Claims
- 1. A communications device comprising:
a radio frequency (RF) power amplifier for amplifying a radio frequency input signal; a configurable bias controller configured to provide a constant bias current to said RF power amplifier; said configurable bias controller is fabricated in a first semiconductor material; and said RF power amplifier is configured in a second semiconductor material.
- 2. The communications device of claim 1 wherein said RF power amplifier is fabricated in the first semiconductor material.
- 3. The communications device of claim 1, wherein said first semiconductor material comprises complementary metal oxide semiconductor material.
- 4. The communications device of claim 1, wherein said second semiconductor material comprises gallium arsenide semiconductor material.
- 5. The communications device of claim 1, wherein said configurable bias controller and said RF power amplifier are fabricated on a common integrated circuit.
- 6. The communications device of claim 1, wherein said configurable bias controller comprises:
a band gap voltage generator for generating a bandgap voltage; Voltage-to-current converter for generating a reference current in accordance with said bandgap voltage; programmable current mirror for multiplying said reference current to a predetermined level; and feedback amplifier for outputting and maintaining a constant current to a reference device.
- 7. The communications device of claim 5, wherein said configurable bias controller further comprises said reference device, said reference device is configured to provide a bias voltage output.
- 8. The communications device of claim 5, wherein said programmable current mirror provides said multiplied reference current to a power amplifier.
- 9. The communications device of claim 6, wherein said reference device is fabricated in said second semiconductor material.
- 10. The communications device of claim 5, wherein said configurable bias controller further comprises a switching device for alternatively providing said voltage-to-current converter with said bandgap voltage or a reference voltage provided by an external bias voltage source.
- 11. The communications device of claim 5, wherein said configurable bias controller is configured to turn off said bandgap voltage generator, said voltage-to-current converter and said programmable current mirror when they are not needed for operation of said communications device.
- 12. The communications device of claim 5, further comprising a radio frequency receiver.
- 13. The communications device of claim 10, wherein said radio frequency receiver comprises a personal communications system (PCS) compliant receiver.
- 14. The communications device of claim 10, wherein said radio frequency receiver comprises a code division multiple (CDMA) compliant receiver.
- 15. The communications device of claim 1, further comprising a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver.
- 16. The communications device of claim 1, whereas said RF power amplifier comprises a multi-stage power amplifier.
- 17. A configurable bias controller comprising:
a band gap voltage generator for generating a bandgap voltage; voltage-to-current converter for generating a reference current in accordance with said bandgap voltage; programmable current mirror for multiplying said reference current to a predetermined level; and feedback amplifier for outputting and maintaining a constant current to a reference device .
- 18. The configurable bias controller of claim 17, further comprising a reference device for providing a bias voltage output.
- 19. The configurable bias controller of claim 18, wherein said bandgap voltage generator, said voltage-to-current converter and said programmable current mirror are fabricated in a first semiconductor material.
- 20. The configurable bias controller of claim 18, wherein said reference device is fabricated in second semiconductor material.
- 21. The configurable bias controller of claim 17, further comprising a switching device for alternatively providing said voltage-to-current converter with said bandgap voltage or a reference voltage provided by an external bias voltage source.
- 22. The configurable bias controller of claim 21, wherein said configurable bias controller is configured to turn off said bandgap voltage generator, said voltage-to-current converter and said programmable current mirror when they are not needed for operation.
- 23. The configurable bias controller of claim 17 is fabricated on an integrated circuit common with a power amplifier.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to copending U.S. provisional application entitled, “CONFIGURABLE POWER AMPLIFIER BIAS CONTROL,” having Ser. No. 60/238,846, filed Oct. 6, 2000, and to copending U.S. utility patent application entitled “CONSTANT CURRENT BIASING CIRCUIT FOR LINEAR POWER AMPLIFIERS,” filed on Oct. 21, 2000, and accorded Ser. No. 09/693,398, the disclosures of which are both incorporated herein, in their entirety, by reference.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60238846 |
Oct 2000 |
US |