Method and Apparatus for Improving Power Amplifier Efficiency in Wireless Communication Systems Having High Peak to Average Power Ratios

• US 20120329411A1
• Filed: 09/05/2012
• Published: 12/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: CHAN, Wen-Yen, JIAO, Qingzhong, JIN, Xin, SANGARY, Nagula Tharma, KHAN, Nasserullah, HABICHER, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,670,503 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/127.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/343 taking into account loading or congestion level

Abstract

A power management system and method for a wireless communication device generates an average desired transmit power signal based on at least one of a received signal strength indicator signal and a power control instruction signal from a base station. A power supply level adjustment signal is generated based on the data parameters of an outgoing data stream and at least one environmental information signal. A combination of the power supply level adjustment signal and the average desired transmit power or a gain control signal and an altered version of the power supply level adjustment signal is used to generate a variable power supply signal that is provided to an output amplifier block for sufficiently generating outgoing wireless device radio signals while reducing power loss in the output amplifier block.

Claims

1. A power management system for a transmitter of a wireless device, the transmitter comprising a power amplifier for generating an amplified transmission signal, and the power management system comprising:

an environmental sensor unit for providing at least one environmental information signal representing an operating environment of the wireless device; and

a power supply level adjustment generator comprising at least one mapper configured to receive the at least one environmental information signal and a data parameter indicator of a baseband outgoing data stream to be transmitted by the wireless device to generate a power supply level adjustment signal for combining with an average desired transmit power signal representing an average transmit power of the amplified transmission signal to generate a variable power supply signal for the power amplifier.

2. The power management system of claim 1, wherein the environmental sensor unit comprises at least one of:

a temperature sensor for providing a temperature information signal representing a hardware temperature in the wireless device;

or

a battery condition sensor for providing a battery condition information signal representing a charge level of a battery used to power the wireless device.

3. The power management system of claim 1, wherein the environmental sensor unit is configured to provide a frequency information signal related to a transmission frequency of the baseband outgoing data stream.

4. The power management system of claim 1, wherein the power supply level adjustment generator is further configured to generate an altered version of the power supply level adjustment signal that is combinable with a gain control signal to generate the variable power supply signal, the gain control signal for controlling pre-amplifier gain prior to the power amplifier.

5. The power management system of claim 1, wherein the at least one mapper is implemented by using a formula.

6. The power management system of claim 1, wherein the at least one mapper is implemented by using at least one look-up table.

7. The power management system of claim 1, wherein the at least one mapper is a Peak-to-Average Power Ratio mapper.

8. The power management system of claim 1, wherein the power supply level adjustment generator comprises one mapper for each of the at least one environmental signal.

9. The power management system of claim 1, further comprising a data parameter detector connected to a baseband module of the wireless device and configured to provide the data parameter indicator.

10. A method of managing power in a transmitter of a wireless device, the transmitter comprising a power amplifier for generating an amplified transmission signal, and the method comprising:

generating at least one environmental information signal representing an operating environment of the wireless device; and

outputting a power supply level adjustment signal from at least one mapper based on the at least one environmental information signal and a data parameter indicator, the power supply level adjustment signal being generated for combining with an average desired transmit power signal representing an average transmit power of the amplified transmission signal to generate a variable power supply signal for the power amplifier.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein generating the at least one environmental signal comprises at least one of:

generating a temperature information signal representing a hardware temperature in the wireless device;

generating a battery condition information signal representing a charge level of a battery used to power the wireless device;

or

generating a frequency information signal representing a transmission frequency of the baseband outgoing data stream.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

generating an altered version of the power supply level adjustment signal; and

combining the altered version of the power supply level adjustment signal with a gain control signal to generate the variable power supply signal for the power amplifier, the gain control signal for controlling preamplifier gain prior to the power amplifier.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising using a formula to implement the at least one mapper.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising using at least one look-up table to implement the at least one mapper.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

storing power supply level adjustment values in a plurality of look-up tables comprising one look-up table for each of the at least one environmental information signal;

outputting a power supply level adjustment value from each of the plurality of look-up tables based on the at least one environmental information signal and the data parameter indicator; and

combining the power supply level adjustment value outputted from each of the plurality of look-up tables to generate the power supply level adjustment signal.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising using at least one Peak-to-Average Power Ratio mapper to implement the at least one mapper.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising generating the data parameter indicator based on at least one of a data type, data modulation or data rate of the baseband outgoing data stream.

18. A power management system for a transmitter of a wireless device, the power management system comprising:

a power supply level adjustment generator comprising a plurality of mappers configured to generate a power supply level adjustment signal, each of the mappers being configured to operate on unique environmental information signals representing an operating environment of the wireless device and a data parameter indicator representing a baseband outgoing data stream to be transmitted by the wireless device to produce power supply level adjustment values that are combined to form the power supply level adjustment signal; and

a power supply module configured to receive the power supply level adjustment signal and to generate a variable power supply signal.

19. The power management system of claim 18, wherein the environmental information signals comprise:

a temperature information signal related to a hardware temperature in the wireless device;

a battery condition information signal related to a battery used to power the wireless device;

or

a frequency information signal related to a transmission frequency of the transmission signal.

20. The power management system of claim 18, wherein the transmitter comprises a power amplifier for generating an amplified transmission signal;

wherein the power supply module is configured to generate the variable power supply signal by combining the power supply level adjustment signal with an average desired transmit power signal that represents an average transmit power of the amplified transmission signal; and

wherein the power supply module is configured to provide the variable power supply signal to the power amplifier.

21. The power management system of claim 20, wherein the power supply module comprises:

a power supply control block configured to provide a power control signal based on the average desired transmit power signal and the power supply level adjustment signal; and

a switch converter connected to the power supply control block and configured to generate the variable power supply signal in response to the power control signal.

22. The power management system of claim 20, wherein the power supply level adjustment generator is further configured to generate an altered version of the power supply level adjustment signal for combining with a gain control signal used to control pre-amplifier gain prior to the power amplifier.

23. The power management system of claim 22, wherein the transmitter comprises a power amplifier for generating an amplified transmission signal;

wherein the power supply module is configured to generate the variable power supply signal by combining the altered version of the power supply level adjustment signal with a gain control signal for controlling preamplifier gain prior to the power amplifier; and

,

wherein the power supply module is configured to provide the variable power supply signal to the power amplifier.

24. The power management system of claim 22, wherein the power supply module comprises:

a summer configured to generate a first power control signal by summing together the altered version of the power supply level adjustment signal and the gain control signal;

a clipper configured to receive the first power control signal and generate a second power control signal; and

a switch converter coupled to the clipper and configured to generate the variable power supply signal in response to the second power control signal.

25. The power management system of claim 24, wherein the power supply module further comprises a reverse mapper configured to generate a clipper adjustment signal based on the one or more environmental parameters of the wireless device and an altered version of the gain control signal, the clipper adjustment signal for adjusting at least one of positive saturation values, negative saturation values, or slope of the clipper.

26. The power management system of claim 18, wherein the plurality of mappers are implemented by using formulas.

27. The power management system of claim 18, wherein the plurality of mappers are implemented by using look-up tables.

28. The power management system of claim 18, wherein the plurality of mappers are implemented by using Peak-to-Average Power Ratio mappers.

29. A power supply level adjustment generator for a power supply module of a transmitter of a wireless device, the power management system comprising:

a plurality of mappers configured to generate power supply level adjustment values for the power supply module, each of the mappers operating on a plurality of parameters comprising one or more environmental parameters of the wireless device and a data parameter indicator of a baseband outgoing data stream to be transmitted by the wireless device; and

an adder configured to generate a power supply level adjustment signal by adding together the power supply level adjustment values,

wherein the power supply level adjustment signal is combined with an average desired transmit power signal to generate a variable power supply signal for a power amplifier using the power supply module.

30. The power supply level adjustment generator of claim 29, wherein the plurality of mappers are implemented by using formulas.

31. The power supply level adjustment generator of claim 29, wherein the plurality of mappers are implemented by using look-up tables.

32. The power management system of claim 29, wherein the plurality of mappers are implemented by using Peak-to-Average Power Ratio mappers.