Low power consumption radio frequency front end and electronic device including the same

Abstract

The embodiment of the present invention relates to the field of communication technology, and discloses a low-power radio frequency front end and an electronic device including the same. In the present invention, the low-power radio frequency front end includes: a radio frequency transceiver, an antenna end, a power amplifier unit, a switch unit and a control unit; a signal transmission path is formed between the radio frequency transceiver and the antenna end; the power amplifier unit is connected to the signal transmission path through the switch unit, and the switch unit is also connected to the control unit, and the control unit is used to control the switch unit to connect part or all of the power amplifier unit to the signal transmission path. The embodiment of the present invention realizes the multiplexing of power amplifiers through radio frequency switches, etc., so that efficiency optimization of different power levels can be achieved without setting a bypass power amplifier, and at the same time, the chip size is smaller, which is conducive to the miniaturization of the product.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The embodiments of the present invention relate to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a low-power radio frequency front end and an electronic device comprising the same. Background Art

[0002] With the rapid development of communication technology, there are more and more ways of wireless access. Especially with the gradual popularization of the Internet of Things, the interconnection of all things has brought new challenges to wireless technology, among which miniaturization, high integration and low power consumption are the problems faced by the industry.

[0003] Low power consumption has always been a challenging design indicator for RF front-end design. As the requirements for low power consumption continue to increase, it becomes increasingly necessary to optimize the efficiency of the power amplifier under power back-off. There is no mature solution for optimizing efficiency under power back-off. One of them is a design that includes a bypass power amplifier, as shown in the following example. Figure 1 As shown, in high power mode (HPM), the signal is amplified through the main path, and in low power mode (LPM), the signal is amplified through the bypass power amplifier. Since the bypass power amplifier is optimized for low power efficiency, higher efficiency can be obtained.

[0004] The inventors have found that there are at least the following problems in the prior art: since the above-mentioned prior art design has only two power amplifiers in total, the bypass power amplifier design still cannot meet the efficiency requirements for extremely low power. At the same time, the implantation of the bypass power amplifier adds one power amplifier, which increases the size of the chip. Summary of the invention

[0005] The purpose of the embodiments of the present invention is to provide a low-power RF front end and an electronic device including the same, which realizes the reuse of power amplifiers through RF switches, etc., so that efficiency optimization of different power levels can be achieved without setting up a bypass power amplifier, while making the chip size smaller, which is conducive to the miniaturization of the product.

[0006] To solve the above technical problems, an embodiment of the present invention provides a low-power RF front end, including: an RF transceiver, an antenna end, a power amplification unit, a switch unit and a control unit; a signal transmission path is formed between the RF transceiver and the antenna end; the power amplification unit is connected to the signal transmission path through the switch unit, and the switch unit is also connected to the control unit, and the control unit is used to control the switch unit to connect part or all of the power amplification unit to the signal transmission path.

[0007] An embodiment of the present invention further provides an electronic device, comprising the low power consumption radio frequency front end as described above.

[0008] Compared with the prior art, in the embodiments of the present invention, the power amplification unit is connected to the signal transmission path (i.e., connected between the RF transceiver and the antenna end) through the switching unit, and the control unit can connect part or all of the power amplification unit to the signal transmission path by controlling the switching unit. In this way, when the power amplification unit is partially connected to the signal transmission path, signal amplification at a lower power level can be achieved, and when the power amplification unit is fully connected to the signal transmission path, signal amplification at a high power level can be achieved. Therefore, this embodiment realizes the function of the existing bypass power amplifier by multiplexing some power amplification units, thereby achieving efficiency optimization of different power levels without setting up a bypass power amplifier, and at the same time makes the chip size smaller, which is conducive to the miniaturization of the product.

[0009] In addition, the power amplification unit includes: a first amplification subunit and a second amplification subunit; the switch unit includes: a first radio frequency switch and a second radio frequency switch, the control ends of the first radio frequency switch and the second radio frequency switch are both connected to the control unit; the output end of the radio frequency transceiver is connected to the input end of the first amplification subunit, the output end of the first amplification subunit is connected to the movable end of the first radio frequency switch, the fixed end of the first radio frequency switch is respectively connected to the fixed end of the second radio frequency switch and the input end of the second amplification subunit, the output end of the second amplification subunit is connected to the fixed end of the second radio frequency switch; the movable end of the second radio frequency switch is connected to the antenna end; the control unit is used to control the first radio frequency switch and the second radio frequency switch to connect the first amplification subunit to the signal transmission path alone, or to connect the first amplification subunit and the second amplification subunit to the signal transmission path. Thus, a low-power radio frequency front end with a simple structure and capable of realizing power amplifier multiplexing is provided.

[0010] In addition, the switch unit is also used to disconnect all the power amplifier units from the signal transmission path, thereby providing a more efficient and lower power consumption RF front end for applications in extremely low power modes, such as NB-IOT.

[0011] In addition, the switch unit further includes a third RF switch, the control end of which is connected to the control unit; the output end of the RF transceiver is connected to the active end of the third RF switch, and the fixed end of the third RF switch is respectively connected to the input end of the first amplifying subunit and the fixed end of the second RF switch; the control unit is used to control the third RF switch and the second RF switch to connect or disconnect the power amplifying unit to the signal transmission path. Thus, a RF front end with a simple structure and capable of optimizing three power modes is provided.

[0012] In addition, it also includes: an impedance matching circuit connected between the first amplifying subunit and the antenna end, so as to ensure the performance of the RF front end on the basis of realizing power amplifier multiplexing.

[0013] In addition, the first amplifying subunit and the second amplifying subunit are both power amplifiers.

[0014] In addition, the second amplifying subunit includes: a first power amplifier and a second power amplifier; the input end of the first power amplifier is connected to the fixed end of the first RF switch, the output end of the first power amplifier is connected to the input end of the second power amplifier, and the output end of the second power amplifier is connected to the fixed end of the second RF switch, thereby further enriching the RF front-end implementation method.

[0015] In addition, the power amplification unit is an envelope amplifier or an average power amplifier, thereby further improving the efficiency of the radio frequency front end. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] One or more embodiments are exemplarily described by pictures in the corresponding drawings, and these exemplified descriptions do not constitute limitations on the embodiments. Elements with the same reference numerals in the drawings represent similar elements, and unless otherwise stated, the figures in the drawings do not constitute proportional limitations.

[0017] Figure 1 It is a structural diagram of the prior art RF front-end signal amplification path;

[0018] Figure 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a low power consumption radio frequency front end according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 3 is a schematic structural diagram of a low-power radio frequency front end according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 4 4 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a low-power radio frequency front end according to a third embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] In order to make the purpose, technical scheme and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the following will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that in the various embodiments of the present invention, many technical details are provided in order to enable the reader to better understand the present application. However, even without these technical details and various changes and modifications based on the following embodiments, the technical scheme claimed in the present application can be implemented.

[0022] The first embodiment of the present invention relates to a low-power radio frequency front end. For example, the radio frequency front end can support one or more of 4G-LTE (Long Term Evolution), 5G and NB-IOT (Narrow Band Internet of Things, NB-IoT for short). This embodiment does not impose specific restrictions on the wireless communication technology supported by the radio frequency front end. The low-power radio frequency front end includes: a radio frequency transceiver 1, an antenna terminal 4, a power amplifier unit 2, a switch unit 3 and a control unit (not shown); a signal transmission path is formed between the radio frequency transceiver 1 and the antenna terminal 4; the power amplifier unit 2 is connected to the signal transmission path through the switch unit 3, and the switch unit 3 is also connected to the control unit, and the control unit is used to control the switch unit 3 to connect part or all of the power amplifier unit 2 to the signal transmission path. Compared with the prior art, the embodiment of the present invention is that the power amplification unit is connected to the signal transmission path (i.e., connected between the RF transceiver and the antenna end) through the switch unit, and the control unit can connect the power amplification unit partially or completely to the signal transmission path by controlling the switch unit. In this way, when the power amplification unit is partially connected to the signal transmission path, a lower power level of signal amplification can be achieved, and when the power amplification unit is fully connected to the signal transmission path, a high power level of signal amplification can be achieved. Therefore, this embodiment realizes the function of the existing bypass power amplifier by multiplexing some power amplification units, so that efficiency optimization of different power levels can be achieved without setting up a bypass power amplifier, and at the same time, the chip size is smaller, which is conducive to the miniaturization of the product. The implementation details of the low-power RF front end of this embodiment are described in detail below. The following content is only the implementation details provided for the convenience of understanding and is not necessary for the implementation of this solution.

[0023] See also Figure 2In the low-power RF front end of this embodiment, the power amplification unit 2 includes: a first amplification subunit 21 and a second amplification subunit 22, and the first amplification subunit 21 and the second amplification subunit 22 are both power amplifiers. However, the present invention does not specifically limit the structures of the first amplification subunit 21 and the second amplification subunit 22. The switch unit 3 includes: a first RF switch 31 and a second RF switch 32, wherein the first RF switch 31 and the second RF switch 32 are both single-pole double-throw switches, but the present invention does not specifically limit the implementation methods of the first RF switch 31 and the second RF switch 32. The control ends of the first RF switch 31 and the second RF switch 32 are both connected to the control unit, the output end of the RF transceiver 1 is connected to the input end of the first amplifying subunit 21, the output end of the first amplifying subunit 21 is connected to the movable end of the first RF switch 31, the fixed end of the first RF switch 31 is respectively connected to the fixed end of the second RF switch 32 and the input end of the second amplifying subunit 22, the output end of the second amplifying subunit 22 is connected to the fixed end of the second RF switch 32, and the movable end of the second RF switch 32 is connected to the antenna end 4. Among them, the first RF switch 31 includes a first fixed end 311 and a second fixed end 312, the second RF switch 32 includes a third fixed end 321 and a fourth fixed end 322, the first fixed end 311 is connected to the third fixed end 321, the second fixed end 312 is connected to the input end of the first amplifying subunit 21, and the fourth fixed end 322 is connected to the output end of the second amplifying subunit 22.

[0024] In this embodiment, the control unit is used to control the first RF switch 31 and the second RF switch 32 to connect the first amplifier unit 21 to the signal transmission path alone, or to connect the first amplifier unit 21 and the second amplifier unit 22 to the signal transmission path. Specifically, when the RF front end works in the high power mode (HPM), the control unit controls the movable end of the first RF switch 31 to connect with the second fixed end 312, and controls the movable end of the second RF switch 32 to connect with the fourth fixed end 322, so that the first amplifier unit 21 and the second amplifier unit 22 (that is, the power amplifier unit as a whole) are connected to the signal transmission path; when the RF front end works in the low power mode (LPM), the control unit controls the movable end of the first RF switch 31 to connect with the first fixed end 311, and controls the movable end of the second RF switch 32 to connect with the third fixed end 321, so that only the first amplifier unit 21 in the power amplifier unit 2 is connected to the signal transmission path.

[0025] It should be noted that the low-power RF front end of this embodiment also includes: an impedance matching circuit (not shown) connected between the first amplifying subunit 21 and the antenna terminal 4. For example, the impedance matching circuit can be connected between the first fixed terminal 311 and the third fixed terminal 321. This embodiment does not impose any specific restrictions on the specific structure and connection position of the impedance matching circuit, as long as the impedance matching of the first amplifying subunit 21 can be achieved. By providing an impedance matching circuit for the first amplifying subunit 21, the performance of the RF front end when only the first amplifying subunit 21 is connected can be guaranteed.

[0026] Compared with the prior art, this embodiment can realize the function of the existing bypass power amplifier when the power amplification unit is partially connected to the signal transmission path, thereby achieving efficiency optimization of different power levels without setting up a bypass power amplifier, while making the chip size smaller, which is conducive to the miniaturization of the product.

[0027] The second embodiment of the present invention relates to a low-power RF front end. The second embodiment makes improvements on the basis of the first embodiment, and the main improvements are: in the second embodiment, the switch unit is further improved so that the switch unit can also disconnect all power amplifier units from the signal transmission path, that is, there is no power amplifier working in the signal transmission path between the RF transceiver 1 and the antenna terminal 4, and a direct connection can be achieved. In the direct connection state, the RF signal of the RF transceiver 1 is directly sent to the antenna terminal 4 for transmission. Because there is no power amplifier working, the RF front end consumes almost no power, and its maximum output power is only determined by the output power of the RF transceiver 1.

[0028] See also Figure 3 In the low-power RF front end of this embodiment, the second RF switch 32 in the switch unit 3 is a single-pole three-throw switch, that is, the second RF switch 32 includes a third fixed end 321, a fourth fixed end 322 and a fifth fixed end 323. In this embodiment, the switch unit 3 also includes a third RF switch 33, and the third RF switch 33 is, for example, a single-pole double-throw switch, that is, the third RF switch 33 includes a moving end, a sixth fixed end 331 and a seventh fixed end 332. However, the present invention does not specifically limit the implementation of the second RF switch 32 and the third RF switch 33. The control end of the third RF switch 33 is connected to the control unit, and the output end of the RF transceiver 1 is connected to the moving end of the third RF switch 33. The fixed ends of the third RF switch 33 are respectively connected to the input end of the first amplifier unit 21 and the fixed end of the second RF switch 32. Specifically, the sixth fixed end 331 is connected to the input end of the first amplifier unit 21, and the seventh fixed end 332 is connected to the fifth fixed end 323 of the second RF switch 32.

[0029] In this embodiment, the control unit is used to control the first RF switch 31 , the second RF switch 32 , and the third RF switch 33 to selectively connect the power amplification unit 2 to the signal transmission path. Among them, when the RF front end works in the high-power mode, the control unit controls the moving end of the third RF switch 33 to be connected to the sixth fixed end 331, controls the moving end of the first RF switch 32 to be connected to the second fixed end 312, and controls the moving end of the second RF switch 32 to be connected to the fourth fixed end, so that the first amplifying subunit 21 and the second amplifying subunit 22 (that is, the power amplifying unit as a whole) are both connected to the signal transmission path; when the RF front end works in the low-power mode, the control unit controls the moving end of the third RF switch 33 to be connected to the sixth fixed end 331, controls the moving end of the first RF switch 32 to be connected to the first fixed end 311, and controls the moving end of the second RF switch 32 to be connected to the third fixed end, so that only the first amplifying subunit 21 is connected to the signal transmission path; when the RF front end works in the extremely low-power mode, the control unit controls the moving end of the third RF switch 33 to be connected to the seventh fixed end 332, so that the power amplifying unit 1 is not connected to the signal transmission path, so that the RF signal of the RF transceiver 1 is directly transmitted to the antenna end 4.

[0030] Compared with the first embodiment, the present embodiment connects corresponding power amplifiers for high power mode and low power mode respectively, and does not connect any power amplifier for the ultra-low power mode, thereby making the amplifiers in different power modes more efficient and with lower power consumption, and especially for ultra-low power applications such as NB-IOT, the power consumption is more optimized.

[0031] The third embodiment of the present invention relates to a low-power RF front end. The third embodiment is basically the same as the first or second embodiment. The main difference is that in the first or second embodiment, the power amplification unit is an ordinary power amplifier, while in the third embodiment, the power amplification unit is an envelope amplifier or an average power amplifier.

[0032] Please parameter Figure 4 The first amplifying subunit 21 and the second amplifying subunit 22 are both envelope amplifiers, that is, the first amplifying subunit 21 and the second amplifying subunit 22 both support envelope tracking (ET) technology.

[0033] In an example, the first amplifying subunit 21 and the second amplifying subunit 22 are both average power amplifiers, that is, the first amplifying subunit 21 and the second amplifying subunit 22 both support average power tracking (Average Power Tracking, APT) technology. ET and APT technologies are widely used technologies in wireless communication products and play a great role in improving the efficiency of power amplifiers.

[0034] Please continue reading Figure 4 In one example, the first amplifying subunit 21 can be a power amplifier, and the second amplifying subunit 22 includes: a first power amplifier 221 and a second power amplifier 222, the input end of the first power amplifier 221 is connected to the fixed end of the first RF switch 31, the output end of the first power amplifier 221 is connected to the input end of the second power amplifier 222, and the output end of the second power amplifier 222 is connected to the fixed end of the second RF switch 32, that is, the first power amplifier 221 and the second power amplifier 222 are cascaded. However, the present invention does not specifically limit the structures of the first amplifying subunit 21 and the second amplifying subunit 22, and does not specifically limit the connection method between the switch unit 3, the power amplifying unit 2, and the RF transceiver 1.

[0035] Compared with the above-mentioned embodiments, this embodiment further enriches the implementation methods of the radio frequency front end.

[0036] A fourth embodiment of the present invention relates to an electronic device, comprising: a low-power radio frequency front end as described in the first, second or third embodiment.

[0037] For example, the electronic device of this embodiment is a smart phone, a tablet computer, a vehicle-mounted terminal, etc. This embodiment does not specifically limit the type of the electronic device.

[0038] Compared with the prior art, in the RF front end, when the power amplification unit is partially connected to the signal transmission path, the function of the existing bypass power amplifier can be realized, thereby achieving efficiency optimization at different power levels without setting up a bypass power amplifier, while making the chip size smaller, which is conducive to the miniaturization of the product.

[0039] It is not difficult to find that this embodiment is a device embodiment corresponding to the first embodiment, and this embodiment can be implemented in conjunction with the first, second or third embodiment. The relevant technical details mentioned in the first, second or third embodiment are still valid in this embodiment, and in order to reduce repetition, they are not repeated here. Accordingly, the relevant technical details mentioned in this embodiment can also be applied in the first, second or third embodiment.

[0040] It is worth mentioning that all modules involved in this embodiment are logic modules. In practical applications, a logic unit can be a physical unit, a part of a physical unit, or a combination of multiple physical units. In addition, in order to highlight the innovative part of the present invention, this embodiment does not introduce units that are not closely related to solving the technical problem proposed by the present invention, but this does not mean that there are no other units in this embodiment.

[0041] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the above-mentioned embodiments are specific examples for implementing the present invention, and in actual applications, various changes may be made thereto in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A low power radio frequency front end, characterized in that: include: RF transceiver, antenna end, power amplifier unit, switch unit and control unit; A signal transmission path is formed between the radio frequency transceiver and the antenna end; The power amplification unit is connected to the signal transmission path through the switch unit, and the switch unit is also connected to the control unit, and the control unit is used to control the switch unit to connect the power amplification unit partially or completely to the signal transmission path; The power amplification unit comprises: a first amplification subunit and a second amplification subunit; The switch unit comprises: a first RF switch and a second RF switch, wherein control ends of the first RF switch and the second RF switch are both connected to the control unit; The switch unit further includes a third radio frequency switch, and a control end of the third radio frequency switch is connected to the control unit; The output end of the RF transceiver is connected to the movable end of the third RF switch, and the fixed end of the third RF switch is respectively connected to the input end of the first amplifying subunit and the fixed end of the second RF switch; The output end of the first amplifying subunit is connected to the moving end of the first RF switch, the fixed end of the first RF switch is respectively connected to the fixed end of the second RF switch and the input end of the second amplifying subunit, the output end of the second amplifying subunit is connected to the fixed end of the second RF switch; the moving end of the second RF switch is connected to the antenna end; The control unit is used for: When the low-power RF front end operates in a low-power mode, controlling the first RF switch and the second RF switch to connect the first amplifying subunit to the signal transmission path alone; When the low-power RF front end operates in a high-power mode, controlling the first RF switch and the second RF switch to connect both the first amplifying subunit and the second amplifying subunit to the signal transmission path; When the low power consumption RF front end operates in an extremely low power mode, the third RF switch and the second RF switch are controlled to disconnect the power amplification unit from the signal transmission path.

2. The low power consumption radio frequency front end according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first amplifying subunit and the second amplifying subunit are both power amplifiers.

3. The low power consumption radio frequency front end according to claim 1, characterized in that: The second amplifying subunit includes: a first power amplifier and a second power amplifier; The input end of the first power amplifier is connected to the fixed end of the first RF switch, the output end of the first power amplifier is connected to the input end of the second power amplifier, and the output end of the second power amplifier is connected to the fixed end of the second RF switch.

4. The low power consumption radio frequency front end according to claim 1, characterized in that: Also includes: An impedance matching circuit connected between the first amplifying subunit and the antenna end.

5. The low power consumption radio frequency front end according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The power amplification unit is an envelope amplifier or an average power amplifier.

6. An electronic device, characterized in that: Comprising a low power consumption radio frequency front end as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The electronic device according to claim 6, characterized in that: The electronic device is a smart phone or a tablet computer.

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