Designing Electronic Networks for Efficient Power Amplification
This patent describes how to design electronic networks that allow power amplifiers to work efficiently over a wide range of frequencies without overheating or failing.
Original patent title: “Wideband, minimum-rating filters and multicouplers for power amplifiers”
This patent describes how to design electronic networks that allow power amplifiers to work efficiently over a wide range of frequencies without overheating or failing. Granted to Individual in 2003 with 27 claims and 57 forward citations, and it is now in the public domain.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent details a method and circuit design for power amplification systems. The core idea is to select the components of an electronic network (like filters or matching networks) so that the input side of the network has a 'minimum-rating characteristic.' This means the network is designed to handle the input voltage and current without exceeding specific limits, even when delivering a set amount of signal power to a load across a range of frequencies. It also covers systems where multiple amplifiers, each optimized for different frequency bands, combine their outputs into a single load, presenting a stable, resistive load to each amplifier and avoiding power loss in the combining network. An example would be a radio transmitter needing to operate across many channels; this patent's method helps ensure the power amplifiers don't get overloaded.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Electronic networks that are not designed to minimize input voltage and current ratings.
- Systems that do not deliver a specified amount of signal power to a load.
- Methods that do not operate across a specified frequency band.
- Amplification systems that do not use an electronic network between the amplifier and the load.
- Combining networks where the passbands of individual networks significantly overlap and load each other.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The key innovation is designing the network components not just for signal performance, but specifically to minimize the stress (voltage and current ratings) on the amplifier driving it, while still meeting performance goals across a wide frequency band.
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
RF power amplifiers in wireless base stations
Power amplifiers in radio transmitters
Broadband amplifiers for test equipment
Components in high-frequency communication systems
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent addresses a fundamental challenge in radio frequency (RF) and wireless communications: efficiently amplifying signals across broad frequency ranges. Before this, amplifiers might have been over-engineered or operated inefficiently to handle varying loads and frequencies. This invention provides a systematic way to design the supporting networks, leading to more compact, reliable, and power-efficient amplifiers, which are crucial components in everything from mobile phones to base stations.
Filed
October 2, 2000
Granted
April 22, 2003
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
The principles described in this patent are foundational for many RF component manufacturers. Companies like Qorvo, Broadcom, and Analog Devices, who design and produce power amplifiers and related RF front-end modules, likely incorporate these or similar design philosophies in their products.
Market impact
This patent's approach to designing minimum-rating networks likely contributed to the development of more efficient and compact power amplifiers. This, in turn, enabled the proliferation of wireless devices and infrastructure that require reliable performance across wide frequency bands, impacting the cost and capability of telecommunications equipment.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent details a method and circuit design for power amplification systems. The core idea is to select the components of an electronic network (like filters or matching networks) so that the input side of the network has a 'minimum-rating characteristic.' This means the network is designed to handle the input voltage and current without exceeding specific limits, even when delivering a set amount of signal power to a load across a range of frequencies. It also covers systems where multiple amplifiers, each optimized for different frequency bands, combine their outputs into a single load, presenting a stable, resistive load to each amplifier and avoiding power loss in the combining network. An example would be a radio transmitter needing to operate across many channels; this patent's method helps ensure the power amplifiers don't get overloaded.
The clever bit
The key innovation is designing the network components not just for signal performance, but specifically to minimize the stress (voltage and current ratings) on the amplifier driving it, while still meeting performance goals across a wide frequency band.
What it does not cover
- Electronic networks that are not designed to minimize input voltage and current ratings.
- Systems that do not deliver a specified amount of signal power to a load.
- Methods that do not operate across a specified frequency band.
- Amplification systems that do not use an electronic network between the amplifier and the load.
- Combining networks where the passbands of individual networks significantly overlap and load each other.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
This patent is in the public domain
See the Freedom to Build guide — what is free to use, what is not, and how to cite this patent.
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Moderate
Citation count
35/40
Highly cited
Claim breadth
18/20
Very broad protection
Recency
0/20
Older than 20 years
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
$49K – $157K
Midpoint $98K · expired or expiring · 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
27 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Raab, F. H. (2003). Designing Electronic Networks for Efficient Power Amplification (U.S. Patent No. 6,552,634). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/6552634/wideband-minimum-rating-filters-and-multicouplers-for-power-amplifiers
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Designing Electronic Networks for Efficient Power Amplification cover?
This patent describes how to design electronic networks that allow power amplifiers to work efficiently over a wide range of frequencies without overheating or failing.
Who owns patent US 6552634?
Individual owns this patent, granted in 2003.
When does this patent expire?
This patent has expired and is now in the public domain — anyone can use the invention freely.
What is patent US 6552634 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 57 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent addresses a fundamental challenge in radio frequency (RF) and wireless communications: efficiently amplifying signals across broad frequency ranges. Before this, amplifiers might have been over-engineered or operated inefficiently to handle varying loads and frequencies. This invention provides a systematic way to design the supporting networks, leading to more compact, reliable, and power-efficient amplifiers, which are crucial components in everything from mobile phones to base stations.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Electronic networks that are not designed to minimize input voltage and current ratings.
Same assignee
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