Methods and apparatus for amplifying a telecommunication signal

Details Methods and apparatus for amplifying a telecommunication signal Methods and apparatus for amplifying a telecommunication signal

2001-05-25

2002-08-13

Pascal, Robert (Department: 2817)

Amplifiers

With semiconductor amplifying device

Including plural amplifier channels

C330S285000, C330S286000, C330S051000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06433640

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to amplifiers, and more particularly to methods and apparatus for amplifying a telecommunication signal.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Distributed amplifiers and mixers have been used extensively for many years in a variety of broadband system applications such as microwave receivers, wide-band transmitter exciters and low noise oscilloscope preamplifiers. Distributed amplifiers are conventionally configured to employ multiple amplifier cells within the distributed transmission line networks. The conventional configuration of multiple amplifier cells within distributed transmission line networks generally exhibits the desired increase in gain. However, the efficiency of the conventional configuration of multiple amplifier cells within the distributed transmission line networks degrades with a reduction in drive power.
Referring to
FIG. 1
, a distributed amplifier
10
is illustrated according to the prior art. The distributed amplifier
10
is shown with multiple cells (
12
,
14
,
16
). Each of the cells (
12
,
14
,
16
) includes a field effect transistor (FET)
18
. The drain terminal
20
of the FET
18
of each of the cells (
12
,
14
,
16
) are coupled with output-line inductances
22
, which are connected to an output-line ground
24
with an output-line termination resistance
26
. The gate terminals
28
of the first FET
18
of each of the cells (
12
,
14
,
16
) are coupled with input-line inductances
30
that are connected to an input-line ground
32
with an input-line termination resistance
34
.
The distributed amplifier
10
of the prior art as illustrated in
FIG. 1
has a lower output with a reduction in the drive power. However, the Direct Current (DC) power consumption is not substantially reduced so that the Power-Added Efficiency (PAE) of the distributed amplifier
10
of the prior art degrades as a function of the output power (P
out
) An example of PAE degradation as a function of the output power (P
out
) for a distributed amplifier of the prior art is illustrated in the graph of FIG.
2
.
This PAE degradation as a function of output power (P
out
) is especially evident when the distributed amplifier
10
of the prior art is utilized to amplify a telecommunication signal, such as a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) signal, a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) signal and a Global System for Multiple access (GSM) signal. This PAE degradation as a function of output power (P
out
) in amplifying a telecommunication signal is at least partially due to the sizing of the distributed amplifier for peak power. Since the distributed amplifier is sized for peak power but operates predominantly at the average power level of the telecommunication signal, a typical distributed amplifier configured for amplification of the telecommunication signal exhibits less than desirable PAE.
In view of the foregoing, it should be appreciated that it would be desirable to provide methods and apparatus for amplifying a telecommunication signal with the apparatus and methods providing a PAE that is not substantially affected by a reduction in the drive power. Furthermore, additional desirable features will become apparent to one skilled in the art from the drawings, foregoing background of the invention and following detailed description of a preferred exemplary embodiment, and appended claims.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5012203 (1991-04-01), Beyer et al.
patent: 5365197 (1994-11-01), Ikalainen
patent: 5432473 (1995-07-01), Mattila et al.
patent: 5559472 (1996-09-01), Kobayashi
patent: 5880640 (1999-03-01), Dueme
patent: 5920230 (1999-07-01), Beall
patent: 5923215 (1999-07-01), Hans
patent: 6130579 (2000-10-01), Iyer et al.
patent: 6377125 (2002-04-01), Pavio et al.

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