Hybrid Switched Capacitor Array Power Amplifier for High Resolution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Switched capacitor power amplifiers (SCPA) face challenges in increasing resolution due to limitations in metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitors, leading to a tradeoff between resolution and quality factor, and out-of-band noise from signal quantization affects their performance.
Innovation Solution
A hybrid-mode SCPA is introduced, segmenting the traditional SCPA into two sub-arrays, where the least significant bits are modulated using a delta-sigma modulator and the most significant bits are processed using a Nyquist-rate unary array, allowing for higher resolution and bandwidth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional SCPA uses MIM capacitors divided down to minimum value, then resolution is limited, but quality factor cannot be improved
Solution Approach 1:
The capacitor array is segmented into multiple sub-arrays with different capacitor values. Instead of using a single fine-grained capacitor array, the patent divides the array into coarser sub-arrays that can be independently controlled, thereby achieving high resolution without requiring capacitors to be divided down to their minimum value, thus maintaining quality factor.
2Measurement precision
If SCPA increases resolution, then out-of-band noise decreases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The capacitor array is divided into multiple sub-arrays that can be independently controlled. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high resolution through coordinated control of multiple coarser sub-arrays rather than requiring a single high-resolution array, thereby reducing the complexity of individual capacitor elements and their control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic control of the capacitor sub-arrays through switched-capacitor techniques, where the configuration and connectivity of sub-arrays are dynamically adjusted during operation. This dynamic reconfiguration enables high resolution without permanently complex hardware structures.
3Speed
If traditional DAC is used, then bandwidth is limited, but resolution can be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The capacitor array is segmented into multiple sub-arrays that can operate in parallel or be independently switched. This segmentation enables the system to achieve both high bandwidth through parallel operation and high resolution through precise control of each sub-array, overcoming the traditional tradeoff between bandwidth and resolution in DAC designs.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the disclosure are drawn to apparatuses a hybrid switched capacitor array power amplifier (H-SCPA). The H-SCPA may have an array of storage elements divided into sub-arrays. A first sub-array may be configured to receive a delta sigma modulated (DSM) signal. A second sub-array may be configured to receive a Nyquist-rate signal. The H-SCPA may provide an output based on the received DSM and Nyquist-rate signals. The first sub-array and second sub-array may have different architectures. The DSM signal may represent the least significant bits of the signal and the Nyquist-rate signal may represent the most significant bits of the signal.