Envelope Tracking Circuit With Differential Phase Correction Pins
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power management circuits for 5G-NR mobile communication devices require multiple physical pins for phase correction, leading to increased cost, footprint, and design complexity, which is undesirable in modern wireless communication devices.
Innovation Solution
A power management circuit that includes a power amplifier and an envelope tracking integrated circuit (ETIC) with a signal demodulation and phase correction circuit, which modulates and demodulates differential signals to reduce the number of physical pins, thereby reducing cost and footprint.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple physical pins are used for phase correction in the power management circuit, then phase correction capability is improved, but device complexity and footprint increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the phase correction signal and envelope tracking signal into a single differential signal transmitted through one physical pin. The ETIC demodulates this combined signal to extract both the envelope information and phase correction information, eliminating the need for separate pins for each function while maintaining both capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The single physical pin serves multiple functions by carrying a modulated differential signal that contains both envelope tracking information and phase correction information. This multi-functional approach allows the same physical interface to support both signal types without requiring additional pins.
2Reliability
If multiple physical pins are used for phase correction, then phase correction capability is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple signal transmission functions into a single physical pin, reducing the bill of materials cost and assembly complexity. By transmitting both envelope and phase correction information through one pin, the overall manufacturing cost is reduced compared to using multiple separate pins.
3Reliability
If multiple physical pins are used for phase correction, then phase correction capability is improved, but footprint increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent consolidates multiple signal paths into a single physical connection, reducing the PCB real estate required. The differential signaling approach allows bidirectional communication (transmitting both envelope and phase information) through one pin pair, minimizing the footprint while maintaining full phase correction functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
A power management circuit supporting phase correction in an analog signal with reduced physical pins is disclosed. The power management circuit includes a power amplifier circuit configured to amplify an analog signal having a time-variant power envelope based on a modulated voltage. The power management circuit also includes an envelope tracking integrated circuit (ETIC) configured to generate the modulated voltage and a modulated phase correction voltage to thereby cause a phase change in the analog signal. The ETIC receives a modulated differential signal that includes a common signal and a differential signal and generates the modulated phase correction voltage and the modulated voltage based on the common signal and the differential signal, respectively. By modulating the common signal and the differential signal into the modulated differential signal, it is possible to reduce physical pins in the ETIC to thereby reduce cost and footprint of the power management circuit.