Patent ID: 8432228
Filing Date: 2013-04-30
Classification: H03F

Abstract:
1. A power control circuit for regulating an output voltage applied to a power amplifier, the power control circuit comprising: (a) an amplifier for receiving an input ramp voltage, wherein the input ramp voltage is applied to a negative terminal of the amplifier, wherein the input ramp voltage has a magnitude equal to a first voltage level; (b) a pass transistor, coupled to the amplifier, a voltage source, and the power amplifier, for providing the output voltage at a drain terminal of the pass transistor, wherein the voltage source provides a voltage having a magnitude equal to a second voltage level to a source terminal of the pass transistor; (c) at least one saturation detector, coupled to a gate terminal of the pass transistor, for detecting a magnitude of a voltage at the gate terminal of the pass transistor, wherein the at least one saturation detector generates a control current based on the magnitude of the voltage at the gate terminal of the pass transistor; and (d) a voltage regulating circuit, coupled to the amplifier and the at least one saturation detector, for reducing the magnitude of the input ramp voltage from the first voltage level to a third voltage level based on the control current.