Wide-bandwidth envelope tracking circuit

• US 10,361,660 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2018
• Issued: 07/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc. (Qorvo, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc. (Qorvo, Inc.)
• Inventors: Khlat, Nadim
• Primary Examiner(s): Choe, Henry
• Application Number:
  US15/964,762
• Publication Number:
  US 20190181804A1
• Time in Patent Office: 452 Days
• Field of Search: 330127, 330297
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/0227 using supply converters
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/0233 by using a signal derived from the output signal, e.g. bootstrapping the voltage supply
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/102 A non-specified detector of a signal envelope being used in an amplifying circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/193 with field-effect devices H03F3/195 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/195 in integrated circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/21 with semiconductor devices only H03F3/245 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/245 with semiconductor devices only
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/45071 with semiconductor devices only

Abstract

A wide-bandwidth envelope tracking (ET) circuit is provided. In examples discussed herein, the wide-bandwidth ET circuit is configured to enable a differential amplifier circuit(s) to amplify a radio frequency (RF) signal(s) modulated at a wide-bandwidth (e.g., up to 160 MHz) without increasing power dissipation. Specifically, the wide-bandwidth ET circuit employs a pair of tracker circuits to concurrently provide ET modulated voltages and currents (e.g., direct current and/or alternating current) to the differential amplifier circuit(s) for amplifying the RF signal(s). For example, each of the tracker circuits can be configured to provide one-half (½) of the total current required by the differential amplifier circuit(s). Accordingly, the tracker circuits can be implemented with smaller output stages. As a result, the tracker circuits can supply the ET modulated voltages at a higher slew rate and reduced output impedance, thus helping to improve power dissipation in the wide-bandwidth ET circuit.

Claims

1. A wide-bandwidth envelope tracking (ET) circuit comprising:

a differential amplifier circuit comprising a first amplifier input and a second amplifier input, the differential amplifier circuit configured to;

receive a first input voltage and a first input current at the first amplifier input;

receive a second input voltage and a second input current at the second amplifier input; and

amplify a radio frequency (RF) signal based on the first input voltage, the first input current, the second input voltage, and the second input current;

a first tracker circuit comprising a first tracker output and configured to generate a first ET modulated voltage and a first current at the first tracker output;

a second tracker circuit comprising a second tracker output and configured to generate a second ET modulated voltage and a second current at the second tracker output; and

control circuitry configured to;

couple the first tracker output to the first amplifier input to provide the first ET modulated voltage and the first current to the differential amplifier circuit as the first input voltage and the first input current, respectively; and

couple the second tracker output to the second amplifier input to provide the second ET modulated voltage and the second current to the differential amplifier circuit as the second input voltage and the second input current, respectively.

2. The wide-bandwidth ET circuit of claim 1 wherein the differential amplifier circuit is further configured to:

receive the first input voltage substantially equals the second input voltage; and

receive the first input current substantially equals the second input current.

3. The wide-bandwidth ET circuit of claim 1 wherein the RF signal is modulated at a modulation bandwidth up to 160 megahertz (MHz).

4. The wide-bandwidth ET circuit of claim 1 further comprising switching circuitry, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to control the switching circuitry to couple the first tracker output and the second tracker output to the first amplifier input and the second amplifier input, respectively.

5. The wide-bandwidth ET circuit of claim 1 wherein the differential amplifier circuit comprises:

driver stage circuitry comprising a driver stage amplifier input, the driver stage circuitry is configured to amplify the RF signal based on a driver stage input voltage received at the driver stage amplifier input to generate a driver stage signal; and

differential output stage circuitry comprising;

a positive output stage amplifier comprising the first amplifier input and configured to;

receive the first input voltage and the first input current via the first amplifier input; and

amplify the driver stage signal based on the first input voltage and the first input current to generate a positive output stage RF signal; and

a negative output stage amplifier comprising the second amplifier input and configured to;

receive the second input voltage and the second input current via the second amplifier input; and

amplify the driver stage signal based on the second input voltage and the second input current to generate a negative output stage RF signal.

6. The wide-bandwidth ET circuit of claim 5 wherein:

the first tracker circuit comprises;

first tracker circuitry configured to receive a first supply voltage and generate the first ET modulated voltage tracking a time-variant target voltage envelope associated with a target voltage based on the first supply voltage; and

first charge pump circuitry configured to generate the first current; and

the second tracker circuit comprises;

second tracker circuitry configured to receive a second supply voltage and generate the second ET modulated voltage tracking the time-variant target voltage envelope associated with the target voltage based on the second supply voltage; and

second charge pump circuitry configured to generate the second current.

7. The wide-bandwidth ET circuit of claim 6 further comprising:

a signal processing circuit configured to;

receive a digital signal having a plurality of signal amplitudes representing a time-variant signal envelope; and

convert the digital signal into the RF signal having a time-variant power envelope tracking the time-variant signal envelope; and

a voltage processing circuit configured to;

receive the plurality of signal amplitudes from the signal processing circuit;

generate a plurality of target voltage amplitudes based on the plurality of signal amplitudes;

generate the target voltage having the time-variant target voltage envelope tracking the plurality of target voltage amplitudes; and

provide the target voltage to the first tracker circuitry and the second tracker circuitry.

8. The wide-bandwidth ET circuit of claim 7 wherein the voltage processing circuit comprises voltage lookup table (LUT) circuitry configured to convert the plurality of signal amplitudes into a plurality of predetermined target voltage amplitudes.

9. The wide-bandwidth ET circuit of claim 8 wherein the voltage processing circuit further comprises slew rate control circuitry coupled to the voltage LUT circuitry and configured to nonlinearly modify the plurality of predetermined target voltage amplitudes to generate the plurality of target voltage amplitudes greater than or equal to the plurality of predetermined target voltage amplitudes, respectively.

10. The wide-bandwidth ET circuit of claim 9 wherein the voltage processing circuit further comprises:

memory digital pre-distortion (mDPD) circuitry configured to digitally pre-distort the plurality of target voltage amplitudes to generate a digital target voltage signal comprising the plurality of target voltage amplitudes; and

a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) configured to convert the digital target voltage signal into the target voltage having the time-variant target voltage envelope tracking the plurality of target voltage amplitudes.

11. The wide-bandwidth ET circuit of claim 10 wherein:

the first tracker circuitry is further configured to generate the first ET modulated voltage having a first time-variant voltage envelope tracking the time-variant target voltage envelope; and

the second tracker circuitry is further configured to generate the second ET modulated voltage having a second time-variant voltage envelope tracking the time-variant target voltage envelope.

12. The wide-bandwidth ET circuit of claim 6 wherein:

the first tracker circuit further comprises a first feedback path coupled from the first tracker output to a first feedback input of the first tracker circuitry; and

the second tracker circuit further comprises a second feedback path coupled from the second tracker output to a second feedback input of the second tracker circuitry.

13. The wide-bandwidth ET circuit of claim 6 wherein:

the first tracker circuit further comprises a first feedback path coupled from the second tracker output to a first feedback input of the first tracker circuitry; and

the second tracker circuit further comprises a second feedback path coupled from the first tracker output to a second feedback input of the second tracker circuitry.

14. The wide-bandwidth ET circuit of claim 6 further comprising a supply voltage circuit, the supply voltage circuit comprising:

at least one low dropout regulator (LDO) circuitry configured to generate at least one constant voltage; and

at least one buck-boost circuitry coupled to the first tracker circuitry and the second tracker circuitry, the at least one buck-boost circuitry configured to generate the first supply voltage and the second supply voltage based on the at least one constant voltage.

15. The wide-bandwidth ET circuit of claim 14 wherein the at least one LDO circuitry is coupled to the driver stage amplifier input to provide the at least one constant voltage to the driver stage circuitry as the driver stage input voltage.

16. The wide-bandwidth ET circuit of claim 14 further comprising at least one second differential amplifier circuit, the at least one second differential amplifier circuit comprising:

second driver stage circuitry comprising a second driver stage amplifier input, wherein the second driver stage circuitry is configured to amplify a second RF signal based on a second driver stage input voltage received at the second driver stage amplifier input to generate a second driver stage signal; and

second differential output stage circuitry comprising;

a second positive output stage amplifier comprising a positive amplifier input coupled to the first amplifier input, wherein the second positive output stage amplifier is configured to;

receive the first input voltage and the first input current via the positive amplifier input; and

amplify the second driver stage signal based on the first input voltage and the first input current to generate a second positive output stage RF signal; and

a second negative output stage amplifier comprising a negative amplifier input coupled to the second amplifier input, wherein the second negative output stage amplifier is configured to;

receive the second input voltage and the second input current via the negative amplifier input; and

amplify the second driver stage signal based on the second input voltage and the second input current to generate a second negative output stage RF signal.

17. The wide-bandwidth ET circuit of claim 16 wherein the at least one LDO circuitry is coupled to the second driver stage amplifier input to provide the at least one constant voltage to the second driver stage circuitry as the second driver stage input voltage.

18. The wide-bandwidth ET circuit of claim 1 wherein the differential amplifier circuit comprises:

differential driver stage circuitry comprising;

a positive driver stage amplifier comprising a first driver stage amplifier input and configured to;

receive the first input voltage via the first driver stage amplifier input; and

amplify the RF signal based on the first input voltage to generate a positive driver stage signal; and

a negative driver stage amplifier comprising a second driver stage amplifier input and configured to;

receive the second input voltage via the second driver stage amplifier input; and

amplify the RF signal based on the second input voltage to generate a negative driver stage signal; and

differential output stage circuitry comprising;

a positive output stage amplifier comprising the first amplifier input and configured to;

receive the first input voltage and the first input current via the first amplifier input; and

amplify the positive driver stage signal based on the first input voltage and the first input current to generate a positive output stage RF signal; and

a negative output stage amplifier comprising the second amplifier input and configured to;

receive the second input voltage and the second input current via the second amplifier input; and

amplify the negative driver stage signal based on the second input voltage and the second input current to generate a negative output stage RF signal.

19. The wide-bandwidth ET circuit of claim 1 wherein:

the differential amplifier circuit is further configured to;

receive the first current comprising a first input direct current and a first input alternating current at the first amplifier input;

receive the second current comprising a second input direct current and a second input alternating current at the second amplifier input; and

amplify the RF signal based on the first input voltage, the first input direct current, the first input alternating current, the second input voltage, the second input direct current, and the second input alternating current;

the first tracker circuit is further configured to generate a first direct current and a first alternating current at the first tracker output;

the second tracker circuit is further configured to generate a second direct current and a second alternating current at the second tracker output; and

the control circuitry is further configured to;

couple the first tracker output to the first amplifier input to provide the first ET modulated voltage, the first direct current, and the first alternating current to the differential amplifier circuit as the first input voltage, the first input direct current, and the first input alternating current, respectively; and

couple the second tracker output to the second amplifier input to provide the second ET modulated voltage, the second direct current, and the second alternating current to the differential amplifier circuit as the second input voltage, the second input direct current, and the second input alternating current, respectively.

20. The wide-bandwidth ET circuit of claim 19 wherein the differential amplifier circuit is further configured to:

receive the first input voltage that substantially equals the second input voltage;

receive the first input direct current that substantially equals the second input direct current; and

receive the first input alternating current that substantially equals the second input alternating current.