Shared Envelope Tracking Circuit for Multi-PA Beamforming
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile communication devices face increased power consumption and thermal dissipation when employing multiple power amplifiers for mmWave RF signals, leading to complexity and heat issues, particularly when supporting RF beamforming without an excessive number of envelope tracking (ET) circuits.
Innovation Solution
An ET power amplifier apparatus with a single ET circuit that generates modulated voltages for multiple amplifier circuits, comprising a target voltage circuit, a supply voltage circuit, and an ET voltage circuit, which adapt to the power levels and impedances of RF signals, improving linearity and efficiency while reducing footprint and heat dissipation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple ET circuits are employed to support multiple power amplifiers for RF beamforming, then the power management capability and linearity are improved, but the device footprint, complexity, and heat dissipation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple ET circuits into a single shared ET circuit that serves multiple power amplifiers. The single ET circuit includes a shared voltage generation unit that produces multiple envelope tracking voltages for different amplifiers, thereby reducing the number of ET circuits while maintaining power management capability for RF beamforming operations
Solution Approach 2:
The single ET circuit is designed with multi-functionality to serve multiple power amplifiers simultaneously. The voltage generation unit can generate multiple different envelope tracking voltages for different amplifiers used in RF beamforming, making the single circuit universal enough to handle multiple functions that previously required separate dedicated circuits
2Reliability
If multiple ET circuits are used to provide voltages for multiple power amplifiers, then the efficiency and linearity of each amplifier is improved, but the thermal dissipation and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
By merging multiple ET circuits into one shared circuit, the patent reduces the total power consumption and thermal dissipation. The shared voltage generation unit eliminates redundant circuitry that would otherwise consume additional power and generate heat, while still providing efficient envelope tracking for multiple amplifiers
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple ET circuits are deployed to accommodate multiple power amplifiers for concurrent RF signals, then the power level control and impedance adaptation are improved, but the device footprint increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple ET circuits into a single integrated circuit that occupies less footprint area. The shared ET circuit includes multiple output channels that can independently control power levels for different amplifiers, achieving the same adaptability as multiple separate circuits would provide but in a more compact form factor
Solution Approach 2:
The single ET circuit is designed with universal functionality to control multiple power amplifiers simultaneously. It includes a voltage generation unit that can produce multiple envelope tracking voltages with different characteristics, enabling power level control and impedance adaptation for multiple concurrent RF signals used in beamforming operations
Data Source
AI summary
An envelope tracking (ET) circuit and related power amplifier apparatus is provided. An ET power amplifier apparatus includes an ET circuit and a number of amplifier circuits. The ET circuit is configured to provide a number of ET modulated voltages to the amplifier circuits for amplifying concurrently a number of radio frequency (RF) signals. The ET circuit includes a target voltage circuit for generating a number of ET target voltages adapted to respective power levels of the RF signals and/or respective impedances seen by the amplifier circuits, a supply voltage circuit for generating a number of constant voltages, and an ET voltage circuit for generating the ET modulated voltages based on the ET target voltages and a selected one of the constant voltages. By employing a single ET circuit, it may be possible to reduce the footprint and improve heat dissipation of the ET power amplifier apparatus.