Envelope Tracking PA Circuit Using Common Voltage for MIMO RF Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
5G-NR capable mobile communication devices face challenges in efficiently amplifying RF signals in the mmWave spectrum due to propagation attenuation and interference, particularly when employing multipath diversity and spatial multiplexing, which requires complex and costly envelope tracking (ET) voltage management for multiple antennas.
Innovation Solution
The ET power amplifier circuit configures at least two power amplifiers to amplify a summed RF signal and a differential RF signal, both based on a common ET voltage, reducing the complexity and cost by eliminating the need for multiple ET voltages and enabling support for MIMO diversity and spatial multiplexing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple ET voltages are generated for each antenna to amplify RF signals directly, then the amplification accuracy and signal quality are improved, but the device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple RF signals (first RF signal and second RF signal) into a single summed RF signal that is amplified by a common power amplifier using a single ET voltage. This merging approach reduces the number of ET voltages from multiple to one, thereby reducing device complexity and cost while maintaining signal quality through the mathematical combination of signals
Solution Approach 2:
The common power amplifier is designed to handle multiple signal paths (first antenna and second antenna) through a single amplifier unit. By making the power amplifier universal for multiple signal paths and using a single ET voltage for both paths, the system achieves multi-functionality that reduces complexity while maintaining the ability to amplify multiple RF signals effectively
2Power
If multiple power amplifiers are used for each antenna to amplify RF signals directly, then the signal amplification capability is improved, but the cost and footprint of the amplifier apparatus increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the function of multiple power amplifiers into a single common power amplifier. By combining the first RF signal and second RF signal into a summed RF signal and amplifying it with one power amplifier, the system reduces the number of amplifiers from multiple to one, thereby reducing cost and footprint while maintaining signal amplification capability through signal combination
Solution Approach 2:
The common power amplifier is designed to serve multiple antenna paths universally. This single amplifier unit handles both the first antenna and second antenna signals through the summed RF signal approach, making the amplifier multi-functional and reducing the overall apparatus footprint while maintaining adequate power amplification for all signal paths
Data Source
AI summary
An envelope tracking (ET) power amplifier circuit and related apparatus are provided. The ET power amplifier circuit includes at least two power amplifiers configured to amplify at least two radio frequency (RF) signals having different amplitudes. The ET power amplifiers may be configured to amplify a summed RF signal corresponding to a summation of the RF signals and a differential RF signal corresponding to a differential of the RF signals. Given that the summed RF signal and the differential RF signal can have identical amplitude, it is possible for the ET power amplifiers to concurrently amplify the summed RF signal and the differential RF signal based on a common ET voltage. As such, an ET amplifier apparatus employing the ET power amplifier circuit can be configured to generate a lesser number of ET voltages, thus helping to reduce complexity, cost, and footprint of the ET amplifier apparatus.