Patent ID: 7459969
Filing Date: 2008-12-02
Classification: H03F,H04B

Abstract:
1. A method to reduce power consumption within a wireless device comprising: supplying an input signal to a power amplifier (PA) driver; supplying a plurality of cascode bias settings to the PA driver, wherein the cascode bias settings are operable to enable and disable differential transistor pairs within the PA driver; determining a distance between a first operating point for the PA driver to amplify the input signal and a first nonlinear compression level; selecting bias settings to selectively enable and disable differential transistor pairs to operate at a second operating point for the PA driver which is more distant from the first nonlinear compression level than the first operating point; determining a second nonlinear compression level which is lower in magnitude than the first nonlinear compression level; setting a supply voltage to operate the PA driver at the second nonlinear compression level; and producing an output signal from the PA driver using the second operating point and the second nonlinear compression level for the PA driver.