Power Converter with Bidirectional PWM Regulators for Transmitter Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power converters for radio transmitters, particularly those using polar modulators, face inefficiencies due to the presence of a linear regulator that dissipates energy and reduces overall system efficiency, especially when dealing with variable load resistances and high dynamics in amplitude modulation.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a power converter that combines a step-down and step-up PWM regulator, allowing for dynamic voltage adjustment and energy recovery, along with a control method that calculates the duty cycle based on real-time resistance measurements, enabling efficient operation with variable loads and high dynamics without dissipating energy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a linear regulator is added in cascade with a step-down PWM regulator to follow quicker dynamics and reduce switching noise, then the noise and spurious components are reduced, but the overall efficiency of the system decreases due to energy dissipation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the linear regulator from the system entirely, extracting the harmful energy-dissipating component while maintaining the PWM regulator for noise reduction. The step-down PWM regulator operates alone without the cascaded linear regulator, eliminating the efficiency penalty while preserving the benefits of PWM switching.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent discards the excess energy that would normally be dissipated by the linear regulator by implementing a recovery mechanism. The step-up PWM regulator captures and recycles the excess energy from the power amplifier supply, converting it back to useful power rather than letting it be wasted as heat in a linear regulator.
2Loss of energy
If a step-down PWM regulator is used to vary supply voltage for high efficiency, then efficiency is improved, but the regulator cannot handle variable load resistances and high dynamics effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the power converter fully dynamic by using two PWM regulators with adjustable duty cycles that can respond in real-time to varying load conditions. The step-down and step-up regulators work in coordination with variable duty cycles, allowing the system to adapt dynamically to changing power amplifier supply requirements and variable load resistances, rather than being constrained by fixed operating points.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal power converter that can handle multiple operating conditions and variable loads through the combination of step-down and step-up PWM regulators. This multi-functional system can operate efficiently across a wide range of power levels and load impedances, making it adaptable to different power amplifier configurations and modulation dynamics without requiring separate circuits for each condition.
3Device complexity
If the resistance of the final stage at supply port is assumed constant for simplified control, then control calculation is simplified, but the system cannot accommodate unmatched or variable loads
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control where the actual supply voltage and current are monitored, and the duty cycles of both PWM regulators are adjusted based on real-time measurements. This closed-loop approach allows the system to accommodate variable loads and unmatched conditions by continuously adapting to actual operating conditions rather than relying on fixed resistance assumptions, while keeping control manageable through iterative duty cycle adjustment.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution achieves high efficiency and dynamic performance by effectively managing voltage and energy flow, reducing noise and spurious components, and accommodating unmatched or variable loads, while maintaining high efficiency and minimizing energy loss.
Implementation Method 1
The implementation of a power converter that combines a step-down and step-up PWM regulator, allowing for dynamic voltage adjustment and energy recovery
Implementation Method 2
The implementation of a power converter that combines a step-down and step-up PWM regulator, allowing for dynamic voltage adjustment and energy recovery
Implementation Method 3
a control method that calculates the duty cycle based on real-time resistance measurements, enabling efficient operation with variable loads and high dynamics
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3A~3B
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A power converter is described adapted to be connected to an electrical power source, in particular a voltage source (Vcc) , and intended to receive at the input a control signal (A(t)) for the conversion, including a first regulator circuit (L1, C1, M1, D1) of the pulse width modulation step-down type and an energy recovery- circuit for managing a bidirectional flow of energy from the source to the load and from the load to the source; such an energy recovery circuit may advantageously be implemented using a second regulator circuit (L2, M2, D2) of the pulse width modulation step-up type.