Time-Division Multi-Voltage Circuit for Compact PMIC Footprint
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing number of DC-DC converters in power management integrated circuits (PMICs) for mobile communication devices leads to a significant increase in footprint, making it difficult to fit them into miniaturized electronic devices.
Innovation Solution
A multi-voltage generation circuit that shares a single current modulation circuit among multiple voltage modulation circuits using a time-division scheme to generate and maintain multiple modulated voltages, reducing the need for multiple DC-DC converters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple DC-DC converters are used to generate multiple supply voltages for multiple power amplifiers, then the power management circuit can provide multiple voltages concurrently, but the footprint of the PMIC increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple DC-DC converter functions into a single voltage modulation circuit that can generate multiple supply voltages (e.g., VCC1, VCC2, VCC3) for multiple power amplifiers. The voltage modulation circuit includes a current modulation circuit and multiple voltage amplifiers that work together to produce different voltage levels from a single input voltage, thereby reducing the number of separate converter components needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The voltage modulation circuit is designed as a universal circuit that can simultaneously or sequentially provide multiple different supply voltages to different power amplifier circuits. The circuit uses voltage amplifiers with different gain values to generate multiple voltage levels from a single input, making the PMIC capable of supporting multiple power amplifiers without requiring separate dedicated converters for each.
2Ease of operation
If multiple DC-DC converters are used to support multiple power amplifiers, then each amplifier can be powered independently, but the device miniaturization becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple independent voltage supply functions into a single integrated voltage modulation circuit. The circuit maintains the ability to independently power multiple power amplifiers by using multiple voltage amplifiers with different gain values, while physically consolidating what would have been separate DC-DC converters into one compact unit, thereby reducing the overall volume of the PMIC and enabling device miniaturization.
Solution Approach 2:
The voltage modulation circuit can operate in a time-division manner where the single current modulation circuit alternates between serving different voltage output channels. By periodically switching between different voltage amplification paths, the circuit provides independent voltage control to multiple power amplifiers while using a single shared current modulation resource, reducing the physical footprint compared to having simultaneously active multiple independent converters.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Concurrently supports multiple load circuits with significantly reduced footprint by sharing a single current modulation circuit, enabling efficient voltage management in miniaturized devices.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the multiple voltage modulation circuits includes a respective one of multiple offset capacitors configured to raise the respective one of the multiple modulated initial voltages by a respective one of multiple offset voltages
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-voltage power generation circuit is disclosed. More specifically, the multi-voltage generation circuit includes multiple voltage modulation circuits that are configured to generate and maintain multiple modulated voltages. In a non-limiting example, the multiple modulated voltages can be used for amplifying multiple radio frequency (RF) signals concurrently. Contrary to using multiple direct-current (DC) to DC (DC-DC) converters for generating the multiple modulated voltages, the voltage modulation circuits are configured to share a single current modulation circuit based on time-division. By sharing a single current modulation circuit among the multiple voltage modulation circuits, it is possible to concurrently support multiple load circuits (e.g., power amplifier circuits) with significantly reduced footprint.