Operating voltage detection method and communication device

Abstract

A method for detecting operating voltage and a communication device are disclosed. The method for detecting operating voltage includes providing a first predetermined voltage and setting the first predetermined voltage as an initial operating voltage, performing a test procedure according to the first predetermined voltage, setting a first test passing voltage as an initial operating voltage of other operating voltage intervals, sequentially performing test procedures of the other operating voltage intervals according to the newly set initial operating voltage to obtain a plurality of test passing voltages of the other operating voltage intervals, and repeating the above steps to establish an average voltage tracking feature table.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a working voltage detection method and a communication device, and more particularly to a working voltage detection method and a communication device with low power consumption. Background Technology

[0002] In the past, the operating voltage of power amplifier circuits in communication circuits was determined by their output power, and the same fixed operating voltage was often provided in different operating modes. As a result, it was impossible to effectively reduce the power consumption of power amplifier circuits.

[0003] When a power amplifier circuit is operating, it will consume the same current at a given output power, even if the power supply voltage changes. To maintain the linearity of the power amplifier circuit, a higher power supply voltage is required to achieve a higher output power level. If the voltage of the power amplifier circuit is fixed, it can only be set to a high peak value to meet the linearity requirement of maximum transmission power, which is very power-intensive. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The technical problem to be solved by this invention is to provide a working voltage detection method that addresses the shortcomings of existing technologies. This method utilizes a testing device or a testing program to detect multiple working voltages of a power amplifier circuit in a test object. The power amplifier circuit includes multiple gain modes, each gain mode includes multiple operating frequency bands, and each operating frequency band includes multiple working voltage ranges. The working voltage detection method is characterized by the following steps: Step A: Providing a first predetermined voltage and setting the first predetermined voltage as an initial working voltage of one of the multiple operating frequency bands within the multiple working voltage ranges; Step B: Performing a testing program on a first working voltage range of the power amplifier circuit based on the first predetermined voltage to generate multiple test results, and determining whether to... The initial operating voltage is increased by one or more predetermined voltage ranges until all the test results of the first operating voltage range pass, so as to obtain a corresponding first test pass voltage; Step C: Set the first test pass voltage as the initial operating voltage of the other multiple operating voltage ranges; Step D: Sequentially perform the test procedures of the other multiple operating voltage ranges according to the newly set initial operating voltage, so as to obtain multiple test pass voltages corresponding to each of the other multiple operating voltage ranges of one of the multiple operating frequency bands; Step E: Repeat steps A to D to obtain multiple test pass voltages of each of the other multiple operating frequency bands of the power amplifier circuit; and Step F: Establish an average voltage tracking feature table according to the multiple test pass voltages of each of the multiple operating frequency bands.

[0005] Optionally, prior to step A, one of the plurality of gain modes of the power amplifier circuit is selected.

[0006] Optionally, the plurality of operating voltage ranges are determined based on the plurality of output powers of the power amplifier circuit.

[0007] Optionally, steps A to D involve sequentially testing the power of the plurality of operating voltage ranges in each operating frequency band from smallest to largest and obtaining the test pass voltage for each of the operating voltage ranges.

[0008] Optionally, the first predetermined voltage is 700mV, and the predetermined voltage range is 100mV.

[0009] Optionally, the predetermined voltage range in the first operating voltage range is defined as having a difference between the first test pass voltage and the initial operating voltage that is N times the difference between the two voltages, where N is greater than or equal to 0 and is an integer.

[0010] Optionally, the test procedure is the Adjacent Channel Leakage Ratio (ACLR).

[0011] The present invention also discloses a communication device, characterized in that it comprises: a power amplifier circuit, the power amplifier circuit including multiple gain modes, each gain mode including multiple operating frequency bands, each operating frequency band including multiple operating voltage ranges; and a control circuit connected to the power amplifier circuit, the control circuit providing a test pass voltage of the power amplifier circuit in the multiple operating voltage ranges of the multiple operating frequency bands according to an average voltage tracking feature table, wherein the average voltage tracking feature table is constructed according to the operating voltage detection method of any of the preceding embodiments; wherein a difference between the test pass voltages of the multiple operating voltage ranges of the multiple operating frequency bands is N times a predetermined voltage range, N is greater than or equal to 0, and N is an integer.

[0012] One of the beneficial effects of this invention is that the operating voltage detection method and communication device provided by this invention can effectively detect the operating voltage of the power amplifier circuit in different operating voltage ranges, thereby reducing the power consumption of the power amplifier circuit. Therefore, it can effectively extend the service life of the battery cells in the object under test or the communication device.

[0013] To further understand the features and technical content of the present invention, please refer to the following detailed description and drawings of the present invention. However, the drawings provided are for reference and illustration only and are not intended to limit the present invention. Attached Figure Description

[0014] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the process of using a software tool to detect the operating voltage of a power amplifier circuit.

[0015] Figure 2 This is a process diagram of the working voltage detection method according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 3 This is another process diagram of the working voltage detection method according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a communication device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0018] The following specific embodiments illustrate the implementation of the "operating voltage detection method and communication device" disclosed in this invention. Those skilled in the art can understand the advantages and effects of this invention from the content disclosed in this specification. This invention can be implemented or applied through other different specific embodiments, and various details in this specification can also be modified and changed based on different viewpoints and applications without departing from the concept of this invention. Furthermore, the accompanying drawings of this invention are for simple illustrative purposes only and are not depictions of actual dimensions, as stated in advance. The following embodiments will further describe the relevant technical content of this invention in detail, but the disclosed content is not intended to limit the scope of protection of this invention. In addition, the term "or" used herein may, depending on the actual situation, include any combination of any one or more of the associated listed items.

[0019] [First Embodiment]

[0020] Please see Figure 1 , Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the process of using a software tool to detect the operating voltage of a power amplifier circuit.

[0021] Steps S100 to S150 involve using software or hardware testing tools to detect the operating voltage of multiple operating frequency bands and multiple operating voltage ranges of the power amplifier circuit (PA) in the object under test (DUT).

[0022] Steps S100 and S150 represent the start and end of the detection method, respectively. Steps S110 to S140 are as follows:

[0023] Step S110: Use a tool to detect the working voltage of the object under test;

[0024] Step S120: Determine the average power tracking feature table of the object under test;

[0025] Step S130: Update the average power tracking feature table of the object under test; and

[0026] Step S140: Verify performance.

[0027] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the device under test (DUT) can be detected and tested using signaling mode to measure its operating voltage.

[0028] Please see Figure 2 , Figure 2 This is a process diagram of the working voltage detection method according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] In this embodiment, a method for detecting operating voltage is provided, which utilizes a test device or test procedure to detect multiple operating voltages of a power amplifier circuit (PA) in a device under test (DUT). The power amplifier circuit (PA) includes multiple operating frequency bands, and each operating frequency band includes multiple operating voltage ranges. The operating voltage detection method includes the following steps:

[0030] Step A: Provide a first predetermined voltage, and set the first predetermined voltage as an initial operating voltage of one of the plurality of operating voltage ranges of the plurality of operating frequency bands;

[0031] Step B: Based on the first predetermined voltage, perform a test procedure on a first operating voltage range of the operating voltage range of the power amplifier circuit to generate multiple test results, and determine whether to increase the initial operating voltage by one or more predetermined voltage ranges based on the multiple test results, until all the multiple test results of the first operating voltage range pass the test to obtain a corresponding first test pass voltage.

[0032] Step C: Set the first test pass voltage to the initial operating voltage of the other plurality of operating voltage ranges;

[0033] Step D: Sequentially perform the test procedures for the other plurality of operating voltage ranges according to the newly set initial operating voltage, so as to obtain multiple test pass voltages for the other plurality of operating voltage ranges of one of the plurality of operating frequency bands;

[0034] Step E: Repeat steps A through D to obtain the multiple test pass voltages for each of the other multiple operating frequency bands of the power amplifier circuit; and

[0035] Step F: Based on the multiple test pass voltages of the multiple operating frequency bands, establish an Average Power Tracking Characterization (APT Char) table.

[0036] Furthermore, a gain mode is pre-selected before step A. For example, gain mode 2 is selected first as the basis for testing steps A through F. During the testing procedure, multiple operating frequency bands within each gain mode are tested.

[0037] After completing the test pass voltage for all operating frequency bands and each operating voltage range in Gain mode 2, another gain mode can be selected for testing.

[0038] In the above steps, the multiple operating voltage ranges are determined based on the multiple output powers of the power amplifier (PA). That is, the power amplifier can output multiple different output powers (power levels) in different operating frequency bands. In this embodiment, the first predetermined voltage is 700mV. In other embodiments, the first predetermined voltage can be adjusted according to actual needs.

[0039] Furthermore, the predetermined voltage range in this embodiment is 100mV. In other embodiments, the predetermined voltage range may be 50mV or other voltage ranges, such as 70mV, 80mV, 150mV or 200mV, which are not limited in this invention.

[0040] In addition, steps A to D will sequentially test the power level of multiple operating voltage ranges in each operating frequency band of the power amplifier circuit from smallest to largest, and obtain the test pass voltage for each operating voltage range.

[0041] In other words, the test pass voltage for each operating voltage range is gradually increased by multiple predetermined voltage ranges from the first predetermined voltage. The difference between each test pass voltage and the first predetermined voltage is N times the predetermined voltage range. N is greater than or equal to 0 and is an integer. Furthermore, the Average Voltage Tracking Characteristic Table (APT Char) is used to define the combination of bias voltage (PA bias) and quiescent current (ICQ) of the power amplifier circuit in each operating band under different gain modes and in each operating voltage range (Power Level, e.g., 15dBm to 26dBm).

[0042] Please see Figure 3 , Figure 3 This is another process diagram of the working voltage detection method according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0043] Figure 3 The process diagram includes the following steps:

[0044] Step S300: Begin;

[0045] Step S310: Select a working frequency band from the working frequency band list;

[0046] Step S320: Determine whether all operating voltage ranges in the selected operating frequency band have been completed. If yes, proceed to step S390; otherwise, proceed to step S330.

[0047] Step S330: Set an initial operating voltage to the operating voltage range of the selected operating frequency band;

[0048] Step S340: Select the power rating of the chosen operating voltage range from smallest to largest;

[0049] Step S350: Determine whether the current power is greater than the maximum power. If yes, complete all power of the selected working voltage range. If no, proceed to step S360.

[0050] Step S360: Update the Average Voltage Tracking Characteristic Table (APT Char) of the object under test;

[0051] Step S370: Verify whether the currently selected operating voltage range passes the test procedure. If yes, obtain the first test pass voltage for the corresponding operating voltage range, and then execute step S340. If no, execute step S380.

[0052] Step S380: Increase the predetermined voltage range; and

[0053] Step S390: Obtain the optimal average voltage tracking characteristic table (APT Char).

[0054] Please see Figure 3 , Figure 3 The diagram includes multiple tables next to each step, showing the adjustments to the operating voltage range during each step. For example, Table 1, corresponding to step S330, sets the operating voltage for the entire power range of the selected operating frequency band to an initial operating voltage of 700mV. Table 5, corresponding to step S350, shows the average voltage tracking characteristics for the current operating voltage range. Furthermore... Figure 3 This is a process diagram that is performed after the power amplifier selects a gain mode.

[0055] Since step S380 is a follow-up step to the verification failure (FAIL) in step S370, the two tables, Table 2 and Table 3, corresponding to step S380 will be Table 2 and Table 3 adjusted from Table 1. Table 2 on the left shows that when the minimum power (Power 17dBm) test procedure fails at an initial operating voltage of 700mV, a predetermined voltage range (100mV) is added. That is, after adding a predetermined voltage range (100mV) to the initial operating voltage of 700mV, the test procedure continues with an operating voltage of 800mV. Table 3 shows that the test is performed with an operating voltage of 3100mV, and after the test fails, the predetermined voltage range (100mV) is added to the previous pass voltage of 3100mV, and the subsequent test is performed with an operating voltage of 3200mV. In other words, Table 3 on the right represents the test procedure for the first power level (the lowest power in ascending order) (Power 17dBm) at an operating voltage of 3100mV. Next, the test procedure for the second power level (Power 18dBm) is performed at 3100mV. However, Table 3 shows that the second power level (Power 18dBm) did not pass the test procedure at 3100mV. Therefore, a predetermined voltage range (100mV) is added to the operating voltage of 3100mV, and the test procedure for the second power level (Power 18dBm) is performed at 3200mV.

[0056] Step S370, which verifies successful completion of the test procedure with an operating voltage of 3100mV, corresponds to Table 4. This table shows the minimum power level (Power 17dBm) within the selected operating voltage range that must pass the test procedure at 3100mV. Therefore, the operating voltage for all operating voltage ranges in the average voltage tracking feature table is first set to 3100mV. Then, the process returns to step S340 to select the second lowest power level (Power 18dBm) operating voltage range to continue the test procedure. In this embodiment, the test procedure is the Adjacent Channel Leakage Ratio (ACLR).

[0057] [Second Embodiment]

[0058] Please see Figure 4 , Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a communication device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0059] In this embodiment, a communication device 1 is provided, comprising at least a power amplifier circuit 11, a control circuit 12, and a storage circuit 13. The control circuit 12 is electrically connected to the power amplifier circuit 11 and the storage circuit 13. The power amplifier circuit 11 includes multiple gain modes. Each gain mode of the power amplifier circuit 11 includes multiple operating frequency bands, and each operating frequency band includes multiple operating voltage ranges.

[0060] The control circuit 12 provides the power amplifier circuit 11 with a test pass voltage in multiple operating voltage ranges across multiple operating frequency bands based on an average voltage tracking characteristic table in the storage circuit 13. In other words, the multiple test pass voltages in multiple operating voltage ranges across multiple operating frequency bands are variable.

[0061] A predetermined voltage range in which the difference between the test voltages of multiple operating voltage ranges in multiple operating frequency bands is N times. Where N is greater than or equal to 0 and N is an integer.

[0062] In this embodiment, the predetermined voltage range is 100mV. Furthermore, the average voltage tracking feature table is established according to steps A to F and steps S310-S390 of the previous first embodiment. Details will not be elaborated here.

[0063] [Beneficial Effects of the Examples]

[0064] One of the beneficial effects of this invention is that the operating voltage detection method and communication device provided by this invention can effectively detect the operating voltage of the power amplifier circuit in different operating voltage ranges, thereby reducing the power consumption of the power amplifier circuit. Therefore, it can effectively extend the service life of the battery cells in the object under test or the communication device.

[0065] The above-disclosed content is only an optional and feasible embodiment of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the claims of the present invention. Therefore, all equivalent technical changes made based on the description and drawings of the present invention are included in the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for detecting operating voltage, comprising using a testing device or a testing procedure to detect multiple operating voltages of a power amplifier circuit in an object under test, wherein the power amplifier circuit includes multiple gain modes, each gain mode includes multiple operating frequency bands, and each operating frequency band includes multiple operating voltage ranges, characterized in that, The working voltage detection method comprises: Step A: providing a first predetermined voltage and setting the first predetermined voltage as an initial working voltage of the working voltage intervals of one of the multiple working frequency bands; Step B: performing a test procedure on a first working voltage interval of the working voltage intervals of the power amplifier circuit according to the first predetermined voltage to generate multiple test results, and determining whether to increase the initial working voltage by one or more predetermined voltage intervals according to the multiple test results until the multiple test results of the first working voltage interval all pass the test to obtain a first test passing voltage corresponding thereto; Step C: setting the first test passing voltage as the initial working voltage of the other working voltage intervals; Step D: sequentially performing the test procedure on the other working voltage intervals according to the newly set initial working voltage to obtain multiple test passing voltages corresponding to the other working voltage intervals of one of the multiple working frequency bands respectively; Step E: repeating steps A to D to obtain multiple test passing voltages of the other multiple working frequency bands of the power amplifier circuit respectively; and Step F: establishing an average voltage tracking characteristic table according to the multiple test passing voltages of the multiple working frequency bands respectively.

2. The operating voltage detection method according to claim 1, wherein Before step A, one of the multiple gain modes of the power amplifier circuit is selected.

3. The operating voltage detection method according to claim 2, wherein The multiple working voltage intervals are determined according to multiple output powers of the power amplifier circuit.

4. The operating voltage detection method according to claim 3, wherein Steps A to D are sequentially tested according to the power of the multiple working voltage intervals in each working frequency band from small to large to obtain the test passing voltage of each working voltage interval.

5. The operating voltage detection method according to claim 1, wherein The first predetermined voltage is 700 mV, and the predetermined voltage interval is 100 mV.

6. The operating voltage detection method according to claim 1, wherein The difference between the first test passing voltage in the first working voltage interval and the initial working voltage is N times the predetermined voltage interval, N is greater than or equal to 0, and N is an integer.

7. The operating voltage detection method according to claim 1, wherein The test procedure is adjacent channel leakage ratio.

8. A communication device, characterized by Comprise: A power amplifier circuit, the power amplifier circuit comprises multiple gain modes, each gain mode comprises multiple working frequency bands, each working frequency band comprises multiple working voltage intervals; And A control circuit connected to the power amplifier circuit, the control circuit provides a test passing voltage of the power amplifier circuit in the multiple working voltage intervals of the multiple working frequency bands according to an average voltage tracking characteristic table, wherein the average voltage tracking characteristic table is established according to the working voltage detection method of any one of claims 1 to 7; Wherein, the difference between the test passing voltage of each of the multiple working voltage intervals of the multiple working frequency bands is N times a predetermined voltage interval, N is greater than or equal to 0, and N is an integer.

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