Patent ID: 9595926
Date: 2017-03-14
CPC Classifications: H03F,H04B

Claim:
1. A radio frequency amplification system comprising: a plurality of radio frequency amplification stages configured to amplify an input signal to generate an output signal, the plurality of radio frequency amplification stages including a first amplification stage and a second amplification stage that is subsequent to the first amplification stage in a signal path, the first amplification stage including a first stage bipolar transistor, and the second amplification stage including a second stage bipolar transistor and a base-to-collector feedback circuit electrically connected between a base and a collector of the second stage bipolar transistor; and an overdrive detection circuit configured to sense a collector current of the first stage bipolar transistor to detect when an overdrive condition is present, and to decrease an impedance of the base-to-collector feedback circuit in response to detection of the overdrive condition such that a gain of the second stage bipolar transistor is reduced.