Power Amplifier Supply Switching for Efficient Mobile Uplink
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile devices face challenges in achieving improved transmit efficiency without compromising performance due to high linearity requirements of wireless communications standards, particularly with increasing power consumption from higher data rates in the uplink path.
Innovation Solution
A mobile device power amplifier (PA) with a selectable voltage supply, utilizing a voltage supply selection switch to decouple the voltage supplies for driving and output stages, allowing dynamic adaptive voltage techniques like Envelope Tracking (ET) for high power operation and Average Power Tracking (APT) for lower power levels, thereby optimizing power efficiency without inducing distortion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a single voltage supply is used for both driving and output stages of the power amplifier, then the device complexity is reduced, but the power efficiency at different power levels cannot be optimized independently
Solution Approach 1:
The voltage supply system is segmented into two independent supplies: a first voltage supply for the driving stage and a second voltage supply for the output stage. This segmentation allows each stage to be optimized independently for power efficiency while maintaining overall system functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The second voltage supply is implemented as a dynamic adaptive voltage supply that can adjust its output voltage based on operating conditions. This dynamic capability enables optimization of power efficiency at different power levels (high power with Envelope Tracking, low power with Average Power Tracking) without requiring complex manual switching.
2Use of energy by moving object
If dynamic adaptive voltage techniques are applied to the power amplifier, then power efficiency is improved, but linearity may be compromised due to voltage fluctuations
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the voltage supplies for the driving and output stages, the patent ensures that dynamic adaptive voltage techniques applied to the second supply do not affect the linearity-critical first stage. The driving stage receives stable voltage from the first supply while the output stage benefits from dynamic voltage adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
Different voltage supply strategies are applied to different stages based on their specific requirements: the driving stage receives stable voltage to maintain linearity, while the output stage receives dynamically adjusted voltage to optimize power efficiency. Each stage receives the quality of voltage supply appropriate to its function.
3Productivity
If higher data rates are implemented in the uplink path, then communication performance is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic adaptive voltage supply adjusts the output stage voltage in real-time based on the required transmit power level. During high data rate transmission requiring higher power, the supply provides adequate voltage headroom. During lower power intervals, it reduces voltage to minimize power consumption, enabling efficient support for variable data rates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the voltage supply parameter dynamically to match the instantaneous power requirements. By adjusting the supply voltage parameter based on operating conditions and required output power, the system can support higher data rates when needed while minimizing power consumption during lower rate transmission.
Data Source
AI summary
The present application discloses various implementations of a mobile device including a power amplifier (PA) having a driving stage coupled to an output stage. The driving stage is configured to be selectably powered by one of a first voltage supply and a second voltage supply. The output stage is configured to be powered by the second voltage supply. The mobile device further includes a voltage supply selection switch configured to selectably power the driving stage by the second voltage supply when an output power of the PA is less than or equal to a threshold power.