Wideband Envelope Tracking Power Amplifier LDO Architecture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wideband envelope tracking power amplifiers face inefficiencies when dealing with high bandwidth signals, as single low dropout voltage regulators (LDOs) struggle to efficiently modulate voltage across a wide range of frequencies, leading to reduced power efficiency and impedance issues.
Innovation Solution
A wideband envelope tracking power amplifier utilizing multiple low dropout voltage regulators (LDOs) with a single-input-multi-output (SIMO) voltage supply, where multiple voltage levels are outputted and combined to form an envelope tracking voltage level signal, allowing for efficient voltage modulation across a wide frequency range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single low dropout voltage regulator (LDO) is used to modulate voltage across a wide frequency range, then the device complexity is reduced, but the power efficiency deteriorates and impedance issues arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single voltage regulation function into multiple LDOs operating in parallel, each handling a specific voltage range. This segmentation allows each regulator to operate more efficiently within its optimal range, improving overall power efficiency while maintaining manageable complexity through modular architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between different LDOs based on the required voltage level and operating conditions. This dynamic allocation optimizes power efficiency by selecting the most appropriate regulator for each operating state, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and efficiency.
2Device complexity
If a single LDO is used for voltage modulation, then the circuit design is simplified, but the ability to handle wide bandwidth signals deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple LDOs are segmented to handle different portions of the voltage range, with each regulator optimized for specific bandwidth requirements. This allows the system to process wideband signals by distributing the workload across multiple regulators, enhancing adaptability while keeping individual circuit designs simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-LDO configuration provides universal voltage regulation capability across wide bandwidth signals. Each LDO can be selectively activated based on signal characteristics, making the system adaptable to various bandwidth requirements while maintaining a standardized circuit design approach.
3Use of energy by moving object
If multiple voltage levels are combined to form envelope tracking signal, then the power efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple voltage outputs from different LDOs are merged through a combiner circuit to form the envelope tracking voltage signal. This merging approach improves power efficiency by utilizing multiple regulated voltage sources while the combiner integrates them into a unified output, managing the complexity through a dedicated combining function.
Solution Approach 2:
The combiner acts as an intermediary component that receives multiple voltage levels from different LDOs and synthesizes the envelope tracking signal. This intermediary element manages the complexity of voltage combination by providing a standardized interface between multiple voltage sources and the final output.
Data Source
AI summary
A wideband envelope tracking power amplifier includes a plurality of low dropout voltage regulators (LDOs) including at least a first LDO and a second LDO. The wideband envelope tracking power amplifier also includes a single-input-multi-output (SIMO) voltage supply to output a plurality of voltage signals at different voltage levels, the voltage levels including a highest voltage level and one or more voltage levels lower than the highest voltage level. The SIMO voltage supply connects a first of the plurality of voltage signals at a first voltage level to the first LDO to form at least a portion of an envelope tracking voltage level signal, and connects a second of the plurality of voltage signals at a second voltage level less than or equal to the first voltage level to the second LDO to form at least another portion of the envelope tracking voltage level signal.