Patent ID: 7365599

Claim:
A power amplifier circuit for amplifying an input RF signal with respect to a specified RF output power, comprising an input terminal for supplying the input RF signal to be amplified; an output terminal for the RF signal with the output power specified; an amplification path formed between the input terminal and the output terminal having a power amplification circuit for amplifying the RF signal; a bypass formed between the input terminal and the output terminal for the RF signal to bypass the amplification path; a control terminal for controlling the operation of the amplification path and the bypass, such that an RF signal is either passed through the amplification path or the bypass; a variable gain amplifier circuit for pre-amplification of the input RF signal which is placed between the line from the input terminal to the amplification path and the bypass; and a delay control means for controlling the variable gain amplifier, the amplification path, and the bypass, such that when the RF output power of the RF signal is to be increased, a variable gain of the variable gain amplifier circuit is reduced before operating conditions of the amplification path and the bypass are set, after a delay time period, to a state in which the RF signal is passed through the amplification path to achieve the output power specified, and vice versa when the RF output power of the RF signal is to be reduced.