Power control method and device for communication chip

Abstract

The invention provides a power control method and device for a communication chip, and the method comprises the steps: determining a power control signal, the power control signal is used for adjusting the power supply power of a radio frequency front-end module, the power supply power has a corresponding relation with the transmitting power of at least one signal frame, and the communication chip comprises the radio frequency front-end module; sending the power control signal; and transmitting the at least one signal frame according to the transmitting power of the at least one signal frame. The power control method of the communication chip provided by the invention can reduce the power consumption of the communication chip.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of communication technology, specifically to a power control method and apparatus for a communication chip. Background Technology

[0002] In modern smart devices and Internet of Things (IoT) applications, communication chips enable devices to connect to the Internet via wireless local area networks, allowing various devices to communicate with each other, operate automatically, and realize intelligent application scenarios.

[0003] Currently, communication chips are used in devices for increasingly longer periods of time, such as in gaming, video, and various live streaming scenarios, becoming one of the main causes of power consumption. Therefore, how to reduce the power consumption of communication chips in devices is a technical problem that urgently needs to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides a power control method and apparatus for a communication chip, which can reduce the power consumption of the communication chip.

[0005] In a first aspect, a power control method for a communication chip is provided. The method includes: determining a power control signal, the power control signal being used to adjust the power supply of a radio frequency front-end module, the power supply corresponding to the transmission power of at least one signal frame, the communication chip including the radio frequency front-end module; transmitting the power control signal; and transmitting the at least one signal frame according to the transmission power of the at least one signal frame.

[0006] In existing technologies, the power supply of the RF front-end module remains constant, which leads to wasted power consumption in the communication chip when the transmission power of the signal frame is low. This application provides a power control method for a communication chip. The WiFi chip can adjust the power supply of the RF front-end module through a power control signal. When the transmission power of the signal frame is low, the power supply of the RF front-end module should also be reduced accordingly, thereby lowering the power consumption of the communication chip.

[0007] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, determining the power control signal includes: determining the power control signal based on the transmit power of the at least one signal frame, the transmit rate of the at least one signal frame, or the service type of the at least one signal frame.

[0008] The communication chip includes a wireless fidelity (WiFi) chip, a power controller, and an RF front-end module. The WiFi chip can determine the power control signal based on the transmit power, transmit rate, or service type of the signal frame to be transmitted.

[0009] The transmission rate of a signal frame refers to the amount of data transmitted per unit time, usually measured in bits per second (bps). The transmission power of a signal frame refers to the energy output per unit time, usually measured in watts (W) or decibels per milliwatt (dBm).

[0010] For example, the service types of signal frames include data frames, management frames, and control frames, and the power control signals determined by different service types can adjust the power supply of the RF front-end module to different levels.

[0011] In the power control method for the communication chip provided in this application, the WiFi chip can determine the power control signal based on the transmission power, transmission rate, or service type of the signal frame to be transmitted, and then adjust the power supply of the radio frequency front-end module to different levels to adapt to different transmission power, transmission rate, or service type, thereby reducing the power consumption of the communication chip.

[0012] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the communication chip further includes a power controller, the power control signal includes a first voltage control signal, and sending the power control signal includes: sending the first voltage control signal to the power controller, the first voltage control signal being used to instruct the power controller to output a first supply voltage to the radio frequency front-end module, the first supply voltage having a corresponding relationship with the transmission power of the at least one signal frame.

[0013] The power controller supplies power to the RF front-end module, which amplifies the signal frames sent by the WiFi chip.

[0014] The first supply voltage is proportional to the transmission power of at least one signal frame. That is, when the transmission power of the signal frame of the WiFi chip is low, the first supply voltage is low; when the transmission power of the signal frame of the WiFi chip is high, the first supply voltage is high.

[0015] For example, the correspondence between the first supply voltage and the transmission power of at least one signal frame can be a preset mapping relationship, that is, different ranges of transmission power correspond to different first supply voltages, and transmission power within the same range corresponds to the same first supply voltage. The correspondence between the first supply voltage and the transmission power of at least one signal frame can also be a functional relationship, such as a linear function, a quadratic function, or a piecewise function. This application does not limit the specific correspondence between the first supply voltage and the transmission power.

[0016] In the power control method for the communication chip provided in this application, the WiFi chip can send a first voltage control signal to the power controller, so that the power controller provides a larger voltage when the transmission power of the signal frame is large, and provides a smaller voltage when the transmission power of the signal frame is small, thereby reducing the power consumption of the communication chip.

[0017] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the method further includes: after transmitting the at least one signal frame, sending a second voltage control signal to the power controller, the second voltage control signal being used to instruct the power controller to output a preset second supply voltage to the radio frequency front-end module.

[0018] It should be understood that the second power supply voltage is a preset default power supply voltage. After sending at least one signal frame, the WiFi chip may not have any signal frames to transmit in the future or may not be able to quickly determine the transmission power of the signal frames to be sent in the future. Therefore, it sends a second voltage control signal to the power controller to instruct the power controller to provide the default power supply voltage to the RF front-end module.

[0019] In the power control method for the communication chip provided in this application, after the WiFi chip finishes sending at least one signal frame, it sends a second voltage control signal to the power controller, instructing the power controller to provide a default power supply voltage for the RF front-end module, thereby meeting the power supply requirements of the RF front-end module and ensuring its normal operation.

[0020] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the power controller includes a direct current to direct current buck converter (DC-DC Buck) or a low dropout regulator (LDO).

[0021] In the power control method for the communication chip provided in this application, a DC-DC Buck or LDO can be used as a power controller to achieve an adjustable power supply voltage.

[0022] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, sending the first voltage control signal to the power controller includes: sending the first voltage control signal to the power controller via a mobile industry processor interface (MIPI) or a general-purpose input output (GPIO) interface.

[0023] It should be understood that, in addition to MIPI or GPIO interfaces, WiFi chips can also send the first voltage control signal or the second voltage control signal to the power controller through other wired control methods, and the specific sending method should not be construed as a limitation of this application.

[0024] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the power control signal includes a first current control signal, and sending the power control signal includes: sending the first current control signal to the radio frequency front-end module, wherein the first current control signal is used to adjust the bias current of the radio frequency front-end module, and the bias current has a corresponding relationship with the transmit power of the at least one signal frame.

[0025] Power = Voltage × Current. WiFi chips can adjust the power supply of the RF front-end module by adjusting the supply voltage or bias current of the RF front-end module.

[0026] The bias current of the RF front-end module is proportional to the transmit power of at least one signal frame. That is, when the transmit power of the signal frame of the WiFi chip is low, the bias current of the RF front-end module is low; when the transmit power of the signal frame of the WiFi chip is high, the bias current of the RF front-end module is high.

[0027] For example, the correspondence between the bias current of the RF front-end module and the transmit power of at least one signal frame can be a preset mapping relationship, that is, different ranges of transmit power correspond to different bias currents, and transmit power within the same range corresponds to the same bias current. The correspondence between the bias current of the RF front-end module and the transmit power of at least one signal frame can also be a functional relationship, such as a linear function, a quadratic function, or a piecewise function. This application does not limit the specific correspondence between the bias current and transmit power of the RF front-end module.

[0028] For example, the WiFi chip can send a first current control signal to the power management unit (PMU) in the radio frequency front-end module to adjust the bias current of the radio frequency front-end module.

[0029] In the power control method for the communication chip provided in this application, the WiFi chip can send a first current control signal to the radio frequency front-end module, so that the radio frequency front-end module adjusts its current to a larger bias current when the transmission power of the signal frame is large, and adjusts its current to a smaller bias current when the transmission power of the signal frame is small, thereby reducing the power consumption of the communication chip.

[0030] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the power controller in the communication chip is able to output a minimum supply voltage greater than a preset threshold to the radio frequency front-end module.

[0031] In one possible implementation scenario, when the minimum supply voltage that the power controller can output to the RF front-end module is greater than a preset threshold, that is, when the supply voltage of the RF front-end module is already small enough that the supply power of the RF front-end module cannot be reduced by adjusting the supply voltage of the RF front-end module, the supply power of the RF front-end module can be reduced by further reducing the bias current of the RF front-end module.

[0032] The power control method for the communication chip provided in this application can reduce the power supply power of the RF front-end module by first adjusting the supply voltage of the RF front-end module and then adjusting the bias current of the RF front-end module, which can significantly reduce the power consumption of the communication chip.

[0033] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the method further includes: after transmitting the at least one signal frame, sending a second current control signal to the radio frequency front-end module, the second current control signal being used to control the bias current of the radio frequency front-end module to a preset current value.

[0034] It should be understood that the preset current value is the preset default bias current. After sending at least one signal frame, the WiFi chip may not have any signal frames to transmit in the future or may not be able to quickly determine the transmission power of the signal frames to be sent in the future. Therefore, it sends a second current control signal to the RF front-end module to instruct the RF front-end module to adjust its current to the default bias current.

[0035] In the power control method for the communication chip provided in this application, after the WiFi chip finishes sending at least one signal frame, it sends a second current control signal to the radio frequency front-end module, instructing the radio frequency front-end module to adjust its current to the default bias current, thereby ensuring the normal operation of the radio frequency front-end module.

[0036] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, sending the first current control signal to the radio frequency front-end module includes: sending the first current control signal to the radio frequency front-end module via a serial peripheral interface (SPI) or a synchronous serial interface (SSI).

[0037] It should be understood that, in addition to SPI or SSI, the WiFi chip can also send the first current control signal or the second current control signal to the RF front-end module through other wire control methods, and the specific sending method should not be construed as a limitation of this application.

[0038] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the communication chip further includes a WiFi chip, and the radio frequency front-end module is externally located on the WiFi chip or integrated inside the WiFi chip.

[0039] Radio frequency front-end modules may include power amplifiers (PA), low-noise amplifiers (LNA), radio frequency switches, etc.

[0040] In a second aspect, a computer device is provided for use with a communication chip, the communication chip including a radio frequency front-end module, the device including: a processing module for determining a power control signal, the power control signal being used to adjust the power supply of the radio frequency front-end module, the power supply corresponding to the transmission power of at least one signal frame; a transmitting module for transmitting the power control signal; the transmitting module is further configured to transmit the at least one signal frame according to the transmission power of the at least one signal frame.

[0041] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the processing module is specifically used to: determine the power control signal based on the transmission power of the at least one signal frame, the transmission rate of the at least one signal frame, or the service type of the at least one signal frame.

[0042] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the communication chip further includes a power controller, the power control signal includes a first voltage control signal, and the transmitting module is specifically used to send the first voltage control signal to the power controller. The first voltage control signal is used to instruct the power controller to output a first supply voltage to the radio frequency front-end module, and the first supply voltage has a corresponding relationship with the transmission power of the at least one signal frame.

[0043] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the transmitting module is further configured to: after transmitting the at least one signal frame, send a second voltage control signal to the power controller, the second voltage control signal being used to instruct the power controller to output a preset second power supply voltage to the radio frequency front-end module.

[0044] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the power controller includes a DC-DC Buck or an LDO.

[0045] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the transmitting module is specifically used to transmit the first voltage control signal to the power controller via a MIPI or GPIO interface.

[0046] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the power control signal includes a first current control signal. The transmitting module is specifically used to send the first current control signal to the radio frequency front-end module. The first current control signal is used to adjust the bias current of the radio frequency front-end module. The bias current has a corresponding relationship with the transmit power of the at least one signal frame.

[0047] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the power controller in the communication chip is able to output a minimum supply voltage greater than a preset threshold to the radio frequency front-end module.

[0048] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the transmitting module is further configured to send a second current control signal to the radio frequency front-end module after the transmission of the at least one signal frame is completed, the second current control signal being used to control the bias current of the radio frequency front-end module to a preset current value.

[0049] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the transmitting module is specifically used to transmit the first current control signal to the radio frequency front-end module via SPI or SSI.

[0050] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the communication chip further includes a WiFi chip, and the radio frequency front-end module is external to the WiFi chip or integrated inside the WiFi chip.

[0051] The beneficial effects of the second aspect and any possible implementation of the second aspect correspond to the beneficial effects of the first aspect and any possible implementation of the first aspect, which will not be elaborated further.

[0052] Thirdly, embodiments of this application provide a computer device including a processor for coupling with a memory to read and execute instructions and / or program code in the memory to perform the first aspect or any possible implementation of the first aspect.

[0053] Fourthly, embodiments of this application provide a computer-readable storage medium storing program code that, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to perform the first aspect or any possible implementation thereof.

[0054] Fifthly, embodiments of this application provide a computer program product comprising: computer program code, which, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to perform as described in the first aspect or any possible implementation thereof. Attached Figure Description

[0055] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram illustrating an application scenario of an embodiment of this application.

[0056] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a communication chip provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0057] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of another communication chip provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0058] Figure 4 This is an exemplary flowchart of a power control method for a communication chip provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0059] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of another communication chip provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0060] Figure 6 This is a timing diagram illustrating a power control method for a communication chip provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0061] Figure 7 This is a timing diagram of another power control method for a communication chip provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0062] Figure 8 This is a timing diagram of another power control method for a communication chip provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0063] Figure 9 This is a timing diagram of another power control method for a communication chip provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0064] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram showing the change of power supply voltage with the average transmit power of the signal frame provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0065] Figure 11 This is a structural example diagram of a computer device provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0066] Figure 12 This is a structural example diagram of another computer device provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0067] Figure 13 This is an example diagram of a computer program product provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0068] The technical solutions in the embodiments of this application will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, not all of them. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this application without creative effort should fall within the scope of protection of this application.

[0069] In the embodiments of this application, the words "exemplary," "for example," etc., are used to indicate that they are examples, illustrations, or descriptions. Any embodiment or design that is described as "exemplary" in this application should not be construed as being more preferred or advantageous than other embodiments or design options. Specifically, the use of the term "exemplary" is intended to present the concept in a concrete manner.

[0070] The business scenarios described in the embodiments of this application are for the purpose of more clearly illustrating the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, and do not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of this application. As those skilled in the art will know, with the emergence of new business scenarios, the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of this application are also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0071] Hereinafter, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature.

[0072] References to "one embodiment" or "some embodiments" as described in this specification mean that one or more embodiments of this application include a specific feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment. Therefore, the phrases "in one embodiment," "in some embodiments," "in other embodiments," "in still other embodiments," etc., appearing in different parts of this specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, but rather mean "one or more, but not all, embodiments," unless otherwise specifically emphasized. The terms "comprising," "including," "having," and variations thereof mean "including but not limited to," unless otherwise specifically emphasized.

[0073] In this application, "at least one" means one or more, and "more than one" means two or more. "And / or" describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can mean: A alone, A and B simultaneously, and B alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects are in an "or" relationship. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c can mean: a, b, c, ab, ac, bc, or abc, where a, b, and c can be single or multiple.

[0074] To facilitate understanding of the embodiments of this application, some definitions involved in this application will be briefly explained first.

[0075] 1. Antenna feed point: This refers to the connection point between the antenna and the radio frequency (RF) transmission line. In a communication system, the antenna is used to transmit and receive wireless signals, while the antenna feed point is used to transmit these signals onto the RF transmission line for further processing or transmission to other devices.

[0076] 2. DC bias: This refers to the stable DC voltage or current applied in a circuit to ensure the normal operation of devices (such as transistors, amplifiers, etc.). In many circuits, devices need to operate normally at a certain DC operating point to ensure that they can effectively amplify or process signals under the influence of AC signals.

[0077] The technical solution provided in this application can be applied to wireless local area network (WLAN) scenarios, such as the IEEE 802.11 system standard, such as the 802.11a / b / g standard, the 802.11n standard, the 802.11ac standard, the 802.11ax standard, or its next generation, such as the 802.11be standard or the next generation standard.

[0078] The technical solutions of this application can also be applied to various communication systems, such as: Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) system, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) system, Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) system, General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, LTE Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) system, LTE Time Division Duplex (TDD) system, Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) system, 5th Generation (5G) system or New Radio (NR) system, Future Communication Network, Internet of Things (IoT) network or Vehicle-to-X (V2X) wireless local area network system, etc.

[0079] The communication systems described above that are applicable to this application are merely illustrative examples, and the communication systems applicable to this application are not limited to these. They will be uniformly described here and will not be repeated below.

[0080] The terminal equipment in this application embodiment can refer to user equipment (UE), access terminal, user unit, user station, mobile station, mobile station, remote station, remote terminal, mobile device, user terminal, terminal, wireless communication equipment, user agent, or user device. The terminal equipment can also be a cellular phone, cordless phone, session initiation protocol (SIP) phone, wireless local loop (WLL) station, personal digital assistant (PDA), handheld device with wireless communication capabilities, computing device or other processing device connected to a wireless modem, vehicle-mounted device, wearable device, terminal equipment in a 5G network, terminal equipment in a future communication network, or terminal equipment in a public land mobile network (PLMN), etc., and this application does not limit it to these categories.

[0081] The network device in this application embodiment can be a device for communicating with terminal devices. The network device can be a base station (BTS) in a GSM or CDMA system, a base station (NB) in a WCDMA system, an evolved NodeB (eNB or eNodeB) in an LTE system, a radio controller in a cloud radio access network (CRAN) scenario, or a relay station, access point, vehicle-mounted device, wearable device, network device in a 5G network, network device in a future communication network, or network device in a PLMN network, etc. This application is not limited to these.

[0082] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of an application scenario according to an embodiment of this application. In this application scenario, the access point (AP) can be a communication server, router, switch, or any of the above-mentioned network devices, and the station (STA) can be a mobile phone, computer, or any of the above-mentioned terminal devices, without limitation.

[0083] It is understood that the technical solution of this application is applicable not only to communication between an AP and one or more STAs, but also to communication between APs and between STAs. For ease of description, this application only uses communication between an AP and one or more STAs as an example, but this description does not limit the scope of protection claimed in this application in any way, and will not be repeated hereafter.

[0084] An Access Point (AP) serves as an access point for terminal devices (such as mobile phones) to access wired (or wireless) networks. It is primarily deployed in homes, buildings, and campuses, with a typical coverage radius of tens to hundreds of meters. Outdoor deployments are also possible. An AP acts as a bridge between wired and wireless networks, connecting various wireless network clients and then connecting the wireless network to the Ethernet. Specifically, an AP can be a terminal device (such as a mobile phone) or a network device (such as a router) with a Wi-Fi chip. An AP can support the 802.11be standard. It can also support various WLAN standards within the 802.11 family, including 802.11ax, 802.11ac, 802.11n, 802.11g, 802.11b, 802.11a, and 802.11be next-generation standards. The AP in this application can be a high-efficiency (HE) AP or an extreme high-throughput (EHT) AP, or even an AP compatible with a future generation of Wi-Fi standards.

[0085] A STA (Signal Controller) can be a wireless communication chip, wireless sensor, or wireless communication terminal, and can also be referred to as a user. For example, a STA can be a mobile phone supporting Wi-Fi communication, a tablet computer supporting Wi-Fi communication, a set-top box supporting Wi-Fi communication, a smart TV supporting Wi-Fi communication, a smart wearable device supporting Wi-Fi communication, an in-vehicle communication device supporting Wi-Fi communication, and a computer supporting Wi-Fi communication, etc. Optionally, a STA can support the 802.11be standard. A STA can also support WLAN standards of the 802.11 family, such as 802.11ax, 802.11ac, 802.11n, 802.11g, 802.11b, 802.11a, and 802.11be next generation.

[0086] For example, AP and STA can be devices used in vehicle networking, IoT nodes and sensors in IoT, smart cameras, smart remote controls, smart water and electricity meters in smart homes, and sensors in smart cities.

[0087] In modern smart devices and IoT applications, communication chips enable terminal or network devices to connect to the internet via wireless local area networks, allowing various devices to communicate with each other, automate operations, and realize intelligent application scenarios. Currently, communication chips are operating for increasingly longer periods in smart terminal products, such as in gaming, video, and various live streaming scenarios, becoming one of the main causes of power consumption. Table 1 shows the power consumption percentage of each module in a mobile phone. The central processing unit (CPU) and double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR SDRAM) have the highest percentage, followed by the display module, and then the communication chip.

[0088] Table 1

[0089] Serial Number Module Power consumption (mAh) percentage 1 CPU + DDR SDRAM 1817.758 31.30％ 2 Display screen 1748.18 30.10％ 3 Communication chips 575.148 9.90％ 4 honeycomb 522.811 9.00％ 5 audio 292.067 5.00％ / other / 14.70％

[0090] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a communication chip provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0091] The communication chip includes a WiFi chip 210, an RF front-end module 220, and a power controller 230. In devices with communication chips, the antenna feed point is relatively far from the RF input of the WiFi chip 210. To improve sensitivity and output power, the RF front-end module (FEM) 220 can be used near the antenna end of the terminal device. That is, in this example of a communication chip, the RF front-end module 220 is external to the WiFi chip 210.

[0092] WiFi chip 210 includes media access control (MAC), system-on-chip (SOC), radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC), and PA driver.

[0093] The RF front-end module 220 mainly includes a power amplifier (PA), a low-noise amplifier (LNA), and an RF switch. The PA is driven by a PA driver. The RF front-end module 220 can amplify the signal frames transmitted by the WiFi chip 210.

[0094] The radio frequency front-end module 220 of the communication chip is powered by a power controller 230, which can be a direct current to direct current buck converter or a low dropout regulator (LDO).

[0095] The transmit (TX) channel is responsible for converting digital signals into radio frequency signals and sending them out, while the receive (RX) channel is responsible for converting received radio frequency signals into digital signals, thus completing the data transmission and reception process.

[0096] During data transmission, firstly, the RFIC converts the digital signal into a radio frequency (RF) signal for use in wireless transmission. Then, the PA (Power Amplifier) ​​amplifies the RF signal's power so that it can cover a greater distance during transmission. Next, an RF switch controls the state of the RF signal to ensure it is sent to the antenna at the correct time. Finally, the antenna converts the processed RF signal into radio waves and radiates them, completing the signal transmission process.

[0097] During data reception, the antenna first receives radio waves and converts them into radio frequency (RF) signals. Then, an RF switch controls the flow of the received RF signal, passing it to the next stage component for processing. Next, the LNA amplifies the received RF signal and minimizes noise as much as possible to improve signal quality. Finally, the RFIC converts the processed RF signal into a baseband signal for subsequent digital processing.

[0098] Table 2 shows the power consumption of the TX channel of the communication chip. The power consumption of PA accounts for more than 82%. Therefore, reducing the power consumption of the RF front-end module 220, especially PA, can reduce the power consumption of the communication chip in the device.

[0099] Table 2

[0100]

[0101] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of another communication chip provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0102] The communication chip includes a WiFi chip 310, an RF front-end module 320, and a power controller 330. This communication chip is compatible with... Figure 2 The difference in the communication chip shown is that the RF front-end module 320 is integrated into the WiFi chip 310. For the remaining structure of the communication chip and the methods of transmitting / receiving signals, please refer to [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 2 The description of the above will not be repeated here.

[0103] The following is based on Figure 2 The power control method for the communication chip shown in the embodiment of this application is also applicable to the communication chip power control method provided in this application. Figure 3 The communication chip shown will not be described in detail in this application.

[0104] In existing technologies, the power supply of the RF front-end module 220 is fixed, which leads to wasted power consumption in the communication chip when the transmission power of the signal frame is low. The power control method for the communication chip provided in this application adopts the basic idea of ​​average power tracking (APT), adjusting the power supply of the RF front-end module 220 according to the different transmission power of the signal frame from the WiFi chip 210. When the transmission power of the signal frame is high, a higher power supply is adjusted for the RF front-end module 220; when the transmission power of the signal frame is low, a lower power supply is adjusted for the RF front-end module 220. This reduces the overall power consumption of the communication chip.

[0105] Figure 4 This is an exemplary flowchart of a power control method for a communication chip provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0106] 410, Determine the power control signal.

[0107] The power control signal is used to adjust the power supply of the radio frequency front-end module 220, which corresponds to the transmission power of at least one signal frame of the WiFi chip 210.

[0108] It should be understood that power = voltage × current. Therefore, the WiFi chip 210 can adjust the power supply of the RF front-end module 220 by adjusting the supply voltage or bias current of the RF front-end module 220. The power control signal can include any one or more of voltage control signals and current control signals. The WiFi chip 210 can adjust the supply voltage of the RF front-end module 220 using the voltage control signal, thereby adjusting the power supply of the RF front-end module 220. The WiFi chip 210 can also adjust the bias current of the RF front-end module 220 using the current control signal, thereby adjusting the power supply of the RF front-end module 220.

[0109] The power supply of the RF front-end module 220 is proportional to the transmission power of the at least one signal frame. That is, when the transmission power of the signal frame of the WiFi chip 210 is low, the power supply of the RF front-end module 220 is low; when the transmission power of the signal frame of the WiFi chip 210 is high, the power supply of the RF front-end module 220 is high.

[0110] For example, the correspondence between the power supply of the RF front-end module 220 and the transmission power of at least one signal frame can be a preset mapping relationship, that is, different ranges of transmission power correspond to different power supplies, and transmission power within the same range corresponds to the same power supply. The correspondence between the power supply of the RF front-end module 220 and the transmission power of at least one signal frame can also be a functional relationship, such as a linear function, a quadratic function, or a piecewise function. This application does not limit the specific correspondence between the power supply and transmission power of the RF front-end module 220.

[0111] The WiFi chip 210 can determine the power control signal based on the transmission power, transmission rate, or service type of the signal frame, and then adjust the power supply of the RF front-end module to different levels to adapt to different transmission power, transmission rate, or service type, thereby reducing the power consumption of the communication chip.

[0112] 420, send the power control signal.

[0113] When the power control signal includes a voltage control signal, the WiFi chip 210 can send a first voltage control signal to the power controller 230, instructing the power controller 230 to output a first supply voltage to the radio frequency front-end module 220. The first supply voltage corresponds to the transmission power of at least one signal frame of the WiFi chip 210.

[0114] When the power control signal includes a current control signal, the WiFi chip 210 can send a first current control signal to the radio frequency front-end module 220 to adjust the bias current of the radio frequency front-end module 220. The bias current corresponds to the transmit power of at least one signal frame of the WiFi chip 210.

[0115] 430, transmit at least one signal frame according to the transmit power of at least one signal frame.

[0116] In one possible implementation scenario, the WiFi chip 210 can determine the transmission power of at least one signal frame in a first time period and send a first voltage control signal to the power controller 230, instructing the power controller 230 to output a first supply voltage to the RF front-end module 220 in the first time period. The WiFi chip 210 transmits at least one signal frame according to the transmission power of at least one signal frame in the first time period.

[0117] In another possible implementation scenario, the WiFi chip 210 can determine the transmission power of at least one signal frame in a first time period and send a first current control signal to the RF front-end module 220, instructing the RF front-end module 220 to adjust its bias current to correspond to the transmission power of at least one signal frame in the first time period. The WiFi chip 210 transmits at least one signal frame according to the transmission power of at least one signal frame in the first time period.

[0118] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of another communication chip provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0119] The communication chip includes a WiFi chip 510, an RF front-end module 520, and a DC-DC Buck 530. The WiFi chip 510 includes a MAC, a SOC, and an RFIC. The RF front-end module 520 is powered by the DC-DC Buck 530 and amplifies the signal frames transmitted by the WiFi chip 510.

[0120] In one possible implementation scenario, the MAC of the WiFi chip 510 sends a first voltage control signal to the DC-DC Buck 530 based on the transmit power of the current time slot signal frame to adjust the supply voltage VDD of the RF front-end module 520. The MAC first transmits the signal frame's transmit power to the SOC, which then generates the first voltage control signal and sends it to the DC-DC Buck 530 via a MIPI or GPIO interface. Based on the first voltage control signal and the input battery voltage VBAT, the DC-DC Buck 530 outputs a tunable supply voltage VDD to the RF front-end module 520.

[0121] In one possible implementation scenario, the SOC can look up a pre-configured power level register, generate a first voltage control signal, and send it to the DC-DC Buck 530. The power level register can store the correspondence between the first supply voltage and the transmit power of the signal frame; different ranges of transmit power correspond to different first supply voltages, and transmit power within the same range corresponds to the same first supply voltage.

[0122] In one possible implementation scenario, the SOC can look up a pre-configured power level register, generate a first current control signal, and send the first current signal to the RF front-end module 520 via SSI or SPI. The power level register can store the correspondence between the bias current of the RF front-end module 520 and the transmit power of the signal frame; different ranges of transmit power correspond to different bias currents, and transmit power within the same range corresponds to the same bias current.

[0123] The power control method for the communication chip provided by the embodiments of this application is also applicable to the power control of multiple transmit links. Exemplarily, in the scenarios of dual band dual concurrent (DBDC) and multicast listener discovery (MLD), there may be multiple transmit links in the communication chip. For example, the links of 2.4G and 5G are both in the transmit state simultaneously. These multiple transmit links can be powered by the same power controller or by different power controllers, and the method provided by this embodiment is equally applicable.

[0124] Figure 6 It is a timing schematic diagram of a power control method for a communication chip provided by the embodiments of this application.

[0125] At t61, the WiFi chip 210 sends the first voltage control signal.

[0126] In the application scenario where the WiFi chip 210 actively sends signal frames, after reading the TX_HANDLER descriptor, the WiFi chip 210 can send the first voltage control signal to the power controller 230. The first voltage control signal can instruct the power controller 230 to output the first supply voltage to the radio frequency front-end module 220 during the period from t62 to t63. The first supply voltage has a corresponding relationship with the transmission power of the signal frames sent by the WiFi chip 210 during the period from t62 to t63, that is, it changes with the change of the transmission power of the signal frames.

[0127] The corresponding relationship between the first supply voltage and the transmission power of the signal frames can be stored in the power level register. The SOC can look up the pre-configured power level register to generate the first voltage control signal. Exemplarily, in the corresponding relationship between the first supply voltage and the transmission power of the signal frames, the transmission power in the range of [a, b] corresponds to the supply voltage VDD1, and the transmission power in the range of (b, c] corresponds to the supply voltage VDD2, where a < b < c, and a, b, and c are all greater than 0.

[0128] At t62, the WiFi chip 210 starts to send signal frames.

[0129] After ensuring that the output voltage of the power controller 230 is stable, the WiFi chip 210 starts to send signal frames. The stabilization time of the power controller 230 is approximately equal to the random access time (a few microseconds) after the TX seizes the channel plus the TX timing setup time (2 microseconds).

[0130] At t63, the WiFi chip 210 finishes sending signal frames.

[0131] At t64, the WiFi chip 210 sends the second voltage control signal.

[0132] After the WiFi chip 210 finishes transmitting a signal frame, it sends a second voltage control signal to the power controller 230, instructing the power controller 230 to output a default supply voltage, such as 3.4V, to the RF front-end module.

[0133] Figure 7 It is a timing diagram of another power control method for a communication chip provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0134] At t71, the WiFi chip 210 sends a first current control signal.

[0135] In the application scenario where the WiFi chip 210 actively transmits a signal frame, after reading the TX_HANDLER descriptor, the WiFi chip 210 can send a first current control signal to the RF front-end module 220. The first current control signal can instruct the RF front-end module 220 to adjust its current to a bias current corresponding to the transmission power of the signal frame during the period from t72 to t73, that is, the bias current changes with the transmission power of the signal frame.

[0136] The correspondence between the bias current of the RF front-end module 220 and the transmission power of the signal frame can be stored in a power level register. The SOC can look up the pre-configured power level register to generate the first current control signal. Exemplarily, in the correspondence between the bias current and the transmission power of the signal frame, the transmission power in the range of [d, e] corresponds to the bias current A1, and the transmission power in the range of (e, f] corresponds to the bias current A2, where d < e < f, and d, e, and f are all greater than 0.

[0137] At t72, the WiFi chip 210 starts to send a signal frame.

[0138] At t73, the WiFi chip 210 finishes transmitting the signal frame.

[0139] At t74, the WiFi chip 210 sends a second current control signal.

[0140] After the WiFi chip 210 finishes transmitting a signal frame, it sends a second current control signal to the RF front-end module 220, instructing the RF front-end module 220 to adjust its current to the default bias current.

[0141] Figure 8 It is a timing diagram of another power control method for a communication chip provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0142] At t81, the WiFi chip 210 sends a first voltage control signal and a first current control signal.

[0143] When the minimum supply voltage that the power controller 230 can output to the RF front-end module 220 is greater than a preset threshold, that is, when the supply voltage of the RF front-end module 220 is already small enough that the supply power of the RF front-end module 220 can no longer be reduced by adjusting the supply voltage of the RF front-end module 220, the supply power of the RF front-end module 220 can be reduced by further reducing the bias current of the RF front-end module 220.

[0144] For example, after reading the TX_HANDLER descriptor, the WiFi chip 210 can send a first voltage control signal to the power controller 230 and a first current control signal to the RF front-end module 220. The first voltage control signal instructs the power controller 230 to output a first supply voltage to the RF front-end module 220 during the t82-t83 period. This first supply voltage corresponds to the transmission power of the signal frame transmitted by the WiFi chip 210 during the t82-t83 period, i.e., it changes with the transmission power of the signal frame. The first current control signal instructs the RF front-end module 220 to adjust its current during the t82-t83 period to a bias current corresponding to the transmission power of the signal frame, i.e., this bias current changes with the transmission power of the signal frame.

[0145] The correspondence between the first supply voltage and the transmit power of the signal frame can be stored in a power level register. The SOC can look up the pre-configured power level register and generate the first voltage control signal. The correspondence between the bias current of the RF front-end module 220 and the transmit power of the signal frame can also be stored in a power level register. The SOC can look up the pre-configured power level register and generate the first current control signal.

[0146] T82, WiFi chip 210 starts sending signal frames.

[0147] T83, WiFi chip 210 signal frame transmission ends.

[0148] The t84 WiFi chip 210 sends a second voltage control signal and a second current control signal.

[0149] After the WiFi chip 210 finishes sending a signal frame, it sends a second voltage control signal to the power controller 230, instructing the power controller 230 to output a default supply voltage, such as 3.4V, to the RF front-end module. At the same time, it sends a second current control signal to the RF front-end module 220, instructing the RF front-end module 220 to adjust its current to the default bias current.

[0150] Figure 9 This is a timing diagram of another power control method for a communication chip provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0151] In one possible implementation scenario, the STA receives signal frame 910 sent by the AP and sends signal frame 920 to the AP. Signal frame 920 is a response frame to signal frame 910. For example, signal frame 920 can be an acknowledgement (ACK) frame, a negative-acknowledgment (NACK) frame, a clear to send (CTS) frame, or a block acknowledgement (BA) frame, etc. As the reception of signal frame 910 is about to end, the WiFi chip 210 located in the STA can send a first voltage control signal and / or a first current control signal. Alternatively, the STA can send the first voltage control signal and / or the first current control signal after the reception of signal frame 910 ends or after a certain period of time. After the STA finishes sending signal frame 920, the WiFi chip 210 located in the STA can send a second voltage control signal and / or a second current control signal, switching back to the default settings.

[0152] In another possible implementation scenario, the AP receives signal frame 910 sent by the STA and sends signal frame 920 to the STA. Signal frame 920 is a response frame to signal frame 910. For example, signal frame 920 can be an ACK frame, NACK frame, CTS frame, or BA frame, etc. When the AP is about to finish receiving signal frame 910, the WiFi chip 210 located in the AP can send a first voltage control signal and / or a first current control signal. Alternatively, the AP can send the first voltage control signal and / or the first current control signal after the end of receiving signal frame 910 or after a period of time following its end. After the AP finishes sending signal frame 920, the WiFi chip 210 located in the AP can send a second voltage control signal and / or a second current control signal, switching back to the default settings.

[0153] In another possible implementation scenario, if the STA or AP determines that no response frame is needed when the received signal frame 910 ends or is about to end, it can send a second voltage control signal and / or a second current control signal to switch back to the default settings after the received signal frame 910 ends or after a period of time.

[0154] In another possible implementation scenario, the STA receives signal frame 910 sent by the AP and sends signal frame 920 to the AP. Signal frame 920 is scheduled through signal frame 910. For example, signal frame 910 can be a trigger signal frame, and signal frame 920 can be a transport block (TB) frame. When the STA is about to finish receiving signal frame 910, the WiFi chip 210 located at the STA can send a first voltage control signal and / or a first current control signal. Alternatively, the STA can send the first voltage control signal and / or the first current control signal after the reception of signal frame 910 ends or after a certain period of time. After the STA finishes sending signal frame 920, the WiFi chip 210 located at the STA can send a second voltage control signal and / or a second current control signal, switching back to the default settings. When signal frame 910 is a legacy signal frame, the parsing time is short, allowing the STA to know the transmit power of signal frame 920 in advance and adjust the power supply of the RF front-end module 220 based on the transmit power value of the sent signal frame 920. When signal frame 910 is a non-legacy signal frame, the resolution time is relatively long. STA can keep the power supply of RF front-end module 220 at the default value, that is, keep the power supply voltage and bias current of RF front-end module 220 at the default value.

[0155] For information on the first voltage control signal, the first current control signal, the second voltage control signal, the second current control signal, and the specific control methods, please refer to [link to relevant documentation]. Figures 4 to 8 The description of the above will not be repeated here.

[0156] The following experimental data will illustrate the beneficial effects of the technical solution in this application.

[0157] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram showing the change of power supply voltage with the average transmit power of the signal frame provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0158] In existing technologies, the power supply voltage provided by the power controller to the RF front-end module remains constant, which leads to wasted power consumption in the communication chip when the transmission power of the signal frame is low. The power control method for the communication chip provided in this application allows the WiFi chip to adjust the power supply voltage of the RF front-end module via a voltage control signal. When the transmission power of the signal frame is low, the power supply voltage of the RF front-end module should also be correspondingly lower, thus reducing the power consumption of the communication chip.

[0159] Tables 3 and 4 analyze the APT (Active Power Transmission) benefits of the PA (Power Amplifier) ​​under different signal frame transmit powers. When the PA's transmit power is reduced by 4 dB, the power consumption benefit is approximately 40%; when the transmit power is reduced by 8 dB, the power consumption benefit is approximately 50%; and when the transmit power is reduced by 12 dB, the power consumption benefit is approximately 60%. It is clear that the greater the PA power reduction, the greater the APT power consumption benefit, and the more power is saved by the communication chip. After adopting the power control method for the communication chip provided in this application, the battery life of a typical STA (Stationary Target) increases by approximately 5%.

[0160] Table 3

[0161]

[0162] Table 4

[0163] Power reduction Power consumption optimization ratio Current optimization value 4dB ≈40％ ≈70mA 8dB ≈50％ ≈90mA 12dB ≈60％ ≈110mA

[0164] The power control method for the communication chip provided in this application allows for the pre-configuration of the timing of the APT supply voltage and / or bias current before signal frame transmission, achieving early stabilization of the APT supply voltage and / or bias current to meet the signal stability requirements of the communication chip. Furthermore, it can automatically identify and configure the APT function to be enabled under different service scenarios. The power control method also includes an automatic recovery mechanism for the APT supply voltage or bias current, ensuring stable performance of the communication chip during default high-power signal frame transmission and achieving significant power consumption benefits when the signal frame transmission power decreases.

[0165] The power control method of the communication chip according to the embodiments of this application has been described above. The following will be combined with... Figure 11 and Figure 12 This application describes apparatus and devices according to embodiments thereof.

[0166] This application also provides a computer storage medium storing program instructions, which, when executed, may include, for example... Figures 4 to 9 Some or all of the steps of the power control method for the communication chip in the corresponding embodiment.

[0167] Figure 11 This is a structural example diagram of a computer device 1100 provided in an embodiment of this application. The computer device 1100 includes a processing module 1110 and a transmitting module 1120. The processing module 1110 and the transmitting module 1120 can be implemented in software, hardware, or a combination of both.

[0168] The processing module 1110 is used to determine the power control signal in order to execute... Figure 4 Method 410.

[0169] Transmitting module 1120 is used to transmit the power control signal and at least one signal frame, and to perform... Figures 4 to 9 Some or all of the steps in the method.

[0170] Figure 12 This is a structural example diagram of another computer device 1200 provided in an embodiment of this application. The computer device 1200 includes a processor 1202, a communication interface 1203, and a memory 1204. An example of the computer device 1200 is a computing device, such as a terminal device or a network device.

[0171] The methods disclosed in the embodiments of this application can be applied to or implemented by the processor 1202. The processor 1202 can be a central processing unit (CPU), or other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, etc. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor or any conventional processor. In implementation, each step of the above method can be completed by the integrated logic circuits in the hardware of the processor 1202 or by instructions in software form. The methods, steps, and logic block diagrams disclosed in the embodiments of this application can be implemented or executed. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor or any conventional processor. The steps of the methods disclosed in the embodiments of this application can be directly embodied in the execution of a hardware decoding processor, or executed by a combination of hardware and software modules in the decoding processor.

[0172] The memory 1204 can be volatile memory or non-volatile memory, or it can include both. The non-volatile memory can be read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), or flash memory. The volatile memory can be random access memory (RAM), which is used as an external cache. By way of example, but not limitation, many forms of RAM are available, such as static random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR SDRAM), enhanced synchronous dynamic random access memory (ESDRAM), synchronous linked dynamic random access memory (SLDRAM), and direct rambus RAM (DRRAM). It should be noted that the memory used in the methods described herein is intended to include, but is not limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory.

[0173] The processor 1202, memory 1204, and communication interface 1203 can communicate via a bus. The memory 1204 stores executable code, and the processor 1202 reads the executable code from the memory 1204 to execute the corresponding method. The memory 1204 may also include other software modules required for running processes, such as an operating system. The operating system can be Linux. TM UNIX TM WINDOWS TM wait.

[0174] For example, the executable code in memory 1204 is used to implement Figures 4 to 9 The method shown involves processor 1202 reading the executable code from memory 1204 to execute it. Figures 4 to 9 The method shown.

[0175] In some embodiments of this application, the disclosed methods can be implemented as computer program instructions encoded in a machine-readable format on a computer-readable storage medium or on other non-transitory media or articles of art. Figure 13A conceptual partial view schematically illustrates an example computer program product arranged according to at least some embodiments shown herein, the example computer program product including a computer program for executing computer processes on a computing device. In one embodiment, the example computer program product 1300 is provided using a signal carrying medium 1301. The signal carrying medium 1301 may include one or more program instructions 1302 that, when executed by one or more processors, can provide the above-described... Figures 4 to 9 The functions or parts thereof described in the methods shown. Therefore, for example, refer to... Figures 4 to 9 In the embodiments shown, one or more features may be provided by one or more instructions associated with the signal carrying medium 1301.

[0176] In some examples, signal-bearing medium 1301 may comprise computer-readable medium 1303, such as, but not limited to, hard disk drives, CDs, digital video optical discs (DVDs), digital magnetic tapes, memory, read-only memory (ROM), or random access memory (RAM), etc. In some embodiments, signal-bearing medium 1301 may comprise computer-recordable medium 1304, such as, but not limited to, memory, read / write (R / W) CDs, R / W DVDs, etc. In some embodiments, signal-bearing medium 1301 may comprise communication medium 1305, such as, but not limited to, digital and / or analog communication media (e.g., fiber optic cables, waveguides, wired communication links, wireless communication links, etc.). Therefore, for example, signal-bearing medium 1301 may be conveyed by wireless communication medium 1305 (e.g., wireless communication media conforming to the IEEE 802.11 standard or other transmission protocols). One or more program instructions 1302 may be, for example, computer-executable instructions or logical implementation instructions. In some examples, the aforementioned computing device can be configured to provide various operations, functions, or actions in response to program instructions 1302 transmitted to the computing device via one or more of computer-readable media 1303, computer-recordable media 1304, and / or communication media 1305. It should be understood that the arrangements described herein are merely illustrative. Therefore, those skilled in the art will understand that other arrangements and other elements (e.g., machines, interfaces, functions, sequences, and functional groups, etc.) can be used instead, and some elements can be omitted depending on the desired result. Furthermore, many of the described elements are functional entities that can be implemented as discrete or distributed components, or in any suitable combination and location in conjunction with other components.

[0177] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the modules and method steps of the various examples described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are implemented in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

[0178] Those skilled in the art will clearly understand that, for the sake of convenience and brevity, the specific working process of the above-described device and module can be referred to the corresponding process in the foregoing method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0179] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed apparatus and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the apparatus embodiments described above are merely illustrative; for instance, the division of modules is only a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple modules or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Furthermore, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed may be through some interfaces; the indirect coupling or communication connection between apparatuses or modules may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0180] The modules described as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The components shown as modules may or may not be physical modules; that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network modules. Some or all of the modules can be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0181] In addition, the functional modules in the various embodiments of this application can be integrated into one processing module, or each module can exist physically separately, or two or more modules can be integrated into one module.

[0182] If the aforementioned functions are implemented as software functional modules and sold or used as independent products, they can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of this application, in essence, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or a portion of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in the various embodiments of this application. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as USB flash drives, portable hard drives, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0183] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A power control method for a communication chip, characterized in that, include: A power control signal is determined, which is used to adjust the power supply of the radio frequency front-end module. The power supply is related to the transmission power of at least one signal frame. The communication chip includes the radio frequency front-end module. Send the power control signal; The at least one signal frame is transmitted according to the transmit power of the at least one signal frame.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The power control signal to be determined includes: The power control signal is determined based on the transmit power of the at least one signal frame, the transmit rate of the at least one signal frame, or the service type of the at least one signal frame.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The communication chip also includes a power controller, and the power control signal includes a first voltage control signal. Sending the power control signal includes: The first voltage control signal is sent to the power controller, which instructs the power controller to output a first supply voltage to the radio frequency front-end module. The first supply voltage corresponds to the transmission power of the at least one signal frame.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that, The method further includes: After the transmission of at least one signal frame is completed, a second voltage control signal is sent to the power controller, which instructs the power controller to output a preset second supply voltage to the RF front-end module.

5. The method according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that, The power controller includes a DC-to-DC buck converter or a low-dropout regulator.

6. The method according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that, Sending the first voltage control signal to the power controller includes: The first voltage control signal is sent to the power controller via the Mobile Industry Processor Interface (MIPI) or the General Purpose Input / Output (GPIO) interface.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The power control signal includes a first current control signal. Sending the power control signal includes: The first current control signal is sent to the radio frequency front-end module. The first current control signal is used to adjust the bias current of the radio frequency front-end module. The bias current is related to the transmit power of the at least one signal frame.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that, The power controller in the communication chip can output a minimum supply voltage greater than a preset threshold to the radio frequency front-end module.

9. The method according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that, The method further includes: After the transmission of at least one signal frame is completed, a second current control signal is sent to the radio frequency front-end module. The second current control signal is used to control the bias current of the radio frequency front-end module to a preset current value.

10. The method according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that, Sending the first current control signal to the radio frequency front-end module includes: The first current control signal is sent to the RF front-end module via either the Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) or the Synchronous Serial Interface (SSI).

11. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that, The communication chip also includes a WiFi chip, and the radio frequency front-end module is external to the WiFi chip or integrated inside the WiFi chip.

12. A computer device, characterized in that, The device is applied to a communication chip, the communication chip including a radio frequency front-end module, and includes: A processing module is used to determine a power control signal, which is used to adjust the power supply of the radio frequency front-end module, and the power supply corresponds to the transmission power of at least one signal frame; The transmitting module is used to transmit the power control signal; The transmitting module is further configured to transmit the at least one signal frame according to the transmit power of the at least one signal frame.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that, The processing module is specifically used for: The power control signal is determined based on the transmit power of the at least one signal frame, the transmit rate of the at least one signal frame, or the service type of the at least one signal frame.

14. The apparatus according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that, The communication chip also includes a power controller, and the power control signal includes a first voltage control signal. The transmitting module is specifically used to send the first voltage control signal to the power controller. The first voltage control signal is used to instruct the power controller to output a first supply voltage to the radio frequency front-end module. The first supply voltage has a corresponding relationship with the transmission power of the at least one signal frame.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that, The sending module is further configured to: After the transmission of at least one signal frame is completed, a second voltage control signal is sent to the power controller, which instructs the power controller to output a preset second supply voltage to the RF front-end module.

16. The apparatus according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that, The power controller includes a DC-to-DC buck converter or a low-dropout regulator.

17. The apparatus according to any one of claims 14 to 16, characterized in that, The transmitting module is specifically used to send the first voltage control signal to the power controller via the Mobile Industry Processor Interface (MIPI) or the General Purpose Input / Output (GPIO) interface.

18. The apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 15, characterized in that, The power control signal includes a first current control signal. The transmitting module is specifically used to send the first current control signal to the radio frequency front-end module. The first current control signal is used to adjust the bias current of the radio frequency front-end module. The bias current has a corresponding relationship with the transmission power of the at least one signal frame.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18, characterized in that, The power controller in the communication chip can output a minimum supply voltage greater than a preset threshold to the radio frequency front-end module.

20. The apparatus according to claim 18 or 19, characterized in that, The transmitting module is further configured to send a second current control signal to the radio frequency front-end module after the transmission of the at least one signal frame is completed. The second current control signal is used to control the bias current of the radio frequency front-end module to a preset current value.

21. The apparatus according to any one of claims 18 to 20, characterized in that, The transmitting module is specifically used to send the first current control signal to the RF front-end module via a serial peripheral interface SPI or a synchronous serial interface SSI.

22. The apparatus according to any one of claims 12 to 21, characterized in that, The communication chip also includes a WiFi chip, and the radio frequency front-end module is external to the WiFi chip or integrated inside the WiFi chip.

23. A computer device, characterized in that, include: A processor configured to be coupled to a memory, read and execute instructions and / or program code in the memory to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1-11.

24. A computer-readable medium, characterized in that, The computer-readable medium stores computer program code that, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1-11.

25. A computer program product, characterized in that, The computer program product includes computer program code that, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1-11.

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