Multi-Antenna Digital Pre-Distortion for Shared PA Linearization

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Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless communication systems, power amplifiers operating near the compression point introduce non-linear behavior, leading to degraded adjacent channel leakage power ratio (ACLR) and error vector magnitude (EVM), which affects the efficiency and performance of multi-antenna transmission techniques like MIMO.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a digital pre-distortion (DPD) technique that applies a pre-distorted input signal to power amplifiers to achieve a linear output response, compensating for non-linear behavior by using a single DPD processing circuit for multiple power amplifiers operating at the same compression point, with varying collector voltage and bias adjustments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If power amplifiers operate near the compression point to increase efficiency, then power amplifier efficiency is improved, but non-linear behavior increases causing degraded ACLR and EVM

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower amplifier efficiencyVSAvoidnon-linear behavior
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies digital pre-distortion to the input signal before it reaches the power amplifier. The pre-distortion processing circuit modifies the input signal in advance to compensate for the expected non-linear behavior of the power amplifier, thereby canceling out the distortion and achieving linear output while maintaining high efficiency operation near the compression point.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If separate DPD processing circuits are used for each power amplifier in multi-antenna systems, then each amplifier can be individually optimized, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindividual amplifier optimizationVSAvoidmultiple DPD circuits
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a single DPD processing circuit that serves multiple power amplifiers in a multi-antenna system. This universal circuit applies pre-distortion to signals destined for multiple amplifiers, reducing the overall system complexity while still enabling effective linearization across all power amplifier channels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Use of energy by moving object

If power amplifiers in multi-antenna systems operate at different compression points, then each amplifier can operate optimally, but a single DPD circuit cannot effectively linearize all outputs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindividual amplifier efficiencyVSAvoidlinearization effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent controls all power amplifiers in the multi-antenna system to operate at the same compression point. This equalization of operating conditions ensures that a single DPD processing circuit can effectively linearize the output of all amplifiers, maintaining both system efficiency and linearization effectiveness without requiring multiple separate DPD circuits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #12Equipotentiality

Data Source

PatentEP3488531B1Digital pre-distortion for multi-antenna systems
Publication Date: 2020.04.29 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3488531B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3488531B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3488531B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to methods and apparatus for power amplifier control. A power amplifier network includes a first path comprising a first power amplifier. The power amplifier network further includes a second path comprising a second power amplifier. The power amplifier network further includes a common input path to both the first path and the second path. The power amplifier network further includes a first power control network for controlling a first signal applied to the first power amplifier. The power amplifier network further includes a second power control network for controlling a second signal applied to the second power amplifier, wherein the first power control network is different from the second power control network.