Current consumption reduction with low power amplifier

Abstract

A transceiver circuit and a method in a wireless communication network are provided, where a signal power level for a signal received at the transceiver circuit is measured and compared to a predefined threshold power level. At least two groups of power amplifiers may be used, where one group is optimized for high efficiency above the predefined threshold power level, and one group is optimized for high efficiency below the predefined threshold power level. The amplifiers may be used to amplify the received signal depending on the signal power level in relation to the predefined power threshold level. The signal may then be filtered by duplex filters and forwarded to a diversity antenna or a main antenna where it is transmitted over an air interface.

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A device comprising:
 a processor to:
 determine a signal power for one or more signals to be transmitted, 
 direct the one or more signals, when the determined signal power is above a particular power threshold, to one or more first amplifiers with an efficiency above the particular power threshold and not to one or more second amplifiers with an efficiency below the particular power threshold, and 
 direct the one or more signals, when the determined signal power is below the particular power threshold, to the one or more second amplifiers and not to the one or more first amplifiers. 
   
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 filters to separate the amplified one or more signals to be transmitted from received signals.   
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 14  further comprising,
 an isolation arrangement, connected to the one or more first amplifiers and the one or more second amplifiers, where the isolation arrangement is to: 
 prevent signal reflections of the one or more signals after amplification. 
 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a switch to:
 select one of a plurality of antennas to transmit the one or more signals after amplification by either the one or more first amplifiers or the one or more second amplifiers. 
   
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17 , where the switch is further to connect another one of the plurality of antennas to ground. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 17 , where the switch includes at least one of:
 a single pole single throw switch,   a double pole double throw switch,   a single pole double throw switch,   a single pole change over switch, or   another type of switch suitable to select among the plurality of antennas.   
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 14 , where the one or more signals to be amplified by one of the one or more first amplifiers or the one or more second amplifiers include at least one of:
 wideband carrier division multiple access (WCDMA) signals, or   combined global system for mobile communications/enhanced data rates for Global Evolution (GSWEDGE) signals.   
     
     
         21 . A method, comprising:
 receiving, by a device, one or more signals;   determining, by the device, a power at which the one or more received signals are to be sent;   comparing, by the device, the power at which the one or more received signals are to be sent to a particular power threshold;   when the power, at which the one or more received signals are to be sent, is above to the particular power threshold, directing, by the device, the one or more received signals to one or more first amplifiers with an efficiency above the particular power threshold power, and not to one or more second amplifiers with an efficiency below the particular power threshold; and   when the power, at which the one or more received signals are to be sent, is below the particular power threshold, directing, by the device, the one or more received signals to the one or more second amplifiers, and not to the one or more first amplifiers.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , where the one or more signals are received from other devices in the wireless communication network. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 separating the received one or more signals, after amplification, from the one or more received signals prior to amplification.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising
 preventing signal reflections of the received one or more signals after amplification.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 transmitting the at least one received signals after amplification by a first diversity antenna and a first main antenna,   where the where the one or more signals are received, from other devices in a wireless communication network, by at least one of a second diversity antenna or a second main antenna, where the second diversity antenna and the second main antenna differ from the first diversity antenna and the first main antenna.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 selecting one of the first diversity antenna or the first main antenna to transmit the one or more signals after amplification; and   connecting the non-selected one of the first diversity antenna or the first main antennas to ground.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , where the one or more signals are one of:
 wideband carrier division multiple access (WCDMA) signals, or   combined global system for mobile communications/enhanced data rates for Global Evolution (GSWEDGE) signals.   
     
     
         28 . A non-transient computer-readable medium for storing instructions executable by a processor in a device, the instructions comprising:
 instructions to receive one or more signals;   instructions to determine a power at which the one or more received signals are to be sent;   instructions to compare the power at which the one or more received signals are to be sent to a particular power threshold;   instructions to direct, when the power, at which the one or more received signals are to be sent, is above the particular power threshold, the one or more received signals to one or more first amplifiers with an efficiency above the particular power threshold power, and not to one or more second amplifiers with an efficiency below the particular power threshold; and   instructions to direct, when the power, at which the one or more received signals are to be sent, is below to the particular power threshold, the one or more received signals to the one or more second amplifiers, and not to the one or more first amplifiers.   
     
     
         29 . The non-transient computer-readable medium of  claim 28 , where the one or more signals are received from other devices in a wireless communication network. 
     
     
         30 . The non-transient computer-readable medium of  claim 28 , where the instructions further comprise:
 instructions to separate the one or more received signals, prior to amplification, from the one or more received signals after amplification.   
     
     
         31 . The non-transient computer-readable medium of  claim 28 , where the instructions further comprise:
 instructions to prevent signal reflections of the one or more received signals after amplification.   
     
     
         32 . The non-transient computer-readable medium of  claim 31 , where the instructions further comprise:
 instructions to transmit the at least one received signals, after amplification, by a first diversity antenna and a first main antenna,   where the one or more signals are received, from other devices in a wireless communication network, by at least one of a second diversity antenna or a second main antenna, where the second diversity antenna and the second main antenna differ from the first diversity antenna and the first main antenna.   
     
     
         33 . The non-transient computer-readable medium of  claim 32 , where the instructions further comprise:
 instructions to select one of the first diversity antenna or the first main antenna to transmit the one or more received signals, after amplification; and   instructions to connect the non-selected one of the first diversity antennas or the first main antenna to ground.