Electronic device and control method thereof

Abstract

An electronic device comprises a power amplifier and a control circuit. The power amplifier can be powered by a supply potential. The control circuit can generate a supply potential, wherein the control circuit can determine an upper limit potential and a lower limit potential according to action information and content information. If the supply potential is higher than the upper limit potential, the control circuit updates and lowers the supply potential. If the supply potential is lower than the lower limit potential, the control circuit updates and increases the supply potential.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to an electronic device, and in particular, to an electronic device and a control method thereof. BACKGROUND

[0002] In the field of wireless communication, if the supply voltage of a power amplifier is a fixed value, it often causes additional power consumption and reduces the overall operating efficiency. Therefore, a new solution is needed to overcome the difficulties faced by the prior art. SUMMARY

[0003] In a preferred embodiment, the present application provides an electronic device, comprising: a power amplifier, powered by a supply potential; and a control circuit, generating the supply potential, wherein the control circuit further determines an upper limit potential and a lower limit potential according to a motion information and a content information; wherein if the supply potential is higher than the upper limit potential, the control circuit will update and lower the supply potential; wherein if the supply potential is lower than the lower limit potential, the control circuit will update and raise the supply potential.

[0004] In some embodiments, the electronic device further comprises: a sensor, for monitoring a user to obtain a response signal.

[0005] In some embodiments, the sensor is a nine-axis sensor arranged on the user.

[0006] In some embodiments, the control circuit further performs a smoothing procedure on the response signal to generate a smoothed signal, and the motion information includes the smoothed signal.

[0007] In some embodiments, the electronic device further comprises: a head-mounted display, analyzing an image information to generate the content information.

[0008] In some embodiments, the content information includes a first sampling signal and a second sampling signal.

[0009] In some embodiments, the head-mounted display further samples the image information based on a first time period to generate the first sampling signal, and samples the image information based on a second time period to generate the second sampling signal.

[0010] In some embodiments, the second time period is different from the first time period.

[0011] In some embodiments, the control circuit further performs a weighted average procedure on the motion information and the content information to calculate a center potential.

[0012] In some embodiments, the control circuit further determines the upper limit voltage by adding a difference voltage to the center voltage, and determines the lower limit voltage by subtracting the difference voltage from the center voltage.

[0013] In some embodiments, the electronic device sleeve is used in a human body communication transceiver module.

[0014] In some embodiments, an electrode element in the human body communication transceiver module is a human body communication electrode in contact with a part of a human body.

[0015] In some embodiments, an operating frequency of the human body communication transceiver module is between 2 MHz and 102 MHz.

[0016] In another preferred embodiment, the present application provides a control method, comprising the following steps: providing a power amplifier and a control circuit, wherein the power amplifier is powered by a supply voltage; generating the supply voltage by a control circuit; determining an upper limit voltage and a lower limit voltage according to an action information and a content information by the control circuit; updating and lowering the supply voltage by the control circuit if the supply voltage is higher than the upper limit voltage; and updating and raising the supply voltage by the control circuit if the supply voltage is lower than the lower limit voltage.

[0017] In some embodiments, the control method further comprises: monitoring a user by a sensor to obtain a response signal.

[0018] In some embodiments, the control method further comprises: performing a smoothing process on the response signal by the control circuit to generate a smoothed signal, wherein the action information comprises the smoothed signal.

[0019] In some embodiments, the control method further comprises: analyzing an image information by a head-mounted display to generate the content information.

[0020] In some embodiments, the control method further comprises: sampling the image information based on a first time period by the head-mounted display to generate a first sampling signal; and sampling the image information based on a second time period by the head-mounted display to generate a second sampling signal.

[0021] In some embodiments, the control method further comprises: performing a weighted average process on the action information and the content information by the control circuit to calculate a center voltage.

[0022] In some embodiments, the control method further comprises: adding, by the control circuit, the center potential by a difference potential to determine the upper limit potential; and subtracting, by the control circuit, the center potential by the difference potential to determine the lower limit potential. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0023] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present application is shown.

[0024] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present application is shown.

[0025] Figure 3A A potential waveform diagram of a response signal according to an embodiment of the present application is shown.

[0026] Figure 3B A potential waveform diagram of a smoothing signal according to an embodiment of the present application is shown.

[0027] Figure 4 A potential waveform diagram of image information according to an embodiment of the present application is shown.

[0028] Figure 5 A potential waveform diagram of a supply potential, an upper limit potential, and a lower limit potential according to an embodiment of the present application is shown.

[0029] Figure 6 A flowchart of a control method according to an embodiment of the present application is shown.

[0030] LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

[0031] 100, 200: electronic device

[0032] 110, 210: power amplifier

[0033] 120, 220: control circuit

[0034] 222: smoothing module

[0035] 224: averaging module

[0036] 226: calculation module

[0037] 230: sensor

[0038] 240: head-mounted display

[0039] HB: human body

[0040] IG: image information

[0041] IM: motion information

[0042] IN: content information

[0043] S610, S620, S630, S640, S650, S660, S670, S680: Steps

[0044] SL1: first sampling signal

[0045] SL2: Second sampling signal

[0046] SR: Response signal

[0047] ST: Smooth signal

[0048] T1: First time period

[0049] T2: Second time period

[0050] VC: Central potential

[0051] VD: differential potential

[0052] VH: Upper limit potential

[0053] VL: lower limit potential

[0054] VP: Supply potential DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0055] In order to make the objects, features and advantages of the present invention more clearly understood, specific embodiments of the present invention are given below and described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0056] Certain terms are used throughout the specification and claims to refer to specific components. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that hardware manufacturers may use different terms to refer to the same component. This specification and claims do not distinguish components based on differences in name, but rather on differences in their functionality. The words "include" and "comprising" used throughout the specification and claims are open-ended and should be interpreted as meaning "including, but not limited to." The word "substantially" means that within an acceptable error range, those skilled in the art can solve the technical problem and achieve the basic technical effect. Furthermore, the term "coupled" in this specification includes any direct and indirect electrical connection means. Therefore, if a first device is described as being coupled to a second device, this means that the first device can be directly electrically connected to the second device, or indirectly electrically connected to the second device via other devices or connection means.

[0057] The following detailed description is presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the application. Various modifications to the embodiments described herein will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein can be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit or scope of the application. For the purposes of explanation and illustration, specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding. However, it will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art that the present application can be practiced without specific details such as those described herein. Furthermore, well-known structures and functions have not been shown or described in detail in order to avoid obscuring the application. Although the drawings represent embodiments of the application, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale and that a dimension of one part can not relate to another part to correct scale. The same reference numbers in different drawings identify the same components throughout the several disclosed embodiments. While the components of the application can be manufactured in many different configurations, the application is shown in the drawings in the following two embodiments.

[0058] In addition, spatially relative terms are used herein for ease of description to illustrate different positions and orientations of a device in use or operation. The terms "below", "lower", "down", "up", "upper", and the like, are used in relation to the exemplary drawings and are intended to encompass different positions and orientations of a device in use or operation. The device can be turned over (rotated 90 degrees or other orientations) and the spatially relative terms used herein are intended to encompass such changes in position or orientation.

[0059] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of an electronic device 100 according to an embodiment of the present application is shown. The electronic device 100 can be used in a virtual reality (VR) or augmented reality (AR) related device. Alternatively, the electronic device 100 can also be used in a human body communication (HBC) transceiver module. For example, an electrode element in the HBC transceiver module can be a HBC electrode that is in contact with a part of a human body. The operational frequency of the HBC transceiver module can be between 2 MHz and 102 MHz, but is not limited thereto. Figure 1 In an embodiment, the electronic device 100 includes at least a power amplifier 110 and a control circuit 120. It should be understood that although the power amplifier 110 and the control circuit 120 are not shown in Figure 1The electronic device 100 can further include other elements, such as a signal source, an antenna element, a radio frequency (RF) front-end circuit, a touch control panel, a battery, or a power supply module.

[0060] The power amplifier 110 can be powered by a supply potential VP. The control circuit 120 can generate the supply potential VP, wherein the control circuit 120 can determine an upper limit potential VH and a lower limit potential VL according to an activity information IM and a content information IN. For example, the activity information IM can be related to a response or a movement of a user, and the content information IN can be related to a picture or a video, but not limited thereto. Then, the control circuit 120 can compare the supply potential VP with the upper limit potential VH and the lower limit potential VL. For example, if the supply potential VP is higher than the upper limit potential VH, the control circuit 120 can update and lower the supply potential VP; otherwise, if the supply potential VP is lower than the lower limit potential VL, the control circuit 120 can update and raise the supply potential VP.

[0061] According to the design of the present application, the control circuit 120 can properly adjust the supply potential VP of the power amplifier 110, so as to maintain the supply potential VP between the upper limit potential VH and the lower limit potential VL. Therefore, the electronic device 100 can provide the technical effect similar to envelope tracking. According to actual measurement results, the overall power consumption of the electronic device 100 of the present application can be greatly improved.

[0062] The following embodiments will introduce various configurations and detailed structural features of the electronic device 100. It must be understood that these drawings and descriptions are only examples and are not intended to limit the present application.

[0063] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of an electronic device 200 according to an embodiment of the present application is shown. Figure 2 And Figure 1 Similarly, in the above embodiments, the electronic device 100 can be a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a smart watch, or a smart television, but not limited thereto. Figure 2In the embodiment, in addition to a power amplifier 210 and a control circuit 220, the electronic device 200 may further include a sensor 230 and a head-mounted display (HMD) 240. Similarly, the power amplifier 210 may be powered by a supply voltage VP, which may be generated by the control circuit 220. Furthermore, the control circuit 220 may determine an upper limit voltage VH and a lower limit voltage VL based on motion information IM and content information IN.

[0064] The sensor 230 can be used to monitor the status of a user HB to obtain a response signal SR. For example, the response signal SR may include a sensed potential waveform related to a displacement, rotation, or any other body motion of the user HB. In some embodiments, the sensor 230 may be a 9-axis sensor disposed on the user HB. The sensor 230 may include a triaxial accelerometer, a triaxial gyroscope, and a triaxial magnetometer (not shown), but is not limited thereto.

[0065] The control circuit 220 can be implemented by a microcontroller unit (MCU). In some embodiments, the control circuit 220 includes a smoothing module 222. The smoothing module 222 of the control circuit 220 can perform a smoothing process on the response signal SR to generate a smoothed signal ST. The aforementioned action information IM may include the smoothed signal ST.

[0066] Figure 3A The potential waveform of the response signal SR according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1 , wherein the horizontal axis represents time (ms) and the vertical axis represents the corresponding normalized value (Normalized Value). Figure 3A As shown, the response signal SR belongs to an original data signal, which generally includes more high-frequency components.

[0067] Figure 3B The potential waveform of the smoothed signal ST according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1 , wherein the horizontal axis represents time (ms) and the vertical axis represents the corresponding normalized value. Figure 3BAs shown, the high frequency components and other noises in the smoothed signal ST have been filtered out, which helps to improve the accuracy of the subsequent signal analysis. In some embodiments, the smoothing module 222 of the control circuit 220 can be implemented by a low-pass filter or a wavelet transformer. For example, the aforementioned wavelet transformer can be used to perform a wavelet transforming process of the fourth or fifth order.

[0068] The head-mounted display 240 can be worn by the user HB. The head-mounted display 240 can analyze an image information IG to generate the content information IN. For example, the image information IG can include a single-dimensional potential waveform, which is about a two-dimensional image observed by the user HB in the head-mounted display 240. That is, the head-mounted display 240 can previously convert the aforementioned two-dimensional image into the image information IG. In some embodiments, the image information IG can be used to predict the behavior of the user HB. For example, if the aforementioned two-dimensional image corresponds to an earthquake scene at a specific time point, the image information IG can also have a peak voltage at the specific time point, which represents that the user HB can have a violent action.

[0069] Figure 4 A potential waveform graph of the image information IG according to an embodiment of the present application is shown, in which the horizontal axis represents time (ms) and the vertical axis represents the corresponding normalized value. Please refer to Figure 2 、 4 . In detail, the head-mounted display 240 can sample the image information IG based on a first time period T1 to generate a first sampling signal SL1, and can sample the image information IG based on a second time period T2 to generate a second sampling signal SL2, in which the aforementioned content information IN can include the first sampling signal SL1 and the second sampling signal SL2. It must be noted that the second time period T2 is different from the first time period T1. For example, the first time period T1 can be about 20 ms, and the second time period T2 can be about 5 ms, but not only limited to this. According to the actual measurement results, if a sampling process is performed on the image information IG by using different time periods, meaningless short-term fluctuations and high-frequency noises can be effectively suppressed, and the overall operation efficiency can be further improved. In some embodiments, the aforementioned sampling process can be performed by using a normalized amplitude maximum (NAM) function, but not only limited to this.

[0070] In some embodiments, the control circuit 220 further comprises an averaging module 224 and a calculating module 226. It must be understood that each module of the control circuit 220 can be implemented by a hardware circuit, a software program, or a combination thereof. Generally, the averaging module 224 of the control circuit 220 can perform a weighted averaging process on the motion information IM and the content information IN to calculate a center potential VC. Then, the calculating module 226 of the control circuit 220 can determine the upper limit potential VH by adding a difference potential VD to the center potential VC, and can further determine the lower limit potential VL by subtracting the difference potential VD from the center potential VC.

[0071] In some embodiments, the control circuit 220 can operate according to the following procedures (1) to (4):

[0072]

[0073] VH = VC + VD (2)

[0074] VL = VC - VD (3)

[0075] VD = K σ (4)

[0076] wherein "VC" represents a level of the center potential VC, "VH" represents a level of the upper limit potential VH, "VL" represents a level of the lower limit potential VL, "VD" represents a level of the difference potential VD, "W1" represents a first weight parameter, "W2" represents a second weight parameter, "SL1" represents a level of the first sampling signal SL1, "SL2" represents a level of the second sampling signal SL2, "ST" represents a level of the smoothing signal ST, "K" represents a specific ratio, and "σ" represents a standard deviation of the center potential VC.

[0077] In some embodiments, the first weight parameter W1 can be between 0 and 1, the second weight parameter W2 can be between 0 and 1, and the specific ratio K can be between 1 and 2. The above ranges of the parameters are derived from multiple experimental results, which help to optimize the overall power consumption of the electronic device 200.

[0078] Figure 5 A potential waveform diagram showing the supply potential VP, the upper limit potential VH, and the lower limit potential VL according to an embodiment of the present application is shown in FIG. 4, wherein the horizontal axis represents time (ms) and the vertical axis represents a corresponding normalized value. According to the embodiment of the present application, the supply potential VP is determined by the first sampling signal SL1, the upper limit potential VH is determined by the center potential VC plus the difference potential VD, and the lower limit potential VL is determined by the center potential VC minus the difference potential VD. Figure 5According to the measurement results, the electronic device 200 can adjust its supply potential VP appropriately so as to maintain it substantially between the upper limit potential VH and the lower limit potential VL to provide a technical efficiency close to envelope tracking.

[0079] Figure 6 A flowchart of the control method according to an embodiment of the present application is shown. First, in step S610, a power amplifier and a control circuit are provided, wherein the power amplifier is powered by a supply potential. In step S620, the supply potential is generated by the control circuit. In step S630, an upper limit potential and a lower limit potential are determined by the control circuit according to an action information and a content information. In step S640, the supply potential is compared with the upper limit potential and the lower limit potential. In step S650, it is judged whether the supply potential is higher than the upper limit potential. If yes, in step S660, the supply potential is updated and lowered by the control circuit. If no, in step S670, it is judged whether the supply potential is lower than the lower limit potential. If yes, in step S680, the supply potential is updated and raised by the control circuit. If no, the procedure of the control method will return to the aforementioned step S650. It must be understood that the above steps do not have to be executed in sequence, but can be executed in any order. Figures 1-5 Each feature of the embodiments of the electronic device and the control method Figure 6 can be applied to the control method of the electronic device and the control method.

[0080] The present application proposes a novel electronic device and control method. Compared with the conventional design, the present application has at least the advantages of improving operation efficiency and reducing overall power consumption, and thus is very suitable for application in various devices.

[0081] It is to be noted that the above-mentioned element parameters are not the limiting conditions of the present application. The designer can adjust these setting values according to different needs. The electronic device and the control method of the present application are not limited to the states shown in the embodiments. The present application can only include any one or more features of any one or more embodiments. In other words, not all the features shown have to be implemented in the electronic device and the control method of the present application. Figures 1-6 Figures 1-6

[0082] ​​The method of the present application, or specific aspects or portions thereof, can exist in a form of program code. The program code can be embodied in a tangible medium, such as a floppy disk, a compact disk, a hard disk, or any other machine readable (e.g., computer readable) storage medium, or not limited to an external form of computer program product, wherein the program code, when loaded and executed by a machine, such as a computer, becomes an apparatus for participating in the present application. The program code can also be transmitted over some transmission medium, such as electrical wiring or cable, fiber optics, or any other transmission form, wherein the program code, when received by a machine, such as a computer, loaded, and executed, becomes an apparatus for participating in the present application. When implemented in a general purpose processing unit, the program code combines with the processing unit to provide a unique apparatus that operates analogously to application specific logic circuits.

[0083] The ordinal numbers, such as "first", "second", "third", etc., in the present specification and claims are merely for the purpose of distinguishing between two or more components with the same name and do not imply any order or sequence.

[0084] Although the present application has been disclosed with reference to the preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the scope of the application. Any modification and change, which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the application, will be understood by those skilled in the art. Therefore, the scope of the present application should be defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising: a power amplifier powered by a supply potential; as well as a control circuit for generating the supply potential, wherein the control circuit further determines an upper limit potential and a lower limit potential according to action information and content information; If the supply potential is higher than the upper limit potential, the control circuit will update and lower the supply potential; If the supply potential is lower than the lower limit potential, the control circuit will update and increase the supply potential.

2. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: A sensor is used to monitor a user to obtain a response signal. 3 . The electronic device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the sensor is a nine-axis sensor disposed on the user. 4 . The electronic device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the control circuit further performs a smoothing process on the response signal to generate a smoothed signal, and the action information includes the smoothed signal.

5. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: A head-mounted display analyzes image information to generate the content information. 6 . The electronic device as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the content information comprises a first sampling signal and a second sampling signal. 7 . The electronic device as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the head mounted display further samples the image information based on a first time period to generate the first sampling signal, and samples the image information based on a second time period to generate the second sampling signal. The electronic device as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the second time period is different from the first time period. 9 . The electronic device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the control circuit further performs a weighted averaging process on the action information and the content information to calculate a center potential. 10 . The electronic device as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the control circuit further determines the upper limit potential by adding a differential potential to the center potential, and determines the lower limit potential by subtracting the differential potential from the center potential.

11. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic device is used in a human body communication transceiver module. 12 . The electronic device as claimed in claim 11 , wherein an electrode element in the human body communication transceiver module is a human body communication electrode in contact with a human body part. 13 . The electronic device as claimed in claim 11 , wherein an operating frequency of the human body communication transceiver module is between 2 MHz and 102 MHz.

14. A control method comprising the following steps: Providing a power amplifier and a control circuit, wherein the power amplifier is powered by a supply potential; generating the supply potential through a control circuit; By means of the control circuit, an upper limit potential and a lower limit potential are determined according to action information and content information; If the supply potential is higher than the upper limit potential, the supply potential is updated and lowered through the control circuit; as well as If the supply potential is lower than the lower limit potential, the supply potential is updated and increased through the control circuit.

15. The control method according to claim 14, further comprising: A sensor is used to monitor a user to obtain a response signal. 16 . The control method as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the sensor is a nine-axis sensor disposed on the user.

17. The control method according to claim 15, further comprising: A smoothing process is performed on the response signal through the control circuit to generate a smoothed signal, wherein the action information includes the smoothed signal.

18. The control method according to claim 14, further comprising: The content information is generated by analyzing image information through a head-mounted display.

19. The control method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the content information comprises a first sampling signal and a second sampling signal.

20. The control method according to claim 19, further comprising: The head mounted display samples the image information based on a first time period to generate the first sampling signal; as well as The image information is sampled via the head mounted display based on a second time period to generate the second sampling signal. The control method of claim 20 , wherein the second time period is different from the first time period.

22. The control method according to claim 14, further comprising: The control circuit performs a weighted average process on the action information and the content information to calculate a central potential.

23. The control method according to claim 22, further comprising: By means of the control circuit, a difference potential is added to the center potential to determine the upper limit potential; as well as The control circuit subtracts the difference potential from the center potential to determine the lower limit potential.

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