Power Amplifier Gain Switching for Lower Mobile Terminal Power Use

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Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge is to reduce the power consumption of mobile terminals, particularly the power amplifier, which consumes a significant portion of the battery life, especially when transmitting wireless signals, as existing methods fail to effectively control power consumption due to fixed power consumption based on transmitting power.

Innovation Solution

A method and device that dynamically adjust the gain switching point of the power amplifier by calculating the difference between the current transmitting power and the gain switching point, increasing or decreasing it based on preset values to maintain communication requirements while optimizing Power-Added Efficiency (PAE), thereby extending the low-medium gain working range and reducing power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the transmitting power is increased to meet communication requirements, then the communication quality is improved, but the power consumption of the power amplifier increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication requirementVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the gain switching point adjustable rather than fixed. The baseband processor dynamically changes the gain switching point based on the difference between current transmitting power and the switching point, allowing the power amplifier to adapt its operation mode in real-time to balance communication requirements and power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of the gain switching point to resolve the contradiction. By adjusting the gain switching point parameter based on power differences, the system enables the power amplifier to operate in low-power mode when possible while ensuring communication requirements are met, thus reducing overall power consumption without sacrificing reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Loss of energy

If the gain switching point is adjusted to reduce power consumption, then the power amplifier efficiency is improved, but the communication parameter may not meet requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower amplifier efficiencyVSAvoidcommunication parameter
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring the difference between current transmitting power and the gain switching point. Based on this feedback, the baseband processor adjusts the gain switching point appropriately, ensuring that power amplifier efficiency is improved while communication parameters continue to meet requirements through closed-loop control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If the power amplifier operates at fixed transmitting power, then the system is simple to control, but the power consumption cannot be optimized

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol simplicityVSAvoidpower consumption optimization
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies self-service by enabling the power amplifier system to automatically adjust its own operation. The baseband processor autonomously calculates the power difference and adjusts the gain switching point without requiring complex external control, achieving power consumption optimization while maintaining relatively simple system operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3073794B1Method and device for reducing power consumption of mobile terminal
Publication Date: 2018.08.15 ZTE CORP
  • EP3073794B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3073794B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3073794B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is a method and device for reducing the power consumption of a mobile terminal. The method for reducing the power consumption of the mobile terminal includes the following steps: the current transmitting power of the mobile terminal and the current gain switching point of a power amplifier are obtained; when the difference between the obtained current transmitting power and the current gain switching point is less than a preset gain difference, the current gain switching point of the mobile terminal is increased by a first preset value. In the method for reducing the power consumption of the mobile terminal provided by the disclosure, when the difference between the obtained current transmitting power and the current gain switching point is less than the preset gain difference, the current gain switching point of the mobile terminal is increased by the first preset value, so that the low-medium gain working range of the power amplifier of the mobile terminal is extended, and the Power-Added Efficiency (PAE) is improved, thereby reducing the power consumption of the power amplifier.