Dual-Mode Power Amplifier Switching for Bandwidth-Driven Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Radio devices, particularly those relying on battery power, face inefficiencies in energy consumption due to the power amplifier's high energy usage, with existing technologies failing to optimize between linear and non-linear modes effectively based on allocated bandwidth and transmission properties.
Innovation Solution
A transmitter system that selectively operates the power amplifier in linear or non-linear modes based on allocated bandwidth, using polar modulation for non-linear operation when bandwidth is low and envelope tracking for linear operation when necessary, with a controller determining the mode to minimize energy consumption and manage side effects like spectral leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the power amplifier operates in linear mode, then transmission quality is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The power amplifier dynamically switches between linear and non-linear operating modes based on the allocated bandwidth. For bandwidths below a threshold (e.g., 1.4 MHz), the amplifier operates in non-linear mode to save energy. For bandwidths above the threshold, it switches to linear mode to ensure transmission quality. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by optimizing the operating mode according to actual transmission requirements.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the power amplifier operates in non-linear mode, then energy consumption is reduced, but spectral leakage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the operating parameter (linearity) of the power amplifier based on the bandwidth parameter. By setting a bandwidth threshold, the system determines when to accept non-linear operation (low bandwidth) versus when to require linear operation (high bandwidth). This parameter-based decision-making resolves the contradiction by limiting non-linear operation to scenarios where spectral leakage is less critical.
3Device complexity
If a fixed operating mode is used, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different bandwidths deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The power amplifier is designed to dynamically adapt its operating mode based on the allocated bandwidth. The controller monitors the bandwidth and automatically switches between linear and non-linear modes, providing adaptability without requiring multiple dedicated amplifiers. This dynamic approach maintains relatively simple device architecture while achieving high adaptability to different transmission scenarios.
Data Source
AI summary
A transmitter comprising a power amplifier, a phase modulator, a switched DC-DC converter, all operating in dual mode, and a controller is disclosed. The power amplifier is arranged to selectively operate either in a first mode or in a second mode, wherein the first mode is a linear mode and the second mode is a non-linear mode in order to save power with least increasing cost in hardware. The transmitter is adapted to operate at different allocated bandwidths, for different radio standards while keeping minimum power consumption governed by the controller. A transceiver, a communication device, a method and a computer program are also disclosed.