Switchable TX Supply Voltage for Multimode Linearity and Power

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Solution Overview

Problem

Multimode chipsets often consume inefficiently high power due to the highest necessary voltage being supplied across all modes of operation, leading to suboptimal performance in modes with less demanding linearity and spectral purity requirements.

Innovation Solution

A voltage generation module that dynamically switches between two voltage levels, providing a higher voltage during demanding modes like GSM and a lower voltage during less demanding modes like W-CDMA, allowing for customized voltage supply to specific blocks within the transmitter circuitry.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the highest necessary voltage level is supplied to the transmitter circuit for all modes of operation, then the linearity and spectral purity requirements are met for all modes, but the power consumption becomes inefficiently high for modes with less demanding requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelinearity and spectral purityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic voltage adjustment by switching between a first voltage level and a second voltage level based on the operating mode. The voltage generation module responds to control signals that indicate whether the transmitter should operate in a first mode or second mode, thereby dynamically adapting the supply voltage to match the specific linearity and spectral purity requirements of each mode rather than continuously supplying the highest voltage level.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the voltage parameter supplied to the transmitter circuit based on operating mode requirements. By switching between different voltage levels (first voltage level for high linearity modes, second voltage level for efficiency-oriented modes), the system optimizes the balance between performance parameters (linearity, spectral purity) and energy consumption parameters according to the specific operational context.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If a single voltage level is supplied to the transmitter circuit, then the circuit design is simplified, but the efficiency and performance optimization for different operating modes is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevoltage supply circuit designVSAvoidoperational efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The voltage generation module is designed to provide multiple voltage levels (first voltage level and second voltage level) through a single unified circuit architecture. This multi-functional voltage supply can adapt to different operating modes (GSM, W-CDMA, or other modes) without requiring separate voltage supply circuits for each mode, thereby achieving operational efficiency optimization while maintaining relatively simple circuit design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2223433B1Switchable-level voltage supplies for multimode communications
Publication Date: 2012.05.16 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP2223433B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2223433B1 patent drawingFigure 2~2A
  • EP2223433B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Switchable voltage level supplies for circuitry in a multi-mode communications chipset are disclosed. In an embodiment, a first voltage level is supplied to TX circuitry operating in a first mode having a first set of linearity and/or noise requirements. A second voltage level lower than the first voltage level is supplied to TX circuitry operating in a second mode having a second set of linearity and/or noise requirements looser than the first set of requirements. The first mode may be operation according to the GSM standard, and the second mode may be operation according to the W-CDMA standard.