Granted Patent B2

US 12,424,985 · App. 17/805,316 · Granted Sep 23, 2025

Inventors: Baker Scott (San Jose, CA); Chong Woo (Fremont, CA); George Maxim (Saratoga, CA); Sukchan Kang (San Francisco, CA); Hui Liu (San Diego, CA)

Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.

H03F1/52H03F1/0205H03F3/20H03F2200/426H03F2200/441H03F2200/444H03F2200/447H03F2200/451H03F2200/462H03F2200/465H03F2200/468H03F2200/471

Abstract

Claims (26)

1. A power amplifier system comprising:

a power amplifier stage comprising an input node and an output node;

a bias circuit coupled to the power amplifier stage and configured to provide a bias signal to the power amplifier stage;

a first clamp coupled to the output node of the power amplifier stage, the first clamp configured to limit a voltage level based on a first threshold;

a second clamp coupled to the input node of the power amplifier stage, the second clamp configured to limit a second voltage level based on a third threshold; and

a protection feedback loop coupled to the bias circuit and configured to detect an operating condition above a second threshold and send a signal to the bias circuit, wherein the bias circuit is configured, responsive to the signal, to debias the power amplifier stage by either:

lowering the second voltage level below the third threshold or

lowering a current level at the input node of the power amplifier stage; and

wherein the first clamp and the second clamp throttle voltage levels for the power amplifier stage faster than the protection feedback loop.

2. The power amplifier system of claim 1 , wherein the first clamp comprises a plurality of stacked diodes.

3. The power amplifier system of claim 1 , wherein the first threshold, the second threshold, and the third threshold are proxies for overpower conditions and the second threshold is lower than the first threshold.

4. The power amplifier system of claim 1 , wherein the first clamp is configured to turn off when the protection feedback loop begins reducing power within the power amplifier stage.

5. The power amplifier system of claim 1 , wherein the protection feedback loop comprises an overvoltage protection feedback loop.

6. The power amplifier system of claim 1 , wherein the protection feedback loop comprises an overcurrent protection feedback loop.

7. The power amplifier system of claim 1 , wherein the protection feedback loop comprises an overtemperature protection feedback loop.

8. The power amplifier system of claim 1 , wherein the protection feedback loop comprises an overpower protection feedback loop.

9. The power amplifier system of claim 1 , further comprising a second power amplifier stage coupled to the input node.

10. The power amplifier system of claim 1 , wherein the protection feedback loop comprises a plurality of protection feedback loops selected from the group consisting of: an overcurrent protection feedback loop, an overvoltage protection feedback loop, an overtemperature protection feedback loop, and an overpower protection feedback loop.

11. The power amplifier system of claim 1 , wherein the first threshold and the second threshold are configured to be programmed dynamically.

12. The power amplifier system of claim 1 , wherein the protection feedback loop comprises

an overtemperature protection feedback loop coupled to the bias circuit and configured to cause the bias circuit to debias the power amplifier stage when a threshold temperature is reached, the overtemperature protection feedback loop comprising:

a temperature sensor physically proximate the power amplifier stage;

a temperature independent voltage source; and

a comparator coupled to the temperature sensor and the temperature independent voltage source.

13. The power amplifier system of claim 12 , further comprising a second protection feedback loop coupled to the bias circuit.

14. The power amplifier system of claim 13 , wherein the comparator is coupled to the second protection feedback loop.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (57)