Power Amplifier Voltage Tracking Across OFDM Cyclic Prefix Intervals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional power management circuits for 5G-NR and Wi-Fi amplifiers generate excessive voltage, leading to energy waste and reduced efficiency due to maintaining a constant maximum target voltage across defined intervals, failing to adapt to the time-variant power envelope of analog signals.
Innovation Solution
A power management circuit that dynamically adjusts the target voltage within defined intervals based on the detected time-variant power envelope of the analog signal, generating a lower initial target voltage during cyclic prefixes of OFDM symbols and adjusting it as necessary to track the power envelope, thereby reducing energy waste and improving efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a constant maximum target voltage is generated at the start of each defined interval, then the power amplifier can handle peak signal power, but energy is wasted during low-power periods
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic voltage adjustment by dividing each defined interval into multiple sub-intervals and generating different target voltages for each sub-interval based on the instantaneous power envelope detection. This transforms the static maximum voltage approach into a dynamic adaptive system that matches the actual signal power requirements throughout the interval.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the voltage parameter over time within each defined interval by detecting the power envelope at different time points and adjusting the target voltage accordingly. This parameter change approach allows the system to transition from a fixed maximum voltage to a time-variant voltage that tracks the signal envelope, reducing energy waste during low-power periods.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the target voltage is dynamically adjusted during defined intervals, then energy efficiency is improved, but circuit complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments each defined interval into multiple sub-intervals and processes voltage adjustment independently for each sub-interval. This segmentation allows the complex dynamic adjustment task to be broken down into manageable discrete steps, making the implementation more feasible while maintaining energy efficiency benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic voltage adjustment by resetting the target voltage to a maximum value at the start of each defined interval and then performing periodic sub-interval adjustments within each interval. This periodic structure provides a predictable rhythm to the dynamic adjustment process, simplifying control logic while achieving energy savings.
3Loss of energy
If a lower initial target voltage is generated during cyclic prefix, then energy waste is reduced, but signal amplification quality may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by generating a lower initial target voltage during the cyclic prefix period before the main signal data arrives. Since the cyclic prefix contains redundant information for synchronization and channel estimation, reducing voltage during this period saves energy without compromising the quality of actual signal transmission that follows.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent skips full-power amplification during the cyclic prefix period by applying a reduced initial target voltage, rapidly transitioning through this non-critical period, and then full-power amplification for the main signal data. This skipping approach reduces energy waste during the brief CP period while maintaining signal quality for the essential data transmission.
Data Source
AI summary
A power management circuit operable to adjust voltage within a defined interval(s) is provided. The power management circuit is configured to generate a time-variant voltage for amplifying an analog signal based on a target voltage. In embodiments disclosed herein, the power management circuit can be configured to generate a lower initial target voltage at a start of the defined interval(s), such as during a cyclic prefix (CP) of an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol, and dynamically adjust the initial target voltage, if necessary, within the defined interval(s) based on a time-variant power envelope of the analog signal. By generating the lower target voltage, in contrast to a conventional method of generating a maximum target voltage, at the start of the defined interval(s), it is possible to reduce energy waste and help improve efficiency in a power amplifier configured to amplify the analog signal based on the time-variant voltage.