Temperature-Adaptive Frequency Divider Biasing for Lower Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing frequency divider circuits in wireless communication transceivers consume excessive power due to fixed operating points and the presence of power-hungry LO buffers, leading to inefficiencies in power management, especially at varying temperatures and process corners.
Innovation Solution
A bias-current shaping technique is employed to adjust power consumption in frequency dividers based on temperature changes, using a temperature-dependent bias current generation circuit that combines with the incoming LO signal to minimize power consumption across all process and temperature corners, and removing LO buffers to distribute the LO frequency without amplification, thereby reducing resistive loading.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed operating point is used for the frequency divider to ensure reliable functionality at worst-case conditions, then reliability is improved, but power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from a fixed operating point to a dynamically adjustable bias current that adapts to actual operating conditions. The frequency divider's bias current is made variable through a control circuit that adjusts it based on temperature and process corner measurements, allowing the system to maintain reliability at worst-case conditions while consuming minimal power at typical conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the bias current parameter dynamically based on measured temperature and process corner conditions. By using a lookup table or curve fitting approach, the system selects appropriate bias current values that ensure reliable operation at worst-case conditions while minimizing power consumption at typical operating points, directly resolving the contradiction between reliability and power consumption.
2Reliability
If LO buffers are included to distribute the LO signal, then signal distribution reliability is improved, but power consumption increases substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the LO buffers from the system entirely. Instead of using active buffering components that consume substantial power, the design distributes the LO signal directly through passive interconnects, eliminating the power-hungry LO buffers while maintaining signal distribution functionality through careful impedance matching and signal integrity design.
3Use of energy by moving object
If inductive elements are used to resonate with parasitic capacitances and reduce power consumption, then power consumption is reduced, but device area increases unacceptably
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes inductive elements with capacitive elements and active circuit techniques. Instead of using large inductors that resonate with parasitic capacitances, the design uses additional capacitors and active bias control circuits to achieve the same power reduction effect, replacing the mechanical/physical inductive resonance approach with an active electronic control approach that occupies less silicon area.
Data Source
AI summary
A bias-shaping circuit for adjusting power consumption in a frequency divider to a temperature-dependent minimum includes a temperature-dependent bias source for producing a temperature-dependent bias. The bias is combined with an input signal to create an output bias. The output bias changes in response to a change in temperature to compensate for at least a portion of a temperature-induced change in the frequency divider, thereby adjusting power consumption in the frequency divider to a temperature-dependent minimum.