Envelope Tracking IC Sharing for Lower Peak Battery Current

Solution Overview

Problem

5G-NR capable mobile communication devices face inefficiencies in power amplifier phase arrays due to excessive heat generation from suboptimal operating efficiency, particularly in the millimeter wave RF spectrum, which affects data transmission and user experience.

Innovation Solution

An envelope tracking (ET) integrated circuit (ETIC) is introduced, where a selected ET circuit generates a reference voltage based on a maximum ET target voltage, allowing for the opportunistic reduction or shutdown of other ET circuits, thereby reducing peak battery current and improving heat dissipation in the power amplifier phase array.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If multiple ET circuits are operated simultaneously to provide ET voltages to multiple amplifier circuits, then the power amplifiers can operate at high efficiency, but the peak battery current increases and heat dissipation worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower amplifier efficiencyVSAvoidpeak battery current

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple ET circuits into a shared architecture where a common ET voltage generator serves multiple amplifier circuits. Instead of having separate ET circuits for each amplifier, the invention combines their voltage generation functions, allowing one or more ET circuits to serve multiple amplifiers simultaneously, thereby reducing the total number of active circuits and lowering peak battery current.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements multi-functionality by designing ET circuits that can serve multiple purposes and multiple amplifier circuits. A single ET circuit is configured to provide ET voltages to multiple amplifier circuits through a shared voltage distribution network, enabling one component to perform multiple functions and reducing overall system power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Loss of energy

If multiple ET circuits are operated simultaneously to provide ET voltages to multiple amplifier circuits, then the power amplifiers can operate at high efficiency, but the heat dissipation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower amplifier efficiencyVSAvoidheat dissipation

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple ET circuits into a shared architecture where a common ET voltage generator serves multiple amplifier circuits. Instead of having separate ET circuits for each amplifier, the invention combines their voltage generation functions, allowing one or more ET circuits to serve multiple amplifiers simultaneously, thereby reducing the total number of active circuits and lowering peak battery current.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potential harm of having multiple ET circuits (excessive heat generation) into a benefit by implementing a shared voltage generation architecture. The heat that would have been generated by multiple separate circuits is instead generated by fewer shared circuits, and this concentrated heat can be more efficiently managed through unified thermal design and heat sinking strategies.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Reliability

If all ET circuits are kept active to ensure continuous high efficiency operation, then the power amplifiers maintain optimal performance, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous high efficiency operationVSAvoidET circuit configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple ET circuits into a shared architecture where a common ET voltage generator serves multiple amplifier circuits. Instead of having separate ET circuits for each amplifier, the invention combines their voltage generation functions, allowing one or more ET circuits to serve multiple amplifiers simultaneously, thereby reducing the total number of active circuits and lowering peak battery current.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic control where the number of active ET circuits can be adjusted based on operational requirements. The system can dynamically activate or deactivate specific ET circuits depending on the current power envelope demands of different amplifier circuits, optimizing the balance between reliability and complexity in real-time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS10978997B2Envelope tracking integrated circuit and related apparatus

Publication Date: 2021.04.13 QORVO US INC

AI summary

An envelope tracking (ET) integrated circuit (IC) (ETIC) is provided. The ETIC includes a number of ET circuits configured to generate a number of ET voltages based on a number of ET target voltages, respectively. In examples discussed herein, a selected ET circuit among the ET circuits is configured to generate a respective ET voltage based on a maximum ET target voltage among the ET target voltages. In this regard, the respective ET voltage generated by the selected ET circuit can be used as a reference ET voltage for the rest of the ET circuits in the ETIC. As a result, it may be possible to opportunistically turn off or reduce functionality of one or more other ET circuits in the ETIC, thus helping to reduce peak battery current and improve heat dissipation in an ET amplifier apparatus incorporating the ETIC.