Control circuit and control chip of radio frequency front-end module and radio frequency front-end module
By introducing a control module into the voltage stabilization module, the power consumption mode of the voltage stabilization module is adjusted according to the working state of the functional module, the problem of high power consumption of the control chip is solved, and dynamic adjustment of power consumption and extended battery life is achieved.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202510373967.2
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-03-27
- Publication Date
- 2025-08-08
AI Technical Summary
The power consumption of the control chip is high, resulting in a decrease in the battery life of the RF terminal.
By introducing a control module into the voltage stabilization module, the power consumption mode of the voltage stabilization module is dynamically adjusted according to the working state of the functional module, including adjusting the bias current and resistance of the operational amplifier, so as to reduce the power consumption of the voltage stabilization module without affecting the stability of the power supply of the functional module.
It effectively reduces the power consumption of the control circuit and control chip, extends the battery life of the RF terminal, and quickly responds to the status changes of the functional module.
Smart Images
Figure CN120456201A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present application relates to the field of radio frequency technology, and in particular to a control circuit, a control chip and a radio frequency front-end module. Background Art
[0002] With the development of 5G and the Internet of Things (IoT), demand for radio frequency front-ends (RFFs) is growing. RFF modules are primarily used in wireless communication devices such as mobile phones, Wi-Fi routers, and IoT devices. Their function is to process RF signals, including amplification, filtering, and switching, to ensure efficient signal transmission and reception.
[0003] The control chip of the RF front-end module is the core unit that coordinates the operation of various devices (amplifiers, filters, switches, etc.) in the RF front-end module. It is responsible for key tasks such as signal path switching control, frequency band selection control, power regulation, and temperature monitoring.
[0004] However, in actual applications, it is found that the power consumption of the control chip itself is relatively high. How to reduce the power consumption of the control chip itself is a problem that needs to be solved urgently. Summary of the Invention
[0005] The main purpose of this application is to provide a control circuit, a control chip and an RF front-end module of an RF front-end module, which can solve the problem of high power consumption of the control circuit by reducing the power consumption of the voltage stabilizing module and thus reducing the power consumption of the control circuit.
[0006] In a first aspect, the present application provides a control circuit of a radio frequency front-end module, the control circuit comprising a voltage stabilizing module, a functional module and a control module;
[0007] The voltage stabilizing module is used to receive a power supply voltage and stabilize the power supply voltage;
[0008] The functional module is connected to the voltage stabilizing module, and is used to receive an input signal sent from the outside, and operate based on the input signal and the stabilized power supply voltage;
[0009] The control module is connected to the voltage stabilizing module and the functional module, and is used to detect the conversion of the working state of the functional module and adjust the power consumption mode of the voltage stabilizing module according to the conversion of the working state of the functional module.
[0010] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a control circuit of a radio frequency front-end module, wherein the control circuit includes a voltage stabilizing module, a functional module, and a control module;
[0011] The voltage stabilizing module is used to receive a power supply voltage and stabilize the power supply voltage;
[0012] The functional module is connected to the voltage stabilizing module, and is used to receive an input signal sent from the outside, and operate based on the input signal and the stabilized power supply voltage;
[0013] The control module is connected to the voltage stabilizing module and the functional module;
[0014] When the voltage stabilizing module is in the second power consumption mode, the control module adjusts the power consumption mode of the voltage stabilizing module to the first power consumption mode when detecting at least one rising edge and / or at least one falling edge of the input signal;
[0015] When the voltage stabilizing module is in the first power consumption mode, the control module adjusts the power consumption mode of the voltage stabilizing module to the second power consumption mode when it determines that the level of the input signal has not changed within the set time, or when it determines that the code value of a preset number of bits in the status register of the functional module has changed.
[0016] In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a control chip of a radio frequency front-end module, comprising a control circuit as described in an embodiment of the present application.
[0017] In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a radio frequency front-end module, comprising the control chip as described in the embodiment of the present application.
[0018] The present invention provides a control circuit, a control chip, and a radio frequency front-end module for a radio frequency front-end module. The control circuit includes a voltage stabilization module, a functional module, and a control module. The control circuit is capable of adjusting the power consumption mode of the voltage stabilization module according to the operating state transitions of the functional modules. Therefore, the power consumption of the control circuit can be reduced by reducing the power consumption of the voltage stabilization module without affecting the operation of the control circuit. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the following is a brief introduction to the drawings required for use in the description of the embodiments. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without any creative work.
[0020] Figure 1 A circuit diagram of a control circuit of a radio frequency front-end module provided in an embodiment of the present application;
[0021] Figure 2 A circuit diagram of an embodiment of a voltage stabilizing module provided in an embodiment of the present application;
[0022] Figure 3 A timing diagram of a clock signal and a data signal provided in an embodiment of the present application;
[0023] Figure 4 Another timing diagram of the clock signal and data signal provided in an embodiment of the present application;
[0024] Figure 5 Another circuit diagram of the control circuit of the RF front-end module provided in an embodiment of the present application;
[0025] Figure 6 A circuit diagram of a control circuit of another RF front-end module provided in an embodiment of the present application;
[0026] Figure 7 A schematic block diagram of a control chip of a radio frequency front-end module provided in an embodiment of the present application;
[0027] Figure 8 A schematic block diagram of a radio frequency front-end module provided in an embodiment of the present application.
[0028] The realization of the objectives, functional features and advantages of this application will be further explained in conjunction with embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0029] It should be noted that the terms "first" and "second" in the description, claims and drawings of this application are used to distinguish similar objects, rather than to describe a specific order or sequence.
[0030] It should also be noted that the method disclosed in the embodiments of the present application or the method shown in the flowchart includes one or more steps for implementing the method. Without departing from the scope of the claims, the execution order of multiple steps can be interchanged with each other, and some steps can also be deleted.
[0031] The following describes some embodiments of the present application in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the absence of conflict, the following embodiments and features therein may be combined with each other.
[0032] The RF front-end module (RFFE) is a core component in wireless communication systems, responsible for converting baseband signals to RF signals and performing key signal processing such as amplification, filtering, and modulation. Its core components include power amplifiers (PAs), low-noise amplifiers (LNAs), filters, and RF switches, and are widely used in smartphones, IoT devices, automotive communications, satellite communications, and other fields.
[0033] The RF front-end module may also include a control chip, or a control chip for controlling the RF front-end module may also be configured in the RF terminal. The control chip interacts with the main device such as the transceiver in the RF terminal through a protocol interface (such as MIPI RFFE) to receive input signals, and generates control signals for each device in the RF front-end module based on the input signals, so that multiple devices in the RF front-end module can work in coordination. For example, in a 5G multi-band scenario, the control chip can adjust the parameters of the power amplifier and filter in real time to adapt to the requirements of different frequency bands based on the control instructions from the transceiver.
[0034] MIPI RFFE (Mobile Industry Processor Interface Radio Frequency Front-End) is a standardized control interface designed specifically for the RF front-end, enabling efficient communication via two signal lines (SCLK and SDATA). Within the control chip, the MIPI module enables unified management of components such as the PA, LNA, and filters.
[0035] However, with the diversification of wireless device functionality (such as 5G, satellite communications, and AIoT) and the trend toward terminal miniaturization, the power consumption of RF front-end modules has become increasingly prominent. In practical applications, it has been found that the high power consumption of the control chip itself significantly increases overall system power consumption, resulting in a decrease in the battery life of the RF terminal, which in turn shortens the device's battery life.
[0036] Based on this, the embodiments of the present application provide a control circuit, a control chip and a RF front-end module of an RF front-end module, which can reduce the power consumption of the control circuit by reducing the power consumption of the voltage stabilizing module, solve the problem of high power consumption of the control circuit, and further reduce the power consumption of the control chip.
[0037] See also Figure 1 , Figure 1 A circuit diagram of a control circuit of a radio frequency front-end module provided in an embodiment of the present application.
[0038] like Figure 1 As shown, the control circuit 100 of the RF front-end module includes a voltage stabilizing module 110 , a functional module 120 and a control module 130 .
[0039] The voltage stabilizing module 110 is used to receive a power supply voltage VIO and stabilize the power supply voltage VIO. The voltage stabilizing module 110 may include, but is not limited to, a basic linear regulator, a low dropout linear regulator (LDO), and the like.
[0040] The functional module 120 is connected to the voltage stabilization module 110 for receiving an input signal sent externally and operating based on the input signal and the stabilized power supply voltage VIO. The functional module 120 may include, but is not limited to, a communication interface module. For example, the functional module 120 may be a MIPI module (Mobile Industry Processor Interface). With the development of radio frequency technology, the functional module 120 may also include other communication interface modules. In some examples, the functional module 120 may also include other modules such as a decoder. The input signal may be one or more, for example, the input signal may include at least one of a clock signal and a data signal.
[0041] The control module 130 is connected to the voltage stabilization module 110 and the functional module 120, and is used to detect the transition of the working state of the functional module 120 and adjust the power consumption mode of the voltage stabilization module 110 according to the transition of the working state of the functional module 120. The control module 130 may include multiple digital logic circuits and may also include analog circuits.
[0042] It should be noted that the transition of the working state of the functional module 120 may include transitioning from a dormant state to an active state, and vice versa. The active state may refer to a state in which the functional module 120 operates based on an input signal and a regulated power supply voltage VIO. The dormant state may refer to a state in which the functional module 120 stops working or is idle. This dormant state may also be referred to as a stopped working state, an idle state, or an inactive state.
[0043] It should be noted that the power consumption mode of the voltage stabilizing module 110 may include at least two, such as a high power consumption mode and a low power consumption mode. The output power of the voltage stabilizing module 110 is different in different power consumption modes. For example, the output power of the voltage stabilizing module 110 in the high power consumption mode is greater than the output power of the voltage stabilizing module 110 in the low power consumption mode. When the functional module 120 is working, the voltage stabilizing module 110 needs to work in the high power consumption mode to ensure the performance of the functional module 120. When the functional module 120 is not working, the voltage stabilizing module 110 can work in the low power consumption mode to reduce power consumption. Therefore, it is necessary to detect the conversion of the working state of the functional module 120 and adjust the power consumption mode of the voltage stabilizing module 110 accordingly.
[0044] That is to say, when the working state of the functional module 120 is changed, the power consumption mode of the voltage stabilizing module 110 can be adaptively adjusted, thereby adjusting the power consumption of the voltage stabilizing module 110. For example, if the functional module 120 is changed to the working state, the required power consumption of the voltage stabilizing module 110 is relatively high, and the power consumption of the voltage stabilizing module 110 can be increased by adjusting the power consumption mode of the voltage stabilizing module 110. If the functional module 120 is changed to the sleep state, the required power consumption of the voltage stabilizing module 110 is relatively low, and the power consumption of the voltage stabilizing module 110 can be reduced by adjusting the power consumption mode of the voltage stabilizing module 110. In this way, the normal operation of the functional module 120 can be avoided while the voltage stabilizing module 110 is prevented from continuously generating high power consumption, thereby reducing the total power consumption of the voltage stabilizing module 110, thereby reducing the overall power consumption of the control circuit 100.
[0045] Optionally, the output voltages of the voltage stabilizing module 110 in different power consumption modes may be the same or different.
[0046] In one embodiment, the power consumption mode of the voltage stabilizing module 110 may include a first power consumption mode and a second power consumption mode. The output voltage of the voltage stabilizing module 110 in the first power consumption mode and the second power consumption mode are the same, and the output power of the voltage stabilizing module 110 in the first power consumption mode is higher than the output power of the voltage stabilizing module 110 in the second power consumption mode. The first power consumption mode may correspond to the normal operating mode of the voltage stabilizing module 110, and the second power consumption mode may correspond to the low-power operating mode of the voltage stabilizing module 110. It should be noted that the output voltage of the voltage stabilizing module 110 in the first power consumption mode and the second power consumption mode are the same. This allows the supply voltage of the functional module 120 to remain stable even when the power consumption mode of the voltage stabilizing module 110 is adjusted, thereby preventing the power supply state of the functional module 120 from being affected by the adjustment of the power consumption mode of the voltage stabilizing module 110. In this way, when the functional module 120 switches from a dormant state to an active state, there is no need to wait for the supply voltage (i.e., the output voltage of the voltage stabilizing module 110) to be reestablished, thereby accelerating the time it takes for the functional module 120 to complete the state switch.
[0047] Exemplarily, the control module 130 is further configured to adjust the power consumption mode of the voltage stabilizing module 110 to the first power consumption mode upon detecting that the functional module 120 has transitioned from a dormant state to an active state. Since the power consumption required of the voltage stabilizing module 110 is higher after the functional module 120 transitions to the active state, the power consumption mode of the voltage stabilizing module 110 can be adjusted to the first power consumption mode with higher output power. In this case, the power consumption generated by the voltage stabilizing module 110 increases, thereby ensuring the normal operation of the functional module 120.
[0048] Exemplarily, the control module 130 is further configured to adjust the power consumption mode of the voltage stabilizing module 110 to the second power consumption mode when detecting that the functional module 120 has switched from the working state to the dormant state. Since the power consumption required of the voltage stabilizing module 110 is lower after the functional module 120 switches to the dormant state, the power consumption mode of the voltage stabilizing module 110 can be adjusted to the second power consumption mode with lower output power. In this case, the power consumption generated by the voltage stabilizing module 110 is reduced, thereby reducing the overall power consumption of the control circuit 100.
[0049] Exemplarily, the control module 130 is further configured to adjust the power consumption mode of the voltage stabilizing module 110 to a first power consumption mode upon detecting that the functional module 120 switches from a sleep state to an active state. The control module 130 is further configured to adjust the power consumption mode of the voltage stabilizing module 110 to a second power consumption mode upon detecting that the functional module 120 switches from an active state to a sleep state. The power consumption generated by the voltage stabilizing module 110 in the first power consumption mode is higher than the power consumption generated by the voltage stabilizing module 110 in the second power consumption mode. In other words, compared to when the voltage stabilizing module 110 is in the first power consumption mode, the overall power consumption of the control circuit 100 is lower when the voltage stabilizing module 110 is in the second power consumption mode, thereby resolving the problem of high power consumption of the control circuit 100.
[0050] In one embodiment, the voltage stabilizing module 110 includes a low dropout linear regulator (LDO) module. Hereinafter, the method of adjusting the power consumption mode of the voltage stabilizing module 110 will be described by taking the voltage stabilizing module 110 as an LDO module as an example.
[0051] Among them, such as Figure 2 As shown, the LDO module includes an operational amplifier A1, a transistor Q1, a first resistor R1 and a second resistor R2; the output terminal of the operational amplifier A1 is connected to the first terminal of the transistor Q1, the second terminal of the transistor Q1 is used to input the power supply voltage VIO, the third terminal of the transistor Q1 is grounded through the first resistor R1 and the second resistor R2 in sequence, the connection node between the first resistor R1 and the second resistor R2 is connected to the first input terminal of the operational amplifier A1, and the second input terminal of the operational amplifier A1 is used to input the reference voltage VREF.
[0052] It should be noted that the third terminal of the transistor Q1 can also output the voltage LDO_OUT as the stabilized power supply voltage, thereby providing it to the functional module 120 as the power supply voltage. The output voltage LDO_OUT of the LDO module can be less than the power supply voltage VIO. For example, VIO can be a voltage fluctuating around 1.8V, and the LDO stabilizes it into a stable voltage less than 1.8V, such as 1.4V or 1.2V. The transistor Q1 can include but is not limited to a bipolar junction transistor (BJT), a field effect transistor (FET), and an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT). The first resistor R1 and the second resistor R2 can both be obtained by connecting multiple resistors and multiple switches in series and parallel, and the resistance value can be adjusted by controlling the on and off of different switches.
[0053] As an embodiment, the control module 130 is further configured to: increase the bias current Ibias of the operational amplifier A1 when detecting that the functional module 120 switches from the sleep state to the working state; and reduce the bias current Ibias of the operational amplifier A1 when detecting that the functional module 120 switches from the working state to the sleep state.
[0054] It should be noted that the bias current Ibias of the operational amplifier A1 is positively correlated with the power consumption of the voltage regulator module 110 (or the control circuit 100). A larger bias current Ibias results in a greater power consumption of the voltage regulator module 110, while a smaller bias current Ibias results in a smaller power consumption of the voltage regulator module 110. For example, when the functional module 120 switches from a sleep state to an active state, the bias current Ibias of the operational amplifier A1 can be increased to adjust the power consumption mode of the voltage regulator module 110 to a first power consumption mode with a higher output power. For another example, when the functional module 120 switches to a sleep state, the bias current Ibias of the operational amplifier A1 can be decreased to adjust the power consumption mode of the voltage regulator module 110 to a second power consumption mode with a lower output power. By increasing or decreasing the bias current Ibias of the operational amplifier A1, the output power of the voltage regulator module 110 can be adjusted without changing the output voltage of the voltage regulator module 110, thereby adjusting the power consumption mode of the voltage regulator module 110.
[0055] As an embodiment, the control module 130 is further used to: reduce the resistance of the first resistor R1 and the resistance of the second resistor R2 when it is detected that the functional module 120 is switched from the sleep state to the working state; and increase the resistance of the first resistor R1 and the resistance of the second resistor R2 when it is detected that the functional module 120 is switched from the working state to the sleep state.
[0056] It should be noted that when the resistance of the first resistor R1 and the second resistor R2 is reduced or increased, the ratio of their resistances can remain unchanged. In other words, the resistance of the first resistor R1 and the resistance of the second resistor R2 need to be adjusted in the same proportion to ensure that the output voltage of the voltage stabilizing module 110 remains stable. The resistance of the first resistor R1 and the resistance of the second resistor R2 are negatively correlated with the power consumption of the voltage stabilizing module 110 (or the control circuit 100). For example, the smaller the resistance of the first resistor R1 and the resistance of the second resistor R2, the greater the power consumption of the voltage stabilizing module 110. For example, the larger the resistance of the first resistor R1 and the resistance of the second resistor R2, the smaller the power consumption of the voltage stabilizing module 110. For example, when the functional module 120 switches from a dormant state to a working state, the power consumption mode of the voltage stabilizing module 110 can be adjusted to a first power consumption mode with higher output power by reducing the resistance of the first resistor R1 and the resistance of the second resistor R2. For another example, when the functional module 120 switches to a dormant state, the power consumption mode of the voltage stabilizing module 110 can be adjusted to a second power consumption mode with lower output power by increasing the resistance of the first resistor R1 and the resistance of the second resistor R2. By lowering or increasing the resistance of the first resistor R1 and the resistance of the second resistor R2, the output power of the voltage stabilizing module 110 can be adjusted without changing the output voltage of the voltage stabilizing module 110, thereby adjusting the power consumption mode of the voltage stabilizing module 110.
[0057] As an embodiment, the control module 130 is further used to: when detecting that the functional module 120 switches from a sleep state to an active state, increase the bias current Ibias of the operational amplifier A1 and reduce the resistance value of the first resistor R1 and the resistance value of the second resistor R2; and when detecting that the functional module 120 switches from an active state to a sleep state, reduce the bias current Ibias of the operational amplifier A1 and increase the resistance value of the first resistor R1 and the resistance value of the second resistor R2.
[0058] By simultaneously adjusting the bias current Ibias of the operational amplifier A1 and the resistance values of the first resistor and the second resistor, compared to adjusting only the bias current Ibias of the operational amplifier A1 or only adjusting the resistance values of the first resistor and the second resistor, the power consumption of the voltage stabilizing module 110 in the low power consumption mode can be further reduced after the voltage stabilizing module 110 switches to the low power consumption mode.
[0059] The following describes a method for detecting the transition of the operating state of the functional module 120 .
[0060] In one embodiment, the input signal received by the functional module 120 includes a clock signal and / or a data signal. The control module 130 is further configured to detect level changes of the input signal and determine the transition of the working state of the functional module 120 according to the level changes of the input signal.
[0061] It should be noted that the clock signal may also be referred to as the CLK signal, and the data signal may also be referred to as the DATA signal. The control module 130 can detect level changes of the CLK signal and / or the DATA signal, and upon detecting at least one rising edge and / or at least one falling edge of the input signal, determine that the functional module 120 switches from the sleep state to the working state.
[0062] For example, Figure 3 As shown, when the functional module 120 is in the dormant state, the CLK signal and the DATA signal both remain at a fixed level and do not flip. For example, when the functional module 120 is in the dormant state, the CLK signal and the DATA signal both remain at a low level. When the CLK signal and the DATA signal flip, generating a rising edge or a falling edge, it indicates that an input signal is being transmitted to the functional module 120 and the functional module 120 is about to start operating. This indicates that the functional module 120 has transitioned from the dormant state to the operating state. Therefore, by detecting at least one rising edge and / or at least one falling edge of the input signal, the state change of the functional module 120 from the dormant state to the operating state can be accurately identified.
[0063] For example, Figure 3 As shown, the Nth rising edge or falling edge of the CLK signal or the DATA signal is detected, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 1 and can be set according to actual conditions. When the functional module 120 is in the sleep state and detects that the level of the CLK signal or the DATA signal flips from 0 to 1 (rising edge) for the Nth time, or flips from 1 to 0 (falling edge) for the Nth time, it indicates that the functional module 120 has switched from the sleep state to the working state, and the functional module 120 can be controlled to adjust from the low power consumption mode to the high power consumption mode.
[0064] It should be noted that when the functional module 120 is a MIPI module, the eighth bit Reg0X1C of the status register Reg0X1C in the MIPI module <7> It can be used to indicate the working status of MIPI, such as Reg0X1C in the working state <7> =0, Reg0X1C in sleep state <7> =1. Therefore, the related technology can detect the eighth bit Reg0X1C of the status register <7> The code value is used to determine the status of the functional module 120. Figure 3As shown in the figure, when the MIPI module switches from the sleep state to the working state, the DATA signal and the CLK signal are flipped first, and then the eighth bit Reg0X1C of the status register is flipped. <7> Therefore, when determining whether the functional module 120 switches from the sleep state to the working state, the embodiment of the present application determines the switching of the functional module 120 from the sleep state to the working state based on the level change of the CLK signal and / or the DATA signal, compared with determining the switching of the working state based on the code value change of the status register. This can more quickly determine the switching of the working state of the MIPI module. Therefore, when the functional module 120 switches to the working state, the embodiment of the present application can quickly adjust the power consumption mode of the voltage stabilizing module 110 to the high power consumption mode, so that the working state of the functional module 120 can be stabilized more quickly, which helps to improve the performance of the functional module 120.
[0065] The control module 130 is further configured to determine that the functional module 120 transitions from the operating state to the dormant state when it is determined that the input signal level has not changed within a set time. This set time can be flexibly set based on actual circumstances. It should be noted that if the input signal level has not changed within the set time, it indicates that the functional module 120 is not operating, and thus the transition from the operating state to the dormant state can be accurately determined.
[0066] In which, the control module 130 is also used to determine that the functional module 120 is switched from the sleep state to the working state when at least one rising edge and / or at least one falling edge in the input signal is detected; the control module 130 is also used to determine that the functional module 120 is switched from the working state to the sleep state when it is determined that the input signal does not change in level within a set time.
[0067] In one embodiment, the set time includes a first set time and a second set time, and the first set time is less than the second set time. The first set time may correspond to a clock signal, and the second set time may correspond to a data signal. For example, the control module 130 may be configured to determine that the functional module 120 switches from a working state to a dormant state when it is determined that the clock signal has not changed in level within the first set time. Alternatively, the control module 130 may be configured to determine that the functional module 120 switches from a working state to a dormant state when it is determined that the data signal has not changed in level within the second set time. Alternatively, the control module 130 may be configured to determine that the functional module 120 switches from a working state to a dormant state when it is determined that the clock signal has not changed in level within the first set time, and when it is determined that the data signal has not changed in level within the second set time.
[0068] It should be noted that when functional module 120 is in the sleep state, the CLK signal and the DATA signal can remain at a low level and will not experience level flipping. Therefore, if the CLK signal does not change level within the first set time, and / or the DATA signal does not change level within the second set time, it can be accurately determined that functional module 120 has transitioned from the active state to the sleep state. Because the data signal may have the same code value over multiple cycles, this embodiment of the present application configures the second set time to be longer than the first set time, effectively avoiding misjudgments due to unchanged data signal code values.
[0069] For example, Figure 4 As shown, the CLK signal or the DATA signal is detected for flipping. If the clk signal does not flip within the first set time t1, that is, the clock signal has not changed level within the first set time. Alternatively, if the DATA signal does not flip within the second set time t2, that is, the data signal has not changed level within the second set time. Alternatively, if the clk signal does not flip within the first set time t1 and the DATA signal does not flip within the second set time t2, it means that the functional module 120 is not operating. Therefore, it can be determined that the functional module 120 has transitioned from the operating state to the dormant state, and the voltage regulator module 110 is switched from the high power consumption mode to the low power consumption mode.
[0070] In one embodiment, the control module 130 is further configured to determine that the functional module 120 switches from the working state to the sleeping state when it is determined that the clock signal has no level change within a first set time, and the first set time is greater than or equal to 1.5 μs.
[0071] It should be noted that when the input signal is a clock signal, the first set time corresponding to the clock signal is set to be greater than or equal to 1.5μs, which can quickly complete the judgment of the transition from the working state to the sleep state, thereby quickly switching the voltage stabilizing module 110 from the high power consumption mode to the low power consumption mode, thereby improving the detection efficiency of the working state transition of the functional module 120 and improving the mode switching efficiency of the voltage stabilizing module 110.
[0072] In one embodiment, the control module 130 is further configured to determine that the functional module 120 switches from the working state to the sleeping state when it is determined that the data signal has no level change within a second set time, and the second set time is greater than or equal to 10 μs.
[0073] It should be noted that, when the input signal includes a data signal, setting the second set time corresponding to the data signal to be greater than or equal to 10 μs can effectively avoid misjudgment caused by the data signal having the same code value in multiple cycles. Therefore, the detection accuracy of the functional module 120 switching from the working state to the sleep state can be improved, thereby improving the detection reliability of the working state transition of the functional module 120.
[0074] In one embodiment, the control module 130 is further configured to determine that the functional module 120 switches from a working state to a sleep state when it is determined that the clock signal does not change in level within a first set time, and when it is determined that the data signal does not change in level within a second set time, wherein the first set time is greater than or equal to 1.5 μs, and the second set time is greater than or equal to 10 μs.
[0075] For example, Figure 4 As shown, the first set time t1 corresponds to the CLK signal, and t1 is greater than or equal to 1.5μs. The second set time t2 corresponds to the DATA signal, and t2 is greater than or equal to 10μs. If the clk signal does not flip within the first set time t1, that is, the clock signal does not change level within the first set time. Alternatively, the DATA signal does not flip within the second set time t2, that is, the clock signal does not change level within the first set time. Both of the above situations indicate that the functional module 120 is not working, and it can be determined that the functional module 120 has switched from the working state to the sleep state, thereby controlling the voltage stabilization module 110 to switch from the high power consumption mode to the low power consumption mode.
[0076] In one embodiment, when the power supply voltage VIO is powered off, the voltage stabilizing module 110 is automatically shut down due to lack of power supply, and the functional module 120 is also automatically shut down.
[0077] In one embodiment, the functional module 120 includes a MIPI module, wherein the control module 130 is further configured to detect a code value change of a preset number of bits in a status register of the MIPI module and determine whether the functional module 120 switches from a working state to a dormant state based on the code value change.
[0078] The preset bit number is, for example, the first bit or the eighth bit, and the code value change is, for example, from 0 to 1. It should be noted that, based on the code value change of the preset bit number in the status register of the MIPI module, it is possible to accurately determine whether the MIPI module has switched from the working state to the dormant state.
[0079] For example, the eighth bit (or first bit) of the status register of the MIPI module is detected to be flipped. When Reg0X1C <7> When (the 8th bit of a register) flips from 0 to 1, it can be determined that the functional module 120 is switched from the working state to the sleep state, and the voltage stabilizing module 110 is controlled to switch from the high power consumption mode to the low power consumption mode.
[0080] In one embodiment, if Figure 5 As shown, the control module 130 includes a trigger 131 and a control unit 132. The trigger 131 is used to output a corresponding trigger signal when the working state of the functional module 120 is changed; the control unit 132 is used to generate a control signal for controlling the power consumption mode of the voltage stabilizing module 110 according to the trigger signal.
[0081] Among them, the trigger 131 may include but is not limited to a D trigger and a T trigger. For example, a D trigger is used to detect the rising edge or falling edge of the CLK signal or the DATA signal. When the output of the D trigger flips from 0 to 1, it indicates that the working state of the functional module 120 has changed. For example, the functional module 120 switches from a sleep state to a working state. Then the control unit 132 generates a control signal for controlling the power consumption mode of the voltage stabilizing module 110 to be adjusted to a high power consumption mode. For another example, a D trigger is used to detect the Reg0X1C in the status register of the MIPI module. <7> When Reg0X1C <7> When the output of the D flip-flop flips from 0 to 1, it indicates that the functional module 120 switches from the working state to the sleep state. Then the control unit 132 generates a control signal for controlling the power consumption mode of the voltage stabilizing module 110 to be adjusted to the low power consumption mode.
[0082] The control circuit 100 of the RF front-end module of the above embodiment includes a voltage stabilizing module 110, a functional module 120, and a control module 130. It can adjust the power consumption mode of the voltage stabilizing module 110 according to the conversion of the working state of the functional module 120. Therefore, the power consumption of the control circuit 100 can be reduced by reducing the power consumption of the voltage stabilizing module 110, while not affecting the operation of the control circuit 100. At the same time, after adjusting the power consumption mode of the voltage stabilizing module 110 or in different power consumption modes, the output voltage of the voltage stabilizing module 110 can be the same, without having to wait for the output voltage of the voltage stabilizing module 110 to be re-established, which can speed up the time it takes for the functional module 120 to complete the state switching.
[0083] At the same time, when determining that the functional module 120 is switched from the sleep state to the working state, compared with determining the switching of the working state based on the code value change of the status register, the switching of the working state of the functional module 120 can be determined more quickly based on the level change of the CLK signal and / or the DATA signal, thereby enabling the power consumption mode of the voltage stabilizing module 110 to be adjusted to the high power consumption mode more quickly to avoid affecting the normal operation of the functional module 120.
[0084] For example, Figure 5As shown, in the control circuit 100 of the RF front-end module, the power supply voltage VIO supplies power to a voltage stabilizing module 110, such as an LDO module. The voltage stabilizing module 110 outputs a stable voltage to power a functional module 120, such as a MIPI module. When the functional module is operating, the voltage stabilizing module 110, such as the LDO module, needs to operate in a high-power mode to ensure the performance of the functional module. When the functional module 120 is not operating, the voltage stabilizing module 110, such as the LDO module, can operate in a low-power mode to reduce power consumption.
[0085] Please refer to Figure 6 , Figure 6 A circuit diagram of a control circuit of another RF front-end module provided in an embodiment of the present application.
[0086] like Figure 6 As shown, the control circuit 200 includes a voltage stabilizing module 210 , a functional module 220 and a control module 230 .
[0087] The voltage stabilization module 210 is used to receive and stabilize the power supply voltage VIO. The functional module 220 is connected to the voltage stabilization module 210 and is used to receive an external input signal and operate based on the input signal and the stabilized power supply voltage VIO. The control module 230 is connected to the voltage stabilization module 210 and the functional module 220.
[0088] When the voltage stabilizing module 210 is in the second power consumption mode, the control module 230 adjusts the power consumption mode of the voltage stabilizing module 210 to the first power consumption mode upon detecting at least one rising edge and / or at least one falling edge in the input signal.
[0089] Among them, when the voltage stabilizing module 210 is in the first power consumption mode, the control module 230 adjusts the power consumption mode of the voltage stabilizing module 210 to the second power consumption mode when it determines that the level of the input signal has not changed within the set time, or when it determines that the code value of the preset number of bits in the status register of the functional module 220 has changed.
[0090] It should be noted that the output voltage of the voltage stabilizing module 210 in the first power consumption mode and the second power consumption mode can be the same, and the output power of the voltage stabilizing module 210 in the first power consumption mode can be higher than the output power of the voltage stabilizing module 210 in the second power consumption mode. The first power consumption mode can correspond to a normal operating mode of the voltage stabilizing module 210, and the second power consumption mode can correspond to a low power consumption operating mode of the voltage stabilizing module 210.
[0091] When the voltage stabilizing module 210 is in the first power consumption mode and the functional module 220 switches to the sleep state, the power consumption required for the voltage stabilizing module 210 is relatively low. The control module 230 can adjust the power consumption mode of the voltage stabilizing module 210 to a second power consumption mode with lower output power. At this time, the power consumption generated by the voltage stabilizing module 210 will be reduced, thereby reducing the overall power consumption of the control circuit 200.
[0092] When the voltage stabilizing module 210 is in the second power consumption mode and the functional module 220 switches to the working state, the power consumption required of the voltage stabilizing module 210 is higher. The control module 230 can adjust the power consumption mode of the voltage stabilizing module 210 to the first power consumption mode with higher output power, thereby ensuring the normal operation of the functional module 220. When determining that the functional module 220 switches from the sleep state to the working state, compared to determining the switching of the working state based on the code value change of the status register, the switching of the working state of the functional module 220 can be determined more quickly based on at least one rising edge and / or at least one falling edge of the input signal (such as the CLK signal and / or the DATA signal), thereby more quickly adjusting the power consumption mode of the voltage stabilizing module 210 to the high power consumption mode, so that the working state of the functional module 220 can be stabilized more quickly.
[0093] The output voltage of the voltage stabilizing module 210 can be the same in the first power consumption mode and the second power consumption mode. This allows the supply voltage of the functional module 220 to remain stable even when the power consumption mode of the voltage stabilizing module 210 is adjusted, thus preventing the adjustment of the power consumption mode of the voltage stabilizing module 210 from affecting the power supply state of the functional module 120. Thus, when the functional module 220 switches from the sleep state to the working state, there is no need to wait for the supply voltage (i.e., the output voltage of the voltage stabilizing module 210) to be re-established, thereby speeding up the time it takes for the functional module 220 to complete the state switch.
[0094] It should be noted that those skilled in the art can clearly understand that, for the sake of convenience and conciseness of description, the specific working process of the control circuit 200 of the above-mentioned RF front-end module can refer to the corresponding process in the embodiment of the control circuit 100 of the above-mentioned RF front-end module, and will not be repeated here.
[0095] Please refer to Figure 7 , Figure 7 A schematic block diagram of a control chip of a radio frequency front-end module provided in an embodiment of the present application.
[0096] like Figure 7 As shown, the control chip 300 of the RF front-end module includes a control circuit 310 of the RF front-end module.
[0097] Among them, the control chip 310 can interact with the main devices such as the transceiver in the RF terminal through the MIPI RFFE protocol interface to receive input signals, and generate control signals for each device in the RF front-end module based on the input signals, so that multiple devices in the RF front-end module can work in coordination.
[0098] For example, the control chip 410 of the RF front-end module can be connected to various amplifiers (power amplifiers and / or low-noise amplifiers) and RF switches in the RF front-end module 400, thereby controlling the operating status and operating mode of each amplifier and controlling the on / off of each switch branch in the RF switch. In some cases, the control chip 410 can also provide overcurrent protection, overvoltage protection, overtemperature protection, and other functions, which will not be further described here.
[0099] The control circuit 310 of the RF front-end module may be the control circuit 100 of the RF front-end module or the control circuit 200 of the RF front-end module shown in the embodiment of the present application.
[0100] The control circuit 310 may include a voltage stabilization module, a functional module, and a control module. The control circuit 310 can adjust the power consumption mode of the voltage stabilization module based on the operating state of the functional module. Therefore, by reducing the power consumption of the voltage stabilization module, the power consumption of the control circuit can be reduced, thereby reducing the power consumption of the control chip 300.
[0101] It can be understood that the beneficial effects that can be achieved by the control chip 300 of the RF front-end module provided in the embodiment of the present application can be referred to the beneficial effects of the control circuit 100 of the RF front-end module or the control circuit 200 of the RF front-end module in the corresponding embodiments provided above, and will not be repeated here.
[0102] Please refer to Figure 8 , Figure 8 A schematic block diagram of a radio frequency front-end module provided in an embodiment of the present application.
[0103] like Figure 8 As shown, the RF front-end module 400 includes a control chip 410. The control chip 410 may be the control chip 300 of the RF front-end module shown in the embodiment of the present application.
[0104] In some embodiments, an RF front-end module (RFFEM) can be a component that integrates two or more discrete components, such as an RF switch, a low-noise amplifier, a filter, a duplexer, a power amplifier, and a transformer, into a single module. This improves the module's integration and hardware performance while miniaturizing its size. Specifically, RFFEMs can be used in 4G and 5G communication devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches. These devices are also referred to as RF terminals.
[0105] With the diversification of wireless device functions (such as 5G, satellite communications, AIoT) and the trend of terminal miniaturization, the power consumption control of RF front-end modules is becoming increasingly strict. The technical solution provided in this application can provide a control circuit, control chip and RF front-end module of an RF front-end module, which can effectively reduce the power consumption of the control circuit, control chip and RF front-end module, thereby better meeting the needs of wireless device diversification and terminal miniaturization.
[0106] It can be understood that the beneficial effects that can be achieved by the RF front-end module 400 provided in the embodiment of the present application can refer to the beneficial effects of the control circuit 100 of the RF front-end module or the control circuit 200 of the RF front-end module in the corresponding embodiment provided above, and will not be repeated here.
[0107] The embodiments of the present application are described in detail above in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, but the present application is not limited to the above embodiments. Various changes can be made within the scope of knowledge possessed by ordinary technicians in the relevant technical field without departing from the purpose of the present application.
Claims
1. A control circuit of a radio frequency front-end module, characterized in that: The control circuit includes a voltage stabilizing module, a functional module and a control module; The voltage stabilizing module is used to receive a power supply voltage and stabilize the power supply voltage; The functional module is connected to the voltage stabilizing module, and is used to receive an input signal sent from the outside, and operate based on the input signal and the stabilized power supply voltage; The control module is connected to the voltage stabilizing module and the functional module, and is used to detect the conversion of the working state of the functional module and adjust the power consumption mode of the voltage stabilizing module according to the conversion of the working state of the functional module.
2. The control circuit according to claim 1, wherein: The power consumption mode includes a first power consumption mode and a second power consumption mode; The output voltage of the voltage stabilizing module in the first power consumption mode is the same as that in the second power consumption mode, and the output power of the voltage stabilizing module in the first power consumption mode is higher than the output power of the voltage stabilizing module in the second power consumption mode.
3. The control circuit according to claim 2, characterized in that: The control module is further configured to adjust the power consumption mode of the voltage stabilizing module to the first power consumption mode when detecting that the functional module switches from the sleep state to the working state; and / or The control module is further configured to adjust the power consumption mode of the voltage stabilizing module to the second power consumption mode when detecting that the functional module switches from the working state to the dormant state.
4. The control circuit according to claim 1, wherein: The control module is further configured to detect level changes of the input signal and determine the conversion of the working state of the functional module according to the level changes of the input signal; wherein the input signal includes a clock signal and / or a data signal.
5. The control circuit according to claim 4, characterized in that: The control module is further configured to determine that the functional module switches from the sleep state to the working state when at least one rising edge and / or at least one falling edge of the input signal is detected; and / or The control module is further configured to determine that the functional module switches from the working state to the dormant state when it is determined that the level of the input signal does not change within a set time.
6. The control circuit according to claim 5, characterized in that: The set time includes a first set time and a second set time, and the first set time is smaller than the second set time; The control module is further configured to determine that the functional module switches from the working state to the dormant state when it is determined that the clock signal has no level change within a first set time; and / or The control module is further configured to determine that the functional module switches from the working state to the dormant state when it is determined that the data signal has no level change within a second set time.
7. The control circuit according to claim 5, characterized in that: The control module is further configured to determine that the functional module switches from a working state to a dormant state when it is determined that the clock signal does not change level within a first set time, and the first set time is greater than or equal to 1.5 μs; and / or The control module is further configured to determine that the functional module switches from a working state to a dormant state when it is determined that the data signal has no level change within a second set time, and the second set time is greater than or equal to 10 μs.
8. The control circuit according to claim 1, wherein: The functional module includes a MIPI module; The control module is further configured to detect a change in a code value of a preset number of bits in a status register of the MIPI module, and determine, based on the change in the code value, that the functional module switches from a working state to a dormant state.
9. The control circuit according to claim 1, wherein: The voltage stabilizing module includes a low-dropout linear regulator (LDO) module.
10. The control circuit according to claim 9, characterized in that: The LDO module includes an operational amplifier, a transistor, a first resistor, and a second resistor; the output end of the operational amplifier is connected to the first end of the transistor, the second end of the transistor is used to input the power supply voltage, the third end of the transistor is grounded through the first resistor and the second resistor in sequence, the connection node between the first resistor and the second resistor is connected to the first input end of the operational amplifier, and the second input end of the operational amplifier is used to input a reference voltage; The control module is further configured to: increase the bias current of the operational amplifier when detecting that the functional module switches from the sleep state to the working state, and reduce the bias current of the operational amplifier when detecting that the functional module switches from the working state to the sleep state; and / or The control module is further configured to: reduce the resistance of the first resistor and the resistance of the second resistor when detecting that the functional module switches from a sleep state to a working state; and increase the resistance of the first resistor and the resistance of the second resistor when detecting that the functional module switches from a working state to a sleep state.
11. The control circuit according to claim 10, characterized in that: When the resistance values of the first resistor and the second resistor are reduced or increased, the resistance ratio thereof remains unchanged.
12. The control circuit according to claim 1, wherein: The control module includes a trigger and a control unit, The trigger is used to output a corresponding trigger signal when the working state of the functional module changes; The control unit is configured to generate a control signal for controlling a power consumption mode of the voltage stabilizing module according to the trigger signal.
13. A control circuit of a radio frequency front-end module, characterized in that: The control circuit includes a voltage stabilizing module, a functional module and a control module; The voltage stabilizing module is used to receive a power supply voltage and stabilize the power supply voltage; The functional module is connected to the voltage stabilizing module, and is used to receive an input signal sent from the outside, and operate based on the input signal and the stabilized power supply voltage; The control module is connected to the voltage stabilizing module and the functional module; When the voltage stabilizing module is in the second power consumption mode, the control module adjusts the power consumption mode of the voltage stabilizing module to the first power consumption mode when detecting at least one rising edge and / or at least one falling edge of the input signal; When the voltage stabilizing module is in the first power consumption mode, the control module adjusts the power consumption mode of the voltage stabilizing module to the second power consumption mode when it determines that the level of the input signal has not changed within the set time, or when it determines that the code value of a preset number of bits in the status register of the functional module has changed.
14. A control chip for a radio frequency front-end module, characterized in that: The method comprises the control circuit according to any one of claims 1 to 13.
15. A radio frequency front-end module, characterized in that: Comprising the control chip as claimed in claim 14.