Wide Dynamic Range Broadband Current Mode Linear Detector Circuits for High Power Radio Frequency Power Amplifier

1 . A power detector with a detection signal input connectable to a source of a radio frequency signal, and a detected power level output, the power detector comprising:

a differential amplifier detector circuit with an input connected to the detection signal input, and an output corresponding to the detected power level output;

a feedback network connected to the input and the output of the differential amplifier detector circuit; and

a mirror circuit connected to the differential amplifier detector circuit, a root mean square current corresponding to a power level of the radio frequency signal from the source being mirrored and integrated, with a direct current voltage level being generated therefrom and output to the detected power level output, the direct current voltage being within a first predetermined voltage range between a low end and a high end and corresponding to the power level of the radio frequency signal.

2 . The power detector of claim 1 further comprising a subtractor circuit connected to the output of the differential amplifier detector circuit, the direct current voltage level corresponding to the power level of the radio frequency signal being reduced by a predetermined amount to reduce the first predetermined voltage range to have a low end of zero.

3 . The power detector of claim 1 wherein the differential amplifier detector circuit includes a first differential amplifier transistor and a second differential amplifier transistor, a gate of each of the first differential amplifier transistor and the second differential amplifier transistor corresponding to the input of the differential amplifier detector circuit.

4 . The power detector of claim 3 wherein the first differential amplifier transistor is connected in a diode configuration.

5 . The power detector of claim 3 wherein the second differential amplifier transistor is connected in a diode configuration.

6 . The power detector of claim 3 wherein the mirror circuit includes a first mirror transistor connected to the first differential amplifier transistor, and a second mirror transistor connected to the second differential amplifier transistor.

7 . The power detector circuit of claim 1 further comprising an electrostatic discharge circuit connected to the output of the differential amplifier detector circuit.

8 . A radio frequency front end circuit connectable to a source of a radio frequency signal, the radio frequency front end circuit comprising:

a circuit output connectable to a radio frequency signal destination;

an amplifier circuit implemented and including input and an output, the input being connected to a source of a radio frequency signal;

a power detector including a differential amplifier circuit with a feedback network and a mirror circuit connected thereto, the differential amplifier circuit including an input connected to the output of the amplifier circuit, an output corresponding to the circuit output, a root mean square current corresponding to a power level of the radio frequency signal from the source being mirrored and integrated by the power detector to generate a direct current voltage level output to the circuit output, the direct current voltage being within a first predetermined voltage range between a low end and a high end and corresponding to the power level of the radio frequency signal; and

a coupler having a input port connected to the output of the amplifier circuit, a detector port connected to the input of the power detector, and a transmitted port connected to the circuit output.

9 . The front end circuit of claim 8 further comprising a low drop out voltage regulator connected to a respective power supply input of the amplifier circuit and the power detector, and outputs a predetermined voltage from a variable voltage electrical power source.

10 . The front end circuit of claim 9 wherein the variable voltage electrical power source is a battery.

11 . The front end circuit of claim 8 wherein the amplifier circuit is a power amplifier, the radio frequency signal destination is an antenna, and the source of the radio frequency signal is a transceiver circuit.

12 . The front end circuit of claim 8 wherein the amplifier circuit is a low noise amplifier, the radio frequency signal destination is a transceiver circuit, and the source of the radio frequency signal is an antenna.

13 . The front end circuit of claim 8 further comprising a subtractor circuit connected to the output of the differential amplifier detector circuit, the direct current voltage level corresponding to the power level of the radio frequency signal being reduced by a predetermined amount to reduce the first predetermined voltage range to have a low end of zero.

14 . A radio frequency communications device comprising:

a transceiver configured to process radio frequency signals;

an antenna configured to facilitate transmission and reception of the radio frequency signals;

an amplifier connected to the transceiver and the antenna and including an input and an output; and

a power detector including a differential amplifier circuit with a feedback network and a mirror circuit connected thereto, the differential amplifier circuit including an input connected to the output of the amplifier circuit, an output corresponding to the circuit output, a root mean square current corresponding to a power level of the radio frequency signal from the source being mirrored and integrated by the power detector to generate a direct current voltage level output to the circuit output, the direct current voltage being within a first predetermined voltage range between a low end and a high end and corresponding to the power level of the radio frequency signal.

15 . The radio frequency communications device of claim 14 further comprising a directional coupler with an input port connected to the output of the amplifier, a detection port connected to an input of the power detector, and a transmission port connected to a selected one of the antenna and the amplifier.

16 . The radio frequency communications device of claim 15 wherein the amplifier is a low noise amplifier with the transmission port of the directional coupler being connected to the transceiver and the input of the amplifier being connected to the antenna.

17 . The radio frequency communications device of claim 15 wherein the amplifier is a power amplifier with the transmission port of the directional coupler being connected to the antenna and the input of the amplifier being connected to the transceiver.

18 . The radio frequency communications device of claim 14 wherein the differential amplifier of the power detector includes a first differential amplifier transistor and a second differential amplifier transistor.

19 . The radio frequency communications device of claim 18 wherein the first transistor is connected in a diode configuration.

20 . The radio frequency communications device of claim 18 wherein the second transistor is connected in a diode configuration.

21 . The radio frequency communications device of claim 18 wherein the mirror circuit includes a first mirror transistor connected to the first differential amplifier transistor, and a second mirror transistor connected to the second differential amplifier transistor.

22 . The radio frequency communications device of claim 14 further comprising a subtractor circuit connected to the output of the differential amplifier detector circuit, the direct current voltage level corresponding to the power level of the radio frequency signal being reduced by a predetermined amount to reduce the first predetermined voltage range to have a low end of zero.