the regulated DC supply voltage employs a variable duty cycle regulation.
13. The method as recited in claim 10 wherein generating the regulated DC supply voltage includes generating a reduced value of the regulated DC supply voltage during an idle time of at least the portion of the RF power amplifier.
14. The method as recited in claim 10 wherein generating the regulated DC supply voltage includes generating the regulated DC supply voltage for a final RF amplifier stage of the RF power amplifier.
15. The method as recited in claim 10 wherein generating the regulated DC supply voltage further comprises generating an additional regulated DC supply voltage that is galvanically connected to the unregulated DC intermediate voltage.
16. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein the additional regulated DC supply voltage is generated for a preamplifier stage of the RF power amplifier.
17. The method as recited in claim 10 wherein generating the regulated DC supply voltage further comprises generating another regulated DC supply voltage that is galvanically connected to the another unregulated DC intermediate voltage.
18. The method as recited in claim 17 wherein the another regulated DC supply voltage is generated for a preamplifier stage of the RF power amplifier.
19. A distributed power converter for use with an RF power amplifier, comprising:
a primary converter connected to an input voltage and configured to provide an unregulated DC intermediate voltage that is galvanically isolated from the input voltage;
a secondary regulator connected galvanically to the unregulated DC intermediate voltage and configured to generate a regulated DC supply voltage for at least a portion of the RF power amplifier, and
an additional secondary regulator connected galvanically to the unregulated DC intermediate voltage and configured to generate an additional regulated DC supply voltage, wherein the additional secondary regulator provides the additional regulated DC supply voltage to a preamplifier stage of the RF power amplifier.
20. The converter as recited in claim 19 wherein the primary converter is a fixed duty cycle converter.