RF Power Converter with Switchable Filter Topology
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Solution Overview
Problem
RF power converters with Envelope Tracking (ET) and Average Power Tracking (APT) require precise control of supply voltage levels to prevent distortion, but existing solutions increase manufacturing costs due to the need for specialized RF components that occupy additional die area.
Innovation Solution
An RF power converter design that includes a switching circuit, a switching controller, a low-drop out (LDO) regulation circuit, and an RF filter capable of alternating between two topologies, allowing the RF filter to convert pulsed output voltage into a supply voltage and reduce ripple variations without requiring separate filters for the switching circuit and LDO regulation circuit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate RF filters are provided for switching circuit and LDO regulation circuit, then power performance and distortion prevention are improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The RF filter is designed to perform multiple functions by switching between different topologies. In the first topology, it converts pulsed output voltage to supply voltage for the switching circuit. In the second topology, it filters supply voltage for the LDO regulation circuit. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate filters, reducing device complexity while maintaining power performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The RF filter topology is made dynamic through switching between first and second configurations based on operational mode. The filter transitions from a pulsed voltage converter topology to a ripple filtering topology, allowing the same physical component to adapt its electrical characteristics to meet different performance requirements at different times.
2Reliability
If specialized RF components are provided, then spectrum and power performance requirements are met, but die area and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single RF filter component is designed to serve both the switching circuit and LDO regulation circuit by switching between different topologies. This universal design reduces the total die area required compared to providing separate specialized filters for each circuit, while still meeting spectrum and power performance requirements in both operational modes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functionality of two separate RF filters into one unified filter component. By combining the pulsed voltage conversion function and the ripple filtering function into a single switchable component, the total component count and die area are reduced while maintaining the specialized performance characteristics needed for both circuits.
3Device complexity
If a single RF filter is used for both switching circuit and LDO regulation circuit, then device complexity and manufacturing cost are reduced, but power performance and distortion prevention may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The single RF filter maintains high power performance by dynamically switching between two specialized topologies. When operating with the switching circuit, it adopts a topology optimized for pulsed voltage conversion. When operating with the LDO regulation circuit, it switches to a topology optimized for ripple filtering. This dynamic adaptation ensures that power performance and distortion prevention requirements are met in both modes despite using a single physical component.
Solution Approach 2:
The RF filter changes its electrical parameters by switching between different topologies. The switching action alters the filter's impedance characteristics, resonance frequency, and transfer function to match the requirements of the connected circuit. This parameter change allows the single filter to maintain optimal performance characteristics for both the switching circuit and LDO regulation circuit.
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure relates to radio frequency (RF) power converters and methods of operating the same. In one embodiment, an RF power converter includes an RF switching converter, a low-drop out (LDO) regulation circuit, and an RF filter. The RF filter is coupled to receive a pulsed output voltage from the RF switching converter and a supply voltage from the LDO regulation circuit. The RF filter is operable to alternate between a first RF filter topology and a second RF filter topology. In the first RF filter topology, the RF filter is configured to convert the pulsed output voltage from a switching circuit into the supply voltage. The RF filter in the second RF filter topology is configured to filter the supply voltage from the LDO regulation circuit to reduce a ripple variation in a supply voltage level of the supply voltage. As such, the RF filter provides greater versatility.