Shared Envelope Tracking for Multi-PA Linearity and Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power amplifier systems face challenges in achieving high energy efficiency while maintaining signal linearity, especially in applications like phased arrays and base stations, where energy efficiency drops significantly when linear amplification is required, and complex systems with multiple power amplifiers and antennas are costly and complex to implement.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of shared envelope tracking systems, where a single envelope tracker is shared across multiple power amplifiers, combined with digital pre-distortion and time delay elements, to dynamically adjust the bias voltage and offset distortion, improving energy efficiency and reducing complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If linear amplification is performed to maintain signal integrity for amplitude modulation, then signal linearity is improved, but energy efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the amplification function across multiple power amplifiers (e.g., two or more PAs) that share a common envelope tracker. Each PA handles a portion of the signal, and the envelope tracker is time-multiplexed to serve each PA in sequence, allowing linear operation only when needed while improving overall energy efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The envelope tracker operates periodically, time-multiplexing its service across multiple power amplifiers. The tracker enables one PA at a time, creating a periodic action pattern where each PA receives envelope tracking support in alternating time slots, reducing the average power consumption while maintaining signal linearity during active periods
2Use of energy by moving object
If multiple power amplifiers with separate envelope trackers are used to improve efficiency, then energy efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple envelope tracking functions into a single shared envelope tracker that serves multiple power amplifiers. This consolidation reduces the total number of envelope trackers from N (for N PAs) to just one, significantly reducing device complexity while maintaining the energy efficiency benefits through time-multiplexed operation
Solution Approach 2:
The single envelope tracker is designed with universal functionality to serve multiple different power amplifiers through time-multiplexing. It can dynamically enable and disable different PAs based on their instantaneous power requirements, making one tracker perform the function of multiple dedicated trackers would provide
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for improving power amplifier operation are provided. A system may include a baseband signal generator communicatively coupled to a baseband signal digital-to-analog converter. The baseband signal digital-to-analog converter may be communicatively coupled to two or more power amplifiers. The system may also include an envelope signal generator communicatively coupled to an envelope signal digital-to-analog converter. The system may further include a supply modulator communicatively coupled to the envelope signal digital-to-analog converter and the two or more power amplifiers for shared envelope tracking across the two or more power amplifiers.