SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR POWER CALIBRATING A PULSE GENERATOR

• US 20110068765A1
• Filed: 09/22/2009
• Published: 03/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Segoria, Anthony F.
• Application Number:
  US12/564,248
• Publication Number:
  US 20110068765A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 323/313
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/1607 Supply circuits converters H02M; filters therefor H02M1/14; voltage stabilisers G05F1/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/6908 using time hopping
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0248 dependent on the time of the day, e.g. according to expected transmission activity
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed for generating an output signal (e.g., a defined pulse), including a power or current calibration feature. The apparatus comprises a current source adapted to generate a first current to produce the output signal, a current sampling module adapted to generate a second current as a function of (e.g., substantially proportional or equal to) the first current, a reference current module (e.g., a bandgap current source) adapted to generate a third current, and a calibration module adapted to calibrate the first current based on the second and third currents. The current source comprises a plurality of selectable current paths. The current sampling module comprises a replica of at least a portion of one or more current paths of the current source. The calibration module may perform a calibration in response to a defined time, an environment parameter (temperature, voltage, pulse repetition frequency, amplitude requirement change, etc.), or the output signal not being generated.

Claims

1. An apparatus for generating a first signal, comprising:

a current source adapted to generate a first current to produce the first signal;

a current sampling module adapted to generate a second current as a function of the first current;

a reference current module adapted to generate a third current; and

a calibration module adapted to calibrate the first current based on the second and third currents.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second current is substantially proportional or equal to the first current.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reference current module comprises a bandgap current source.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the current source comprises a plurality of selectable current paths.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the current sampling module comprises a replica of at least a portion of one or more current paths of the current source.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the selectable current paths are adapted to produce binary-weighted currents.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first current is based on a second signal that defines an amplitude of the first current and a third signal that defines the timing of an amplitude change of the first current.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an impedance element through which the first current flows to generate the first signal.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first signal comprises a defined pulse.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the calibration module is adapted to calibrate the first current of the current source based on a defined time, a defined environment parameter, or the first signal not being generated.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the defined environment parameter comprises an environment temperature, a power supply voltage, a pulse repetition frequency (PRF), or a change in a pulse amplitude requirement.

12. A method of generating a first signal, comprising:

generating a first current to produce the first signal;

generating a second current as a function of the first current;

generating a third current; and

calibrating the first current based on the second and third currents.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the second current is substantially proportional or equal to the first current.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein generating the third current comprises generating a bandgap reference current.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein generating the first current comprises generating one or more currents through a plurality of selectable current paths, respectively.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein generating the second current comprises activating a replica current path coupled to at least a portion of one or more of the current paths.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein generating the first current comprises generating binary-weighted currents through the selectable current paths, respectively.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein generating the first current comprises generating the first current based on a second signal that defines an amplitude of the first current and a third signal that defines the timing of an amplitude change of the first current.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising applying the first current through an impedance element to generate the first signal.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein generating the first signal comprises generating a defined pulse.

21. The method of claim 12, wherein calibrating the first current comprises calibrating the first current based on a defined time, a defined environment parameter, or the first signal not being generated.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the defined environment parameter comprises an environment temperature, a power supply voltage, a pulse repetition frequency (PRF), or a change in a pulse amplitude requirement.

23. An apparatus for generating a first signal, comprising:

means for generating a first current to produce the first signal;

means for generating a second current as a function of the first current;

means for generating a third current; and

means for calibrating the first current based on the second and third currents.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the second current is substantially proportional or equal to the first current.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein third current generating means comprises means for generating a bandgap reference current.

26. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein first current generating means comprises means for generating one or more of a plurality of selectable currents.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein second current generating means comprises means for generating a replica of one or more of the selectable currents.

28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein means for generating one or more of the plurality of selectable currents comprises means for generating one or more binary-weighted currents.

29. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the first current generating means is adapted to generate the first current based on a second signal that defines an amplitude of the first current and a third signal that defines the timing of an amplitude change of the first current.

30. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising means for generating an impedance through which the first current flows to generate the first signal.

31. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the first signal comprises a defined pulse.

32. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein calibrating means comprises means for calibrating the first current based on a defined time, a defined environment parameter, or the first signal not being generated.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the defined environment parameter comprises an environment temperature, a power supply voltage, a pulse repetition frequency (PRF), or a change in a pulse amplitude requirement.

34. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer readable medium comprising instructions executable to;

generate a first current to produce a first signal;

generate a second current as a function of the first current;

generate a third current; and

calibrate the first current based on the second and third currents.

35. A headset, comprising:

a transducer adapted to generate audio data; and

a transmitter adapted to transmit a first signal comprising the audio data, wherein the transmitter comprises;

a current source adapted to generate a first current to produce the first signal;

a current sampling module adapted to generate a second current as a function of the first current;

a reference current module adapted to generate a third current; and

a calibration module adapted to calibrate the first current based on the second and third currents.

36. A user device, comprising:

a user interface; and

a transmitter adapted to transmit a first signal comprising data received from the user interface, wherein the transmitter comprises;

a current source adapted to generate a first current to produce the first signal;

a current sampling module adapted to generate a second current as a function of the first current;

a reference current module adapted to generate a third current; and

a calibration module adapted to calibrate the first current based on the second and third currents.

37. A sensing device, comprising:

a sensor adapted to generate sensed data; and

a transmitter adapted to transmit a first signal comprising the sensed data, wherein the transmitter comprises;

a current source adapted to generate a first current to produce the first signal;

a current sampling module adapted to generate a second current as a function of the first current;

a reference current module adapted to generate a third current; and

a calibration module adapted to calibrate the first current based on the second and third currents.