{
  "patent_number": "US 8269555",
  "country": "US",
  "title": "How to Make Radio Amplifiers More Efficient",
  "original_title": "Efficient linear LINC power amplifier",
  "summary": "This patent describes a method for tuning radio frequency power amplifiers to boost their efficiency and maintain a stable signal phase, especially when handling signals with changing loudness and direction.",
  "what_it_does": "This patent details a method for optimizing radio frequency (RF) power amplifiers, which are crucial for transmitting signals. The amplifier has two main parts, called amplification branches, that work together. Each branch uses switching-mode amplification devices that can be turned on and off very quickly, controlled by a 'duty-cycle' (how long they are on versus off). The method involves carefully setting up the components in the combination circuit, specifically 'reactive inductive components,' to ensure the amplifiers switch on only when their voltage is near zero. This is called zero-voltage switching and helps reduce energy loss. Additionally, the patent explains how to adjust the duty-cycles of both branches. By sweeping through different 'out-phasing angles' (a way of controlling the signal's phase) and monitoring the output signal's phase and the amplifier's efficiency, the system can find the optimal duty-cycle settings. This ensures the output signal's phase stays consistent relative to the out-phasing angle, leading to a more linear and efficient amplification. For example, when amplifying a signal that changes in loudness and phase, this method fine-tunes the amplifier's settings to deliver the signal cleanly without wasting power.",
  "what_it_does_not_cover": [
    "Amplifiers that do not use an out-phasing configuration.",
    "Amplifiers that do not have at least two amplification branches.",
    "Methods that do not involve adjusting the duty-cycle of the amplification devices.",
    "Methods that do not aim to maintain a constant phase of the output signal.",
    "Amplifiers that do not use switching-mode amplification devices."
  ],
  "filed": "2009-04-30",
  "granted": "2012-09-18",
  "expires": "2029-04-30",
  "status": "active",
  "holder": "NXP BV",
  "holder_url": "https://patentbrief.org/company/nxp-bv",
  "inventors": [
    {
      "name": "Jan Sophia Vromans",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/jan-sophia-vromans"
    },
    {
      "name": "Mark Pieter van der Heijden",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/mark-pieter-van-der-heijden"
    },
    {
      "name": "Antonius Johannes Matheus de Graaw",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/antonius-johannes-matheus-de-graaw"
    },
    {
      "name": "Rik Jos",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/rik-jos"
    }
  ],
  "times_cited": 4,
  "tags": [
    "consumer_electronics",
    "telecommunications",
    "semiconductors"
  ],
  "abstract": "Method for setup of parameter values in a RF power amplifier circuit arrangement ( 200 ), wherein the amplifier circuit arrangement ( 200 ) comprises a first ( 210 ) and a second ( 220 ) amplification branch and is operated in an out-phasing configuration for amplification of RF input signals with modulated amplitude and modulated phase and respective circuit arrangements are disclosed. According to a first aspect a re-optimization of the dead-time or conversely the duty-cycle, respectively, the phase of the output signal after the combiner can be kept linear with respect to the out-phasing angle. Further, according to a second aspect, additionally to introduction of an optimally chosen dead-time, a non-coherent combiner (Lx, Lx*) can reduce crowbar current and switching losses due the output capacitance (Cds). Furthermore, according to a third aspect the reactive compensation can, additionally or alternatively, be controlled by operating both amplification branches at different duty-cycles.",
  "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8269555/efficient-linear-linc-power-amplifier",
  "markdown_url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8269555/efficient-linear-linc-power-amplifier/md",
  "google_patents_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US8269555",
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}