Dual-Tracker Envelope Tracking Circuit for Wideband RF Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
5G-NR capable mobile communication devices using millimeter wave (mmWave) RF spectrum face challenges with RF signal attenuation and interference, leading to inefficiencies in power amplifiers that result in excessive heat dissipation due to suboptimal operating efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An envelope tracking (ET) circuit is implemented, which includes an amplifier array that receives a first and second input voltage, with tracker circuits generating modulated voltages. Control circuitry couples selected tracker circuits to provide ET, APT, or constant voltages to the amplifier array, supporting wide modulation bandwidth without compromising efficiency or increasing heat dissipation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If amplifier array operates at high power in mmWave spectrum, then data rate and coverage are improved, but heat dissipation increases due to suboptimal efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic voltage control through envelope tracking, where the supply voltage to power amplifiers is dynamically adjusted to match the instantaneous signal envelope. This dynamic adaptation allows amplifiers to operate at optimal efficiency points across varying signal conditions, reducing energy loss and heat dissipation while maintaining required data transmission performance in mmWave spectrum
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operating parameters of power amplifiers by implementing multiple operating modes (full ET mode, partial ET mode, and APT mode) that adjust voltage supply characteristics. By changing the voltage regulation approach from static to dynamic envelope tracking, the system optimizes the trade-off between productivity and energy efficiency, reducing heat generation while maintaining high data rate capability
2Loss of energy
If amplifier array uses envelope tracking to improve efficiency, then heat dissipation is reduced, but modulation bandwidth capability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the envelope tracking functionality into multiple independent tracker circuits, each capable of handling different bandwidth requirements. This segmentation allows the system to allocate appropriate tracking resources to different signal components, enabling support for wider modulation bandwidths while maintaining the energy efficiency benefits of envelope tracking through parallel processing of multiple voltage envelopes
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple tracker circuits are used to support wide bandwidth, then modulation bandwidth capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control circuitry is designed with multi-functionality to manage multiple tracker circuits dynamically. It can selectively activate and coordinate different tracker circuits based on the required modulation bandwidth and operating conditions, allowing the same control infrastructure to serve multiple functions across different operational scenarios. This universal control approach supports wide bandwidth capability while minimizing the effective complexity by activating only the necessary circuit components for each specific operation
Data Source
AI summary
An envelope tracking (ET) circuit is provided. The ET circuit includes an amplifier array(s) configured to amplify a radio frequency (RF) signal(s) based on a first input voltage and a second input voltage. The ET circuit includes a pair of tracker circuits each configured to generate a modulated voltage. Control circuitry couples a selected tracker circuit among the tracker circuits to provide a selected modulated voltage (e.g., ET modulated voltage) to the amplifier array(s) as the first input voltage. Depending on usage scenarios, the control circuitry also provides an ET modulated voltage, an average power tracking (APT) modulated voltage, or a constant voltage to the amplifier array(s) as the second input voltage. As such, the ET circuit can support the RF signal(s) modulated in a wide range of modulation bandwidth without compromising efficiency and/or increasing heat dissipation of the amplifier array(s).