Dynamic TxFE and DAC Bit Scaling for Lower Uplink Power
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless communication devices face high power consumption due to components like digital-to-analog converters (DAC) and transmission front ends (TxFE) supporting high modulation and coding schemes, leading to increased battery depletion and inefficient operation, especially in varying channel conditions.
Innovation Solution
A dynamic transmission front end (TxFE) and digital-to-analog converter (DAC) system that adjusts the number of bits based on received downlink control messages from base stations, reducing power consumption by disabling least significant bits in DAC and TxFE components, thereby optimizing power usage according to channel conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high-resolution DAC and TxFE components are used to support high MCS, then communication performance is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of DAC resolution and TxFE signal levels based on channel conditions and MCS. The system transitions from static high-resolution operation to dynamic resolution scaling, where the number of active bits in DAC and TxFE components is adjusted in real-time according to communication requirements, resolving the contradiction between maintaining high performance and reducing power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of DAC and TxFE components by adjusting the effective number of bits (ENOB) and signal levels based on channel quality indicators. When channel conditions are good, lower resolution is used; when conditions deteriorate, resolution is increased. This parameter adaptation allows the system to maintain reliability while minimizing power consumption across varying operating conditions.
2Reliability
If high number of bits are supported at DAC and TxFE components, then signal quality is maintained, but battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the bit resolution of DAC and TxFE components based on real-time channel conditions. Instead of operating at fixed high resolution, the system scales the number of active bits according to the modulation and coding scheme being used and the channel quality, thereby extending battery life while maintaining adequate signal quality for current communication requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by using only the necessary number of bits required for the current MCS and channel conditions rather than always utilizing the full resolution capability of the DAC and TxFE components. This partial utilization of component capabilities reduces power consumption and extends battery life while maintaining sufficient signal quality for the given communication scenario.
3Measurement precision
If full resolution of DAC components is used, then transmission accuracy is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the effective resolution parameter of the DAC component based on the modulation order and channel conditions. For lower-order modulations and better channel conditions, fewer DAC bits are activated. For higher-order modulations or poorer conditions, more bits are engaged. This dynamic parameter adjustment maintains transmission accuracy when needed while reducing power consumption when full precision is not required.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. A user equipment (UE) may receive a downlink control message from a base station indicating a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) associated with an uplink transmission, a number of layers associated with the uplink transmission, or both. The UE may determine to adjust (for example, reduce) a first number of bits based on the MCS, the number of layers, or both. The first number of bits may include an effective number of bits (ENOB) supported at a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) of the UE, a number of bits (NOB) supported at a transmission front end (TxFE) component of the UE, or both. The UE may transmit the uplink transmission to the base station according to the adjusted first number of bits.