CN111917385B

CN111917385B - Amplifier device

Info

Publication number: CN111917385B
Application number: CN202010379589.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 陈智圣; 彭天云; 罗弘家
Original assignee: Richwave Technology Corp
Current assignee: Richwave Technology Corp
Priority date: 2019-05-08
Filing date: 2020-05-07
Publication date: 2024-12-20
Anticipated expiration: 2040-05-07
Also published as: TW202114345A; TWI787689B; TW202042498A; CN111917385A; TWI724893B

Abstract

An amplifier device includes an amplifier unit and a bias module. The amplifier unit has a first end coupled to a voltage source for receiving a power supply voltage, a second end for receiving an input signal, and a third end coupled to a first reference potential end. The first reference potential end is used to receive a first reference potential. The first end of the amplifier unit is used to output an output signal amplified by the amplifier unit. The bias module is coupled to the second end of the amplifier unit for receiving a voltage signal to provide a bias current to the amplifier unit. The voltage signal is a variable voltage. A power supply current flows into the amplifier unit, and the power supply current is adjusted according to the voltage signal to maintain the power supply current within a predetermined range.

Description

Amplifier device

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an amplifier device, and more particularly, to an amplifier device capable of adjusting bias current and providing corresponding compensation according to various factors.

Background

In wireless communication technology, an amplifier device is often used to amplify a signal to improve the quality of a transmitted signal. However, as applications become more complex, the factors that need to be considered in designing an amplifier device also increase relatively to avoid affecting the performance of the amplifier device.

Disclosure of Invention

The embodiment of the invention provides an amplifier device, which comprises an amplifying unit and a biasing module. The amplifying unit is provided with a first end, a second end and a third end, wherein the first end is coupled with the voltage source and used for receiving the power supply voltage, the second end is used for receiving the input signal, the third end is coupled with a first reference potential end, the first reference potential end is used for receiving the first reference potential, and the first end of the amplifying unit is used for outputting the output signal amplified by the amplifying unit. The bias module is coupled to the second end of the amplifying unit and is used for receiving a voltage signal to provide bias current to the amplifying unit, wherein the voltage signal is a variable voltage. The power supply current flows into the amplifying unit, and the power supply current is adjusted according to the voltage signal so as to maintain the power supply current within a preset range.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an amplifier device according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 shows the voltage response of the uncompensated supply current.

FIG. 3 shows a voltage compensation scheme using bias current in an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the variable current source of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of another variable current source of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of another amplifier device according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of another amplifier device according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of another amplifier device according to an embodiment of the invention.

[ Symbolic description ]

2 Amplifier arrangement

11 Amplifying unit

12 Bias module

20. 30, 155, 1608 Reference potential end

24 Voltage Source

130. 132 Curve

134. 136, 140, 142 Line segments

151. 153, 1601 To 1607 signal terminals

152 First resistor selection circuit

154 Second resistor selection circuit

156 Voltage-to-current converter

157. 158 Switch control terminal

190 Bias voltage source

1200 Variable current source

1201. 1206 Transistor

1203. 1207, Rp1 to Rp6, rn1 to Rn6, RF1: resistance

1204. 1205 Diode

Ibias bias current

Icc supply current

OP (operational amplifier)

S1 input signal

S2, outputting a signal

SW1, SW2 switch

V1 supply voltage

VBG2, VBG3, vdet02, vr5: reference signal

VCC1 Voltage Signal

Vdet2 Power Signal

Vo output voltage

VPTAT2, VD0, vat temperature Signal

Vref1, vref5 reference potential

Vsource: supply voltage

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of an amplifier device 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The amplifier device 2 includes an amplifying unit 11 and a bias module 12. The amplifying unit 11 may draw a supply current Icc from a voltage source 24, where the voltage source 24 is configured to receive a supply voltage Vsource. The power supply voltage Vsource is a time-varying (time-varying) voltage. When the supply voltage Vsource changes over time, the supply current Icc also changes. Figure 2 shows the voltage response of the uncompensated supply current Icc, the supply voltage Vsource in volts (volt, V) on the horizontal axis and the supply current Icc in milliamps (milliampere mA) on the vertical axis. Curve 130 represents the ideal supply current Icc, curve 132 represents the actual supply current Icc, and line segments 134, 136 represent first and second approximation curves of the actual supply current Icc, respectively. In one embodiment, the power voltage Vsource may vary from 5.5V to 3.2V over a period of time, and the amplifying unit 11 may operate within the range of the power voltage Vsource. Ideally, the supply current Icc should be maintained substantially at 140mA, as shown by curve 130. In practice, the supply current Icc may vary from 120mA to 160mA, as shown by curve 132. For a supply voltage Vsource ranging between 3.2V and 4.7V, the curve 132 may approximate the line segment 134, while for a supply voltage Vsource ranging between 4.7V and 5.5V, the curve 132 may approximate the line segment 136. The line segments 134 and 136 may have a first slope and a second slope, respectively.

FIG. 3 shows a voltage compensation scheme using a bias current Ibias in an embodiment of the invention. The segments 140 and 142 respectively represent the bias current Ibias generated by the bias module 12 for the power voltage Vsource being less than the threshold value and exceeding the threshold value. The threshold may be selected substantially at the intersection of line segments 134 and 136 of fig. 2, such as 4.7V. The segments 140 and 142 show that the bias current Ibias is inversely related to the supply voltage Vsource of FIG. 2. In addition, line segment 140 has a first inverse slope corresponding to the first slope of line segment 134 of FIG. 2, and line segment 142 has a second inverse slope corresponding to the second slope of line segment 136 of FIG. 2. The first inverse slope may be inversely related to the first slope and the second inverse slope may be inversely related to the second slope. The amplifier device 2 can adjust the bias current Ibias according to the segments 140 and 142 to compensate the change of the power voltage Vsource with time, so that the amplifying unit 11 maintains the operation with a substantially constant supply current Icc, for example 140mA, and the performance of the amplifier device 2 is improved. In some embodiments, the bias module 12 may adjust the bias current Ibias according to the line segment 140 for a supply voltage Vsource less than 4.7V, and the bias module 12 may adjust the bias current Ibias according to the line segment 142 for a supply voltage Vsource exceeding 4.7V. In some embodiments, the amplifier device 2 may compensate for the variation of the supply voltage Vsource according to the line segment 140 or the line segment 142.

Although only 2 line segments 134 and 136 are used to approximate the actual supply current Icc (curve 132) in fig. 2, one skilled in the art can also use more than 2 approximation curves to approximate the actual supply current Icc, and relatively use more than 2 corresponding lines that are inversely related to more than 2 approximation curves to simulate the bias current Ibias for the desired operating range, and use 2 or more thresholds to determine which of the more than 2 corresponding lines to use to simulate the bias current Ibias to compensate for the variation in the supply voltage Vsource. The inverse slope and threshold of the segment of the analog bias current Ibias are not limited to the embodiment of FIG. 3, and may be selected based on practical application and design requirements.

Referring to fig. 1, the amplifying unit 11 has a first terminal coupled to the voltage source 24 for receiving the power voltage Vsource and for flowing the power current Icc, a second terminal for receiving the input signal S1, and a third terminal coupled to the reference voltage terminal 20. The amplifying unit 11 may be a bipolar junction transistor (bipolar junction transistor, BJT) and may function as a power amplifier or a low noise amplifier. The amplifying unit 11 may be biased by the bias current Ibias to amplify the input signal S1, and the output signal S2 amplified by the amplifying unit 11 is output from the first end of the amplifying unit 11. The reference potential terminal 20 receives the reference potential Vref1. The reference potential Vref1 may be a ground reference potential or other reference potential.

The bias module 12 may be coupled to the second end of the amplifying unit 11, and may receive the voltage signal VCC1 to provide the bias current Ibias to the amplifying unit 11. The voltage signal VCC1 may be substantially positively correlated to the time-varying supply voltage Vsource, so the voltage signal VCC1 may also be a time-varying variable voltage. In some embodiments, the voltage signal VCC1 may be a portion of the power supply voltage Vsource, and the voltage divider may be used to divide the power supply voltage Vsource to obtain the voltage signal VCC1, where VCC1 = Vsource x K, and K may be 0.5. In other embodiments, the voltage signal VCC1 may be substantially equal to the supply voltage Vsource.

Since the voltage signal VCC1 is substantially positive with respect to the power voltage Vsource, and the segments 140 and 142 in fig. 3 also represent the bias current Ibias being substantially negative with respect to the voltage signal VCC1, the bias module 12 can adjust the bias current Ibias according to the voltage signal VCC 1. A decrease in the supply voltage Vsource will increase the bias current Ibias and thus the supply current Icc. Conversely, an increase in the supply voltage Vsource will decrease the bias current Ibias and, in turn, the supply current Icc. In this way, the supply current Icc that varies as a result of the variation of the supply voltage Vsource may be compensated, and the supply current Icc may be adjusted in accordance with the voltage signal VCC1 to maintain the supply current Icc within a predetermined range, e.g., within ±3% of 140 mA.

The bias module 12 may include a variable current source 1200. In some embodiments, the variable current source 1200 may be a variable resistor for adjusting the bias current Ibias according to the voltage signal VCC 1. In other embodiments, as shown in fig. 4, the variable current source 1200 may include signal terminals 151, 153, a reference potential terminal 155, an operational amplifier (operational amplifier) OP, a first resistor selection circuit 152, a second resistor selection circuit 154, resistors Rp1, rn1, RF1, a voltage-to-current converter 156, and switch control terminals 157, 158. In some embodiments, the resistance value of resistor Rn1 may be adjusted to selectively remove resistor RF1 from variable current source 1200. The variable current source 1200 receives the voltage signal VCC1 and the reference signal VBG2 to generate the bias current Ibias according to the line segments 140 and 142 in fig. 3. The reference signal VBG2 may be a band gap (band gap) reference voltage or other reference voltage, and the reference signal VBG2 may be substantially fixed with respect to variations in the supply voltage Vsource.

The operational amplifier OP may have a first input terminal, a second input terminal, and an output terminal. The first input end is a forward end, the second input end is a reverse end, and the output end is used for outputting an output voltage Vo. The first input terminal of the operational amplifier OP may be coupled to the signal terminal 151 and the received reference signal VBG2, and the second input terminal of the operational amplifier OP may be coupled to the signal terminal 153 and the received voltage signal VCC1. The output terminal of the operational amplifier OP can output the output voltage Vo according to the difference between the reference signal VBG2 and the voltage signal VCC1. In other embodiments, the operational amplifier OP may be an adder (adder).

The voltage-to-current converter 156 may include a first terminal coupled to the output terminal of the operational amplifier OP, and a second terminal coupled to the second terminal of the amplifying unit 11. The voltage-to-current converter 156 may convert the output voltage Vo into a bias current Ibias. The voltage-to-current converter 156 may be a metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET), BJT, or other type of transistor.

The resistor RF may include a first terminal coupled to the second input terminal of the operational amplifier OP, and a second terminal coupled to the output terminal of the operational amplifier OP. The resistor RF1 may include a first terminal coupled to the first terminal of the resistor RF, and a second terminal coupled to the reference voltage terminal 155, and the reference voltage terminal 155 may receive the reference voltage Vref5. The reference potential Vref5 may be a ground reference potential or other reference potential. In some embodiments, the reference potential Vref5 and the reference potential Vref1 may have substantially the same potential. In some embodiments, resistors RF, RF1 may have substantially the same resistance value. In some embodiments, the resistances RF, RF1 may be variable resistances. In some embodiments, the resistance value of resistor RF1 may be set to a multiple of the resistance value of resistor RF to alter the slope of line segments 140 and 142 in FIG. 3.

The resistor Rp1 may include a first terminal coupled to the signal terminal 151 via the first resistor selection circuit 152, and a second terminal coupled to the first input terminal of the operational amplifier OP. The resistor Rn1 may include a first terminal coupled to the signal terminal 153 via the second resistor selection circuit 154, and a second terminal coupled to the second input terminal of the operational amplifier OP. The resistors Rp1, rn1 may be variable resistors. The first resistor selection circuit 152 may include a first terminal coupled to the signal terminal 151, and a second terminal coupled to the first terminal of the resistor Rp 1. The second resistor selection circuit 154 may include a first terminal coupled to the signal terminal 153, and a second terminal coupled to the first terminal of the resistor Rn 1. The first resistance selection circuit 152 may include a switch SW1 and a resistance Rp2. The switch SW1 may include a first terminal coupled to the first resistor selection circuit 152, a second terminal coupled to the second terminal of the first resistor selection circuit 152, and a control terminal coupled to the switch control terminal 157. The switch control terminal 157 may receive a first control signal to turn on or off the switch SW1. Resistor Rp2 may be coupled between the first terminal of switch SW1 and the second terminal of switch SW1. The second resistor selection circuit 154 may include a switch SW2 and a resistor Rn2. The switch SW2 may include a first terminal coupled to the first terminal of the second resistor selection circuit 154, a second terminal coupled to the second terminal of the second resistor selection circuit 154, and a control terminal coupled to the switch control terminal 158. The switch control terminal 158 may receive a second control signal to turn on or off the switch SW2. Resistor Rn2 may be coupled between the first terminal of switch SW2 and the second terminal of switch SW2. The switches SW1 and SW2 may be MOSFETs, BJTs or other types of transistors. The resistors Rp2, rn2 may be variable resistors. The resistors Rp1, rn1 may have substantially the same resistance value, and the resistors Rp2, rn2 may have substantially the same resistance value. In some embodiments, the resistor Rp1 and the first resistor selection circuit 152 may be swapped, i.e., a first terminal of the resistor Rp1 may be coupled to the signal terminal 151, a second terminal of the resistor Rp1 may be coupled to a first terminal of the first resistor selection circuit 152, and a second terminal of the first resistor selection circuit 152 may be coupled to a first input terminal of the operational amplifier OP. Similarly, the resistor Rn1 and the second resistor selection circuit 154 may be interchanged, i.e., the first terminal of the resistor Rn1 may be coupled to the signal terminal 153, the second terminal of the resistor Rn1 may be coupled to the first terminal of the second resistor selection circuit 154, and the second terminal of the second resistor selection circuit 154 may be coupled to the second input terminal of the operational amplifier OP.

Regarding the difference between the reference signal VBG2 and the voltage signal VCC 1, the first resistance selection circuit 152 and the second resistance selection circuit 154 can be used for adjustment, thereby adjusting the rate of change of the output voltage Vo and/or the bias current Ibias. Specifically, the switches SW1 and SW2 may be turned on or off together to switch the rate of change of the output voltage Vo and/or the bias current Ibias. The output voltage Vo can be expressed by equation 6:

Vo=k1 (VBG 2-VCC 1) equation 6

Wherein VBG2 is a reference signal, and is irrelevant to the change of the power supply voltage Vsource;

VCC1 is a voltage signal;

When the switches SW1 and SW2 are turned off,

k1=Res_RF/(Res_Rp1+Res_Rp2)=Res_RF/(Res_Rn1+Res_Rn2);

When the switches SW1 and SW2 are turned on,

K1 Res\u RF-Res_RF-Res_Rn1; And

Res_RF, res_Rp1, res_Rn1, res_Rp2, res_Rn2 are the resistance values of resistors RF, rp1, rn1, rp2, rn2, respectively.

The output voltage Vo may be determined by the difference (VBG 2-VCC 1) and the slope k 1. Since the reference signal VBG2 is independent of the variation of the power voltage Vsource, and the voltage signal VCC1 is positively related to the power voltage Vsource, an increase of the power voltage Vsource will decrease the difference (VBG 2-VCC 1) and thus decrease the output voltage Vo, and a decrease of the power voltage Vsource will increase the difference (VBG 2-VCC 1) and thus increase the output voltage Vo. In this way, variations in the supply voltage Vsource may be compensated for to provide a substantially fixed supply current Icc to the amplifying unit 11.

Referring to fig. 3, the first inverse slope of the line segment 140 and the second inverse slope of the line segment 142 may be implemented by the first resistance selection circuit 152 and the second resistance selection circuit 154 in the variable current source 1200. When the power voltage Vsource is less than the threshold value, the switch SW1 may be turned off to electrically disconnect the first terminal of the switch SW1 from the second terminal of the switch SW1, and the switch SW2 may be turned off to electrically disconnect the first terminal of the switch SW2 from the second terminal of the switch SW2, so that the total resistance value (res_rp1+res_rp2) of the resistors Rp1 and Rp2 and the total resistance value (res_rn1+res_rn2) of the resistors Rn1 and Rn2 may be used to generate a relatively gentle slope k1, such as the first inverse slope of the line segment 140. When the power voltage Vsource exceeds the threshold value, the switch SW1 may be turned on to electrically connect the first terminal of the switch SW1 with the second terminal of the switch SW1, and the switch SW2 may be turned on to electrically connect the first terminal of the switch SW2 with the second terminal of the switch SW2, so that the resistance res_rp1 of the resistor Rp1 and the resistance res_rn1 of the resistor Rn1 may be used to generate a steeper slope k1, such as the second inverse slope of the line segment 142. In some embodiments, a line segment with a single inverse slope may be used for the analog bias current Ibias, and the first resistance selection circuit 152 and the second resistance selection circuit 154 may be removed from the variable current source 1200. In some embodiments, the first resistance selection circuit 152, the second resistance selection circuit 154, and the resistances Rp1, rn1 may be removed from the variable current source 1200 and may be moved to external circuitry outside of the variable current source 1200.

The variable current source 1200 is not limited to providing the bias current Ibias inversely related to the supply voltage Vsource, and may be provided by swapping the first resistance selection circuit 152 and the resistance Rp1 with the second resistance selection circuit 154 and the resistance Rn1 to provide the bias current Ibias inversely related to the supply voltage Vsource. Specifically, the first resistor selection circuit 152 and the resistor Rp1 may be coupled between the signal terminal 153 and the second input terminal of the operational amplifier OP, and the second resistor selection circuit 154 and the resistor Rn1 may be coupled between the signal terminal 151 and the first input terminal of the operational amplifier OP. In such an arrangement, the variable current source 1200 may generate a bias current Ibias that is positively correlated to the supply voltage Vsource.

In addition, the variable current source 1200 is not limited to compensating for variations in power supply voltage, and may also be used to compensate for temperature variations and power variations in signals. Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of another variable current source 1200 of fig. 1. The variable current source 1200 may include signal terminals 151, 153, a reference potential terminal 155, an operational amplifier OP, a first resistor selection circuit 152, a second resistor selection circuit 154, resistors Rp1, rn1, RF1, a voltage-to-current converter 156, switch control terminals 157, 158, resistors Rp3 to Rp6, rn3 to Rn6, signal terminals 1601 to 1607, and a reference potential terminal 1608. The variable current source 1200 may generate a bias current Ibias to compensate for variations in the supply voltage, variations in the power of the input signal or the output signal, variations in the ambient temperature (ambient temperature), and/or variations in the temperature of the amplifying unit 11. The operational amplifier OP, the first resistor selection circuit 152, the second resistor selection circuit 154, and the resistors Rp1, rn1, RF, and RF1 are configured and operate as shown in fig. 4, and the related description is provided in the previous paragraph and is not repeated here. In some embodiments, the resistance value of one of the resistors Rn1, rn3, rn4, rn5, rn6, or any combination of the foregoing, may be adjusted to selectively remove the resistor RF1 from the variable current source 1200.

The resistor Rp3 may include a first terminal coupled to the signal terminal 1601 for receiving the power signal Vdet2, and a second terminal coupled to the first input terminal of the operational amplifier OP. The resistor Rn3 may include a first terminal coupled to the signal terminal 1602 to receive the reference signal Vdet02, and a second terminal coupled to the second input terminal of the operational amplifier OP. The power signal Vdet2 may represent the power of the input signal S1 or the output signal S2. The reference signal Vdet02 may be a reference voltage, and the reference signal Vdet02 may be substantially fixed with respect to power variation of the input signal S1 or the output signal S2.

The resistor Rp4 may include a first terminal coupled to the signal terminal 1603 for receiving the temperature signal VPTAT2, and a second terminal coupled to the first input terminal of the operational amplifier OP. The resistor Rn4 may include a first terminal coupled to the signal terminal 1604 for receiving the reference signal VBG3, and a second terminal coupled to the second input terminal of the operational amplifier OP. The temperature signal VPTAT2 may be proportional to absolute temperature (proportional to absolute temperature, PTAT) signal. In some embodiments, a complementary to absolute temperature (complementary to absolute temperature, CTAT) signal may also be used for temperature compensation. In the example of using a CTAT signal, the first terminal of resistor Rp4 may receive reference signal VBG3 via signal terminal 1603, and the first terminal of resistor Rn4 may receive the CTAT signal via signal terminal 1604. The reference signal VBG3 may be a bandgap reference voltage, the reference signal VBG3 may be substantially fixed with respect to temperature variation, and the reference signal VBG3 may be substantially the same as the reference signal VBG 2. In some embodiments, the temperature signal VPTAT2 and the reference signal VBG3 may be generated by circuits of an integrated circuit (INTEGRATED CIRCUIT, IC) disposed on a same die (die).

The resistor Rp5 may include a first terminal coupled to the signal terminal 1605 for receiving the temperature signal VD0, and a second terminal coupled to the first input terminal of the operational amplifier OP. The resistor Rn5 may include a first terminal coupled to the signal terminal 1606 for receiving the temperature signal Vat, and a second terminal coupled to the second input terminal of the operational amplifier OP. The temperature signal VD0 may represent the temperature on the IC comprising the amplifying unit 11 for indicating the ambient temperature. The temperature signal Vat may represent a temperature of a location near the amplifying unit 11 for indicating the temperature of the amplifying unit 11. In some embodiments, the temperature signal Vat and the temperature signal VD0 may be generated by a temperature detection circuit of the IC disposed on the same die. In other embodiments, the temperature signal Vat and the temperature signal VD0 can be generated by temperature detection circuits of the IC respectively disposed on different dies. Specifically, the temperature detecting circuit for generating the temperature signal Vat and the amplifying unit 11 may be disposed on the same die, and the temperature detecting circuit for generating the temperature signal VD0 may be disposed on another die and far from the amplifying unit 11.

The resistor Rp6 may include a first terminal coupled to the signal terminal 1607 for receiving the reference signal Vr5, and a second terminal coupled to the first input terminal of the operational amplifier OP. The resistor Rn6 may include a first terminal coupled to the reference potential terminal 1608 for receiving the reference potential Vref5, and a second terminal coupled to the second input terminal of the operational amplifier OP. The reference signal Vr5 may be a reference voltage, and the reference signal Vr5 may be substantially fixed with respect to a variation of the power voltage Vsource.

The resistors Rp3 to Rp6, rn3 to Rn6 may be variable resistors. Resistors Rp3 and Rn3 may have substantially the same resistance value, resistors Rp4 and Rn4 may have substantially the same resistance value, resistors Rp5 and Rn5 may have substantially the same resistance value, and resistors Rp6 and Rn6 may have substantially the same resistance value. The output voltage Vo can be expressed by equation 7:

Vo=k1 (VBG 2-VCC 1) +k2 (Vdet 2-Vdet 02) +k3 (VPTAT 2-VBG 3) +k4 (Vr 5-Vref 5) +k5 (VD 0-Vat) formula 7

VCC1 is a voltage signal;

vdet2 is the power signal;

vdet02 is a reference signal, independent of power variation of the input signal S1 or the output signal S2;

VPTAT2 is the temperature signal;

VBG3 is a reference signal, independent of temperature variation;

vr5 is a reference signal, and is irrelevant to the change of the power supply voltage Vsource;

Vref5 is the reference potential;

VD0 is a temperature signal;

Vat is the temperature signal;

when the switches SW1 and SW2 are turned off, k1=res_rf/(res_rp1+res_rp2) =

Res_RF/(Res_Rn1+Res_Rn2);

When the switches SW1 and SW2 are turned on, k1=Res_RF/Res_Rp1=Res_RF/Res_Rn1, and

k2=Res_RF/Res_Rp3=Res_RF/Res_Rn3;

k3=Res_RF/Res_Rp4=Res_RF/Res_Rn4;

k4=Res_RF/Res_Rp6=Res_RF/Res_Rn6;

K5 Res\u RF-Res_RF-Res_Rn5; And

Res_RF, res_Rp1 to Res_Rp6, res_Rn1 to Res_Rn6 are the resistance values of the resistors RF, rp1 to Rp6, rn1 to Rn6, respectively.

The output voltage Vo may be determined by the difference (VBG 2-VCC 1) and the slope k1, the difference (Vdet 2-Vdet 02) and the slope k2, the difference (VPTAT 2-VBG 3) and the slope k3, the difference (Vr 5-Vref 5) and the slope k4 and the difference (VD 0-Vat) and the slope k 5. The difference (VBG 2-VCC 1) and the slope k1 are described in the previous paragraphs, and are not repeated here.

The linearity of the amplifying unit 11 may vary depending on the power of the input signal S1 or the output signal S2, and the power of the input signal S1 or the output signal S2 is estimated by the power signal Vdet 2. The difference (Vdet 2-Vdet 02) may represent the amount of power change and may be used to compensate for the power change. The output end of the operational amplifier OP can also output the output voltage Vo according to the power signal Vdet2 and the reference signal Vdet 02. The bias module 12 can adjust the bias current Ibias according to the power of the input signal S1 or the power of the output signal S2. In some embodiments, the bias current Ibias may be increased when the power of the input signal S1 or the output signal S2 is increased, and may be decreased when the power of the input signal S1 or the output signal S2 is decreased, thereby maintaining the linearity of the amplifying unit 11 and improving the efficiency of the amplifying unit 11.

The gain of the amplifying unit 11 may vary with the ambient temperature, which is estimated by the temperature signal VPTAT 2. Specifically, the gain of the amplifying unit 11 may decrease as the ambient temperature increases, and may increase as the ambient temperature decreases. The difference value (VPTAT 2-VBG 3) may represent an ambient temperature variation and may be used to compensate for ambient temperature variations. The output end of the operational amplifier OP can also output the output voltage Vo according to the temperature signal VPTAT2 and the reference signal VBG 3. Thus, the bias module 12 can adjust the bias current Ibias and maintain the gain of the amplifying unit 11 within a predetermined gain range, such as + -2 dB of the specific gain of the amplifying unit 11. For example, the gain of the amplifying unit 11 may be adjusted to 28dB at high temperature and the gain of the amplifying unit 11 may be adjusted to 32dB at low temperature to maintain the gain of the amplifying unit 11 within a range of 30db±2dB at temperature change.

The gain of the amplifying unit 11 may vary depending on the temperature of the amplifying unit 11, the temperature of the amplifying unit 11 being estimated from the temperature signal Vat. For example, the temperature of the amplifying unit 11 may increase with the operation time, resulting in a decrease in gain. The difference values (VD 0 to Vat) may represent the amount of change between the ambient temperature and the temperature of the amplifying unit and may be used to compensate for the temperature change of the amplifying unit 11. The output end of the operational amplifier OP can also output the output voltage Vo according to the temperature signal VD0 and the temperature signal Vat. Thus, the bias module 12 can adjust the bias current Ibias and maintain the gain of the amplifying unit 11 within a predetermined gain range, such as + -0.2 dB of the specific gain of the amplifying unit 11. For example, after the amplifying unit 11 is operated for a period of time, the temperature of the amplifying unit 11 gradually increases, and the gain of the amplifying unit 11 can be adjusted to 29.8dB or 30.2dB to maintain the gain of the amplifying unit 11 within the range of 30db±0.2dB.

The difference (Vr 5-Vr 5) may represent a basic value for generating the bias current Ibias, which may be used, for example, to cause the amplifying unit 11 to operate at an appropriate operating point (operating point). The output end of the operational amplifier OP can also output the output voltage Vo according to the reference signal Vr5 and the reference potential Vref 5. The bias module 12 can adjust the bias current Ibias. In some embodiments, the signal terminal 1607, the reference potential terminal 1608, and the resistors Rp6 and Rn6 can be removed from the variable current source 1200. The basic value of the bias current Ibias may be provided by other bias current generating circuits.

Although in fig. 5, the slopes k2, k3, k4, k5 are implemented using only one slope value, the slopes k2, k3, k4, k5 may also be implemented using a circuit arrangement similar to the first resistance selection circuit 152 and the second resistance selection circuit 154 in fig. 4.

The variable current source 1200 of fig. 4 and 5 may generate the bias current Ibias to compensate for variations in the supply voltage, variations in the power of the input/output signal, variations in the ambient temperature and/or variations in the temperature of the amplifying unit, thereby improving the performance of the amplifier device 2.

In addition, in some embodiments, in addition to using the same circuit configuration as the variable current source 1200 of fig. 5, the variable current source 1200 can be changed according to practical application and design requirements to compensate for one of the power variation of the input/output signal, the ambient temperature variation, or the temperature variation of the amplifying unit or a selected combination thereof in addition to the variation of the power supply voltage. In some embodiments, the first resistance selection circuit 152, the second resistance selection circuit 154, and the resistances Rp1, rp 3-Rp 6, rn1, rn 3-Rn 6 may be removed from the variable current source 1200 and may be moved to external circuitry outside of the variable current source 1200.

Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of another amplifier device 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The bias module 12 may include a variable current source 1200 and a transistor 1201. The transistor 1201 may include a first terminal coupled to the bias voltage source 190, a second terminal coupled to the variable current source 1200, and a third terminal coupled to the second terminal of the amplifying unit 11. The bias voltage source 190 may receive a supply voltage V1. Variable current source 1200 may be implemented by the embodiments of fig. 4 and 5. In some embodiments, transistor 1201 may be a MOSFET, BJT, or other type of transistor.

Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram of another amplifier device 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The bias module 12 may include a transistor 1201, a variable current source 1200, a resistor 1203, and diodes 1204, 1205. The arrangement of the transistor 1201 and the variable current source 1200 is the same as that of fig. 6, and will not be described here again. Resistor 1203 may include a first terminal coupled to variable current source 1200 and a second terminal coupled to a second terminal of transistor 1201. The diode 1204 may include a first terminal coupled to the second terminal of the resistor 1203, and a second terminal. The diode 1205 may include a first terminal coupled to the second terminal of the diode 1204, and a second terminal coupled to the reference potential terminal 30. The reference potential terminal 30 receives the reference potential Vref5. In some embodiments, the diodes 1204, 1205 may be diode connected transistors.

Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram of another amplifier device 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The bias module 12 may include a transistor 1201, a variable current source 1200, a resistor 1203, a transistor 1206, and a resistor 1207. The arrangement of the transistor 1201, the variable current source 1200 and the resistor 1203 is the same as that of fig. 7, and will not be described here again. Resistor 1207 may include a first terminal and a second terminal coupled to a third terminal of transistor 1201. The transistor 1206 may include a first terminal coupled to the second terminal of the resistor 1203, a second terminal coupled to the first terminal of the resistor 1207, and a third terminal coupled to the reference potential terminal 30. The reference potential terminal 30 receives the reference potential Vref5. In some embodiments, the transistor 1206 may be a MOSFET, BJT, or other type of transistor.

The amplifier device 2 of fig. 1, 6 to 8 uses the variable current source 1200 of fig. 4 and 5 to generate the bias current Ibias to compensate for variations in the supply voltage, variations in the power of the input signal or the output signal, variations in the ambient temperature and/or variations in the temperature of the amplifying unit, thereby improving the performance of the amplifier device 2.

The amplifier device in the embodiment of the invention can adjust the bias current of the bias module according to various factors, and can carry out power supply voltage compensation, signal power compensation, ambient temperature compensation and/or temperature compensation of the amplifying unit on the amplifier device, thereby improving the performance of the amplifier device.

The foregoing description is only of the preferred embodiments of the invention, and all changes and modifications that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

Claims

1. An amplifier device, comprising:

an amplifying unit having a first end coupled to a voltage source for receiving a power voltage, a second end for receiving an input signal, and a third end coupled to a first reference voltage end for receiving a first reference voltage, the first end of the amplifying unit being for outputting an output signal amplified by the amplifying unit, and

The bias module is coupled to the second end of the amplifying unit and is used for receiving a voltage signal to provide a bias current to the amplifying unit, wherein the voltage signal is a variable voltage;

Wherein a supply current flows into the amplifying unit, and the supply current is adjusted according to the voltage signal so as to maintain the supply current within a preset range;

the bias module is used for providing the bias current according to a first inverse slope, a second inverse slope, or the first inverse slope and the second inverse slope;

Wherein the voltage signal is substantially positive with respect to the power supply voltage, the first inverse slope and the second inverse slope are inversely related to the voltage signal,

When the power supply voltage is smaller than a preset value, the relation between the power supply current and the power supply voltage comprises a first line segment;

when the power supply voltage is larger than the preset value, the relation between the power supply current and the power supply voltage comprises a second line segment;

the first line segment has a first slope;

the second line segment has a second slope;

the first inverse slope negatively correlates to the first slope and the second inverse slope negatively correlates to the second slope.

2. The amplifier apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bias module comprises a variable current source.

3. The amplifier apparatus of claim 2, wherein the variable current source comprises a variable resistor.

4. The amplifier apparatus of claim 2, wherein the variable current source comprises:

An operational amplifier, including a first input terminal coupled to a first signal terminal and receiving a first reference signal, a second input terminal coupled to a second signal terminal and receiving the voltage signal, and an output terminal for outputting an output voltage;

A first Resistor (RF) having a first end coupled to the second input end of the operational amplifier and a second end coupled to the output end of the operational amplifier, and

A voltage-to-current converter includes a first terminal coupled to the output terminal of the operational amplifier, and a second terminal coupled to the second terminal of the amplifying unit for converting the output voltage into the bias current.

5. An amplifier device, comprising:

Wherein the bias module comprises a variable current source;

Wherein the variable current source comprises:

A voltage-to-current converter including a first terminal coupled to the output terminal of the operational amplifier, a second terminal coupled to the second terminal of the amplifying unit for converting the output voltage into the bias current, and

A second resistor (Rp 1) having a first end coupled to the first signal end and a second end coupled to the first input end of the operational amplifier, and

A third resistor (Rn 1) having a first end coupled to the second signal end and a second end coupled to the second input end of the operational amplifier;

one of the power supply currents flows into the amplifying unit, and the power supply current is adjusted according to the voltage signal so as to maintain the power supply current within a preset range.

6. The amplifier device of claim 5, wherein the second resistor (Rp 1) and the third resistor (Rn 1) are variable resistors.

7. The amplifier apparatus of claim 5, wherein the variable current source further comprises:

A first resistor selection circuit including a first terminal coupled to the first signal terminal and a second terminal coupled to the first terminal of the second resistor (Rp 1), and

A second resistor selection circuit includes a first terminal coupled to the second signal terminal, and a second terminal coupled to the first terminal of the third resistor (Rn 1).

8. The amplifier apparatus of claim 7, wherein:

The first resistance selection circuit includes:

A first switch having a first end coupled to the first end of the first resistor selection circuit, a second end coupled to the second end of the first resistor selection circuit, and a control end

A fourth resistor (Rp 2) coupled between the first end of the first switch and the second end of the first switch, and

The second resistance selection circuit includes:

a second switch including a first end coupled to the first end of the second resistor selection circuit, a second end coupled to the second end of the second resistor selection circuit, and a control end

A fifth resistor (Rn 2) coupled between the first terminal of the second switch and the second terminal of the second switch.

9. The amplifier apparatus of claim 5, wherein the variable current source further comprises:

A sixth resistor (Rp 3) having a first end coupled to a third signal end and receiving a power signal, and a second end coupled to the first input end of the operational amplifier

A seventh resistor (Rn 3) having a first end coupled to a fourth signal end and receiving a second reference signal, and a second end coupled to the second input end of the operational amplifier;

Wherein the second reference signal is a fixed voltage independent of the power variation of the input signal or the output signal, and

The output end of the operational amplifier is further used for outputting the output voltage according to the power signal and the second reference signal.

10. The amplifier apparatus of claim 5, wherein the variable current source further comprises:

An eighth resistor (Rp 4) having a first end coupled to a fifth signal end and for receiving a first temperature signal, and a second end coupled to the first input end of the operational amplifier

A ninth resistor (Rn 4) including a first end coupled to a sixth signal end and receiving a third reference signal, and a second end coupled to the second input end of the operational amplifier;

wherein the third reference signal is a fixed voltage independent of temperature variation, and

The output end of the operational amplifier is further used for outputting the output voltage according to the first temperature signal and the third reference signal.

11. The amplifier apparatus of claim 5, wherein the variable current source further comprises:

a tenth resistor (Rp 5) having a first end coupled to a seventh signal end and for receiving a second temperature signal, and a second end coupled to the first input end of the operational amplifier

An eleventh resistor (Rn 5) comprising a first terminal coupled to an eighth signal terminal and configured to receive a third temperature signal, and a second terminal coupled to the second input terminal of the operational amplifier;

the output end of the operational amplifier is further used for outputting the output voltage according to the second temperature signal and the third temperature signal.

12. The amplifier apparatus of claim 5, wherein the variable current source further comprises:

A twelfth resistor (Rp 6) having a first end coupled to a ninth signal end and receiving a fourth reference signal, and a second end coupled to the first input end of the operational amplifier

A thirteenth resistor (Rn 6) having a first end coupled to a second reference voltage end and receiving a second reference voltage, and a second end coupled to the second input end of the operational amplifier;

Wherein the fourth reference signal is a fixed voltage independent of the voltage variation of the power supply voltage, and

The output end of the operational amplifier is further used for outputting the output voltage according to the fourth reference signal and the second reference potential.

13. The amplifier device of claim 5, wherein the variable current source further comprises a fourteenth resistor (RF 1) comprising a first terminal coupled to the first terminal of the first Resistor (RF), and a second terminal coupled to a third reference potential terminal.

14. The amplifier apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first input terminal of the operational amplifier is a forward terminal and the second input terminal of the operational amplifier is an inverse terminal.

15. The amplifier apparatus of claim 5, wherein the operational amplifier is an adder.

16. The amplifier apparatus of claim 5, wherein the bias module further comprises a first transistor comprising a first terminal coupled to a bias voltage source, a second terminal coupled to the variable current source, and a third terminal coupled to the second terminal of the amplifying unit.

17. The amplifier apparatus of claim 16, wherein the biasing module further comprises:

A fifteenth resistor (1203) including a first terminal coupled to the variable current source and a second terminal coupled to the second terminal of the first transistor;

a first diode having a first terminal coupled to the second terminal of the fifteenth resistor (1203), and a second terminal

The second diode comprises a first end, a second end and a fourth reference potential end, wherein the first end is coupled with the second end of the first diode, and the second end is coupled with the fourth reference potential end.

18. The amplifier apparatus of claim 16, wherein the biasing module further comprises:

a seventeenth resistor (1207) including a first terminal and a second terminal coupled to the third terminal of the first transistor, and

A second transistor comprising a first terminal coupled to the second terminal of the fifteenth resistor (1203), a second terminal coupled to the first terminal of the seventeenth resistor (1207), and a third terminal coupled to a fifth reference potential terminal.

19. The amplifier apparatus of claim 5, wherein the amplifying unit is a power amplifier.