High-Efficiency Envelope Tracking Systems and Methods for Radio Frequency Power Amplifiers
First Claim
1. An envelope modulator apparatus for generating a dynamic power supply signal, comprising:
- a first switch-mode converter having a power supply input configured to receive a direct current (DC) power supply voltage, a switch control input configured to receive a first switch control signal, and an output configured to provide a dynamic power supply signal;
a regulator having an envelope signal input configured to receive an envelope signal, a power supply input configured to receive the dynamic power supply signal from said first switch-mode converter, and an output configured to supply current to a load; and
a second switch-mode converter having a power supply input configured to receive said DC power supply voltage, a switch control input configured to receive a second switch control signal, and an output configured to provide current to said load.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Envelope tracking (ET) methods and systems for controlling the delivery of power to radio frequency power amplifiers (RFPAs). An exemplary ET system includes an RFPA and a wide bandwidth capable and power efficient envelope modulator that includes a first power supplying apparatus and a second power supplying apparatus. The first power supplying apparatus includes a switch-mode converter and a regulator. The first mode converter is operable to dynamically step down a fixed power supply voltage according to amplitude variations in an envelope signal received by the regulator, and use the resulting dynamic power supply signal to power the regulator. The second power supplying apparatus is connected in parallel with the first power supplying apparatus. Depending on a power of an output signal to be generated at an output of the power amplifier, power is supplied to the power amplifier from either or both of the first and second power supplying apparatuses.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An envelope modulator apparatus for generating a dynamic power supply signal, comprising:
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a first switch-mode converter having a power supply input configured to receive a direct current (DC) power supply voltage, a switch control input configured to receive a first switch control signal, and an output configured to provide a dynamic power supply signal; a regulator having an envelope signal input configured to receive an envelope signal, a power supply input configured to receive the dynamic power supply signal from said first switch-mode converter, and an output configured to supply current to a load; and a second switch-mode converter having a power supply input configured to receive said DC power supply voltage, a switch control input configured to receive a second switch control signal, and an output configured to provide current to said load. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of controlling the supply of current to a power supply input of a power amplifier, comprising:
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receiving an envelope signal at a signal input of a first power supplying apparatus; generating a dynamic power supply signal based on amplitude variations in said envelope signal; coupling said dynamic power supply signal to a power supply input of said first power supplying apparatus; coupling a fixed power supply voltage to power a second power supplying apparatus coupled in parallel with said first power supplying apparatus; and depending on a power of an output signal to be generated at an output of a power amplifier supplying current from either or both of said first and second power supplying apparatuses to a power supply input of said power amplifier. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. An envelope tracking (ET) system, comprising:
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an envelope modulator configured to generate an envelope modulated power supply signal that generally tracks amplitude variations of an input envelope signal, said envelope modulator including; first power supplying means configured to be powered by a dynamic power supply signal that generally tracks amplitude variations in said input envelope signal, and second power supplying means connected in parallel with said first power supply means and configured to be powered by a direct current (DC) power supply voltage; and a power amplifier having a power supply input configured to receive the envelope modulated power supply signal from the envelope modulator and current from one or both of said first and second power supplying means of the envelope modulator. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A power control circuit, comprising:
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a first power supply apparatus configured to supply a first current to a load; and a second power supply apparatus coupled in parallel with said first power supply apparatus including a switch-mode converter coupled in series with a regulator configured to source current to said load or sink current supplied by said first power supply apparatus depending on whether an instantaneous current required of said load is less than or greater than said first current. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A polar transmitter, comprising:
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a phase modulator configured to generate a phase modulated radio frequency (RF) signal; an envelope modulator configured to modulate a DC power supply voltage according to an envelope modulation signal to generate an envelope modulated power supply signal, said envelope modulator including a first power supplying apparatus configured to be powered by said DC power supply voltage, and a second power supplying apparatus configured to be powered by a dynamic power supply signal; and a power amplifier having an RF input configured to receive said phase modulated RF signal from said phase modulator and a power supply input configured to receive said envelope modulated power supply signal from said envelope modulator. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification