Patent Abstract:
A power amplification circuit includes a power amplifier, an RF detector, an error amplifier, a saturation detector, and an offset circuit. The power amplifier provides an amplified signal based on an input signal and a gain control signal. The RF detector provides a detection signal indicative of a logarithm of the power of the amplified signal. The error amplifier provides the gain control signal based on an amplification control signal and the detection signal. The saturation detector provides a saturation signal in response to the gain control signal differing from a reference signal by less than a first predetermined voltage. The offset circuit decreases a voltage level of the amplification control signal by up to a second predetermined voltage in response to the saturation signal and the amplification control signal differing from the detection signal by less than the second predetermined voltage.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of Invention 
         [0002]    This disclosure relates to the field of power amplifier circuits, and more specifically to the detection and correction of saturation in power amplification circuits. 
         [0003]    2. Discussion of Related Art 
         [0004]    In some applications where power amplification of signals is required, precise control of the power gain may be desirable to achieve desired signal properties. For example, transmission modules used in communications devices such as cellular telephones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), etc. may require precise internal power control in certain modes of operation, such as Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying (GMSK) mode. In such applications, a power control circuit may be used that controls the gain of an amplifier stage. A typical control loop controls the amplifier gain via a loop error voltage based upon the difference between the output of a RF detector and a loop set point. The detector (which may be either a linear or a logarithmic detector) samples the amplified signal and produces a detector output indicative of the magnitude of the amplified signal (e.g., based upon the rf amplitude or the power of the amplified signal). The loop error voltage typically passes through an error amplifier (which may be proportional, integral, derivative, or a combination of any such elements, according to the requirements of the control loop design), yielding a gain control signal that controls the gain of the power amplifier. 
         [0005]    Such power control feedback loops suffer severe degradation of performance as the amplifier approaches saturation. When the power amplifier saturates, increases in the gain control signal no longer result in increases in the power amplifier output. This leads to breakdown of the loop performance, such as, for example, the gain control voltage being pinned to the high rail as it increases in an attempt increase the output of the saturated power amplifier output. This condition is sometimes referred to as “loop saturation.” 
         [0006]    In some applications, loop performance can be exceptionally sensitive to saturation, resulting in a power amplifier output other than what is desired. For example, in a typical circuit, control loop performance can degrade beyond acceptable limits at as little as 0.1 dB power amplifier saturation. One way to avoid loop saturation is to monitor the loop error signal and reduce the loop setpoint when saturation (or the imminent onset of saturation) is detected. Saturation can be difficult to detect, however, where the error induced by the saturation is small. In a typical loop circuit using a logarithmic detector to measure the amplifier output, for example, the detector sensitivity may be 50 mV per dB. An error of 0.1 dB in power then results in only 5 mV of error in the loop feedback signal. Since 5 mV is on the order of the error in standard CMOS amplifier input offsets, it may not be possible for the system to cleanly distinguish loop saturation from normal production variation in the performance of the amplifier itself. 
         [0007]    Loop saturation may be easier to detect using a linear detector, where the detector sensitivity near saturation may be considerably higher; saturation can be observed directly by monitoring the loop error signal for deviation from zero when saturation occurs. However, as discussed further below, in a circuit using linear detection, applying a constant reduction to the loop setpoint results in an unacceptable distortion of the loop output. Further, in some applications it may be preferable for other reasons to use logarithmic detection. For example, compared to linear detection, logarithmic detection can provide a much wider dynamic range, which is desirable in many applications. 
         [0008]    Thus, in many applications, it is preferable to use a logarithmic detector in the control loop, making saturation more difficult to detect. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    Systems described herein include power amplification circuits that include circuitry to monitor signals at certain points in a control loop to determine when saturation exists (or is imminent), and process those signals to cause a step in an indicator voltage upon the commencement (or upon the imminent commencement) of saturation. This step can be observed by a controller that may respond to loop saturation in an appropriate manner. In particular, systems described herein include power amplification circuits that include logarithmic detection, and detect saturation (or the imminent onset of saturation) by monitoring a gain control voltage. According to another aspect, systems described herein include analog circuitry that responds to and corrects the detected saturation. In particular, the systems described include control circuits that correct detected saturation by applying an offset to a setpoint signal. 
         [0010]    According to one aspect of the present invention, a power amplification circuit is presented, the circuit comprising a power amplifier having a power input to receive an input signal, a gain control input to receive a gain control signal, and a power output to provide an amplified output signal based upon the input signal and the gain control signal; a power detector to provide a power detector signal indicative of a magnitude of the amplified output signal of the power amplifier; an error amplifier having a first input to receive an amplification control signal, a second input to receive a signal based upon the detector signal, and an output electrically coupled to the gain control input of the power amplifier; and a saturation detector having a first input to receive a signal based upon the gain control signal, a second input to receive a reference signal, and an output to provide a saturation detection signal indicating whether gain control signal exceeds the reference signal. According to one embodiment, the output of the error amplifier is electrically coupled to the gain control input through a transistor. According to another embodiment, the transistor is powered by a battery voltage, and the reference signal is the battery voltage minus a voltage drop larger than a limit voltage of the transistor. According to still another embodiment, the power amplifier is not saturated when the gain control signal is less than the reference signal. According to still another embodiment, the power detector signal is proportional to the logarithm of an RF voltage at the output of the power amplifier. According to still another embodiment, the power detector signal is proportional to an RF voltage at the output of the power amplifier. 
         [0011]    According to another embodiment a power amplification circuit further comprises a linear amplifier to receive the detector signal and to provide an amplified detector signal to the second error amplifier input. According to still another embodiment, the linear amplifier has unity gain. According to still another embodiment, the linear amplifier has non-unity gain. 
         [0012]    According to still another embodiment, the saturation detector is a comparator. 
         [0013]    According to another embodiment, a power amplification circuit further comprises an offset generator circuit to receive the saturation detection signal from the saturation detector and to provide, in response to the saturation detection signal indicating that the gain control signal exceeds the reference signal, an offset signal to the first input of the error amplifier. According to still another embodiment the offset generator circuit comprises a current source; a switch to activate the current source in response to the saturation detection signal indicating that the gain control signal exceeds the reference signal; and a linear amplifier having an input coupled to the current source and an output providing an offset signal, the output electrically coupled to the first input of the error amplifier. According to still another embodiment the output of the linear amplifier is electrically coupled to the first input of the error amplifier through a transistor. According to still another embodiment, the offset generator circuit generates a ramping offset signal in response to the saturation detection signal indicating that the gain control signal exceeds the reference signal. 
         [0014]    According to another embodiment, a power amplification circuit further comprises an offset cutoff circuit to freeze the ramping offset signal in response to a signal based upon the offset signal exceeding an offset cutoff threshold signal. According to still another embodiment, the offset cutoff threshold signal is a signal based upon the power detector signal minus a predetermined voltage. According to still another embodiment, the offset cutoff circuit comprises: a cutoff comparator having a first input to receive a signal based upon the offset signal; a second input to receive the offset cutoff threshold signal; and an output indicating whether the signal at the first input exceeds the offset cutoff threshold signal, the output being electrically coupled to the offset generator circuit; wherein the offset generator circuit is deactivated in response to the comparator output indicating whether the signal at the first input exceeds the offset cutoff threshold signal. 
         [0015]    According to another embodiment, a power amplification circuit further comprises a capacitor electrically coupled between the current source and ground. 
         [0016]    According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of amplifying a first signal is presented, the method comprising acts of: receiving a gain setpoint signal; generating a gain control signal based upon the gain setpoint signal; amplifying the first signal based upon the gain control signal; detecting whether the gain control signal exceeds a predetermined threshold; and providing a saturation detection signal indicative of whether the gain control signal exceeds the predetermined threshold. According to one embodiment, the act of generating the control signal further comprises: receiving a power detector signal indicative of the amplified first signal; and generating a gain control signal based upon the power detector signal and the gain setpoint signal. 
         [0017]    According to another embodiment, the method further comprises generating a correction signal in response to the saturation detection signal indicating that the gain control signal exceeds the predetermined threshold; and applying the correction signal to the gain setpoint signal. According to still another embodiment, the method further comprises detecting whether the correction signal exceeds a predetermined cutoff threshold; and generating a correction cutoff signal in response to the correction signal exceeding a cutoff threshold. According to still another embodiment, the method comprises ceasing an increase of the correction signal in response to the correction cutoff signal. According to still another embodiment, the method comprises maintaining the correction signal at a constant value in response to the correction cutoff signal. 
         [0018]    According to another aspect of the present invention, a power amplification circuit is disclosed, the circuit comprising a power amplifier to receive an input signal and generate an amplified output signal; a power detector to provide a power detector signal indicative of the output signal of the power amplifier; a control circuit to receive a setpoint signal and producing a gain control signal that controls a gain of the power amplifier according to the setpoint signal; and means for providing a saturation detection signal indicating whether the gain control signal is within a saturation detection threshold of a reference signal. According to one embodiment, the power amplification circuit further comprises correction means for generating and applying a correction signal to the setpoint signal in response to the saturation detection signal indicating that the gain control signal is within a saturation detection threshold of a reference signal. According to another embodiment, a power amplification circuit further comprises monitor means for generating a correction cutoff signal if the correction signal exceeds a cutoff threshold. According to still another embodiment, a power amplification circuit further comprises cutoff means for ceasing an increase of the correction signal in response to the correction cutoff signal. According to still another embodiment, a power amplification circuit further comprises sustaining means for maintaining the correction signal in response to the correction cutoff signal. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]    The accompanying drawings are not intended to be drawn to scale. In the drawings, each identical or nearly identical component that is illustrated in various figures is represented by a like numeral. For purposes of clarity, not every component may be labeled in every drawing. In the drawings: 
           [0020]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an exemplary transmission system having an amplification module; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a circuit for detecting and correcting saturation in a power control loop; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is an exemplary embodiment of a power amplification circuit having loop saturation detection circuitry; 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  is an exemplary embodiment of a power amplification circuit having circuitry for detecting and correcting saturation in the power amplification control loop; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  is a graph showing the response curve of an exemplary logarithmic RF detector and an exemplary linear RF detector. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]    This invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having,” “containing,” “involving,” and variations thereof herein, is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. 
         [0026]    The methods and systems described herein may be used in a transmission application where there is an amplification stage whose gain is controlled by a control loop. A diagram of one exemplary embodiment of such a system is illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The system  10  of  FIG. 1  may be, for example, a transmission module of a cellular telephone, personal digital assistant, etc. The exemplary system  10  includes a signal generation module  70  that includes signal generation circuitry and a controller module  80  that includes control circuitry. The signal generation module  70  and the controller module  80  may be implemented in one or more digital processors, and/or incorporate some analog circuitry. Amplification module  100  receives and amplifies the signals generated in the signal generation module, and delivers them to a transmitter  90  (such as an antenna) for transmission. Controller module  80  provides a gain control signal to amplification module  100 . Amplification module  100  includes a gain control loop that uses the control signal to determine the gain by which the signal is amplified for transmission. 
         [0027]    As noted above, saturation of the amplification control loop can degrade performance of the control loop, leading to amplifier output that is not optimized  FIG. 2  illustrates, in block diagram form, an exemplary amplification module  100  having circuitry to detect saturation (or the imminent onset of saturation) and, optionally, to apply a correction signal to correct saturation. 
         [0028]    The amplification module  100  includes a power amplification circuit  60 , which includes power amplifier  102  having an input terminal  104  and an output terminal  106 . The power amplification circuit  60  also includes a RF detector  114  (which may be logarithmic or linear in its response) that samples the output of the power amplifier and provides feedback to an error amplifier  110  (optionally through a buffer or other amplifier, not shown). The output of RF detector  114  may also be provided (optionally through a buffer  118 ) to an output V OUT , which may be monitored, for example, by another module of the device  10  in which the amplification module  100  is deployed, such as the controller module  80 . 
         [0029]    The error amplifier  110  also receives (either directly or indirectly via an injection circuit  40  discussed further below) as an input a loop control signal V SET  which provides a setpoint for the gain of the power amplifier  102 . In one exemplary embodiment, loop control signal V SET  provides a time-varying profile such as a sine wave or other ramping profile that the gain of the power amplifier, and therefore the power profile of the amplifier output, will follow. The output of the error amplifier  110  is a gain control signal V GAIN , provided to the power amplification circuit  60  to control the gain of the power amplifier  102 . Thus, in normal loop operation, error amplifier  110  outputs V GAIN  such that the (optionally amplified) output of detector  114  is equal to the input control signal V SET . Error amplifier  110  may be configured as a proportional amplifier, integral amplifier, derivative amplifier, or any suitable combination of those elements in accordance with loop design requirements. As discussed further below in connection with  FIG. 3 , error amplifier  110  may also include a high-current output stage, either integrated into the error amplifier, or as a discrete output stage. 
         [0030]    The gain control signal V GAIN  is also sent to a saturation detection circuit  20  that determines if saturation exists or is imminent. In one exemplary embodiment (discussed further below in connection with  FIG. 3 ) saturation detection circuit  20  compares V GAIN  with a threshold or reference voltage that is below the V GAIN  value at which loop performance is noticeably degraded due to saturation, and if V GAIN  exceeds that threshold or reference voltage, returns a signal affirmatively indicating saturation. In this way, the saturation detection circuit  20  can provide an unambiguous result (used to indicate, and in some embodiments to initiate correction of, saturation) when saturation is approaching, but before either the loop performance or the power amplifier performance has begun to degrade appreciably. 
         [0031]    The saturation detection circuit, in one embodiment, provides a saturation indication signal  50  that indicates whether saturation exists. The saturation indication signal  50  may be, for example, a binary signal that is high when saturation exists and low when it does not. The saturation indication signal  50  may alternatively be any detectable offset voltage that distinguishes saturation from non-saturation, added to (or even subtracted from) V OUT  of the detector  118 . The saturation indication signal  50  may be received by the controller module  80 , for example, and the controller module  80  may respond in some appropriate way. In some embodiments the controller module  80  responds, for example, by reducing V SET  until the loop saturation is corrected. 
         [0032]    In another embodiment, the amplification module  100  includes an offset generator circuit  30  which receives the saturation indication signal  50  provided by the saturation detection circuit  20 . The offset generator circuit  30  generates an offset voltage that is summed with V SET  by offset injection circuitry  40 , to reduce the gain of the power amplifier. In one exemplary embodiment, the offset voltage generated by offset generator circuit  30  ramps to a value sufficient to bring the power amplifier control loop out of saturation. The offset generator circuit  30  may, in some embodiments, include circuitry that stops the ramping of the offset voltage when the reduction in gain of amplifier  102  is sufficient to bring the control loop out of saturation. In one exemplary embodiment, the offset generator circuit  30  includes circuitry, such as a capacitance, to hold the offset voltage after the ramp of the offset voltage is stopped. In embodiments in which the amplification module  100  is used in the transmission module of a device, such as a cellular telephone or a PDA, the offset generator circuit  30  may hold the offset voltage for the duration of the transmission burst. A reset signal may be used to clear the offset voltage prior to the commencement of the next burst. For example, in one embodiment, the reset is achieved by closing a switch in offset generation circuitry  30  that shorts to ground a capacitor holding the offset voltage. 
         [0033]      FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate in more detail certain exemplary embodiments of the system depicted in the block diagram of  FIG. 2 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 3  illustrates one exemplary embodiment of an amplification module  100  having a capability to detect saturation and to provide a detection signal that may be used to alert another device or component, for example controller module  80 , to the presence or imminence of loop saturation. As discussed further below, the detection circuit may be designed to provide an unambiguous indication of saturation (for example, a positive saturation indication signal) with whatever tolerance is desired; in some applications the detection circuit may respond when the loop is near saturation but not yet in saturation, while in others, the detection circuit may respond when actual saturation occurs. Throughout this disclosure, the term “saturation” is generally used to refer to any saturation or near-saturation condition to which an embodiment of the saturation detection circuit is designed to respond. In some embodiments, therefore, “saturation” may refer to a gain control signal exceeding a certain threshold above which saturation is expected to occur. 
         [0035]    In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the amplification module  100  includes a power amplifier  102 , which may include a plurality of cascaded gain stages. In the illustrated embodiment, for example, power amplifier  102  includes three cascaded gain stages, although other types of power amplifiers (for example, with more or fewer cascaded gain stages) may be used. The power amplifier  102  receives at input terminal  104  a signal to be amplified (such as a transmission burst) and produces at output terminal  106  an amplified output signal. The signal at input terminal  104  may be received, for example, from the signal generation module  70  of  FIG. 1 , and the signal at output terminal  106  may be provided, for example, to the transmitter  90 . 
         [0036]    Returning to  FIG. 3 , the gain of power amplifier  102  is driven by V GAIN , which, in one exemplary embodiment, is coupled to power amplifier  102  through an inductor  108  to filter any ac components that may be present in the dc signal V GAIN . V GAIN  is determined by the feedback network on the error amplifier  110 . The error amplifier  110  operates to keep V DET  equal to the input signal V SET , which is the external control signal controlling the overall gain of amplification module  100 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3 , V GAIN  is sourced by a FET  112  which is driven by the error amplifier  110 . An advantage of using FET  112  is that many operational amplifiers (such as high-precision operational amplifiers that might be desirable to use for error amplifier  110  in a control loop where precision control is desired) cannot source sufficient current to drive the power amplifier  102 . In one exemplary embodiment power amplifier  102  draws as much as 200 mA from the V GAIN  drive. In the illustrated embodiment, FET  112  is a PFET, but it should be recognized that FET  112  can be replaced by other types of transistors such as an NFET or pnp bipolar transistors, or any like component that can provide the necessary current to drive power amplifier  102 . Additionally, FET  112  need not be a discrete component at all, but can be the output stage of an error amplifier  110  which is capable of sourcing the required current. In the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , in which FET  112  is a discrete component, in order to ensure that V GAIN  increases with an increase in V SET , V SET  is applied to the inverting input of error amplifier  110  and the feedback signal (discussed further below) is applied to the non-inverting input of error amplifier  110 . It should be understood that where FET  112  is the output stage of the error amplifier  110 , rather than a discrete component, the inputs to the error amplifier  110  may be reversed to achieve a stable control loop. 
         [0037]    As noted above, error amplifier  110  operates to keep V DET  equal to the input signal V SET . V DET  is a buffered and/or amplified version of the output signal from a RF detector  114  that samples the amplified signal at the output terminal  106  of the power amplifier  102  and provides a signal indicative of the magnitude of the signal at the output terminal  106  of the power amplifier  102 . In one exemplary embodiment RF detector  114  is a logarithmic (log) power detector, meaning that it outputs a voltage that is proportional to the log of the RF voltage at its input. Alternatively, RF detector  114  may, in certain embodiments, be a linear detector, producing an output voltage proportional to the RF voltage at its input. 
         [0038]    In one exemplary embodiment, the output signal from RF detector  114  is provided to a pair of linear amplifiers  116  and  118  whose output signals are V DET  and V OUT  respectively. V DET  provides the feedback for the power control loop. In certain embodiments, V OUT  is used as the saturation indicator signal; V OUT  and switch  128  are discussed further below. In one exemplary embodiment, amplifiers  116  and  118  are very closely matched, e.g., by appropriate selection of the amplifiers themselves and resistors  120 ,  122 ,  124 , and  126 , so that V OUT  is equal to V DET  as long as switch  128  is open. In one exemplary embodiment, resistors  120  and  122  are chosen to give amplifier  116  a suitable gain for closed-loop control of the power amplifier  102  via error amplifier  110 , FET  112 , and V GAIN . Generally speaking linear amplifier  116  may have unity gain, non-unity gain, or a derivative and/or integral component to its gain (achieved, for example, by adding one or more capacitors in parallel or in series with resistor  120 ). The optimal value for the gain of amplifier  116  will depend upon the sensitivity of RF detector  114 , and other loop parameters. (As discussed further below, the use of V OUT  amplifier  118  is optional; it may be used in embodiments where it is convenient to have a saturation detection signal V OUT  that is based upon the feedback signal V DET ; in certain embodiments the V OUT  amplifier  118  is absent.) Additional components (not illustrated) may also be used in accordance with loop design principles in order to achieve desired loop performance. For example, the feedback network of error amplifier  110  may include a capacitor to achieve integration in the feedback loop. 
         [0039]    In one exemplary embodiment, the saturation detection portion of the circuit illustrated in  FIG. 3  (corresponding to saturation detection circuit  20  in  FIG. 2 ) includes the comparator  130 , the current source  136 , the switch  128 , the amplifier  118 , and the resistors  124  and  126 . In the embodiment shown, the comparator  130  is a Schmitt trigger; in other embodiments comparator  130  may be any suitable comparator. Comparator  130  compares V GAIN  to a voltage drop determined by current source  132 , resistor  134 , and battery voltage V BATT . The voltage drop may be selected based upon the parameters of FET  112  as follows. 
         [0040]    In normal (non saturated) operation, V GAIN  changes with V SET , adjusting the gain of the power amplifier  102  such that V DET =V SET . If V GAIN  gets too close to V BATT , however, FET  112  (which, in one exemplary embodiment, is a PFET) enters an ohmic region, causing V GAIN —and hence the loop gain—to drop significantly. The saturation detector permits detection of the approach of this condition before V GAIN  gets close enough to V BATT  to cause the gain to drop. 
         [0041]    The voltage at which the FET  112 —and hence the control loop—ceases to function is a property of the FET  112 . Thus, in one exemplary embodiment, the value of resistor  134  and/or of the current sourced by current source  132  are chosen such that the voltage drop across resistor  134  is equal to or slightly greater than the FET limit voltage. Thus, the output of the comparator  130  will change when V GAIN  exceeds V BATT  minus the voltage drop across resistor  134 —that is, when V GAIN  comes within the FET limit of V BATT . (As noted previously, component  112  need not be a FET; it will be readily appreciated that the comparator activation condition may be selected analogously for whatever type of transistor is used to source V GAIN . Additionally, while in the illustrated circuit the comparator  130  is configured such that its output goes positive when V GAIN  comes within the FET limit of V BATT , it should be appreciated that the comparator can be configured with the opposite polarity, provided its output distinguishes whether or not V GAIN  exceeds the reference at the comparator&#39;s other input terminal.) In applications where loop saturation is particularly deleterious or where avoidance of saturation is particularly desirable for whatever reason, the resistor  134  and/or current source  132  may be selected so that the comparator is triggered well before V GAIN  is high enough for the loop to actually reach saturation. In such a circuit some amount of peak power output is traded for the security of an assured avoidance of loop saturation. In other applications—for example, where the ramp profile defined by time variance of V SET  is less critical, or in applications in which it is desirable to maximize the power output of the power amplifier  102  and the risk of a closer approach to saturation is acceptable—the resistor  134  and/or current source  132  may be selected to allow V GAIN  to come closer to V BATT  before triggering the comparator  130 . In this way sensitivity may be set to detect either an impending saturation or an actual saturation. 
         [0042]    In the illustrated embodiment, V BATT  is the DC voltage supplied by the battery of the device (such as a cell phone, personal digital assistant, etc.) in which amplification module  100  is deployed. It should be appreciated that V BATT  may vary from device to device or even within a single device depending upon what battery is used, its state of charge, etc. In an alternative embodiment, comparator  130  compares V GAIN  to a separate reference voltage V REF  (not illustrated) rather than to a reference voltage based upon V BATT  as in the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3 . In such an embodiment V REF  can be used as the input signal to comparator  130  instead of V BATT  minus the voltage drop across resistor  134 . The voltage reference V REF  in such an embodiment is then selected such that, at the lowest V BATT  at which the circuit might operate, V BATT —V REF  is large enough to keep FET  112  in the desired operating region; that is, FET  112  does not enter the ohmic region as long as V GAIN  is less than V REF . In such an embodiment, comparator  130  will be triggered when V GAIN  exceeds V REF , even if the circuit is deployed with a higher V BATT . Such an embodiment may be desirable where the circuit as a whole is designed to operate effectively at some minimum value of V BATT ; in such embodiments there may be little advantage in allowing V GAIN  to go higher even if a higher V BATT  is used. The voltage reference V REF  may be provided externally to the amplifier module  100 ; by a voltage regulator on the same board as the amplifier module  100 ; by a current source applied across a resistor; or by any other suitable means of providing a constant reference voltage. 
         [0043]    Regardless of which approach to generating a reference voltage is used, when saturation occurs or is imminent—when V GAIN  approaches V BATT  to less than the voltage drop across resistor  134  or when V GAIN  exceeds whatever reference voltage V REF  is used as the comparator input signal—the output signal from comparator  130  changes, closing switch  128 . When switch  128  is closed, current I OFF  flows from current source  136 , causing a negative offset in the saturation detector output voltage V OUT . Thus, while (as discussed above) V OUT =V DET  in normal non-saturated operation, when saturation occurs switch  136  closes and a step change occurs in V OUT . The current I OFF  from current source  136  may be selected so that the change in V OUT  is readily detected. 
         [0044]    In alternative embodiments, the output signal from comparator  130  is itself used as the saturation detection signal, without the need for current source  136 , switch  128 , or V OUT  amplifier  118 . As noted previously, there may be applications in which it is desirable or convenient to have a saturation detection signal V OUT  that is based upon the feedback signal V DET ; and the illustrated configuration of current source  136 , switch  128 , and V OUT  amplifier  118  is one way to achieve that. However, the comparator  130  output signal can itself provide a digital indication of saturation. 
         [0045]    Whether the output signal from comparator  130  is used directly or converted into a step offset on the detector signal, the detection circuit shown in  FIG. 3  converts the onset of saturation into an easy-to-detect step either in V OUT  or in the output signal from comparator  130 , despite the fact that the onset of saturation may be difficult to detect directly in V GAIN  or in the signal at the output terminal  106  of the power amplifier  102 . Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the step in V OUT  or in the output signal from comparator  130  may be detected by the controller module  80  that responds, for example, by lowering V SET  until saturation ends. 
         [0046]    The embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4  includes circuitry to both detect the saturation, and to respond to saturation and correct it. Like the circuit in  FIG. 3 , the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4  includes a power amplifier  102  whose gain is controlled by the output of a FET stage  112 , coupled through inductor  108 . A RF detector  114  samples the signal at the output terminal  106  of the power amplifier  102 , and the output signal from the RF detector serves as the feedback signal to the error amplifier  110 . The gain of the control feedback loop may be set as appropriate by amplifier  202  (analogous to amplifier  116  in  FIG. 3 ). 
         [0047]    As with the saturation detection circuit of  FIG. 3 , the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4  includes a comparator  130 , the output of which indicates when V GAIN  comes within the FET limit of V BATT , signaling saturation. The output signal from comparator  130  indicates the presence of saturation and may be used to correct saturation as follows. 
         [0048]    Under normal, non-saturated operation, a negligible amount of current flows through resistor  204 , and the voltage at node  206  is substantially the same as the gain setpoint V SET . In saturation, however, it is advantageous to modify the gain setpoint so that V GAIN , which controls the gain of power amplifier  102 , will also be reduced, pulling the amplifier  102  out of saturation. The circuit illustrated in  FIG. 4  is one way to achieve that objective, with circuits corresponding to the offset generator circuit  30  and the injection circuit  40  of  FIG. 2 . 
         [0049]    In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4 , in response to the output signal from the comparator  130  indicating saturation, current source  208  is switched on. Because of capacitor  224 , this causes the voltage at the non-inverting input terminal of the amplifier  210  to increase, which turns on the transistor  212  and draws current through resistors  204  and  214 , pulling down the voltage at node  206 . Thus, using the output signal from the comparator  130  to control the current source  208  reduces the input signal to the error amplifier  110  when saturation is indicated. The result is that the circuit automatically applies a correction to the setpoint of the control loop, and hence automatically reduces the gain of the power amplifier  102 , pulling the amplifier  102  back out of saturation. 
         [0050]    An advantage of using logarithmic (as opposed to linear) detection which is realized in the embodiment of the correction circuit illustrated in  FIG. 4  is now described. When logarithmic detection is used, the control signal V SET  may be reduced without affecting its overall profile (which, in one exemplary embodiment in which the amplifier module  100  is used in the transmission stage of a cellular telephone, is sinusoidal). Preserving the shape of the V SET  profile may be important, for example, for compliance with cellular telephone specifications such as adjacent channel spectral emission and time mask boundaries. An exemplary curve of RF detector response versus the power output of amplifier  102  is shown in  FIG. 5  for both logarithmic (curve  501 ) and linear (curve  502 ) detectors. Because the power output of the amplifier  102  varies according to the square of the RF voltage, the response curve  502  of a linear detector (which produces a detector signal proportional to the RF voltage) is exponential. On the other hand, the response curve  501  of the logarithmic detector (which produces a detector signal proportional to the log of the RF voltage) is linear. 
         [0051]    Because the detector is in the control loop that controls the amplifier gain according to V SET , where a linear detector is used, attempting to apply a fixed offset correction would distort the response of the loop to a time-varying (i.e. sinusoidal) V SET  profile. Because of the exponential response curve of the linear detector, the slope of the response differs at the high end and low ends of the power range. For a detector with the exemplary sensitivity illustrated in  FIG. 5 , at power levels near saturation (near the top of an exemplary sinusoidal V SET  profile), a nearly 100 mV correction to V SET  is required to achieve a 0.5 dB power reduction. If that 100 mV correction is applied as a constant correction, however, at low output power (near the bottom of an exemplary sinusoidal V SET  profile), the 100 mV correction to V SET  would result in over 10 dB reduction of the output power. Thus, a simple dc offset correction to V SET  could result in unacceptable distortion of the profile of the amplified signal. It should be appreciated that linear detection could be used, provided the correction signal applied at node  206  were multiplied to compensate for the nonlinearity in the V DET  signal as a function of the power output of amplifier  102 , instead of simply added to V SET  as an offset. In contrast, the simple additive properties of the control loop with logarithmic detection permit applying a correction to the loop control input signal without distortion of the control signal profile. 
         [0052]    Returning to  FIG. 4 , it is desirable for the circuit to stop modifying the gain setpoint provided to the error amplifier  110  when the loop is no longer saturated, so that the gain of the power amplifier  102  is not reduced more than is necessary to correct saturation. The embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4  achieves this objective as well with comparator  216 , which compares the voltage at node  206  with V DET . (Since V DET  is the buffered and/or amplified output of RF detector  114 , V DET  is directly representative of the output of the power amplifier. During amplifier saturation, V DET  is a direct indication of the saturated power of the amplifier  102 .) The voltage at the negative input terminal of the comparator  216  is determined by current source  220  and resistor  218 . The output signal from the comparator  216  is high when the voltage at node  206  is greater than V DET  minus the voltage drop across resistor  218 . Thus, the voltage drop across resistor  218  limits how far the voltage at node  206  will be reduced relative to V DET  at saturation. Because of AND gate  222 , the correction to V SET  will only occur when comparator  130  indicates saturation and comparator  216  indicates that the corrected V SET  voltage (at node  206 ) exceeds V DET  minus the threshold set by resistor  218  and current source  220 . 
         [0053]    The appropriate threshold depends upon the properties of the circuit, such as the sensitivity of the RF detector  114  and the desired safety margin for maximizing the gain of power amplifier  102  while keeping it out of a saturated regime. In one exemplary embodiment, a 0.5 dB reduction below the saturation power of the amplifier  102  is generally sufficient to take the amplifier  102  out of saturation. In an embodiment having a typical detector sensitivity of 40 mV/dB, reducing V SET  by 20 mV upon detection of saturation would be satisfactory. In such an embodiment current source  220  and resistor  218  may be chosen such that the voltage drop across resistor  218 , and hence the threshold at which the ramping of the correction ceases, is 20 mV. 
         [0054]    The use of this threshold and comparator  216  to prevent the corrected V SET  voltage (at node  206 ) from dropping too far below what is needed to correct saturation is advantageous because checking the corrected V SET  directly can be faster than waiting for comparator  130  to register the end of the saturation. In particular, in the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the V SET  input to the control loop is filtered by resistor  226  and capacitor  228  (in one exemplary embodiment, 1/RC˜300 kHz), to remove undesirable higher-frequency noise from the V SET  input (such as noise from a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) providing V SET  to the loop circuit). Because of this filter, detection of saturation on the signal at the output terminal  106  of the power amplifier  102  is considerably slower than using the corrected V SET  instead. In alternative embodiments, this filter may not be required; in such embodiments the saturation correction may be added to V SET  using any other way of summing voltage signals. 
         [0055]    Even when the output signal from comparator  216  reflects that the voltage at node  206  has dropped enough to correct saturation, and shuts off current source  208 , capacitor  224  will hold the voltage to which it was charged while current source  208  was on. Thus, FET  212  will continue to draw current, keeping the voltage at node  206  at the reduced level relative to V SET  that maintains the gain of power amplifier  102  at just below saturation. How long capacitor  224  can hold that state depends upon its capacitance; in one exemplary embodiment, in which the power amplification module  200  is used in the transmission stage of a wireless device, capacitor  224  may be chosen to hold most of its charge for the duration of a transmission burst. 
         [0056]    Thus, comparing the exemplary embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2  with the specific exemplary embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4 , an exemplary offset generator circuit  30  comprises the current source  208  and the capacitor  224  that commence the ramping of a correction voltage in response to a positive signal from AND gate  222 . AND gate  222  in turn responds to a positive signal from comparator  216 , turning off the ramping of the correction voltage when the correction voltage reaches the desired maximum correction. Likewise, an exemplary injection circuit  40  comprises the operational amplifier  210 , transistor  212 , and resistor  214  that operate together to inject the offset into the control loop by altering the voltage at node  206 . 
         [0057]    In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4 , OR gate  230  provides an optional additional way of triggering the current source  208  and applying a correction to the control signal V SET . In addition to the circuits shown in  FIG. 3  and/or  FIG. 4  that monitor a voltage saturation of the control loop, there may be other circuitry (not shown) that monitors the power amplifier  102  for the existence of saturation. An OR gate  230  supplied with an input I SAT  allows a current limit monitor to alternatively trigger the saturation correction circuitry even when the saturation detection circuitry based upon V GAIN  does not indicate saturation. I SAT  may be, for example, a logical signal output by a current limit monitor to indicate saturation of a current flow somewhere in the loop. The use of one or more OR gates  230  can allow triggering of the saturation correction circuit upon any condition desired, even in the absence of voltage saturation. 
         [0058]    Having thus described several aspects of at least one embodiment of this invention, it is to be appreciated various alterations, modifications, and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Such alterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be part of this disclosure, and are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description and drawings are by way of example only.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7