Amplifier Supply Voltage Tracking for Lower Power Consumption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Amplifiers consume excessive power due to fixed supply voltages, leading to inefficiency, as they require significant operational current even when processing signals with small swings, and existing solutions complicate design and increase costs by needing to detect signal swing, structure, and gain for voltage adjustments.
Innovation Solution
A dynamic power control method and circuit that detects absolute differences between output and supply voltages, adjusting supply voltages based on these differences and thresholds to optimize power consumption and prevent signal distortion, using a power converting module and level detection module to generate control signals for adjusting supply voltages dynamically.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the supply voltage of the amplifier is set to the maximum voltage, then the input dynamic range and output dynamic range are maximized, but the power consumption increases significantly due to huge operational current
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the supply voltage adjustable rather than fixed. The amplifier's supply voltage is dynamically controlled based on the actual signal swing requirements, allowing the system to adapt between maximum performance mode and power-saving mode. The control circuit monitors the output signal and adjusts the supply voltage accordingly, transforming a static system into a dynamic one that responds to operating conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the supply voltage parameter from a fixed maximum value to a variable parameter that adapts to signal requirements. By detecting the output signal swing and comparing it with threshold values, the system adjusts the supply voltage to appropriate levels, changing the operational parameters of the amplifier to match actual needs rather than always operating at maximum capacity.
2Use of energy by moving object
If an input signal detection circuit is used to detect the swing of the input signal and adjust the supply voltages, then unnecessary power consumption is avoided, but the design flow becomes complicated and cost increases due to needing to detect structure and gain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential detection function needed for power control - detecting the output signal swing - while eliminating the need to detect amplifier structure and gain. By focusing solely on output voltage detection and comparison with predefined thresholds, the system achieves power optimization without requiring complex analysis of amplifier internal characteristics, thus reducing design complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The control circuit is designed with universal applicability across different amplifier configurations. Rather than requiring separate detection circuits for each amplifier structure and gain setting, a single universal control circuit handles power optimization for various amplifier types by relying on output signal detection alone, making the solution broadly applicable without redesign.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses a dynamic power control method utilized in an amplifier. The dynamic power control method includes detecting an absolute difference between a positive supply voltage of the amplifier and an output voltage of the amplifier, to acquire a positive voltage difference; detecting an absolute difference between a negative supply voltage of the amplifier and the output voltage of the amplifier, to acquire a negative voltage difference; and adjusting the positive supply voltage and the negative supply voltage according to the positive voltage difference, the negative voltage difference and a threshold.