Apparatus and method for an integrated multi-mode multi-band power amplifier

Abstract

An apparatus and method for amplifying a transmission signals in multiple modes and multiple bands. The apparatus includes a tunable power amplifying module adapted to receive a plurality of signal types comprising multiple modes and multiple bands. The tunable power amplifying module includes a first and second power amplifier stages and a number of tunable matching networks configured to optimize an impedance value based on the mode and band of the signal to be amplified.

1 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A method of amplifying a transmission signal, the method comprising:
 receiving a signal for amplification;   amplifying the signal via an amplification path;   adjusting an impedance of the amplification path; and   outputting an amplified signal from the received signal according to the amplification path.   
     
     
         23 . The method as set forth in  claim 22 , further comprising:
 detecting at least one parameter of the amplified signal; and   adjusting the impedance in response to the at least one detected parameter.   
     
     
         24 . The method as set forth in  claim 22 , wherein adjusting the impedance further comprises:
 receiving a configuration signal;   decoding the configuration signal; and   adjusting the impedance of at least one of a number of tunable matching networks based on the decoded configuration signal.   
     
     
         25 . The, method as set forth in  claim 22 , wherein the amplification path comprises a broad band stage, a final stage, and a number of tunable matching networks. 
     
     
         26 . The method as set forth in  claim 25 , further comprising bypassing the final stage and at least one of the number of tunable matching networks. 
     
     
         27 . The method as set forth in  claim 22 , wherein receiving the signal comprises:
 selecting at least one terminal from among a plurality of terminals;   receiving the signal via the selected at least one terminal; and   outputting the amplified signal via a single pole terminal associated with the amplification path.   
     
     
         28 . The method as set forth in  claim 22 , wherein outputting the amplified signal comprises:
 receiving the amplified signal via a single pole terminal;   selecting at least one terminal from among a plurality of output terminals; and   outputting the amplified signal via the selected at least one terminal.   
     
     
         29 . A wireless communications handset method comprising a wireless communications handset including a plurality of transmission protocols for transmitting a plurality of signal types in a wireless communications network, the wireless communications handset method comprising:
 receiving a signal for amplification;   amplifying the signal via an amplification path;   adjusting an impedance of the amplification path; and   outputting an amplified signal from the received signal according to the amplification path.   
     
     
         30 . The wireless communications handset method of  claim 29 , further comprising:
 detecting at least one parameter of the amplified signal; and   adjusting the impedance in response to the detected at least one parameter.   
     
     
         31 . The wireless communications handset method of  claim 29 , wherein adjusting the impedance further comprises:
 receiving a configuration signal;   decoding the configuration signal; and   adjusting the impedance of at least one of a number of tunable matching networks based on the decoded configuration signal.   
     
     
         32 . The wireless communications handset method of  claim 29 , wherein the amplification path comprises a broad band stage, a final stage, and a number of tunable matching networks. 
     
     
         33 . The wireless communications handset method of  claim 32 , further comprising bypassing the final stage and at least one of the number of tunable matching networks. 
     
     
         34 . The wireless communications handset method of  claim 29 , wherein receiving the signal comprises:
 selecting at least one terminal from among a plurality of terminals;   receiving the signal via the selected at least one terminal; and   outputting the amplified signal via a single pole terminal associated with the amplification path.   
     
     
         35 . The wireless communications handset method of  claim 29 , wherein outputting the amplified signal comprises:
 receiving the amplified signal via a single pole terminal;   selecting at least one terminal from among a plurality of output terminals; and   outputting the amplified signal via the selected at least one terminal.   
     
     
         36 . A method comprising:
 receiving an input signal using a first interface;   amplifying the input signal using a first stage power amplifier to form a first amplified signal;   adjusting an impedance of the first amplified signal using a first tunable matching network to form a first impedance adjusted signal;   amplifying the first impedance adjusted signal using a second stage power amplifier to form a second amplified signal;   adjusting an impedance of the second amplified signal using a second tunable impedance matching network to form a second impedance adjusted signal; and   outputting the second impedance adjusted signal using a second interface.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein at least one of the first and second tunable matching networks comprises a Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) device. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein receiving the input signal further comprises:
 receiving the input signal from one of a plurality of signal sources, the first interface comprising a single pole, multi-throw interface; and   outputting received signal comprising a single pole signal to the first stage power amplifier.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein outputting the second impedance adjusted signal further comprises outputting the second impedance adjusted signal to one of a plurality of output paths using a single pole, multi-throw interface. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising bypassing the second stage power amplifier and at least one of the first and second tunable matching networks using a bypass switch. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the bypass switch comprises a Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) device.