Shared DC-DC Regulator in Wireless FEMs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless devices face a challenge in reducing size and weight while maintaining power efficiency, as multiple power amplifiers and DC-DC supply regulators increase the device footprint and battery drain, especially when supporting multiple communication standards and frequency bands.
Innovation Solution
Integrating a shared DC-DC supply regulator within a front-end module (FEM) and sharing it among multiple FEMs, combined with a bias circuit, to regulate supply voltages and reduce the need for separate DC-DC supply regulators for each module, thereby minimizing die content and footprint.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If multiple separate DC-DC supply regulators are used for each power amplifier to support multiple communication standards and frequency bands, then power efficiency is improved, but device footprint and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple DC-DC supply regulators into a single shared regulator that can dynamically allocate power to multiple power amplifiers. This consolidation reduces the total number of regulator components, decreasing device footprint and weight while maintaining the ability to provide efficient power regulation to multiple PAs supporting different communication standards and frequency bands.
Solution Approach 2:
The shared DC-DC supply regulator is designed with multi-functionality to serve multiple power amplifiers simultaneously or individually. It can dynamically switch and allocate power to different PAs based on which communication standard (2G, 3G, 4G) and frequency band is actively being used, providing universal power supply capability across multiple functions without requiring separate dedicated regulators for each.
2Power
If multiple separate DC-DC supply regulators are used for each power amplifier, then power regulation capability is improved, but device weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple DC-DC supply regulators into a single shared regulator unit, reducing the total weight of power regulation components. The shared regulator maintains full power regulation capability by dynamically allocating and switching power to multiple power amplifiers based on active communication standards and frequency bands, eliminating the need for separate heavy regulator components for each PA.
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate DC-DC supply regulators are used for each front-end module, then module independence is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shared DC-DC supply regulator incorporates control logic that provides each front-end module with independent power regulation capability. The regulator can dynamically allocate power to specific power amplifiers based on which communication standard (2G, 3G, 4G) and frequency band is actively being used, maintaining module independence and adaptability while reducing overall device complexity through consolidation.
Data Source
AI summary
The systems and processes described herein can reduce the footprint of the internal devices of a wireless device by combining the DC-DC supply regulator with a FEM. Further, the device footprint can be further reduced by sharing the integrated DC-DC supply regulator among multiple FEMs reducing or eliminating the use of a separate DC-DC supply regulator for each FEM of a wireless device. Moreover, in certain embodiments, by integrating the DC-DC supply regulator into a 2G FEM, power efficiency can be improved for some wireless devices. For example, the DC-DC supply regulator may be used to supply power to a PA used for high-band 2G transmission functions. Using the DC-DC supply regulator can improve power efficiency compared to systems that supply the power for the high-band 2G PA directly from the power supply (e.g., the battery).