Envelope Tracking Power Circuit for High-Power RF with Smaller Inductors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Power amplifier circuits in mobile communication devices face challenges in efficiently managing power across a wide range of RF bands, particularly in 5G-NR systems, where they need to scale down for lower throughput applications and scale up for higher throughput applications, while maintaining efficiency and minimizing footprint.
Innovation Solution
An envelope tracking (ET) power management circuit that operates in a high-power ET mode by activating both charge pump circuitries to provide reduced current to the amplifier circuit, allowing for smaller electrical components and reduced footprint, and dynamically configures to operate in normal-power mode when more resource blocks are used.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a single charge pump circuitry is used to provide full current to the amplifier circuit, then the current supply capability is sufficient, but the electrical components (e.g., inductors) must be larger, increasing the footprint and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single charge pump circuitry into two separate charge pump circuitries (first and second charge pump circuitries). Each charge pump circuitry provides a portion of the total current (e.g., 1/2 of the direct current) to the amplifier circuit, allowing the use of smaller inductors and electrical components in each circuitry, thereby reducing the overall footprint and cost while maintaining the required current supply capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the amplifier circuit is configured to operate across a wide range of power levels, then it can support both 3G/4G and 5G-NR RF bands, but the circuit complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic configuration capability that allows the amplifier circuit to switch between different operational modes (high-power ET mode, normal-power mode, single-charge-pump mode) based on real-time communication requirements. The control circuitry dynamically adjusts the operating state of the amplifier circuit and charge pump circuitries, enabling the system to adapt to varying power levels and RF band requirements without requiring multiple dedicated amplifier circuits for each band.
3Area of stationary object
If both charge pump circuitries are activated to provide reduced current each, then smaller electrical components can be used, but the control mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The control circuitry is designed with multi-functionality to handle various operational scenarios: it can control the amplifier circuit in high-power ET mode with both charge pump circuitries activated, switch to normal-power mode with a single charge pump circuitry, or adjust the operational state based on the number of resource blocks. This universal control mechanism manages the complexity of coordinating multiple charge pump circuitries while maintaining the benefit of reduced component footprint.
Data Source
AI summary
An envelope tracking (ET) power management circuit is provided. The ET power management circuit includes an amplifier circuit(s) configured to output a radio frequency (RF) signal at a defined power level corresponding to a direct current, an alternating current, and an ET modulated voltage received by the amplifier circuit(s). The ET power management circuit can operate in a high-power ET mode when the defined power level exceeds a defined power level threshold and the RF signal is modulated to include no more than a defined number of resource blocks. The ET power management includes two ET tracker circuitries each generating a respective ET modulated voltage and two charge pump circuitries each generating a respective current. In the high-power ET mode, both charge pump circuitries are activated to each provide a reduced current to the amplifier circuit, thus helping to reduce a footprint and cost of the ET power management circuit.