Wide-voltage ultra-low power consumption module based on CAT.1

Abstract

The invention discloses a CAT.1-based wide-voltage ultra-low power consumption module, and solves the problems that in the prior art, when an NB-loT module is switched to a CAT.1 module, a peripheral circuit needs to be adjusted, additional cost is increased, and power consumption is high. The CAT.1-based wide-voltage ultra-low power consumption module comprises a power supply unit, one path of the power supply unit is connected with a power management unit, and the other path of the power supply unit is connected with a power supply control unit; the power management unit is connected with the radio frequency power amplifier and the radio frequency switch through the DCDC unit, the other path of the power supply unit is connected with the radio frequency power amplifier, and the DCDC unit works in a step-up and step-down mode or a direct connection mode through the relation between the input end voltage and the output end voltage of the DCDC unit. The NB-loT module has the same PIN function as that of a same packaged NB-loT module, and can be normally injected into a network under a low-voltage condition, so that ultra-low power consumption is realized while wide voltage is realized.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of communication modules, and in particular to a wide voltage ultra-low power consumption module based on CAT.1. Background Art

[0002] With the rapid development of the Internet of Things (IoT) industry, IoT devices are growing exponentially and market demand continues to increase. NB-IoT has taken on low-cost, low-power, and wide-coverage IoT scenarios. At the same time, with the withdrawal of 2G and 3G networks, more and more CAT.1 module devices have entered the market and been deployed.

[0003] There are two main designs for existing CAT.1 modules. The first design uses the module's VBAT to power the main chip and PA's VCC, and the output of the main chip's internal LDO powers PA's VBAT and RF switch's VDD. The second design is that the module's VBAT passes through a DCDC and then supplies the main chip's VBAT and PA's VCC, respectively, and the main chip's LDO output supplies PA's VBAT. For the first solution that wants to use a CAT.1 module to replace an NB-loT module, the module power supply needs to be considered, which will bring additional design and commissioning costs to the client. Although the second solution can solve the module power supply problem under low voltage, its power consumption is relatively high, which is a major drawback for some applications that are sensitive to power consumption requirements. Summary of the invention

[0004] The purpose of the present invention is to overcome the problem in the prior art that when switching from an NB-loT module to a CAT.1 module, it is necessary to adjust the peripheral circuit, which increases additional costs and has high power consumption. A wide voltage and ultra-low power consumption module based on CAT.1 is provided, which has the same PIN pin function as the NB-loT module of the same package, and can be normally injected into the network under low voltage conditions, achieving wide voltage and ultra-low power consumption.

[0005] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions: A wide voltage ultra-low power consumption module based on CAT.1 comprises: a power supply unit, one path of the power supply unit is connected to a power management unit, the power management unit is connected to a radio frequency power amplifier and a radio frequency switch via a DCDC unit, the other path of the power supply unit is connected to the radio frequency power amplifier, and the DCDC unit works in a boost, buck or direct-through mode according to the relationship between its input terminal voltage and output terminal voltage.

[0006] Adding a DCDC unit to the LDO output of the power management unit is used to power the VABT end of the RF power amplifier and the VDD end of the RF switch, so that the module can work in a low voltage environment and achieve ultra-low power consumption. The voltage is extended from 3.1V to 2.2V, which can save customers the cost of an external DCDC unit and achieve ultra-low power consumption mode.

[0007] Preferably, if the difference between the input voltage and the output voltage of the DCDC unit is less than or equal to a first threshold, the DCDC unit is in a buck mode or a pass-through mode; if the input voltage of the DCDC unit increases and the difference between the output voltage and the input voltage is less than a second threshold, the DCDC unit automatically switches from the boost mode to the buck mode, and then maintains the buck mode until the difference between the input voltage and the output voltage is greater than a third threshold, and automatically enters the pass-through mode.

[0008] Preferably, if the input voltage drops to 101% of the target output voltage, the DCDC unit switches from the pass mode to the buck mode, and switches from the buck mode to the boost mode when the difference between the output voltage and the input voltage is greater than a fourth threshold.

[0009] Preferably, the DCDC unit includes a DCDC converter, the FB terminal of the DCDC converter is grounded, the VIN terminal of the DCDC converter is connected to the LDO output inside the power management unit through the VO_LDOFEMVBAT network number, and the VOUT terminal of the DCDC converter is connected to the VBAT terminal of the RF power amplifier through the VBOOST_PA network number.

[0010] Preferably, a filter capacitor is connected to the VOUT end of the DCDC converter, an inductor is provided between the SW end and the VIN end of the DCDC converter, a capacitor is connected to the VIN end of the DCDC converter, and the inductor and the capacitor form an LC filter.

[0011] Preferably, when entering the low power consumption mode, VO_LDOFEMVBAT output by the internal LDO of the power management unit controller is powered off, and the VBAT terminal of the RF power amplifier is further controlled to be powered off.

[0012] Preferably, a duplexer is further included, and the duplexer is connected to the radio frequency switch and the radio frequency power amplifier respectively.

[0013] Preferably, the power management unit is also connected to a radio frequency transceiver processor and subsystem, the radio frequency transceiver processor and subsystem are connected to a radio frequency power amplifier and a radio frequency switch, and a USIM interface is provided on the radio frequency transceiver processor and subsystem.

[0014] Preferably, the RF transceiver processor and subsystem are connected to a baseband processing unit, and the baseband processing unit is provided with a data transmission interface.

[0015] Preferably, the power management unit is connected to the VBAT end of the RF power amplifier and the VDD end of the RF switch for power supply through a DCDC unit, and another path of the power supply unit is connected to the VCC end of the RF power amplifier.

[0016] Therefore, the present invention has the following beneficial effects: the LDO output end of the power management unit is added with a DCDC unit to supply power to the VABT end of the RF power amplifier and the VDD end of the RF switch, so that the module can work in a low voltage environment and achieve ultra-low power consumption. The voltage is extended from 3.1V to 2.2V, which can save the cost of an external DCDC unit for customers and achieve ultra-low power consumption mode. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the power supply architecture of a current CAT.1 module.

[0018] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the power architecture of another type of CAT.1 module currently available.

[0019] Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the power supply architecture of the low power consumption module in the present invention.

[0020] Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the circuit structure of the DCDC circuit in the present invention.

[0021] Figure 5 It is a schematic diagram of the switching of the working mode of the DCDC circuit in the present invention.

[0022] In the figure: 1. Module; 2. Power management unit; 3. DCDC unit; 4. RF power amplifier; 5. RF switch; 6. Duplexer; 7. RF transceiver processor and subsystem; 8. Baseband processing unit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] The present invention is further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments: Embodiment 1: This embodiment provides a wide voltage ultra-low power module based on CAT.1, which can work in a wide voltage range and support ultra-low power CAT.1 modules at the same time. It has the same PIN pin function as the NB-loT (Narrow Band Internet of Things) module with the same package, and can be normally connected to the network under low voltage conditions, solving the difficulty of customers needing to adjust peripheral circuits when switching from NB-loT modules to CAT.1 (LTE UE-Category1) modules. Compared with traditional CAT.1 modules, its operating voltage range is wider and power consumption is lower.

[0024] like Figure 1 As shown, an existing CAT.1 module includes a power management unit, a power supply unit, an RF transceiver processor and subsystem, an RF power amplifier, a duplexer and an RF switch. The power supply unit is connected to the power management unit and the RF power amplifier, the power management unit is connected to the RF power amplifier and the RF switch, the RF switch is respectively connected to the RF transceiver processor and subsystem and the duplexer, and the duplexer is respectively connected to the RF transceiver processor and subsystem and the RF switch.

[0025] Its working principle is as follows: the power supply unit of the module is used to power the power management unit (main chip) and the VCC of the RF power amplifier, and the output of the LDO inside the power management unit is used to power the VBAT of the RF power amplifier and the VDD of the RF switch.

[0026] The disadvantage is that the normal operating voltage of the module it can support is limited by the maximum of the lowest operating voltages of the power management unit, RF power amplifier, and RF switch on the module, which is generally around 3.1V. If it is lower than this threshold, the module may not work properly.

[0027] like Figure 2 As shown, another existing CAT.1 module includes a power management unit, a power supply unit, an RF transceiver processor and subsystem, an RF power amplifier, a duplexer, a DCDC unit and an RF switch. The power supply unit is connected to the DCDC unit, the DCDC unit is connected to the power management unit and the RF power amplifier, the power management unit is connected to the RF power amplifier and the RF switch, the RF switch is respectively connected to the RF transceiver processor and subsystem and the duplexer, and the duplexer is respectively connected to the RF transceiver processor and subsystem and the RF switch.

[0028] The working principle is as follows: the module's VBAT passes through a DCDC and then supplies the main chip's VBAT and PA's VCC respectively, and the main chip's LDO output supplies the PA's VBAT.

[0029] Specifically: Taking the EC718 platform as an example, its chip power supply voltage range is 3.1V-4.8V, and the RF power amplifier model XP5733-11 is used. Its VBAT (power supply, Battery Supplier) voltage range is 3V-4.8V, and its VCC (collector supply, Collector Supplier) voltage range is 0.5V-4.6V. The RF switch uses Lingxinwei LX3418, and its VDD voltage range is 2.5V-4.2V. Then the voltage range for the module to work normally is 3.1V-4.6V.

[0030] For NB-loT modules, the minimum operating voltage is generally 2.1V. When used in customer application products, the power supply range should also support the minimum operating voltage of the module, especially for some battery-powered designs. When the battery power is insufficient, it will drop to the low voltage threshold. For some solutions that want to use CAT.1 modules to replace NB-loT modules, they have to consider the power supply problem of the module. The voltage drop will cause the module to work abnormally or even not start up. Then the power supply solution needs to be re-evaluated and designed, which will bring additional design and commissioning costs to the client. Although the second solution can solve the module power supply problem under low voltage and ensure that all indicators of the module can meet the 3GPP protocol standards, the DCDC unit works in boost mode under low voltage. At this time, the power consumption will be very high and the cost of the device will be higher. This is a big defect for some applications that are sensitive to power consumption requirements.

[0031] Therefore, the low-power CAT.1 module provided in this embodiment that can operate in a wide voltage range provides a solution to the above problems.

[0032] like Figure 3 As shown in the figure, it can be seen that this embodiment provides a wide voltage ultra-low power consumption module based on CAT.1, the power supply unit (i.e., from Figure 3 The VBAT port input in the RF power amplifier is divided into two paths, one path supplies power to the VCC (collector power supply) end of the RF power amplifier, and the other path supplies power to the power management unit. Then, the LDO (low-dropout regulator) inside the power management unit outputs VO_LDOFEMVBAT, which is then fed through a DCDC (DC-DC converter) unit to supply power to the VBAT (power supply) end of the RF power amplifier and the VDD end of the RF switch.

[0033] Specifically, module 1 includes: a power management unit 2 (PMU), a power supply unit, an RF transceiver processor and subsystem 7 (RF Transceiver A and Subsystem), an RF power amplifier 4 (Power Amplifier, PA), a duplexer 6 (Duplex), a DCDC unit 3, a baseband processing unit 8 (Baseband) and an RF switch 5 (AMS). The power supply unit is respectively connected to the power management unit and the VCC end of the RF power amplifier, the power management unit is connected to the DCDC unit, and the DCDC unit is respectively connected to the VBAT end of the RF power amplifier and the RF switch; the RF power amplifier is respectively connected to the RF transceiver processor and subsystem, the duplexer, and the RF switch, the duplexer is respectively connected to the RF transceiver processor and subsystem, and the RF switch, the RF switch is connected to the RF transceiver processor and subsystem, and the RF transceiver processor and subsystem is connected to the baseband processing unit.

[0034] The technical scheme and technical effects of the present invention will be further described below through specific examples. The following examples are explanations of the present invention and the present invention is not limited to the following examples.

[0035] In this embodiment, the power management unit is also connected to RESET_N (reset key), BOOT (reset key), PWERKEY (power on key) and VDD_EXT (module external reference level). The RF switch is also connected to the main antenna port (ANT_MAIN), and the RF transceiver processor and subsystem are also connected to the module SIM card interface (USIM interface) and a 26MHz crystal oscillator.

[0036] The RF power amplifier is used to amplify the RF transmission power from the RF transceiver processor and subsystem, send the time division duplex (TDD) signal to the RF switch, and send the frequency division duplex (FDD) signal to the duplexer.

[0037] The duplexer is used to transmit the weak received signal from the antenna to the RF transceiver processor and subsystem, and feed the larger transmit power amplified by the RF power amplifier to the RF switch, and further to the antenna, to ensure that both reception and transmission can work normally at the same time without affecting each other.

[0038] The baseband processing unit can ensure the real-time transmission of high-quality data, providing a very effective solution for various media in real-time data transmission links, and is widely used in voice, image, video, broadcast and other types of data transmission links. In addition, the baseband processing unit is also used to support various complex external communication networks and facilitate data transmission of multiple terminals.

[0039] The important task of the baseband processing unit is to achieve high-precision real-time transmission by converting network data into a consistent transmission protocol. Its main function is to encode, compress and decode the received information according to a specific data transmission protocol so that the information can be further processed at the receiving end. The decoded information can include the terminal's character encoding information, audio and image encoding information, etc.

[0040] The development of baseband processing units helps to shorten the data transmission time in the network and improve the communication quality. Modern baseband processing unit systems usually use broadband technology and data compression technology to effectively transmit real-time data.

[0041] The baseband processing unit is equipped with a non-volatile memory flash (flash memory) and a random access memory RAM. The non-volatile memory flash is used so that the stored data will not be lost even if the module is powered off. Therefore, the input voltage and output voltage status of the DCDC unit before power failure can be permanently saved.

[0042] The baseband processing unit is also equipped with multiple data transmission interfaces, including UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver / Transmitter) interface, ADCs interface (Analog-to-Digital Converter), GPIOs interface (General Purpose Input / Output Port), SPI interface (Serial Peripheral Interface), I2C interface (Internal Integrated Circuit, a serial communication bus) and PSM_EINT interface (module deep sleep wake-up).

[0043] In this embodiment, the DCDC unit can work in boost mode, buck mode or pass-through mode. In this embodiment, a DCDC converter of model AW360994 is selected and the FB pin of the DCDC converter is grounded so that the output voltage of the DCDC converter is fixed at 3.3V.

[0044] DCDC unit is used Figure 4 The circuit structure in is used to realize it, which includes 4 devices in total, among which U200 represents the DCDC device, the VO_LDOFEMVBAT network number is connected to the LDO output inside the main chip, and the VBOOST_PA network number is connected to the VBAT of the RF PA. Capacitor C204 and inductor L201 are used to form the LC filter at the input end, and capacitor C205 is used for filtering at the output end. In order to achieve a fixed voltage output, the FB pin needs to be short-circuited to the ground.

[0045] The working principle of this circuit is as follows: when the voltage at the input end of the DCDC unit is close to VOUT, the DCDC is in buck mode or through mode. When the voltage at the input end of the DCDC unit increases, if the voltage at the input end of the DCDC unit > the voltage at the output end of the DCDC unit - 50 mV, the DCDC unit will automatically switch from boost mode to buck mode and then maintain the buck mode until the voltage at the input end of the DCDC unit > the voltage at the output end of the DCDC unit + 0.37 V, and then automatically enter the through mode. In the through mode, the output voltage follows the input voltage. When the voltage at the input end of the DCDC unit drops to 101% of the target output voltage, the DCDC unit switches from the through mode to the buck mode. When the voltage at the input end of the DCDC unit < the voltage at the output end of the DCDC unit - 100 mV, it exits the buck mode and switches to the boost mode.

[0046] The wide-voltage ultra-low-power module based on CAT.1 provided in this embodiment adds a DCDC unit at the LDO output end inside the power management unit (main chip) to supply power to VABT of the RF power amplifier and VDD of the RF switch, enabling the module to operate in a low-voltage environment and achieving the purpose of ultra-low power consumption at the same time. The voltage is extended from 3.1 V to 2.2 V, which can save the cost of a DCDC unit for the customer externally and can operate in the ultra-low-power mode at the same time.

[0047] Embodiment 2: This embodiment provides a wide-voltage ultra-low-power module based on CAT.1, further optimizes the solution provided in the embodiment, and executes the method in a specific application scenario.

[0048] For example, in the electricity meter industry, when performing on-site meter reading, it is necessary to upload the meter data to the terminal to achieve remote monitoring and alarm. Although the NB-IoT network has the advantage of low power consumption, it can only transmit a small amount of data each time and the NB-IoT network coverage level is not high in some areas.

[0049] Cat-1 is a standard for user terminal categories under the 4G communication LTE network. It has the characteristics of low latency, low cost, and good mobility, and can support a terminal downlink rate of up to 10 Mbps, enabling IoT devices to connect to the Long-Term Evolution (LTE) network with lower power consumption and lower cost. Compared with Cat.4 modules, Cat.1 modules have advantages such as low cost and low power consumption. Compared with NB-IoT modules, they have advantages such as high coverage and good mobility, so they have become one of the typical representatives of communication modules. However, with the sharp increase in the market demand for Cat.1 modules, the requirements for Cat.1 modules are also getting higher and higher, no longer limited to simple data transmission functions, and the market increasingly needs Cat.1 modules to provide more functions.

[0050] This embodiment provides a CAT.1-based wide voltage ultra-low power module, whose minimum operating voltage can support 2.2V and is compatible with NB-loT modules of the same package. For some applications that want to use CAT.1 modules to replace NB-loT modules, there is no need to change the peripheral power supply circuit. This solution not only does not require additional client design, but also has lower power consumption than traditional solutions. When used on client products, it has the advantages of fast network access and high signal strength of CAT.1 modules.

[0051] The specific circuit of the DCDC unit is as follows Figure 4 As shown, it includes a DCDC converter U200, a capacitor C205, a capacitor C204 and an inductor L201. The input end (VIN end) of the DCDC converter U200 is connected to the LDO output inside the power management unit through the VO_LDOFEMVBAT network number, and the output end (VOUT end) of the DCDC converter U200 is connected to the VBAT end of the RF power amplifier through the VBOOST_PA network number. The input end (VIN end) of the DCDC converter U200 and the SW end of the DCDC converter U200 are connected to the VBAT end of the RF power amplifier through the VBOOST_PA network number. Connect the inductor L201, the input end of the DCDC converter U200 is connected to one end of the capacitor C204, the other end of the capacitor C204 is grounded, and the capacitor C204 and the inductor L201 are LC filters at the input end; the EN end (enable end) of the DCDC converter U200 is connected to the input end (VIN end) of the DCDC converter U200; the FB end of the DCDC converter U200 is grounded, the output end of the DCDC converter U200 is connected to one end of the capacitor C205, the other end of the capacitor C205 is grounded, and the capacitor C205 is a filter capacitor at the output end.

[0052] The DCDC unit works in boost, buck or direct mode according to the relationship between its input voltage and output voltage. Figure 5 As shown: If the difference between the input voltage and the output voltage of the DCDC unit is less than or equal to the first threshold value (that is, when the input voltage and the output voltage of the DCDC unit are close), the DCDC unit is in the buck mode or the pass-through mode; when the input voltage of the DCDC unit is increased, if the difference between the output voltage of the DCDC unit and the input voltage of the DCDC unit is less than the second threshold value (in this embodiment, the second threshold value is 50mV), the DCDC unit will automatically switch from the boost mode to the buck mode, and then maintain the buck mode until the difference between the input voltage of the DCDC unit and the output voltage of the DCDC unit is greater than the third threshold value (in this embodiment, the third threshold value is 0.37V), and automatically enter the pass-through mode.

[0053] In the pass-through mode, the output voltage follows the input voltage. When the voltage at the input of the DCDC unit drops to 101% of the target output voltage, the DCDC unit switches from the pass-through mode to the buck mode. When the difference between the voltage at the output of the DCDC unit and the voltage at the input of the DCDC unit is greater than the fourth threshold (the fourth threshold is 100mV in this embodiment), the buck mode is exited and switched to the boost mode.

[0054] Because the VO_LDOFEMVBAT voltage value is output by the LDO inside the power management unit, and the VBAT end of the power management unit is connected to the VBAT (power supply unit) of the module, the VO_LDOFEMVBAT voltage value changes with the module VBAT. Therefore, the changes in the output voltage of the DCDC unit and the input voltage of the DCDC unit can be regarded as the changes in the module VBAT and the output voltage of the DCDC unit. When entering the low power mode, the power management unit controls VO_LDOFEMVBAT to power off, thereby controlling the VBAT of the RF power amplifier to power off, achieving the purpose of ultra-low power consumption.

[0055] Wherein, the DCDC unit includes a voltage sensor for detecting the input voltage and output voltage of the DCDC unit, and the DCDC unit is connected to a processor, and the processor controls the working mode of the DCDC unit according to the relationship between the output voltage and the input voltage detected by the voltage sensor. The processor can be a central processing unit (CPU), or other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSP), application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA) or other programmable logic devices, discrete gates or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, etc. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor or the processor can also be any conventional processor, etc. The processor can also be a power management unit, that is, the working mode of the DCDC unit is controlled by the power management unit.

[0056] The power management unit includes the main chip, which is the power control center of the module. It can control the power off of VO_LDOFEMVBAT, thereby controlling the power off of VBAT of the RF power amplifier to achieve ultra-low power consumption.

[0057] The RF transceiver processor and subsystem include: RF receiver, signal processing unit, digital signal processing unit, RF transmitter and other functional modules.

[0058] Its main functions include: RF receiver: The RF receiver can receive radio signals from an antenna or other RF source, and perform front-end RF amplification, filtering, mixing and other processing to convert them into intermediate frequency signals.

[0059] Signal processing unit: After the received RF signal is processed by the RF receiver, it will be converted into an intermediate frequency signal, and then the signal processing unit will perform filtering, amplification, demodulation and other processing to extract the original information signal and convert it into a digital signal.

[0060] Digital signal processing: The digital signal sent by the signal processing unit is processed by digital filtering, demodulation, decoding, etc. to restore the original data information.

[0061] RF transmitter: converts digital signals into RF signals and sends them out through the RF transmitter.

[0062] When reading meters on site, the workflow for communication using the CAT.1-based wide voltage ultra-low power module provided in this embodiment is as follows: First, determine whether the CAT.1 module is powered on. If the CAT.1 module is powered off, the operation ends. If it is powered on, determine whether the CAT.1 module has been initialized. If the CAT.1 module is not initialized, shut down the CAT.1 module and the operation ends; If the CAT.1 module is initialized, determine whether the CAT.1 module is connected to the network; If the CAT.1 module is not connected to the network, shut down the CAT.1 module and the operation ends; If the CAT.1 module is connected to the network, the CAT.1 module receives the signal from the master station or sends a signal to the master station. After completing the signal sending or receiving, the CAT.1 module shuts down and the workflow ends.

[0063] Embodiment three: This embodiment provides a wide voltage ultra-low power consumption module based on CAT.1, such as Figure 1 As shown in the figure, the module can work stably in a wide voltage range while supporting ultra-low power operation, and its PIN pin function is compatible with the NB-IoT module, effectively solving the peripheral circuit adjustment problem faced by customers when switching from NB-IoT modules to CAT.1 modules. Compared with traditional CAT.1 modules, this module has achieved significant improvements in both operating voltage range and power consumption performance.

[0064] In this module, the structure of each component and the output transmission relationship between them are as follows: the power supply unit provides power to the VCC end of the power management unit and the RF power amplifier; the power management unit receives power from the power supply unit, and its internal LDO (low-dropout linear regulator) outputs power to the VBAT end of the RF power amplifier and the VDD end of the RF switch. The RF transceiver processor and subsystem are connected to the RF switch and duplexer, and are responsible for the transceiver processing of RF signals. The RF power amplifier receives power from the power supply unit and the power management unit, amplifies the RF signal, and then transmits it to the duplexer. The duplexer receives the amplified RF signal from the RF power amplifier and is connected to the RF transceiver processor and subsystem and the RF switch at the same time to realize bidirectional transmission of signals. The RF switch receives power from the power management unit, switches the path of the RF signal as needed, and is connected to the RF transceiver processor and subsystem and the duplexer.

[0065] The working principle of the above module is as follows: the power supply unit is responsible for providing stable power to other key components in the module as the energy source of the entire module. After the power management unit receives the power from the power supply unit, it converts and stabilizes the voltage through the internal LDO (low dropout linear regulator) to ensure that the output voltage meets the working requirements of the RF power amplifier and RF switch. This design enables the module to work normally within a wide voltage range while maintaining low power consumption characteristics.

[0066] The RF transceiver processor and subsystem are the core processing units of the module, responsible for receiving, processing and sending RF signals; they work closely with the RF switch and duplexer to ensure that RF signals can be efficiently transmitted and processed.

[0067] After the RF power amplifier receives the power from the power management unit, the RF power amplifier amplifies the RF signal to enhance the transmission distance and penetration of the signal. The amplified RF signal is transmitted to the antenna or the receiving end through the duplexer. The duplexer is a special filter that allows the signal to be transmitted bidirectionally on the same antenna (i.e., sending and receiving signals at the same time). Receive the amplified signal from the RF power amplifier and send it to the antenna for transmission; at the same time, pass the signal received from the antenna to the RF transceiver processor and subsystem for processing. The RF switch switches the transmission path of the RF signal according to the needs of the control signal. Ensure that the RF signal can be correctly connected to the corresponding components, such as the RF transceiver processor, duplexer or antenna, during the transmission process.

[0068] The module achieves data communication through CAT.1 network technology. CAT.1 is an IoT communication technology based on LTE, which provides high data transmission rate and low latency, and is suitable for scenarios requiring medium- and high-speed data transmission. During the data communication process, the module's controller is responsible for processing data and control signals from user devices or other network nodes. The controller sends the processed data through the RF transceiver processor and subsystem, RF power amplifier, duplexer and antenna; at the same time, it receives data and control signals from the network and transmits them to user devices or other related components.

[0069] In order to achieve ultra-low power operation, the module adopts a variety of low-power design technologies. For example, when the module is idle, it can automatically enter sleep mode to reduce power consumption; at the same time, each component inside the module also adopts low-power design solutions, such as low-power RF power amplifier, low-power controller, etc. In addition, the module also supports flexible power management strategies, which can adjust the power supply and power consumption level according to the actual application scenarios and needs.

[0070] In summary, this CAT.1-based wide voltage ultra-low power module achieves stable operation and ultra-low power operation in a wide voltage range through the coordinated work of power management and energy distribution, RF signal processing and transmission, data communication and control, and low power design. At the same time, it also has the same PIN pin function as the NB-IoT module, which provides convenience for customers when switching from NB-IoT modules to CAT.1 modules.

[0071] Embodiment 4: This embodiment provides a wide voltage ultra-low power consumption module based on CAT.1, such as Figure 2 As shown, the difference from Example 3 is that, Figure 2 A new DCDC unit is added to the module, which is responsible for voltage conversion and stabilization. Figure 1 There is no DCDC unit in the module, and the power supply unit directly supplies power to the power management unit and the RF power amplifier.

[0072] The other difference is that Figure 2 In the , the module's VBAT first passes through the DCDC unit, and then supplies the VBAT of the power management unit (main chip) and the VCC of the RF power amplifier (PA) respectively. Due to the existence of the DCDC unit, this module may be able to operate in a wider voltage range, especially when the DCDC unit operates in boost mode. By introducing the DCDC unit, the module can operate in a wider voltage range, which increases the applicability and flexibility of the module. Although the power consumption of the DCDC unit will be higher when it works in boost mode at low voltage, under other voltage conditions, the DCDC unit may help optimize the overall power consumption.

[0073] Figure 2 The specific structure and transmission relationship of the module are as follows: The power management unit manages the power distribution and protection of the module. The power supply unit is the main power input of the module and is connected to the DCDC unit to provide the initial voltage. The DCDC unit receives the voltage from the power supply unit and performs voltage conversion to adapt to the voltage requirements of different components in the module. Its output is connected to the power management unit and the RF power amplifier respectively. The RF transceiver processor and subsystem are responsible for the transceiver processing of RF signals. Its power supply is provided by the power management unit and is connected to the duplexer through the RF switch to achieve two-way transmission of signals.

[0074] The RF power amplifier (PA) is used to amplify the RF signal. Its VCC power supply is provided by the DCDC unit, and the VBAT power supply is provided by the power management unit through the LDO output of the main chip. The duplexer connects the RF transceiver processor and subsystem and the antenna to separate the transmit and receive signals, and is connected to the RF switch at the same time. The RF switch controls the flow of the RF signal, and is connected to the RF transceiver processor and subsystem and the duplexer respectively, and switches the signal path according to the control signal.

[0075] Among them, the connection relationship and working principle between the above-mentioned units are designed so that the module can work stably in a wide voltage range (including but not limited to 3.1V to 4.6V, or even lower to close to the minimum operating voltage of the NB-IoT module), and by optimizing the working mode and power management strategy of the DCDC unit, low-power operation is achieved, thereby avoiding abnormal operation or failure to start the module due to voltage drop in a low-voltage environment, while reducing the power consumption of the DCDC unit under low voltage, reducing overall power consumption and device costs.

[0076] In addition, the DCDC unit can intelligently adjust the output voltage to adapt to the voltage requirements of different components, and when the input voltage is low, it can ensure the normal working voltage of key components (such as RF power amplifiers) through the boost mode, while adopting high-efficiency design to reduce power consumption. The power management unit integrates a low-voltage protection mechanism. When it detects that the input voltage is lower than the preset threshold, it can automatically cut off or adjust the power supply of non-critical components to protect the module from low voltage damage and extend the working time of the module in a low-voltage environment.

[0077] Embodiment five: This embodiment provides a wide voltage ultra-low power consumption module based on CAT.1, such as Figure 3 As shown, the module of Example 4 is further optimized. The optimization point is that, Figure 3The power supply unit is divided into two paths, one directly supplies the VCC of the RF power amplifier, and the other outputs VO_LDOFEMVBAT through the LDO of the power management unit, and then supplies the VBAT of the RF power amplifier and the VDD of the RF switch after passing through the DCDC unit. This design increases the hierarchy and flexibility of power management, can more accurately control the voltage requirements of different components, and may also improve overall energy efficiency.

[0078] In addition, it is clearly stated that the DCDC unit can operate in boost mode, buck mode or pass-through mode, and a specific model of DCDC converter (AW360994) is selected, and the output voltage is fixed to 3.3 V by grounding the FB pin. This design enables the DCDC unit to automatically adjust the operating mode according to the input voltage and load requirements, thereby reducing power consumption while ensuring voltage stability.

[0079] Figure 2 The modules in the module are specifically described as follows: the power supply unit is used to receive external power and divide it into two outputs. The power management unit (PMU) receives one output of the power supply unit and outputs a stable voltage VO_LDOFEMVBAT through its internal LDO (low dropout linear regulator). The DCDC unit receives VO_LDOFEMVBAT output by the power management unit and works in boost mode, buck mode or pass-through mode as needed to output a fixed voltage to power the RF power amplifier and RF switch.

[0080] The RF power amplifier (PA) receives the RF signal from the RF transceiver processor and subsystem, amplifies the power, and then sends it to the antenna through the RF switch or directly through the duplexer. The RF transceiver processor and subsystem are connected to the baseband processing unit and are jointly responsible for data encoding, compression, decoding and transmission control. The baseband processing unit integrates non-volatile memory (flash) and random access memory (RAM), and is equipped with multiple data transmission interfaces, including UART, ADCs, GPIOs, SPI, I2C and PSM_EINT interfaces. The RF switch connects the RF power amplifier, RF transceiver processor and subsystem, duplexer and main antenna port (ANT_MAIN) to control the flow of RF signals.

[0081] The duplexer is used to couple the weak signal received by the antenna to the RF transceiver processor and subsystem, and feed the signal amplified by the RF power amplifier to the antenna. The power management unit is also connected to the RESET_N, BOOT, PWERKEY and VDD_EXT interfaces to realize the reset, boot, power-on and external level reference functions of the module.

[0082] Further module settings include: the DCDC unit can intelligently adjust the working mode to ensure that the output voltage is stable at 3.3V to adapt to different load requirements. The non-volatile memory (flash) of the baseband processing unit can permanently save the input voltage and output voltage status of the DCDC unit before power failure, ensuring that the module can quickly recover to the previous working state after powering on again. The RF power amplifier can handle both time division duplex (TDD) and frequency division duplex (FDD) signal modes to ensure communication flexibility and compatibility. The coordinated work of the RF switch and the duplexer effectively realizes the separation and coupling of the RF signal transmission and reception, avoiding mutual interference between signals.

[0083] When working, this CAT.1 wide voltage ultra-low power module integrates three core functions: intelligent power management, efficient RF transmission and baseband processing. The external power supply is divided into two paths through the power supply unit, one path directly supplies the RF power amplifier, and the other path is stabilized by the power management unit and then intelligently adjusted to 3.3V by the DCDC unit to stably supply the RF switch and some circuits.

[0084] In terms of data transmission, the wireless signal received by the antenna is separated by the duplexer, decoded by the RF transceiver processor and passed to the baseband processing unit for data processing. At the same time, the baseband processing unit encodes the data to be sent, amplifies it through the RF power amplifier, and then transmits it by the antenna. The baseband processing unit is not only responsible for data processing, but also realizes communication with external devices through a variety of interfaces (such as UART, SPI, etc.).

[0085] Low power consumption design is one of the highlights of the module. The power management unit intelligently adjusts the working mode of the DCDC unit according to the load demand to avoid energy waste. The RF power amplifier adopts an efficient design to ensure signal strength while reducing power consumption. In addition, the module can automatically enter low power consumption mode in standby or light load state to further extend battery life. In summary, the module, by integrating intelligent power management, efficient RF transmission and low power consumption design, realizes stable, efficient and low-power communication in a wide voltage range, which is particularly suitable for application scenarios with strict requirements on power consumption.

[0086] Embodiment six: This embodiment provides a wide voltage ultra-low power consumption module based on CAT.1, such as Figure 4As shown, the specific circuit structure of the DCDC unit in Example 4 and Example 5 is described. VIN (input voltage) is connected to the input end of U200 to provide power for the entire circuit. Multiple GND (ground) marking points indicate that all components in the circuit that need to be grounded are connected to this common point to ensure that the current can form a loop. U200 is the core chip of the boost converter DCDC, which accepts VIN as input and generates a higher output voltage. The SW (switch) pin is the external connection point of the internal power switch of U200, which is connected to one end of the inductor L201. The other end of the inductor L201 is connected to the output side of U200, forming a storage and release path for the boost conversion with VOUT (or VBOOST_PA, both of which may represent the same voltage point).

[0087] The EN (enable) pin is used to control the working state of U200. In this circuit, EN is usually connected to a certain logic level to determine whether U200 starts working. The FB (feedback) pin is used to receive the feedback signal of the output voltage so that U200 can adjust its internal working state to ensure that VOUT (or VBOOST_PA) remains at the preset voltage level. C204 and C205 are two filter capacitors, which are connected to the input and output of U200 respectively, and are used to filter out high-frequency noise and ripple in the power supply and output voltage. The value of these capacitors is 10uF and the rated voltage is 10V, which is suitable for the needs of this circuit.

[0088] L201 is an inductor with an inductance of 2.2uH. It plays a key role in the boost converter, achieving voltage boost by storing and releasing energy. YY and AW360994DNR may be the serial number, batch number or other identification information of the component, which are not directly involved in the circuit connection, but may be important for the tracking and management of the component. VOUT (or VBOOST_PA) is the output voltage terminal of the boost converter, which is used to provide the required voltage for the subsequent circuit or load.

[0089] In summary, the components in the circuit are connected to each other through wires to form a complete boost converter circuit. In this circuit, U200, as the core control chip, realizes the function of converting the input voltage VIN into a higher output voltage VOUT (or VBOOST_PA) through the cooperation of components such as inductor L201, capacitor C204 and C205. At the same time, the feedback mechanism of the FB pin ensures the stability of the output voltage.

[0090] The above-described embodiment is only a preferred solution of the present invention and does not limit the present invention in any form. There are other variations and modifications without exceeding the technical solution described in the claims.

Claims

1. A wide voltage ultra-low power consumption module based on CAT.1, characterized in that: include: A power supply unit, wherein one path of the power supply unit is connected to a power management unit, the power management unit is connected to a radio frequency power amplifier and a radio frequency switch through a DCDC unit, and another path of the power supply unit is connected to a radio frequency power amplifier, and the DCDC unit operates in a boost, buck or pass-through mode according to the relationship between its input terminal voltage and output terminal voltage.

2. A CAT.1 based wide voltage ultra-low power consumption module according to claim 1, characterized in that: If the difference between the input voltage and the output voltage of the DCDC unit is less than or equal to the first threshold, the DCDC unit is in the buck mode or the pass-through mode; if the input voltage of the DCDC unit increases and the difference between the output voltage and the input voltage is less than the second threshold, the DCDC unit automatically switches from the boost mode to the buck mode, and then maintains the buck mode until the difference between the input voltage and the output voltage is greater than the third threshold, and automatically enters the pass-through mode.

3. A CAT.1 based wide voltage ultra-low power consumption module according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: If the input voltage drops to 101% of the target output voltage, the DCDC unit switches from the pass mode to the buck mode, and switches from the buck mode to the boost mode when the difference between the output voltage and the input voltage is greater than a fourth threshold.

4. A CAT.1 based wide voltage ultra-low power consumption module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The DCDC unit includes a DCDC converter, the FB end of the DCDC converter is grounded, the VIN end of the DCDC converter is connected to the LDO output inside the power management unit through the VO_LDOFEMVBAT network number, and the VOUT end of the DCDC converter is connected to the VBAT end of the RF power amplifier through the VBOOST_PA network number.

5. A CAT.1 based wide voltage ultra-low power consumption module according to claim 4, characterized in that: The VOUT terminal of the DCDC converter is connected to a filter capacitor, an inductor is provided between the SW terminal and the VIN terminal of the DCDC converter, the VIN terminal of the DCDC converter is connected to a capacitor, and the inductor and the capacitor form an LC filter.

6. A CAT.1 based wide voltage ultra-low power consumption module according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that: When entering the low power mode, the VO_LDOFEMVBAT output by the LDO inside the power management unit controller is powered off, which further controls the VBAT end of the RF power amplifier to be powered off.

7. A CAT.1 based wide voltage ultra-low power consumption module according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a duplexer, which is connected to the radio frequency switch and the radio frequency power amplifier respectively.

8. A CAT.1 based wide voltage ultra-low power consumption module according to claim 1 or 2 or 4 or 5 or 7, characterized in that: The power management unit is also connected to a radio frequency transceiver processor and a subsystem, the radio frequency transceiver processor and the subsystem are connected to a radio frequency power amplifier and a radio frequency switch, and a USIM interface is provided on the radio frequency transceiver processor and the subsystem.

9. A CAT.1 based wide voltage ultra-low power consumption module according to claim 8, characterized in that: The radio frequency transceiver processor and subsystem are connected to a baseband processing unit, and the baseband processing unit is provided with a data transmission interface.

10. A CAT.1 based wide voltage ultra-low power consumption module according to claim 1 or 2 or 4 or 5 or 7, characterized in that: The power management unit is connected to the VBAT end of the radio frequency power amplifier and the VDD end of the radio frequency switch for power supply through the DCDC unit, and another path of the power supply unit is connected to the VCC end of the radio frequency power amplifier.

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