Patent ID: 7760026

Claim:
A power amplifier system, comprising: a power amplifier element configured to provide a power output signal in response to a bias signal, the power output signal ranging in power from a full power output signal to a less than full power output signal; and a switched capacitor voltage converter configured to provide at least one discrete voltage output level to the power amplifier element, the switched capacitor voltage converter comprising: a plurality of capacitors and corresponding first switch elements, the capacitors coupled in series and arranged to each charge to a voltage level during a first clock period, the voltage level determined by a supply voltage level, the number of capacitors and a value of each capacitor; and a plurality of second switch elements configured to cause the plurality of capacitors to be connected in parallel and to discharge into an output capacitor during a second clock period, the output capacitor charged to the discrete voltage output level, wherein the discrete voltage output level is less than the supply voltage level, and wherein the bias signal supplied to the power amplifier element is responsive to the discrete voltage output level.