Multi-Stage Amplifier Supply Tracking With Shared Control Loops
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Solution Overview
Problem
In corporate structure amplifiers, the existing modulated power supply arrangements face challenges with increased power requirements, leading to larger circuitry, layout issues, and increased costs due to the need for replicated circuits and higher component counts when trying to achieve high accuracy tracking power supplies for multiple amplifiers.
Innovation Solution
A power supply stage with a common low-frequency control loop for multiple amplifiers and individual high-frequency loops for each amplifier, allowing for efficient tracking of a reference signal to generate adjusted power supply voltages, thereby maintaining high accuracy without the overhead of increased space and component count.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a corporate structure with n amplifiers uses n associated modulated power supplies with high accuracy tracking, then power supply accuracy is improved, but device complexity and component count increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple low-frequency control loops into a single shared control loop that serves all amplifiers in the corporate structure. This shared loop generates a common modulated supply voltage that is distributed to multiple amplifiers, eliminating the need for separate control loops for each amplifier while maintaining power supply accuracy through the high-frequency error correction paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The shared low-frequency control loop performs the function of multiple individual control loops by generating a common modulated supply voltage that is universally distributed to all amplifiers. This multi-functional approach allows one control loop to serve multiple purposes and multiple amplifiers simultaneously, reducing overall system complexity.
2Measurement precision
If n modulated power supplies are provided for n amplifiers in a corporate structure, then power supply accuracy is improved, but physical size and layout area increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple control loop circuits are merged into a single shared low-frequency control loop, significantly reducing the physical footprint on the circuit board. The shared loop generates a common modulated supply that is distributed to multiple amplifiers, eliminating the need for separate control loop circuitry for each amplifier and thus reducing overall board area requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The control functionality is segmented into two distinct frequency domains: a shared low-frequency control loop that handles the modulated supply generation, and individual high-frequency error correction paths for each amplifier. This segmentation allows the bulky low-frequency control circuitry to be shared while maintaining individual accuracy through compact high-frequency correction paths.
3Measurement precision
If the power of control loops is increased by a factor of n for corporate structure, then power supply accuracy is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple control loop functions into a single shared low-frequency control loop, reducing the total component count and manufacturing complexity. By having one control loop serve multiple amplifiers through a corporate structure, the manufacturing cost is reduced compared to implementing separate high-power control loops for each amplifier, while still achieving the required power supply accuracy.
4Measurement precision
If a single modulated power supply is provided for each single amplifier stage, then power supply accuracy is improved, but device complexity and cost increase due to circuit replication
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the low-frequency control functionality into a single shared unit that serves multiple amplifiers, eliminating the need to replicate entire control loop circuits for each amplifier. The shared control loop generates a common modulated supply voltage that is distributed to multiple amplifiers through a corporate structure, significantly reducing circuit replication while maintaining power supply accuracy through individual high-frequency error correction paths.
Data Source
AI summary
There is disclosed a power supply stage, and a corresponding method, comprising: a plurality of amplifiers for amplifying an input signal, each amplifier receiving a power supply voltage; a common selection means for selecting one of a plurality of power supply voltages in dependence on a reference signal representing a desired power supply voltage; and a plurality of adjusting means, corresponding to the plurality of amplifiers, adapted to generate an adjusted selected power supply voltage for a respective amplifier tracking the reference signal in dependence on the one selected power supply voltage and the reference signal.