Polar Transmitter-Modulator Join for High-Bandwidth Power Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current approaches to increasing power efficiency in wireless transmitters, such as using polar modulators and direct PA modulation, are sub-optimal for supporting high bandwidth while maintaining low power dissipation and good far-off noise performance.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that combine a polar transmitter with a modulator, utilizing a circuit to generate distinct streams of data and a supply voltage, with adjustable update rates for the signal and power amplifier DACs, and incorporating pre-distortion to compensate for slow PA DAC responses, to enhance power efficiency and noise performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If output power of the device is increased to increase coverage area, then coverage area is improved, but power efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The transmitter is segmented into separate functional blocks: a polar modulator that processes phase information and a power amplifier that handles amplitude information. This segmentation allows each block to operate optimally - the modulator can work at lower power while the PA can be efficiently controlled, resolving the contradiction between coverage area and power efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the supply voltage to the power amplifier based on the envelope of the modulated signal. This dynamic voltage control allows the PA to operate at high efficiency across varying output power levels, enabling increased coverage area without proportional increase in power consumption
2Use of energy by moving object
If a feedback mechanism is added for envelope tracking power supply, then power efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The envelope information is extracted and processed in advance before the power amplification stage. The supply voltage is pre-adjusted based on this preliminary envelope analysis, eliminating the need for complex real-time feedback mechanisms during power amplification, thus maintaining power efficiency while reducing device complexity
3Loss of energy
If direct modulation of PA is performed, then power dissipation is reduced, but noise performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The modulation process is segmented into phase modulation (handled by polar modulator) and amplitude control (handled by PA supply voltage). This segmentation allows the PA to be directly modulated for low power dissipation while the polar modulator handles the complex modulation, preserving noise performance through proper separation of functions
Solution Approach 2:
The supply voltage acts as an intermediary between the envelope information and the power amplifier. This intermediary approach allows indirect control of the PA, reducing direct modulation noise while maintaining the power efficiency benefits of direct modulation through the voltage control mechanism
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and a method for transmitting a signal over a wireless channel using a device including a polar transmitter joinable with a modulator are disclosed. For example, the method, by a circuit of the device, generates first and second streams of data from received data based on a type of modulator, a type of combiner and a channel frequency, each stream having at least some portion of the received data that is distinct from data included in the other stream, the type of combiner comprising a multiplicative or an additive combiner, the method, by the circuit, generates a first analog signal based on the first stream and generates a supply voltage based on the second stream, and the method by an amplifier coupled to the circuit, generates a Radio Frequency (RF) signal based on the supply voltage and the type of combiner.