Hybrid Power Supply Modulator for Stable ET Coupling Voltage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing RF power amplifiers in wireless communication devices face challenges in maintaining high efficiency and linear characteristics, especially with high peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) signals, due to limitations in circuit structure and process, leading to power loss and inefficient modulation operations.
Innovation Solution
A power supply modulator with a hybrid structure of a linear regulator and a switching regulator, coupled by a mode-based connection circuit and a coupling voltage management circuit, which monitors and adjusts the coupling voltage across terminals to maintain a target voltage level across the coupling circuit in various modulation modes, ensuring efficient power use and improved modulation performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a hybrid structure of switching regulator and linear regulator is used to achieve high bandwidth and high efficiency, then power efficiency is improved, but maintaining voltage at both terminals of coupling circuit becomes difficult due to floating state and surrounding noise
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling voltage management circuit performs preliminary action by proactively monitoring the coupling voltage and applying corrective voltage before the floating state or noise can cause significant voltage deviation. This preventive approach ensures voltage stability is maintained without compromising the power efficiency benefits of the hybrid regulator structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling voltage management circuit implements feedback by continuously monitoring the coupling voltage at both terminals of the coupling circuit and dynamically adjusting the voltage application based on the monitoring results. This closed-loop control mechanism resolves the contradiction by automatically compensating for floating state and noise effects while preserving the high efficiency operation of the hybrid regulator architecture.
2Use of energy by moving object
If APT technology is used to regulate power supply voltage while tracking average power, then power efficiency in back-off power region is improved, but power supply voltage cannot instantaneously follow envelope signal causing additional power loss
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between APT mode for steady-state efficiency and ET mode for transient response. The coupling voltage management circuit enables this dynamic operation by maintaining proper voltage levels during mode transitions, allowing the system to exploit the high efficiency of APT in back-off regions while compensating for its slow response through coordinated voltage management.
Solution Approach 2:
The power supply modulator uses a composite approach by combining APT and ET technologies in a hybrid architecture. The coupling circuit with its managed coupling voltage acts as the interface that allows these two different technologies to work together, enabling the system to achieve both the efficiency benefits of APT and the fast tracking capability of ET.
3Use of energy by moving object
If ET technology is applied to RF power amplifier to instantaneously follow input envelope signal, then power efficiency characteristic is improved, but a power supply modulator for normalizing battery power to envelope signal is necessary increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling voltage management circuit serves multiple functions: it monitors coupling voltage, determines modulation modes, applies corrective voltage, and maintains compatibility between different regulator types. This multi-functional component reduces the overall device complexity by consolidating several control functions into a single integrated circuit rather than requiring separate dedicated circuits for each function.
Data Source
AI summary
A power supply modulator includes: a linear regulator; a switching regulator; and a mode-based connection circuit. The mode-based connection circuit includes a coupling circuit configured to drop an output signal of the linear regulator by a target coupling voltage in an envelope tracking (ET) modulation mode; and a coupling voltage management circuit configured to monitor a coupling voltage of the coupling circuit in another modulation mode, and selectively apply a voltage to the coupling voltage based on a monitoring result such that the coupling voltage is maintained at the target coupling voltage.