Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
AMPLIFYING SIGNALS USING POSITIVE ENVELOPE FEEDBACK

Abstract:

Described herein are methods for amplifying radio-frequency signals using power amplifier (PA) architectures that improve PA performance (e.g., efficiency, linearity, etc.) over an extended range of the operating power levels of the PA. These methods can use positive envelope feedback to dynamically adjust a bias to a stage of the amplification chain. The methods improve amplification processes with little additional complexity, little additional current consumption, and/or little additional chip area relative to other typical amplification methods. The methods utilize a dynamic biasing technique using positive envelope feedback based at least in part on an instantaneous envelope signal at an output of a power amplifier.