Adaptive Average Power Tracking Across Variable 5G OFDM Frames

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Solution Overview

Problem

The inefficiency of high-power amplifiers (HPAs) in 5G systems due to varying transmit signal envelopes and the need for dynamic power adjustment in flexible 5G frame structures, leading to energy waste and potential damage.

Innovation Solution

Adaptive average power tracking (APT) system that determines the average power of each OFDM symbol, detects faulty symbols, and generates a modulated voltage supply to align with input signals, using information from higher layers to optimize hardware resource utilization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If the HPA operates in the saturation region to increase energy efficiency, then energy efficiency is improved, but the system cannot handle varying transmit signal envelopes in 5G

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy efficiencyVSAvoidadaptability to varying signal envelopes

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The supply voltage to the HPA is dynamically adjusted based on the average power of the input signal. The system continuously monitors the average power and modulates the supply voltage accordingly, allowing the HPA to operate efficiently across varying signal conditions rather than being fixed in saturation mode

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the supply voltage parameter of the HPA based on the detected average power of the input signal. By modulating the supply voltage to match the average power levels, the HPA maintains optimal efficiency while adapting to different signal envelope variations in 5G transmissions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If the HPA operates below peak output power to handle varying signals, then adaptability is improved, but energy consumption increases due to power dissipation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to varying signal envelopesVSAvoidpower dissipation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The supply voltage parameter is dynamically changed based on the average power of the input signal. When the signal power is low, the supply voltage is reduced proportionally, preventing the HPA from dissipating excessive power while still maintaining the required output power level

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from the average power detector to continuously adjust the supply voltage. The detector monitors the input signal power and feeds this information back to the supply modulator, which adjusts the voltage to maintain optimal efficiency at each operating point

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Device complexity

If fixed duration averaging window is used for APT, then implementation simplicity is improved, but it cannot adapt to flexible 5G frame structures with varying slot and symbol durations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimplementation simplicityVSAvoidcompatibility with flexible 5G frame structures

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The averaging window duration is made dynamic rather than fixed. The system adjusts the averaging window to match the current 5G frame structure configuration, including varying slot and symbol durations, allowing APT to work effectively with flexible numerologies and mini-slots

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system determines the appropriate averaging window duration in advance based on the detected 5G frame structure. By pre-configuring the averaging window to match the current transmission format, the system avoids complexity during real-time power calculation while maintaining accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Stability of the object's composition

If average power is calculated over fixed time period, then periodicity maintenance is improved, but it fails to align with variable slot durations in 5G

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveperiodicity of APTVSAvoidalignment with variable slot durations

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The averaging window is dynamically adjusted to maintain periodicity that aligns with the current 5G frame structure. When slot or symbol durations change, the averaging window duration is updated accordingly, ensuring that APT periodicity remains synchronized with the transmission format

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS20250338231A1Systems and methods for adaptive average power tracking

Publication Date: 2025.10.30 HFCL LTD

AI summary

Systems (200) and methods (300) for adaptive average power tracking are described. In particular, the method includes determining an average power of each of a plurality of Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbols in a radio frame based on a set of power scaling factors and a number of Resource Elements (REs) associated with each OFDM symbol, comparing the average power of each of the plurality of OFDM symbols with a power threshold value, detecting one or more faulty OFDM symbols among the plurality of OFDM symbols based on the comparison, modifying the one or more faulty OFDM symbols, determining an average power of a set of OFDM symbols, including the one or more modified OFDM symbols, corresponding to an averaging window, and generating a modulated voltage supply for a power amplifier in the wireless communication system based on the determined average power of the set of OFDM symbols.