Power Amplifier Selection to Minimize Transmit Power Backoff
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Solution Overview
Problem
Power amplifiers in radio telecommunications experience significant efficiency decrease when operated with backoff from their maximum output power capability, leading to suboptimal performance.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus comprising a plurality of power amplifiers with different maximum output power capabilities and a control means that selects a set of power amplifiers for simultaneous transmission via respective antenna ports, optimizing the combined total transmit power to minimize backoff.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If power amplifiers are operated with backoff from maximum output power capability, then transmit power can be controlled, but efficiency decreases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the power amplifier resources into multiple individual PAs with different maximum output power capabilities. Instead of operating a single PA with backoff, the controller selectively activates and combines multiple PAs, each operating near their respective maximum capabilities, thereby maintaining high efficiency while achieving the desired total transmit power through controlled combination of segmented power sources.
2Loss of energy
If multiple power amplifiers with different maximum output power capabilities are used, then efficiency can be improved by reducing backoff, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service through automated controller management that autonomously selects optimal power amplifier combinations based on required transmit power levels. The controller automatically monitors system state, evaluates available PAs with different capabilities, and dynamically configures the optimal set without manual intervention, thereby managing the increased device complexity through intelligent automation rather than manual configuration.
3Ease of manufacture
If power amplifiers are selected based on lowest maximum output power capabilities sufficient to meet target, then cost can be reduced, but ability to meet varying power requirements is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system achieves universality by creating a multi-functional power amplifier array where each PA serves multiple potential roles. PAs with different maximum output power capabilities are integrated into a single system that can adaptively configure itself to meet various power requirements. The same set of diverse PAs can serve different transmit power needs by selecting appropriate combinations, making the system universally capable across a range of power levels without requiring dedicated PAs for each specific power requirement.
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus comprising a plurality of power amplifiers, wherein at least some of the plurality of power amplifiers have different maximum output power capabilities; a multiplicity of antenna ports; control means configured to select a set of one or more power amplifiers from the plurality of power amplifiers for simultaneous transmission via respective antenna ports.