Distributed Envelope Tracking Layout for Low-Distortion mmWave PAs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile communication devices face increased power consumption and thermal dissipation due to high output power of mmWave RF signals, leading to performance degradation and unwanted distortions in envelope tracking systems, especially at high modulation bandwidths.
Innovation Solution
A distributed power management apparatus with an envelope tracking integrated circuit (ETIC) and a distributed ETIC, where the ETIC is closer to power amplifier circuits and the distributed ETIC is closer to distributed power amplifier circuits, reducing trace inductance and signal distortion by generating ET voltages and low-frequency currents to minimize capacitance and resonance effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a power amplifier increases output power of mmWave RF signals to achieve higher data rates, then wireless communication performance is improved, but power consumption and thermal dissipation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The power management system is divided into multiple independent ETIC modules, each serving specific power amplifier circuits. This segmentation allows for optimized local power management and reduces overall system power consumption by enabling selective operation of individual ETIC modules based on operational requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the voltage envelope parameters to match the instantaneous power requirements of RF signals. By changing voltage parameters in real-time through envelope tracking, the power amplifier operates more efficiently, reducing power consumption while maintaining the required output power for high data rates.
2Manufacturing precision
If a time-variant ET voltage is generated to track the time-variant power envelope of high modulation bandwidth RF signals, then linearity of power amplifier is improved, but trace inductance causes distortions and misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The voltage generation function is segmented across multiple distributed ETIC modules positioned close to their respective power amplifier circuits. This physical segmentation minimizes trace inductance between the voltage source and power amplifier, preventing signal distortion while maintaining the time-variant voltage tracking capability necessary for high linearity.
Solution Approach 2:
The distributed ETIC modules act as intermediaries between the control circuit and power amplifier circuits. By placing these intermediary voltage generation modules close to the power amplifiers, the system eliminates the harmful effect of trace inductance that would otherwise cause misalignment between the voltage envelope and power envelope.
3Device complexity
If the ETIC is placed farther from power amplifier circuits to simplify system layout, then device complexity is reduced, but trace inductance increases causing unwanted signal distortion
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses multiple segmented ETIC modules distributed throughout the device, each positioned close to its associated power amplifier circuit. This segmentation approach maintains low trace inductance for each individual connection while distributing the overall system complexity across multiple manageable modules rather than requiring a single complex centralized unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a centralized power management architecture to a distributed multi-dimensional arrangement. By placing ETIC modules in close proximity to respective power amplifier circuits in three-dimensional space, the system reduces trace inductance without significantly increasing layout complexity, as each module operates independently with simple local connections.
Data Source
AI summary
A distributed power management apparatus is provided. The distributed power management apparatus includes an envelope tracking (ET) integrated circuit (ETIC) and a distributed ETIC separated from the ETIC. The ETIC is configured to generate a number of ET voltages for a number of power amplifier circuits and the distributed ETIC is configured to generate a distributed ET voltage(s) for a distributed power amplifier circuit(s). In a non-limiting example, the number of power amplifier circuits and the distributed power amplifier circuit(s) can be disposed on opposite sides (e.g., top and bottom) of a wireless device. As such, in embodiments disclosed herein, the ETIC is provided closer to the power amplifier circuits and the distributed ETIC is provided closer to the distributed power amplifier circuit(s). By providing the ETIC and the distributed ETIC closer to the respective power amplifier circuits, it is possible to reduce trace inductance and unwanted signal distortion.