RFPA Power Supply Using Segmented VCVS and CCCS Architecture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current RFPA power supplies face inefficiencies due to the limitations of existing switching power supplies in achieving high output power, high bandwidth, and high efficiency simultaneously, particularly when dealing with RF signals featuring high peak to average power ratio (PAPR) in 3G and LTE communications.
Innovation Solution
A power supply system for RFPA that combines a voltage-controlled voltage source (VCVS) with multiple current-controlled current sources (CCCSs), utilizing sampling and filtering units to allocate bands and adjust output currents based on different frequency bands, allowing for high output power, high bandwidth, and high efficiency by optimizing switching frequencies and power levels across multiple CCCSs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a single switching power supply is used to provide high output power, then the output power requirement is met, but the bandwidth is insufficient and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The power supply is divided into multiple independent switching power supplies (first, second, third switching power supplies), each responsible for a specific frequency band. This segmentation allows each unit to operate at optimized switching frequencies, achieving both high output power and high bandwidth simultaneously by distributing the total power across multiple specialized channels.
2Speed
If switching frequency is increased to improve bandwidth, then bandwidth is improved, but efficiency decreases due to increased losses
Solution Approach 1:
Each switching power supply is assigned to a specific frequency band with optimized switching frequency characteristics. The first switching power supply operates at a higher switching frequency for high-frequency bands, while the second and third switching power supplies operate at lower switching frequencies for low-frequency bands. This local optimization ensures each component operates in its most efficient regime, achieving high bandwidth without sacrificing overall system efficiency.
3Speed
If linear power supply is used to track high frequency envelope signals, then bandwidth is achieved, but output power is limited and efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple switching power supplies with different frequency characteristics to create a unified power supply system that delivers both high bandwidth and high output power. The parallel configuration of multiple switching power supplies allows the system to simultaneously provide the fast response of high-frequency operation and the high power capability of switching mode operation, overcoming the limitations of using a single linear or switching power supply.
Data Source
AI summary
A power supply apparatus for a radio frequency power amplifier (RFPA) is provided, where the output end of a voltage controlled voltage source (VCVS) and the output ends of N current controlled current sources (CCCSs) are coupled in parallel to supply power to the RFPA. The apparatus further includes an nth sampling unit, configured to sample the sum of the output currents of the first (n−1) CCCSs and the VCVS to obtain an nth sampling signal; and an nth filtering unit, configured to filter the nth sampling signal according to a predefined nth passband and output the filtered nth sampling signal to an nth CCCS, thus controlling the output current of the nth CCCS. The nth passband is lower than an (n−1)th passband. The switching frequency of the nth CCCS is higher than the switching frequency of an (n−1)th CCCS. N is an integer greater than or equal to 2, and n is a positive integer smaller than or equal to N.