Patent ID: 8022768

Claim:
An amplifier arrangement for amplifying an amplifier arrangement input, the amplifier comprising: a main amplifier path comprising a main amplifier; an auxiliary amplifier path comprising an auxiliary amplifier; a combining structure configured to combine outputs of the main and auxiliary amplifiers; and a signal preparation unit configured to develop a main amplifier input signal for the main amplifier path and an auxiliary amplifier input signal for the auxiliary amplifier path as a function of the amplifier arrangement input and a transition threshold associated with the amplifier arrangement input, wherein: the signal preparation unit is configured to: develop the main amplifier input signal with substantially all of the amplifier arrangement input for voltages of the amplifier arrangement input that are below the transition threshold; and redirect at least some portion of the amplifier arrangement input to develop the auxiliary amplifier input signal for voltages of the amplifier arrangement input that are above the transition threshold; and the transition threshold is substantially equal to the 1 dB compression point (P1 dB) of the main amplifier.