Making Radio Amplifiers More Efficient and Clear with Two Tricks
This patent describes a smart way to make radio amplifiers, like those in cell phones, more efficient and produce a clearer signal by adjusting both the power supply and the input signal based on how strong the signal is.
Original patent title: “Pre-distortion in RF path in combination with shaping table in envelope path for envelope tracking amplifier”
This patent describes a smart way to make radio amplifiers, like those in cell phones, more efficient and produce a clearer signal by adjusting both the power supply and the input signal based on how strong the signal is. Granted to SnapTrack in 2018 with 9 claims and 1 forward citation, and it is expected to expire in 2033.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a method for improving how radio signals are amplified, especially in devices like cell phones. It works by using two main techniques together: first, it 'shapes the envelope signal' for the amplifier's power supply (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1). This means the power supply voltage is adjusted to closely follow the strength of the signal being amplified, but it always stays above a certain minimum voltage (Claim 1). This shaping is specifically designed to improve signal quality in the 'compressed region' of the amplifier, where the signal is very strong (Claim 1). Second, it 'pre-distorts the input signal' before it even reaches the amplifier (Claim 1). This pre-distortion is designed to improve signal quality in the 'linear region' of the amplifier, where the signal is weaker (Claim 1). By combining these two methods, the system ensures the amplified signal is a more accurate copy of the original, reducing distortion and saving power. For example, in a smartphone, this helps the cellular radio transmit a clear signal while using less battery.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover amplification systems that only pre-distort the input signal without also shaping the envelope signal for the power supply.
- Does not cover systems where the envelope signal shaping is not specifically applied to improve linearity in a compressed power region.
- Does not cover systems where the pre-distortion function is not specifically applied to improve linearity in a linear power region.
- Does not cover systems where the power supply voltage tracks the envelope signal even when the envelope signal voltage is below a minimum voltage setting.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The clever part is combining two different signal correction techniques – pre-distortion and envelope shaping – and applying each one specifically to the amplifier's operating region where it's most effective for improving signal quality. This dual approach tackles distortion more comprehensively.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Smartphone cellular radios
5G base station power amplifiers
Wi-Fi access points
Satellite communication transceivers
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This technology is vital for modern wireless communication, especially in devices like smartphones and cellular base stations. It helps power amplifiers operate more efficiently, which extends battery life in mobile devices and reduces energy consumption in infrastructure. By improving signal linearity, it also ensures clearer, more reliable data transmission, which is critical for high-speed mobile networks like 4G and 5G.
Filed
January 16, 2013
Granted
December 4, 2018
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Qualcomm, through its subsidiary SnapTrack Inc., is a key innovator in this area, developing chipsets for mobile devices that incorporate such technologies. Other major semiconductor companies like Qorvo and Skyworks also actively develop power amplifier solutions that leverage advanced efficiency and linearity techniques for wireless communication.
Market impact
This technology has contributed to the development of more energy-efficient mobile devices, extending battery life for users. It also enabled higher quality and faster data transmission in cellular networks by reducing signal distortion, which is crucial for the performance of 4G and 5G standards.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a method for improving how radio signals are amplified, especially in devices like cell phones. It works by using two main techniques together: first, it 'shapes the envelope signal' for the amplifier's power supply (Claim 1). This means the power supply voltage is adjusted to closely follow the strength of the signal being amplified, but it always stays above a certain minimum voltage (Claim 1). This shaping is specifically designed to improve signal quality in the 'compressed region' of the amplifier, where the signal is very strong (Claim 1). Second, it 'pre-distorts the input signal' before it even reaches the amplifier (Claim 1). This pre-distortion is designed to improve signal quality in the 'linear region' of the amplifier, where the signal is weaker (Claim 1). By combining these two methods, the system ensures the amplified signal is a more accurate copy of the original, reducing distortion and saving power. For example, in a smartphone, this helps the cellular radio transmit a clear signal while using less battery.
The clever bit
The clever part is combining two different signal correction techniques – pre-distortion and envelope shaping – and applying each one specifically to the amplifier's operating region where it's most effective for improving signal quality. This dual approach tackles distortion more comprehensively.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover amplification systems that only pre-distort the input signal without also shaping the envelope signal for the power supply.
- Does not cover systems where the envelope signal shaping is not specifically applied to improve linearity in a compressed power region.
- Does not cover systems where the pre-distortion function is not specifically applied to improve linearity in a linear power region.
- Does not cover systems where the power supply voltage tracks the envelope signal even when the envelope signal voltage is below a minimum voltage setting.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
6/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
6/20
Moderate scope
Recency
10/20
Granted 5–10 years ago
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$29K – $94K
Midpoint $59K · 6.3 yr remaining · industry ×1.4
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
The original legal language
Original claims
9 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Wimpenny, G. (2018). Making Radio Amplifiers More Efficient and Clear with Two Tricks (U.S. Patent No. 10,148,229). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10148229/pre-distortion-in-rf-path-in-combination-with-shaping-table-in-envelope-path-for
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
Embed
Add this patent to your site
Drop this plain-English patent card into any blog post or article — free, no signup. It always links back to the full breakdown here.
<div data-patentlens-widget data-patent-number="US10148229"></div> <script src="https://patentbrief.org/embed.js" async></script>
Stay in the loop
Get a weekly digest of new patents.
One email per week. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Keep exploring
Related patents you should know
US 4683195 · 1987
How to Make Billions of Copies of a DNA Segment
This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), a method to rapidly create many copies of a specific piece of DNA or RNA, enabling its detection and analysis.
Cetus Corp
US 8697359 · 2014
How to Edit Genes in Human Cells Using an Engineered CRISPR System
This patent describes an engineered CRISPR-Cas9 system for precisely cutting DNA in eukaryotic cells to change how genes work, opening the door for gene editing in complex organisms.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
US 7657849 · 2010
How the iPhone's Slide-to-Unlock Gesture Works
Apple's 2010 patent describes unlocking a device by dragging a specific graphical image across the touchscreen along a predefined path, a gesture that became iconic with the original iPhone.
Apple Inc
US 4733665 · 1988
How Doctors Implant a Permanent Stent Using a Balloon
This patent describes the method for placing a permanent, expandable wire mesh tube inside a blood vessel or other body tube using a balloon-tipped catheter to widen it and keep it open.
Expandable Grafts Partnership
US 4965188 · 1990
How to Make Many Copies of a DNA Piece with Heat
This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method, a technique to make millions of copies of a specific DNA segment using a heat-resistant enzyme and repeated temperature changes.
Cetus Corp
US 4235871 · 1980
How to Encapsulate Active Materials in Lipid Bubbles Efficiently
This patent describes a method for trapping biologically active substances inside tiny, multi-layered fat bubbles called liposomes, using a specific water-in-oil emulsion and gel-forming process to improve how much material gets captured.
Individual
Semantically similar
You might also find these interesting
US 5757229 · 1998 · Motorola
How a Radio Amplifier Saves Energy by Sharing Work
US 8269555 · 2012 · NXP BV
How to Make Radio Amplifiers More Efficient
US 8130043 · 2012 · Anadigics
How Multi-Stage Power Amplifiers Save Battery Life in Wireless Devices
US 8847689 · 2014 · Qualcomm
How Diodes Make Wireless Amplifiers Clearer
More to explore
More in Telecom & Wireless
US 5347632 · 1994 · Prodigy Services Co
Prodigy's System for Interactive Online Information and Shopping
US 3906166 · 1975 · Motorola Inc
How Early Cell Phones Handled Calls Across Different Towers
US 4063220 · 1977 · Xerox Corp
How Multiple Computers Share a Network Cable Without Crashing
US 4200770 · 1980 · Leland Stanford Junior University
How to Create a Secret Code Key Without Meeting First
New to patents?
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Making Radio Amplifiers More Efficient and Clear with Two Tricks cover?
This patent describes a smart way to make radio amplifiers, like those in cell phones, more efficient and produce a clearer signal by adjusting both the power supply and the input signal based on how strong the signal is.
Who owns patent US 10148229?
SnapTrack owns this patent, granted in 2018.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on January 16, 2033, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 10148229 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 1 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This technology is vital for modern wireless communication, especially in devices like smartphones and cellular base stations. It helps power amplifiers operate more efficiently, which extends battery life in mobile devices and reduces energy consumption in infrastructure. By improving signal linearity, it also ensures clearer, more reliable data transmission, which is critical for high-speed mobile networks like 4G and 5G.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover amplification systems that only pre-distort the input signal without also shaping the envelope signal for the power supply.
Patent monitoring